Two weeks later Desi sat in the waiting room of Harry’s private practice with Rachel, Tony, and Mona, since all three of them had insisted on coming with her. Mona had even come home early from visiting her family to make sure she’d be on hand for the appointment, and to give Tony directions when he carried her down to Harry’s car.
The room was big but crowded, which gave her an idea why Harry came home so late on some nights. “Did you decorate this place?” she asked Tony. The walls had quite a few framed autographed jerseys and other sports memorabilia, as well as a large display case with helmets, balls, and caps.
“I had to go to the spa afterward and detox all the sports machismo out of my pores, but yes. Harry loves it, but I drew the line on any of this coming home with her.” Tony put one hand on his chest and fanned himself with the other.
“She could make a fortune on eBay,” Rachel said.
“Hey, Mona.” A nurse came out and walked toward them. “You guys ready?” She unlocked the chair and invited everyone to go in. “Can I get you some water, a soft drink, or a cappuccino?”
“What? That’s great service,” Rachel said when they were placed in an exam room. “We’re good,” she said when they all shook their heads.
“Yell if you change your mind. Dr. Basantes should be back from rounds any second.”
Tony and Rachel sat together while Desi studied the pictures hanging in the room. Harry was in all of them with different smiling people. Not all of them looked like athletes. She was about to ask about them when a woman knocked and stepped in.
“Hey, Tony. Are you here to do some redecorating?”
“I’m letting Harry and the rest of you recover from our last go-round, so I’m only playing escort today.”
“Hello, I’m Julie, one of Dr. Basantes’s nurses. You must be Desi, and I’m dying to know what your blood pressure is,” Julie joked as she wrapped the cuff around her arm. “How’s your pain level today?”
“Okay enough to skip the pain pill.” She smiled at Julie and thought about what a minor miracle it was that Harry was still single. She certainly didn’t lack for beautiful women in her life.
“Dr. Basantes shouldn’t be too long.” Julie finished with her vitals and placed her chart in the holder on the door. “Actually, here she is.”
Harry grabbed the chart and entered wearing a pristinely white starched lab coat over navy blue scrubs. “You guys do okay getting here?” She squatted next to the wheelchair and gave Desi a quick kiss.
They’d spent a lot of time talking and sharing a few kisses, but Harry never pressured for anything more. It was comforting, but the part of her that’d missed who Harry had been in her life wouldn’t have minded a little more.
“You look nice,” she said as the skin around Harry’s eyes crinkled from her smile.
“I have to look the part, or Mona won’t believe I’m a real doctor.”
“Hush up, you,” Mona said.
Harry winked and kissed her again. “Let’s get some X-rays and see where we are.”
“Is this how you treat all your patients?” Rachel asked, puckering her lips. “You’re so gorgeous in that lab coat that I might fling myself down the stairs if it is.”
“Sadly, no, so try not to do that.” Harry motioned for them to stay put as she rolled Desi down the hall to imaging. She lifted her onto the table and allowed her radiology tech to take a series of angles.
Back in the exam room, Harry checked the incision below her knee and smiled. She sat at a computer and looked over her X-rays and smiled wider. “You’re healing nicely, and you’re moving without pain, but let’s give it another week before I put you in a permanent cast. I could do it today, but your incision is still in the itchy phase, and that’ll be murder if a cast is in the way.”
“Can we keep it in this the whole time?” she asked as Harry redid the straps on her boot.
“The cast will make it easier for you to move around, and after a few more weeks, you’ll be able to put weight on that leg.”
“That’ll be nice.” She put her arms around Harry’s neck when she lifted her to get her back in the chair. “Will you be late getting home tonight?” Being able to say that to Harry was surreal, but it made her happy.
“I have appointments this afternoon, but I cleared my schedule to take everyone to lunch.” Harry stood and placed her hand on Desi’s shoulder. “If you give me a second, I’ll change, and we’ll take off.”
“Are you sure you have time? There’s plenty of people in the waiting room.” She covered Harry’s hand with hers and looked up at her.
“My partner’s also seeing patients today, and I’m sure.”
“That’d be great,” Rachel said, as Harry left to change. “Stop obsessing over what you’re wearing,” Rachel whispered in her ear.
“She’s right,” Tony said. “Little sis and I picked that out for you, and you look gorgeous in it, so bring your freak level down a few notches.”
The green cashmere sweater felt nice against her skin, and the pants were like the ones Harry had brought her the day they went to the park. She’d thought it was ridiculous when Rachel had done her hair and makeup, but a glance in the mirror surprised her. The bruises were gone, and she hadn’t looked like this in years.
“Face it, babe, you’re beautiful.” Rachel fluffed her hair and winked.
“Mona, how about lunch with Kenneth and me?” Tony asked, and Mona stood immediately.
“Why don’t you want to come with us?” Desi asked.
“My big guy becomes a madman if he doesn’t eat, and you two need to bond with your big guy. You have to start working on that, and we get to see Kenneth, so it’s a win-win.” Tony kissed her cheek and waved, and Mona followed suit.
Rachel explained where Tony and Mona had gone when Harry came back. The slacks and white shirt Harry wore looked fantastic on her, and while Desi knew she loved Mona and Tony, Harry appeared happy it was only the three of them.
“Do you want to stick close, so we don’t keep you too long?” she asked Harry when she started pushing her toward the exit. “It’s nice when you come home early.”
“I have a surprise for you two, and it’s not too far.” Harry lifted her into the car and gazed at her before closing the door. “I’m an idiot for not mentioning this earlier, but you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She gently touched Harry’s cheek. This was love, and it beat back Byron’s shadow from her head. Although she couldn’t help being on the lookout for Byron whenever they were out in public, being with Harry made her feel safe.
They didn’t drive long before they stopped at Blanchard’s. The last time she’d been there was to celebrate their graduation with Harry’s parents. “If you want to go someplace else, I’m okay with that, but I thought it’d be nice to revisit some of our favorite places. The old memories are good, but it’s time to make some new ones.”
Harry had one of the valets carry the wheelchair up while she carried Desi up the back steps to the garden room. Their table by the floor-to-ceiling windows gave them a great view of the courtyard below them, and the waitstaff was as attentive as she remembered.
“Dr. Basantes, welcome.” The waiter unfurled everyone’s napkin and laid them across their laps. “Is the table location satisfactory?”
“Perfect, thank you. I wanted my girlfriend out of the main traffic, so no one would run into her leg.”
“Can I get some drinks started?” The waiter was talking but all Desi could concentrate on was the word girlfriend.
They all ordered iced teas and listened to the specials as Rachel glanced around the restaurant. Desi was instantly ready to bolt when it looked like Rachel recognized someone. They ordered and she raised her eyebrows in Rachel’s direction in a silent question as to what was going on. Rachel smiled.
“Isn’t that your friend?” Rachel asked, pointing discreetly behind Harry to the main entrance to the room.
“It sure is,” Harry said, taking Desi’s hand.
Desi smiled at Serena’s date who had her arm looped through Serena’s as they walked. Maybe she was over Harry after all. “Who’s that with her?”
The young woman seemed as tall as Harry but thinner and younger. Desi waved when Serena glanced their way.
“Hello, everyone. It’s good to see you out, Desi.”
“I had a doctor’s appointment, and my doctor invited me to lunch.” She liked the way Harry smiled at her.
“Who’s your friend?” Harry asked, and Serena’s face became almost expressionless.
“Brenda’s a law student at Loyola, and she’s thinking of an internship in the DA’s office this summer.” Serena glared at Harry when she opened her mouth.
“That’s so nice of you. So you’re like a mentor, like in the Girl Scouts?”
“I’m only answering serious questions, Harry, so stop while you’re ahead.” Serena appeared uncomfortable, but Harry seemed more amused when Brenda tightened her hold on Serena’s arm.
“I’m being totally serious, and your…student looks so eager,” Harry said with a huge smile.
“Harry, don’t make me stab you with a fork,” Serena warned.
Desi took Harry’s left hand and pulled her index finger. “Hi, Brenda—I’m Desi, this is Harry, and that’s my sister Rachel.”
“I’ve heard all about the three of you, especially Harry, from Albert. No one can get him off the subject of his perfect Uncle Harry when he gets going.” Brenda looked like she was trying to squeeze the words through clenched teeth, which of course seemed to perk Harry up.
“Maybe Albert’s figured out you’re more interested in his mother’s—”
“Desi,” Serena said, loud enough to make people around them look. “Desi, have you heard from Byron’s parents?”
“No, but they don’t know where I am. Rachel was the only person whose exposure worried me, but she took some time off for now.” She’d tried to put what came next out of her head, but seeing Serena brought it front and center.
“While we’re waiting for a court date, why don’t you get a divorce attorney? The judge and jury will see a pending divorce as proof of how serious you are about not going back.”
“I’ll help with that, and we don’t want to keep you here talking shop when you’re otherwise engaged,” Harry said with a sweet smile.
“Call me if you have any problems, and that goes for you too, Rachel. It was nice seeing you all, but we’ll leave you to your lunch.” Serena smiled and almost lost her footing when Brenda grabbed her by the wrist and led her to their table.
Harry laughed when they were alone, and Desi shook her head. “Miss Brenda seems a little possessive, so I hope Serena knows what she’s doing.”
“I’m sure she does, and Harry loves poking the bear as much as I do,” Rachel said.
They enjoyed the rest of lunch, laughing and talking about old times until more than a few of the diners stopped by their table and pantomimed different movements to show how much better their tennis and golf swings were after Harry’s care. Harry seemed as amused as she and Rachel were, but through it all, Harry held her hand and introduced her as her girlfriend.
It was an amazing feeling, being at the center of Harry’s attention, and being respected was like a healing balm. In all their married life, Byron had never shown her this kind of attention. It’d be hard to put the nightmare behind her, but now all she wanted to do was remember that she’d survived. He’d tried, but he hadn’t defeated her.
Even as her mind wandered, it was hard to miss some of the envious glances from more than a few women when Harry picked her up and carried her out. That was way out of her norm, and if any of them realized where she’d come from, they’d all line up for their chance at Harry.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head?” Harry asked when they waited outside for the car.
“Are you sure?” she asked, looking into Harry’s eyes. “About me, I mean.”
“There’ve been plenty of books written about how there’s only one perfect fit in the universe for you. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to find that person, and some people never do.” Harry tilted her head and kissed her. “I was very lucky—I found the one girl put here just for me in the third grade. I’m going to spend years proving to you how true that is.”
“You’re the answer to every prayer I’ve ever offered up.” Not everyone got one more chance to get it right, but it was time to take hers and hang on no matter what.