A/N This started as a micro chapter then grew to a mini. What can I say, Rose is a little bossy.
Chapter 22.5 Quizzical
Edward stood gingerly on the brown paper covering the newly installed tile in the lobby. The plywood door was propped open, allowing the electricians to bring in the scaffolds they needed to install the ceiling fixtures. He felt in the way as the plumbers moved around him, bringing in one of the new sinks, but he was waiting for his sister-in-law. She was never late.
He heard the roar of Rose's Lamborghini before he saw it pull into the parking lot. A few heads turned at the candy apple red sports car. Then Rose emerged, all five foot eleven of her, long blond hair, giant Gucci sunglasses, closely tailored black dress cut a few inches above her knees. The dress covered her skin but revealed her fit body and long legs. As usual she was wearing those black high heeled shoes with the red soles.
As he watched her strut across the parking lot, he remembered a lecture she had given him when he may have suggested she was over dressed.
She'd looked him in the eye and said, "A woman has to be perfectly groomed to be respected. Barbara Walters can have breaking news about a bomb killing hundreds of orphans, and people will criticize her hair. When I wear an expensive suit, it's to show my patient that meeting with them is an important event. When my hair is perfect, it shows my attention to detail. When I drive an expensive car, it shows that I do well. When I wear heels that make me tower over almost everyone in the room, it makes them feel I have authority and they respect me. When a patient believes they are going to the best doctor, they're more confident about the outcome, and that is worth many times the price of my very expensive wardrobe."
He never made another comment about what she wore.
The work around him had stopped. To a man, every worker in the place had frozen in place, watching her saunter over. One over confident soul had the nerve to whistle, thrust out his hips and say, "Come to Papa."
Rose walked over to him, whipping off her sunglasses. Her crimson lips had a slight smirk. "You think that's an acceptable way to speak to a woman?"
The man was a few inches shorter than Rose in her heels. He stepped back, wiping his hand on his grimy t-shirt. "I didn't mean—"
Rose stepped closer. "I'm an orthopedic surgeon. I can repair almost every bone in your body, but I know how to break all of them. Be more respectful."
"Yes ma'am." The worker stepped back, and the other men unfroze and went back to their tasks.
Rose crossed to Edward, giving him a tiny peck on the cheek. "That was fun. Now what did you need me to look at?"
He led her down the hall to the hydra therapy room. The tile had been dry laid in place, the blues, aqua and white in a swirling pattern. "You said you wanted to see the actual tile before they set it. What do you think?"
Rose was holding a bottle of water which she now opened, and to Edward's surprise, poured onto the tiles. She stepped out of her shoes and tried sliding on the tile. "Good grip there. I don't want to fix someone's leg and then they re-break it in rehab."
"I'm sure legal appreciates that."
"Edward, you know I'm all about the details. Get me a towel please?"
He jogged over to side where there was a roll of paper towels, which he brought to Rose.
Holding onto his shoulder she dried her feet before slipping them back into her heels. She looked around the room at the windows and skylights. "This is coming together very nicely Edward. Well done."
He smiled. Rose doled out praise infrequently. She never gave it if she didn't mean it. He asked, "Was there anything else you wanted to look at before you left?"
"I was planning on inspecting the elevator, but Emmett tells me you did that quite thoroughly." She turned to walk out.
Darting after her, Edward asked, "How much did he tell you?"
"Everything. We have no secrets."
"Great." He opened the door for her and she walked down the hall. "Could I ask your advice?"
She stopped cold, turning and walking into the unfinished room that would hold the MRI. He followed. As soon as the door closed she turned back to him, crossing her arms. "What do you need to know?"
He gave her a quick rundown of Monday.
"I just don't understand what went wrong."
She tilted her head, reached out her hand and patted his face. "Edward, it's a good thing you're so pretty. I think Emmett may have dropped you a time or two when you were an infant."
"Why doesn't Bella believe that I only want to help her?"
"Because you don't think like a woman." Rose tapped her lip for a moment, then said, "A-Ha! Loan me a pen?"
Tearing off a large piece of the protective craft paper that was covering the counter top she began writing quickly.
It looked like a list to Edward. He didn't care what it was; if it would help he'd do it.
Putting down the pen in triumph, Rose looked over at Edward.
"You're pretty good at tests, right?"
He nodded.
"Did you ever read one of those quizzes in Cosmo?"
He shook his head.
"Take this quiz as if you were Bella."
He looked down at the paper. Contrary to the myth that all doctors had atrocious handwriting, Rose's was clear and precise. She'd written:
Edward's Quiz
A girl writes in, 'My new guy seems too good to be true. How do I know if he's for real?' Answer true or false
1. Do you spend all your time at your place?
2. He hasn't introduced you to his friends or family?
3. If you go out, do you only go places far from where he lives?
4. Does he avoid having his picture taken?
5. Does he tell you he doesn't do social media, so don't bother trying to friend him?
6. Does he tell you to just wait, and soon everything will be different?
If you answered more than a few true, you can't trust him.
Her arms were crossed, watching him as he stared at the paper. She asked, "How'd you do?"
He looked at the dusty floor. "They really do quizzes like that?"
"Yes, Edward. You're not looking good on paper here. I know you're a good guy, but she hasn't known you as long as I have."
"But she seemed happy, until the waiter wanted to take our picture. I wanted him to, but I thought I was being too pushy."
"Asking a girl to move in with you after you've been intimate once is pushing it. A picture would have been fine. And ask her out ahead of time, don't just show up. Women like to know their guys are thinking of them."
"Thanks Rose."
"No problem. Don't screw this up. Your mom says she's a sweet girl."
"Should I call her now?"
"That all happened yesterday? Give her a day or two to cool off, then call, capisce?"
Rose folded up the quiz, tucked it in his pocket, kissed him on the cheek, put on her sunglasses and went to the door. "See you at the shore house this weekend. I'll want a full report."
A/N It's Ground Hog Day today in the US, so I had to post something to celebrate. Last chapter had quite the response, I hope the next regular chapter answers many of your questions, fears and annoyances.
If you didn't know, FF alters formats and even prevents certain things, like using a backslash in a title or .5. It's been a learning experience figuring out their little tricks, but like Edward, I can be taught and in the future I will have more consistent titling. I'm sure you're relieved.