CHAPTER SIX

Macy was sitting on the garden lounger in her patio, her mind on that sensational kiss she had shared with Twain in the office.  How could she have been so stupid?  Why did she do it?  Why did she not resist him? It was her that had actually initiated that kiss.  She was the one, to pull his head towards her mouth.
I am an idiot!

Though Macy could not deny, she had enjoyed that kiss tremendously.  That kiss had been right up there with the two other most significant moments in her life; her night of passion with Twain and giving birth to Parker.  Getting her degree in University should have been up there as well, but it paled in comparison, when compared to Twain and Parker.   

Macy stilled uncomfortably when her mum sat down on the lounger next to her.  Macy drew in her breath very slowly.  She smiled at her mum.

'Macy, you okay?' her mum reached out and touched her wrist.

'Yeah,' Macy forced a bright smile.

Her mother continued to look at her with concern.  Macy groaned silently.

'In recent weeks, you seem ___ unduly preoccupied,' her mum spoke softly.

You mean since Twain came back to South Africa.

'I haven't seen you this way, since you fell pregnant with Parker,' her mum continued.

Macy remained quiet.  She lifted her glass of lemon and lime and sipped from it.  What could Macy say?  A mother knows her child, sometimes better than a child knows itself.  Didn't she know every emotion, every expression that registered on Parker's face?

'I'm okay mum,' Macy offered uncomfortably.

'Are we in financial trouble? I still have all that money your dad bequeathed me__.'

Macy breathed a sigh of relief.  'Mum no!  We do not have financial problems at all.'

Macy was in a comfortable financial position.  Her car was paid off.  She had no debt, other than the bond on their three bed room home.  She and Don were not born into wealth.  Her parents had been working class people.  They had lived in a rented home.  Macy and her Don had not known any luxury.  When her father had passed away, he'd had a life insurance policy.  Macy and Don had insisted their mother keep that money for herself.  They were young and determined to make their way in the world. 

Her mum reached out and hugged her, 'you'll do well in your exams next month,' she patted Macy's back consolingly.  'You always pass with distinctions,' her mum smiled proudly and stood up to leave.

'Thanks mum.'  Macy cringed silently.  Her exams were the last thing on her mind, Macy thought guiltily and she should have been giving attention to her preparation for it.

'Macy,' she turned around and smiled at her daughter.

'Yes, mum? ' Macy answered guardedly.

'I am very, very proud of you,' she smiled, her eyes filled with admiration.

'Thank you mum,' Macy smiled back.

     In the weeks that followed at work, Macy was conflictingly pleased and disappointed that she did not see much of Twain.  She'd hoped to catch a glimpse of him in the lift or car park, but never did.  His vehicle was always, already in the car park when she got to work and when she left in the afternoon, Twain was still busy at work.  When Twain visited the pediatrics ward, it was her superior that Twain engaged with.  He did not seem to do any patient consultations anymore. 

Some mornings her heart would beat excitedly, when she saw from a patient's file, that Twain had admitted a patient in the night.  She hoped that would mean she would see him in the ward, but he seemed to be keeping a low profile.  He attended to patients in the Outpatients Department and conveniently passed the responsibility to Head of Pediatrics.  It was torture knowing Twain was near, yet so far.  He was up there in the executive wing of the hospital.  As chief of staff, administrative duties took up much of his time in the day. 

     The day before her exam, Macy was a bundle of nerves.  Added to that she had an insatiable craving for Twain to just hold her in his arms and wish her luck or just look into her eyes and tell her _____.

It was unfortunate then for the two concerned that she just happened to overhear their whisperings in the corridor.

"Jennifer said Dr. Crawford was such a stud," Nurse Julia, the ward gossip monger murmured conspirationally.

"Oh, he is so damn good looking.  What I'd give for just one night with him," the other nurse gushed.

'Apparently," Julia whispered in an even softer tone.  'Dr. Crawford told Jennifer, she was the best ___."

'Don't you ladies have work to do?' Macy shoved the door opened and glared at the two staff nurses.

'We were just ____.'

'Gossiping?' Macy questioned Julia.

'Dr. Skye, we did not mean ___.'

'You know Nurse Julia, unless you have witnessed something with your own two eyes, perhaps you should refrain from your bigotry comments,' Macy spat out, not sure why she was fuming on Twain's behalf.  The man was big enough to fight his own battles, if he cared to!

'I'm sorry,' Nurse Julia was red-faced.

'It's not me you need to apologize to and in future focus on your work and not the private life of your employer!'  With that Macy stormed away.

It's nerves.  It's my exams tomorrow.  I am not normally so paranoid or ____ protective.

    
'I don't see why we have to drive together,' Macy moaned as she slid into the passenger seat of Alec's sports car.

'Hey, we're going to the same exam hall.  We're both leaving from the hospital.  Why not?' Alec turned the ignition on.

'We had the day off.  What are we doing at work?' Macy laughed.

'We are care givers.  We care about our patients,' Alec pointed out to Macy.

'I have a six month old boy with a lung infection,' Macy murmured sadly.

'And as his doctor, I know the little guy is going to pull through,' Alec assured her.

'I don't like it when babies have to suffer so,' Macy spoke softly.

'Hey look on the bright side of life,' Alec laughed.  'It's a beautiful day.  The sun is shining and I have the sexiest doctor for company,' he winked.

'We're on our way to write our exams!' Macy reminded him, her eyes were trained on the fancy imported car in Twain's parking bay.

'Finally,' Alec sighed.  'We qualify in our specialist fields.'

'Is that a Ferrari?' Macy questioned curiously.  'Trust him to pollute the environment!'

Alec followed her eyes in his rear view mirror and laughed.  'That baby,' Alec drooled, 'is a Tesla Roadster Sport. Electrically powered, lithium battery, 185 kW horse power, carbon fiber interior___.'

'Can you speak English?'

If I have to speak English we might as well talk Shakespeare!' Alec groaned.  'All you need to know is that baby is more eco friendly than your Prius.'

'Really!' Macy continued to look into the rear view mirror, admiring the apple green, sporty look of Twain's baby.  She was not jealous.  She was not coveting his eco‑ friendly car.  It probably costs a fortune.  Such a waste!

'The Tesla's code name is 'Dark Star,' Alec murmured, turning out of the car park.

Suits its  owner!  How fitting!

     'So how did the exam go?'

'Dr. Crawford!'  Macy clutched her chest.  She looked around.  Strangely the corridor was empty, just the two janitors, engrossed in the job of mopping away the floor.  Her eyes returned to Twain.  She swallowed nervously.  The last time she'd seen him, was the day she'd kissed him, ravished him, more precisely.

'Why did you spring up on me?' She accused.  'You almost gave me a ____ heart attack.'

Twain laughed.  That delightful, enthralling sound so sweet to her ears.  'Lucky thing, I'm a cardiologist then,' he murmured.

'Very funny,' she sneered and began walking away, but Twain easily kept up with her strides.

'I'm going on lunch,' she meant to dismiss him.

'You haven't answered my question,' he ignored her dismissal, holding the cafeteria door for her.

Macy was instantly alert to the sudden lull in the conversations in the cafeteria.  Every pair of eyes was focused on her and Twain.  He seemed oblivious to the point of indifference.  Macy was suddenly uncomfortable.  Maybe she must just get a take out and go back to her office.

'Macy?' Twain  grinned.  'Was it that bad?'

'What?'

'Your exam?'

'Oh ____.  I passed,' she answered matter of fact, even though she had not yet received her results.

Twain threw his head back and laughed. 'Such admirable confidence.'

 She blushed uncomfortably.  'I studied and prepared well.'

'I believe you.  I've seen your previous results on your CV,' he picked up a tray and handed one to her. 

She wanted to look into his eyes, but he was focused on selecting his lunch.  Absent mindedly she put a bottle of fruit juice onto her tray and a turkey salad.

'Broccoli!' Twain groaned softly.

'What?' Macy laughed softly.

'The fish looks delicious, but it's served with broccoli topped with a cheese sauce.  I hate broccoli,' he murmured too close to her ear.

She knew that only too well.  Macy clutched her tray tightly.  His warm breath was doing something to her adrenalin level. 
Like father like son.  Parker hates broccoli too!

'Give Dr. Crawford the fish with a green salad, minus the broccoli,' Macy told the assistant with a smile.

The assistant's eyes widened a fraction before he nodded and quickly carried out Macy's instructions.

'Thank you,' Twain flashed her a smile.  'I did not want to seem ungracious.'

'You're paying,' she smiled back.  'Might as well pay for what you want to eat.'

Twain smiled and removed some bank notes from his wallet to pay for both their meals.

'Umm ___ I'm paying for mine,' she quickly shoved her money towards the cashier.

Twain laced her with an angry scowl, which Macy ignored.  She collected her change and walked to a table hoping Twain would find a seat of his own, considering all the curious glances they were attracting.  Macy could just imagine the corridor gossip by the afternoon.

Truth be told, Macy was not all that disappointed when Twain took the chair opposite hers at her table.  He watched her with amusement in his eyes.  She was vigorously cleaning her knife and fork before she could use the cutlery.

'What are you staring at?' She snapped, her eyes narrowed annoyingly.  Doesn't he know everybody's eyes were trained on them?

'You must be a doctor,' he quipped.

'Your humour escapes me,' Macy began tucking into her salad.  She watched Twain admiringly as he skilfully cut into his fish and put a mouthful through his lips.

His eyes continued to focus on her flatteringly.  Macy could hardly make the hand to mouth coordination to do justice to her meal.

'How's your fish?' She asked to break the deafening silence.

'Rather delicious,' he chewed lazily as he answered.

'Your turkey not good?' He seemed to enjoy seeing her in a state of nervousness.

'It's fine,' she supplied, forcing herself to another forkful of her lunch.

'Macy?'

'Yes?' 

'What were you doing in that pub, when you were under twenty one?'

Why the hell was he thinking about that?

Macy did not look up, instead she toyed with her food.  At the corner of her eye, she could see Twain had stopped eating.  He was patiently waiting for her to answer him.

'Don owns the pub,' she murmured, putting down her cutlery.

'Don?'  Twain questioned with a trace of anger.  She looked up and found his eyes darkened stormily.

'My brother,' she hissed.  'Don is my brother.'

Macy was speechless, when she heard Twain swear under his breath.  'Your brother used you to lure patrons ____.'

'No!' Macy hissed with barely controlled rage.

How the hell could Twain not know, he was the first man she'd been with?  He had to know she'd been  a virgin that night!

'Don was out that night.  He did not know I was ____ entertaining anybody.'

The disbelief was clearly evident in his mocking eyes.  How could he be so brutal?  Macy pushed her plate away.

'My brother is very protective,' she clenched her teeth angrily.

'Clearly!' Twain echoed sarcastically, his eyebrows raised deridingly.

'Perhaps you should mind your own business, Dr. Crawford!' Macy stood up.

'You haven't finished your lunch,' Twain pointed out unfazed, as he continued eating.

'I'm not hungry anymore,' she hissed and was relieved when her cell phone rang.

 'Good day, Dr. Skye speaking,' she answered courteously into the phone.

'Good day, Dr. Skye,' the school principal greeted formally.  'Could you please come to the school, Parker has been in a fight with another learner.'

Macy sat down suddenly.  'What!'  She spoke softly into the phone. 
How can that be?  Parker was no fighter.  He was a sweet young boy.

'Is something the matter Macy?'

Macy's cheeks coloured profusely.  She had not even realized Twain had left his seat and was at her side. Worse his arms were on her shoulders.  Everybody was staring at her rather inquisitively.

Macy looked up, shock etched on her face.  "I___I have to go to Parker's school.  He's ___ he's been in a fight!'

'You don't look okay to drive,' he stated.  'Let me take you.'

'No!  I ___ I mean, I'm fine.'

'Let's go Macy,' he lifted her gently to her feet.  'You are in no position to drive.  You're in shock for some reason, your pupils are dilated.  Can you direct me to the school?'

Macy nodded.  Twain picked up her cell phone and handbag from the table and led her to the car park.

             -END CHAPTER SIX-

GLOSSARY

Bond ‑ mortgage

Lift - elevator