Three of Hearts (17 page)

Robyn looked at her friend and said with an exaggerated sad look “Sorry, Mom.”

Kathy swatted at her and they all laughed.

They enjoyed a few more songs, and then Mae looked at her phone and noticed the time.

“Sorry ladies but I need to get going. I’m driving Conner and Michael to school in the morning then off to the hospital for a double shift.” Mae said as she searched for her car keys.

“Ok, let’s do this again though, next week maybe?” Robyn said as she too stood up and looked through her bag for her keys.

“That sounds great.” Mae answered and they all walked outside together. Mae gave each of the girls a hug and kiss on the cheek goodbye, and walked over to the side of the building to her car.

She was surprised to see a tall figure leaning against her car. She was about to make a run for the building when the figure stepped into the light and Mae noticed it was Wes. Realizing that he startled her, he apologized before leaning down and kissing Mae hello, on her cheek.

“Wes! What are you doing here?” she asked as her heart returned to its normal pulse.

“I had a meeting with the pub owner and I noticed you as you were making your way out of the entrance so I thought I’d wait for you.”

“Oh, that was nice of you. Everything alright as far as your meeting is concerned?” Mae asked wondering if Wes saw her with Billy.

“Oh yes, Cal is interested in expanding due to crowding in the current building, so he invited me to see exactly how crowded it can get when it is a full house.”

“I see,” Mae said looking at her feet.

Just then she noticed the Lexus next to her car running, Wes followed her eyes and said “The SUV is mine.”

“So you’ve been here a while. I parked next to it when I got here.” Mae said as if accusing him of something.

Wes smiled and rolled back on the heels of his feet. He was one hundred percent right about Mae in his initial impression: you couldn’t get anything past her. Rather than make her wonder, he came out and told her the truth. “Yes, I’ve been here a while. I was sitting at the bar, waiting for Cal, for our meeting, when you arrived. I saw you join Kathy and quickly followed by Robyn. And before you ask, I did see your refusal of Mr. Gel’s pick up. I was going to step in but you had it under control.” Mae couldn’t help but laugh at Wes’ description of Billy.

Wes liked the sound of Mae’s laugh, almost as much as he liked her company. He could tell by her facial expression and her blush that she felt embarrassed at being caught. “And you have nothing to feel embarrassed about, if I was a single guy in a bar, I’d hit on you too.” He said honestly.

Laughing again, Mae pointed out “You
were
a single guy in a bar.”

Wes laughed out loud too and said “You’re right, I am. Well damn, I guess I missed my chance.”

They talked for a couple of more minutes about Wes’ meeting and the weather. Wes’ deep voice was so soft that Mae just enjoyed hearing him speak. Mae told him about Leo’s upcoming interview.

Mae said that she needed to get going. Wes walked over and opened her driver’s door, Mae slid into the seat and Wes closed the door. Mae turned the engine on and rolled the window down.

“Well, thank you Wes for waiting to say hello to me. I’m glad you did.”

“Me too Mae, me too. You drive safely, okay.” Wes said as she pulled out and drove off towards home.

TWELVE

Mae looked at the interior car clock and realized she should already be home and in bed now, especially since she was working a double tomorrow, but she wouldn’t have traded the night for anything.

Mae pulled into the drive and noticed the reflection of her headlights on something moving on the dock. She got out of the car and saw Conner and Michael trying to hide in one of the boats. Mae walked to the dock and said “I see you hiding Conner, you too Michael, come on out!”

Conner and Michael crawled out of their hiding spots and walked slowly towards Mae.

“What are you two doing?” Mae demanded, already knowing the answer.

“We were, uh, we were trying, to uh…” Conner started to say, realizing he wasn’t as good at lying as he thought he was.

Mae noticed that Michael stayed mute.

“You were going to take the boat out, weren’t you?” Mae asked, looking at Conner with a piercing gaze. The disappointment in her voice was as evident as the look on her face.

Conner didn’t even bother to deny it. He had been caught in the act.

“Conner in the house, Michael it’s time for you to go.” Mae said, as Michael willingly took the exit offered to him.

“Mae, please don’t tell my dad. Please!” Conner begged with his hands folded as if in prayer.

“I already promised you once Conner and you broke that trust. I think your dad needs to know.” Mae said feeling both sympathy for Conner not wanting to disappoint Seth and responsible as far as having to tell Seth.

“But, Mae, he’ll ground me forever. The fishing derby is in two weeks. He’ll make me miss it. Please. That’s why we were trying to take the boat so we could practice out on the lake.” Conner begged.

Shutting her eyes and asking for celestial advice, Mae opened and looked at Seth’s eldest son and found herself doing what she knew to be wrong, but wanting to make Conner happy.

“Ok Conner, I’ll make you a deal, I won’t tell your dad, but if he asks me, I will not lie for you. And if you so much as go near that boat, without your Dad near you, I WILL tell him. Do you understand?” Mae said sternly Conner’s face went from sudden death to winning the lottery; he ran over and hugged Mae, tightly. “I promise Mae. Thank you.”

Laughing because for such a young man, he was quite strong, Mae swatted Conner away. She watched as he climbed the stairs and went inside.

About an hour later, Mae was sitting in her screened porch, eating the last of the Oreos, when she heard Seth pull up. Aidan walked up the stairs followed by Seth carrying a zonked Megan. Seth indicated for her to follow him in the house. Mae waited as Seth brought Megan up to bed. She heard him wish Aidan and Conner a good night, and then he walked down the stairs and made his way over to where she stood next to the couch.

“Hello” he said as he leaned down and kissed her.

“Hey, how was the movie?” Mae asked, wondering at the length of the movie considering how late he’d been out.

“Long,” he answered, as if knowing what she was thinking. “Apparently it was a double feature. When the first movie was over, I told the kids that we needed to leave and Megan started to cry. Aidan said that he really wanted to see the next one and then they tag teamed by saying how long it has been since we’ve done anything fun like this, especially on a school night.” Seth huffed out as if their words wounded him.

Smiling at his fatherly kind-heartedness, she leaned up on tip toes and kissed him again, saying against his lips “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Laughing at her synopsis of his children’s power play, Seth snorted “Tell me about it.”

“How was your night out with Robyn?”

“It was wonderful, just what the doctor ordered. In fact, I saw Wes; he was there talking business with Cal.” Mae explained “He had mentioned something about meeting with Cal, but I didn’t know when.” Seth said as he toyed with her hair and savored the feel of her in his arms, “Any chance, I could get some company tonight?” Seth asked as he lightly nipped at her throat.

Smiling and gleeful, Mae softly said, “As long as you promise to let me get some sleep. I have a double shift tomorrow and I somehow got talked into driving Conner and Michael into school tomorrow.”

“There’s a sucker born every minute.” Seth repeated her earlier words to him and quickly kissed her before she could retaliate.

Mae slept better than she had in a long time, whether it was the number of alcoholic beverages, the fun she had with Robyn and Kathy, or the fact that she slept in Seth’s arms, she didn’t know, but she hoped the reason was the latter. But the down side of sleeping so well means that she also overslept. She was just getting out of the shower when Seth poked his head in.

“Nervous the kids will catch us?”

“No I’m not, and can’t a girl get a little privacy?” Mae asked as she hastily dried herself.

“Well considering you’re in MY bathroom, I would say privacy is a moot point” he stepped in and kissed her then walked around her to get in the shower himself.

Mae grabbed one of Seth’s shirts and prayed the kids wouldn’t see her before she made it to her apartment.

Just when she was about to reach the interior door she heard “Good morning, Sweet Mae. How are you this fine sunny morning?”

Mae turned to find Lynne at the kitchen stove cooking French toast, with a smile that read both playful and pleased.

Feeling herself blush, Mae gave a little wave and indicated, one minute before jogging into her apartment and up to dress for the day.

Mae returned five minutes later with her usual high ponytail and bright pink scrubs.

“I brewed you a cup of tea and have French toast ready for you.” Lynne said with the same smile on her face as before.

“Thank you Lynne.” Mae said as she took the cup of tea and headed over to the table where, Megan and Aidan were already eating.

As Mae sat down, Megan smiled with a mouthful of food and Aidan was asking Lynne for a second serving.

Conner came down next and looked at Mae with a bright smile. She returned the smile with ease as if mentally communicated that she has kept up to her side of the bargain.

Mae was just finishing her French toast when Seth joined them. He walked over kissed Mae on her upturned mouth, moved to Megan gave her nose a tap and kissed her head and ruffled Aidan’s head.

“Good morning, Finn family.” He said to the room at large.

“Hey Dad, can we go to the videogame store this weekend? The new ‘Skate For Your Life’ game is coming out and I just have to have it. I saved my allowance, so I have enough money.” Aidan said, hoping that last part would help his cause.

Looking at his son with tried patience, Seth said “I really wish you’d cool it with the video games, but if you are adamant about getting it and you have already saved the money, I’m sure we can get there sometime this weekend.”

“Cool” Aidan said and as if on cue picked up his handheld game and walked over to the couch and started playing.

Conner looked at Mae and said “Uh, Mae. I know you said you’d drive me and Michael in this morning, but if you’d rather not, there is still time for me to catch the bus.”

Seth looked up with his eyebrows drawn together and wondered why Conner would think Mae would go back on her word. “Con, if Mae said she’d drive you, why would she change her mind?”

Hoping not to rock the boat and make Seth think anything was wrong, Mae quickly said, “Yeah, Conner, not a problem, I can still drive you and Michael. We should get going though, why don’t you go grab your bag. Aidan want a ride?”

Aidan answered with a thumbs up. Conner got up and went to retrieve his bag.

Concerned that something was going on, Seth looked at Mae and whispered, “What is that about?”

Mae nonchalantly raised her shoulders and brought her cup and plate to the sink. She quickly rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher.

Megan then asked Mae if she could have a ride to school

“I’ll bring you to school, Spitfire! I have to talk to Miss Crystal, about your behavior with a certain boy who shall remain nameless, anyways.” Seth says giving his daughter his stern father look.

Mae raised her eyebrow in inquiry, to which Seth mouthed “I’ll tell you later.”

Conner had returned and he, Mae and Aidan head out. As they walk down the deck steps, Seth shouted, “I’ll call you later.” Mae answered in Aidan’s fashion, with a thumbs up and a smile.

Aidan got into the back of the Camaro and buckled up. Mae and Conner slide into the front, buckled and Mae backed out of the drive. Michael was sitting on the porch steps, walked down and climbed into the back on Conner’s side. As Mae waited for Michael to get in, she noticed the same attractive girl sunbathing on a lounge chair in the front yard. Her scantily clad body was tan and gorgeous. Her mirrored aviator glasses obscured her eyes, but Mae had a feeling she was missing nothing. Once Michael was in and buckled, Mae headed off to the school complex. Needing a bit of information, Mae said “Michael, is that your sister that was sunbathing?”

“Yeah, that’s Shannon, my oldest sister. She’s a waitress at the steakhouse the next town over, but mostly she just lays around in the sun, and avoids my mom.” Michael finished.

“Why does she avoid your mom?” Mae asked with increased curiosity.

“Shan and my mom don’t see eye to eye. Shannon is a trouble maker, according to my mom, she sins a lot.”

‘She sins a lot’, go figure with a body like that, Mae was sure she knew how she sinned.

Mae dropped the boys off at school and headed to the hospital. She entered the Cancer Center to find Dr. Crest looking through paperwork she needed for the monthly Tumor Board Meeting at the hospital.

“Mae, I want to present Mrs. Hardinson’s case at the meeting, but I can’t find my last dictated note. It isn’t in Transcription, it isn’t in the chart and the meeting starts in 20 minutes.”

Mae jumped into action. “Doctor, I’m sure it’s in the computer, let me just take a look.” Sure enough, Mae found it easily on the hospital electronic medical records.

“Mae, you’re a life saver, thanks” Dr. Crest said as she left the center off to her meeting.

Shaking her head, Mae headed to her locker to drop off her things. She grabbed her stethoscope and headed back out to the nurses’ station to find out which patients she was assigned to. She was just checking the board when Rosie, one of the secretaries said “Mae you have a delivery.”

Mae walked out to where the secretaries sat and found herself staring at a huge arrangement of long stem red roses.

Signing for the flowers, she then grabbed for the card. Hoping she knew who they were from, she was pleased to read.

I
hope
this
morning’s
bathroom
banter
was
the
first
of
many.
—
S