Ella Frank - Exquisite

Lena picked up another plate feeling that Catherine no longer wished to discuss the issue and looked out the window. She felt her eyes tear up and was amazed to find that out of that whole statement the most monumentally disturbing part wasn’t the thought of having Mason’s child, but the thought that Catherine wouldn’t be there to see them.

Mason watched his mother and Lena come out from the kitchen. He thought his mother looked a little tense and wondered why. Looking at Lena he didn’t sense she was upset, she just seemed quieter than she’d been earlier. He would have to remember to ask her about it later. She came over and sat down beside him on one of the outdoor love seats. Reaching over he took her hand, smiling at her when she turned to him. “You okay?”

Nodding she squeezed his fingers a little tighter, “I’ve never been happier than right at this moment.”

“Really? Because you look a little sad.”

Her smile changed then and morphed from a half smile to something he’d never seen on her, a confused look.

“Do I? I don’t mean to be. If anything, it’s sad things can’t stay exactly as they are right this second.”

He snuggled in putting an arm around her. “So you’re enjoying yourself then?”

Tilting her head she leaned in and kissed his lips, “Every second.”

He was about to respond when he heard her beeper go off. She sighed and reached down into her bag. Pulling it out he watched her brow come down to form a serious frown line then she reached up and rubbed a hand over her eyes.

“I’m so sorry. I need to go to the hospital, one of my patients, Robbie.”

“That little boy?” Mason asked watching as she stood pulling the bag over her shoulder.

She nodded at him then smoothed her hands down her thighs, “Yes. He’s taken a turn for the worse. That was Shelly letting me know his parents have been asking for me.”

Mason nodded understanding immediately that she had to go. His mother stepped forward and grasped Lena’s hand.

“We understand dear. You have a very important job. It’s important to be around those who need us in times like these.”

Mason felt Lena stiffen a little and he pulled her toward the door, “I’ll walk you out.”

When they reached the back door she looked over her shoulder and smiled at his family. “Thanks again. Dinner was amazing.”

“Anytime honey, you’re welcome in this house anytime.” his mother answered with her warm smile. When they finally reached her car they stopped and she turned slowly.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked tilting her chin up so their eyes met.

“Probably not. This is when it gets hard. When the child really has no other option then to fight hard or to let go gracefully. The parents are going to have a rough decision to make.”

“And you’re going to have a rough night.” he paused then reached down into his pocket. He’d wanted to give her this the day after their first night together, but he hadn’t thought she was ready, he was hoping she was now.

“Will you come home to me when you’re finished at the hospital?”

He took her hand and placed a key in it. She looked down at her hand then back up to him nodding.

“If I’m asleep just let yourself in. Okay?”

Closing her hand around the brass key he heard her whisper, “Okay.”

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, “I’ll see you later. Be safe.”

She climbed into her car looked at him where he was standing on the curb, then without another glance she turned the ignition on and drove away.

The night had been horrible. Lena had arrived at 11pm and had gone straight down to the Pediatric ICU. Robbie Tipton had been brought in with a severe pneumonia and it didn’t look good. When she walked in the unit Becky Tipton had turned to her with red glassy eyes and just burst into tears. Her husband Chad had an arm wrapped around her shoulders and looked as though he’d gone ten rounds in a boxing ring. Lena had known there was nothing she could say. After all what can you say to the parents of a child who was lying motionless on a hospital bed with a breathing tube down his throat? Not a whole lot. So she just went to their sides and held their hands while Becky told her what Dr. Monroe, Shelly, had explained to them.

Lena had finally left the room, emotionally exhausted, around 1am. She was sitting in her office staring out at the night sky clutching the key Mason had given her earlier. What did it mean? Was it just a heat of the moment decision on his behalf because he thought she’d need the company tonight? After all, she had told him that when he slept next to her the nightmares seemed to leave her alone. Or was this more serious? Did he expect her to use this key whenever she wanted, or was it only to be used this one night? Or worse on the nights he wanted sex? She gripped it in her hand and tried to push aside all the thoughts that were nagging her. Her emotions were running high and she didn’t know if it was wise to even go by his house. Between the talk she’d this evening with Catherine and then having to deal with the Tipton’s she felt like she was walking on an emotional tightrope and didn’t know how or when she was going to fall. Pulling her bag up and over her shoulder she took the elevator down to her car, walked over and got in it then drove where her heart was telling her, straight to Mason’s.

He didn’t know what to expect. Quietly honestly he wasn’t even sure if she was going to turn up. He’d given her the key to keep and use whenever she wanted. He liked having her in his house, and loved having her in his bed. In fact he couldn’t remember being happier than the mornings he got to wake up with her lying beside him, but right now as he sat in his living room in the dark, watching the clock and waiting for her, he felt nervous. Nervous she wouldn’t show up, nervous she would and he wouldn’t know what to do to help her and nervous that she wouldn’t let him. Just as the clock turned to 1.27am he heard a key push into the lock and turn slowly. The door was pushed opened lightly and he watched her softly tiptoe into the room. She hadn’t seen him sitting on the couch since it was completely dark, and he wondered if she would turn a light on. He’d seen her lit up for just a moment from the light in the hall and she was still wearing what she’d been dressed in earlier this evening. A cream buttoned down blouse and his favorite black pencil skirt. He watched her silhouette gently put down her bag and then his eyes tracked her as she made her way toward the large window in the dark.

Not turning on any lights she stopped when she got there and put her hands on her hips rolling her head back and forward, like she was stretching out the kinks. Finally he stood quietly, having changed into long pajama pants and socks, and padded softly over to her. Not until the last minute when he was right behind her did she tense and turn to face him. With the lights off he knew she couldn’t see much, but he had the added benefit of the glowing lights from the city outside, beyond that they were surrounded by the night sky and darkness.

“Mason. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Reaching out he placed a finger over her lips. “Shh. You didn’t. I was waiting up for you.”

He felt her head shake, “You shouldn’t have done that. You should go to bed.”

Stroking a finger down her cheek he noticed how tense her jaw was and rubbed at the tight spot just in front of her ear. “I wanted to. Rough night?”

Nodding she replied softly, “One of the roughest.”

He stepped in close to her crowding her back up against the cool window. He watched her head tilt up toward him and he knew her eyes were on his face. “What can I do?”