THE AMERICAN PATIENT
Chapter XVI – The Female of the species is more deadly than the male.....
Ella was in toddler heaven; she was perched on top of Romano's shoulders, her head whipping round in all directions, trying to see everything all at once. They were looking at the lions now, having already done the rounds of giraffes, elephants etc...
"Where next kiddo?" he squeezed her leg.
"Monkeys!"
He spun round and strode off to the to the monkey enclosure.
The two elder Cordays' lagged a little way behind. Elizabeth called out, "Robert will you please put her down, you're still not one hundred percent you know!"
"I'm okay!" he called back and carried on.
"He's actually very good with her isn't he?" Isabelle conceded.
"He's good for both of us mother."
"Well you certainly appear to have developed a penchant for bald Americans."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and carried on walking.
"So I take it this is a serious relationship?" Isabelle persisted.
Elizabeth nodded her head and smiled.
"Is he living with you?"
"No...he's been staying whilst he's been ill."
"That's taking the Hippocratic oath a little too much to heart dear."
Elizabeth ignored the comment and quickened her pace, but Isabelle adjusted her own accordingly.
"So what does your father think?"
"I haven't actually told him yet."
"Oh, well I am honoured then. How does he get along with Charles?"
"Well.... they're not exactly each others' biggest fans."
"Really?" She looked ahead to Romano's back. "Maybe I'm being a little hasty in judgement."
"Oh, mother, don't be naughty!" Elizabeth giggled, as they caught up with Romano and Ella.
He turned to face her as she reached his side and flashed her a smile.
"Getting the third degree?" he whispered.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded, and he cast his eyes over to Isabelle, who stood watching them wearing a smirk.
"If I remember correctly you were at Elizabeth and Marks wedding."
"Yeees?"
"Your date if I recall, towered above you as well." She mocked.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and whispered, "Ignore her."
"That's strike one Lizzie.... two more and either I'm outta here, or she gets some back." He warned.
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After the monkey enclosure they made their way into the insect house. Ella stood in the middle of Elizabeth and Robert clinging on to a hand each. Romano read aloud from the information plaque in front.
"The female praying mantis eats her mate after sex. During the act the female will hook her large arms around to hold him in place and start nibbling away...well this explains a lot..." he looked sideways at Isabelle and Elizabeth giggled.
"When did you last see your dad?" he continued in the same vein.
"Stop it, she'll hear you." She laughed.
"She'll hear what?" Isabelle wandered over and peered over his shoulder at what was amusing Romano.
"Juvenile." She muttered and walked away.
"You're not endearing yourself to her you know."
"Well, she's hardly trying with me either, Lizzie."
Elizabeth shook her head. It was going to be a long day.............
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After a quick lunch Elizabeth left the table with Ella for the restroom, leaving the other two occupants consciously looking at everything but each other.
Eventually Isabelle broke the silence.
"Do you have any children Dr Romano?"
"No, I've never married."
"That's a very outdated view in this modern world."
"Well I guess I'm an old fashioned guy."
"To create a life is a wonderful thing.... I simply marvel at genetics...I take it your father was folically challenged?"
Strike two Isabelle, you just keep going.
Romano kept his face as neutral as he could, and held her gaze.
When she didn't get the bite she expected Isabelle decided to try a different tack.
"Elizabeth leads me to believe you and Charles don't exactly see eye to eye?" she started.
Romano shrugged his shoulders. "I'm the loud American who tempted his daughter away from your little isle. What's to like?"
"Yes quite."
Robert rolled his eyes. "So how's the astrology business?" he asked wickedly.
"It's astronomy dear, there is a difference."
"Right." He smirked into his coffee.
"So, anyway. You and Charles?"
Romano placed a hand over his heart, and said mockingly, "There is no Charles and I Mrs Corday, I can assure you, I only have eyes for your daughter."
Now it was Isabelle's turn to roll her eyes.
"So what makes you think you can look after Elizabeth and my granddaughter?"
"What makes you think that I can't?"
"I asked first."
"This isn't grade school." He laughed.
She stared at him crossly and he matched the expression, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, were agreed we won't be packing Ella off to boarding school at the first opportunity, so I guess that's a good start."
Isabelle flinched slightly at the dig.
"It didn't do Elizabeth any harm, you seem to appreciate the results."
"That I do." He smirked lewdly.
"Dr Romano, please could you try to be serious if only for a moment?" She sighed impatiently.
"Let me ask you something." He said.
She raised her eyebrows, and nodded her head slightly.
"Why are you opposed to me being with your daughter?"
"She needs stability in her life right now."
"Which is precisely what she's gets from me.... I'm here and I love her.... when was the last time you even saw Lizzie, before now?"
Isabelle wrinkled her nose with no witty comeback to that. Her own guilt told her she'd been incredibly remiss towards her daughter since Marks funeral. It galled her to admit he was right on that score.
"Could you at least try and learn her name." She said tetchily, and Robert laughed.
"What's wrong with Lizzie?" he smiled cheekily.
Elizabeth and Ella reappeared and saved them from further sniping at each other.
"So Ella what was your favourite animal?" Isabelle started with forced cheerfulness.
"Monkeys." She clapped her hands and bobbed up and down in her seat.
"Yes, I thought the baboons were especially entertaining." Isabelle said staring pointedly at Robert, who scowled back...
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The rest of the day continued with Isabelle and Robert trading insults, and Elizabeth attempting to act as referee. By the time she put Ella down for the night she was exhausted and flopped down on the couch next to Robert. She poured herself a large glass of red wine, and put the bottle on the coffee table in front of her.
"Robert do you want some?"
"No thanks, I've taken something for a nagging headache." He replied shooting a look at Isabelle, who snorted, and reached to refill her own glass.
"Well this is lovely isn't it?"
Romano looked sideways at Elizabeth, his eyes pleading with her to save them.
"Dr Romano, you're looking better, will you be returning to work tomorrow?"
"No he will not." Elizabeth kicked in staring crossly at her mother.
Robert looked from Elizabeth to her mother and rolled his eyes.
"You get on very well with Ella Dr Romano."
"Similar mental age I suppose." He quipped light-heartedly.
"Do you talk to her about Mark, Elizabeth."
All eyes zeroed in on Isabelle, Elizabeth's warning her not to go there."
"She knows who her father was, mother." She said icily.
"It must be confusing for her though."
"No, not at all."
"Were you a close friend of Marks Dr Romano?"
"Not really." Robert sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back into the couch.
"Why's that then, he was a wonderful man was he not?"
"Cause he bagged the best looking gal." he shrugged.
"Mother, can we please not talk about Mark." Elizabeth snapped, her voice sounding edgyily close to tears.
Strike three
"Why not? Surely, Dr Romano doesn't mind us talking about Ella's father. "
"You know what Mrs Corday, I DO mind... you're upsetting Elizabeth in a lame attempt to get to me. If you've got something to say then say it TO ME, and quit using your daughter as a pawn in your stupid games." He bellowed.
"Well really, Elizabeth are you going to let him speak to me that way?"
"Robert..." she looked to him pleadingly, "Just leave it."
His head shot round to focus on her face.
"What, the wicked witch of the west here, sails into town and I'm supposed to bend over? Lizzie she's been on at me all day and, now she's indirectly having a go at you."
Elizabeth looked to the floor. This she did not need and reached instead for her glass of wine.
"I'm not upsetting you am I dear?"
"No mother, although I would appreciate it if we did not talk about Mark."
"That's all you had to say." Isabelle smirked.
Romano looked between both women completely at a loss. He got up, "You know what, I'm tired.... think I might just call it a day."
"It's only eight thirty!" Elizabeth exclaimed, standing up as well.
"Yeah, well like I said I'm beat. G'night." He said, stomping off towards the stairs.
Elizabeth followed him and caught his hand as he started to climb.
"Are you okay?"
"No Lizzie I'm pissed."
"At me?"
"Mainly at your mad mother, but yeah you too.... thanks for the support back there."
"Robert she's my mother...I don't see much of her, so you'll understand I don't want to fight with her when I do."
"Whatever.... you stay and have your cosy little chat about Mark, let her upset you and insult me.... let her say whatever the hell she wants...but don't bother waking me when you're through!"
He dropped her hand and climbed up the stairs, leaving a shell shocked Elizabeth at the bottom.
TBC
Chapter XVI – The Female of the species is more deadly than the male.....
Ella was in toddler heaven; she was perched on top of Romano's shoulders, her head whipping round in all directions, trying to see everything all at once. They were looking at the lions now, having already done the rounds of giraffes, elephants etc...
"Where next kiddo?" he squeezed her leg.
"Monkeys!"
He spun round and strode off to the to the monkey enclosure.
The two elder Cordays' lagged a little way behind. Elizabeth called out, "Robert will you please put her down, you're still not one hundred percent you know!"
"I'm okay!" he called back and carried on.
"He's actually very good with her isn't he?" Isabelle conceded.
"He's good for both of us mother."
"Well you certainly appear to have developed a penchant for bald Americans."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and carried on walking.
"So I take it this is a serious relationship?" Isabelle persisted.
Elizabeth nodded her head and smiled.
"Is he living with you?"
"No...he's been staying whilst he's been ill."
"That's taking the Hippocratic oath a little too much to heart dear."
Elizabeth ignored the comment and quickened her pace, but Isabelle adjusted her own accordingly.
"So what does your father think?"
"I haven't actually told him yet."
"Oh, well I am honoured then. How does he get along with Charles?"
"Well.... they're not exactly each others' biggest fans."
"Really?" She looked ahead to Romano's back. "Maybe I'm being a little hasty in judgement."
"Oh, mother, don't be naughty!" Elizabeth giggled, as they caught up with Romano and Ella.
He turned to face her as she reached his side and flashed her a smile.
"Getting the third degree?" he whispered.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded, and he cast his eyes over to Isabelle, who stood watching them wearing a smirk.
"If I remember correctly you were at Elizabeth and Marks wedding."
"Yeees?"
"Your date if I recall, towered above you as well." She mocked.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and whispered, "Ignore her."
"That's strike one Lizzie.... two more and either I'm outta here, or she gets some back." He warned.
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After the monkey enclosure they made their way into the insect house. Ella stood in the middle of Elizabeth and Robert clinging on to a hand each. Romano read aloud from the information plaque in front.
"The female praying mantis eats her mate after sex. During the act the female will hook her large arms around to hold him in place and start nibbling away...well this explains a lot..." he looked sideways at Isabelle and Elizabeth giggled.
"When did you last see your dad?" he continued in the same vein.
"Stop it, she'll hear you." She laughed.
"She'll hear what?" Isabelle wandered over and peered over his shoulder at what was amusing Romano.
"Juvenile." She muttered and walked away.
"You're not endearing yourself to her you know."
"Well, she's hardly trying with me either, Lizzie."
Elizabeth shook her head. It was going to be a long day.............
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After a quick lunch Elizabeth left the table with Ella for the restroom, leaving the other two occupants consciously looking at everything but each other.
Eventually Isabelle broke the silence.
"Do you have any children Dr Romano?"
"No, I've never married."
"That's a very outdated view in this modern world."
"Well I guess I'm an old fashioned guy."
"To create a life is a wonderful thing.... I simply marvel at genetics...I take it your father was folically challenged?"
Strike two Isabelle, you just keep going.
Romano kept his face as neutral as he could, and held her gaze.
When she didn't get the bite she expected Isabelle decided to try a different tack.
"Elizabeth leads me to believe you and Charles don't exactly see eye to eye?" she started.
Romano shrugged his shoulders. "I'm the loud American who tempted his daughter away from your little isle. What's to like?"
"Yes quite."
Robert rolled his eyes. "So how's the astrology business?" he asked wickedly.
"It's astronomy dear, there is a difference."
"Right." He smirked into his coffee.
"So, anyway. You and Charles?"
Romano placed a hand over his heart, and said mockingly, "There is no Charles and I Mrs Corday, I can assure you, I only have eyes for your daughter."
Now it was Isabelle's turn to roll her eyes.
"So what makes you think you can look after Elizabeth and my granddaughter?"
"What makes you think that I can't?"
"I asked first."
"This isn't grade school." He laughed.
She stared at him crossly and he matched the expression, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, were agreed we won't be packing Ella off to boarding school at the first opportunity, so I guess that's a good start."
Isabelle flinched slightly at the dig.
"It didn't do Elizabeth any harm, you seem to appreciate the results."
"That I do." He smirked lewdly.
"Dr Romano, please could you try to be serious if only for a moment?" She sighed impatiently.
"Let me ask you something." He said.
She raised her eyebrows, and nodded her head slightly.
"Why are you opposed to me being with your daughter?"
"She needs stability in her life right now."
"Which is precisely what she's gets from me.... I'm here and I love her.... when was the last time you even saw Lizzie, before now?"
Isabelle wrinkled her nose with no witty comeback to that. Her own guilt told her she'd been incredibly remiss towards her daughter since Marks funeral. It galled her to admit he was right on that score.
"Could you at least try and learn her name." She said tetchily, and Robert laughed.
"What's wrong with Lizzie?" he smiled cheekily.
Elizabeth and Ella reappeared and saved them from further sniping at each other.
"So Ella what was your favourite animal?" Isabelle started with forced cheerfulness.
"Monkeys." She clapped her hands and bobbed up and down in her seat.
"Yes, I thought the baboons were especially entertaining." Isabelle said staring pointedly at Robert, who scowled back...
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The rest of the day continued with Isabelle and Robert trading insults, and Elizabeth attempting to act as referee. By the time she put Ella down for the night she was exhausted and flopped down on the couch next to Robert. She poured herself a large glass of red wine, and put the bottle on the coffee table in front of her.
"Robert do you want some?"
"No thanks, I've taken something for a nagging headache." He replied shooting a look at Isabelle, who snorted, and reached to refill her own glass.
"Well this is lovely isn't it?"
Romano looked sideways at Elizabeth, his eyes pleading with her to save them.
"Dr Romano, you're looking better, will you be returning to work tomorrow?"
"No he will not." Elizabeth kicked in staring crossly at her mother.
Robert looked from Elizabeth to her mother and rolled his eyes.
"You get on very well with Ella Dr Romano."
"Similar mental age I suppose." He quipped light-heartedly.
"Do you talk to her about Mark, Elizabeth."
All eyes zeroed in on Isabelle, Elizabeth's warning her not to go there."
"She knows who her father was, mother." She said icily.
"It must be confusing for her though."
"No, not at all."
"Were you a close friend of Marks Dr Romano?"
"Not really." Robert sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back into the couch.
"Why's that then, he was a wonderful man was he not?"
"Cause he bagged the best looking gal." he shrugged.
"Mother, can we please not talk about Mark." Elizabeth snapped, her voice sounding edgyily close to tears.
Strike three
"Why not? Surely, Dr Romano doesn't mind us talking about Ella's father. "
"You know what Mrs Corday, I DO mind... you're upsetting Elizabeth in a lame attempt to get to me. If you've got something to say then say it TO ME, and quit using your daughter as a pawn in your stupid games." He bellowed.
"Well really, Elizabeth are you going to let him speak to me that way?"
"Robert..." she looked to him pleadingly, "Just leave it."
His head shot round to focus on her face.
"What, the wicked witch of the west here, sails into town and I'm supposed to bend over? Lizzie she's been on at me all day and, now she's indirectly having a go at you."
Elizabeth looked to the floor. This she did not need and reached instead for her glass of wine.
"I'm not upsetting you am I dear?"
"No mother, although I would appreciate it if we did not talk about Mark."
"That's all you had to say." Isabelle smirked.
Romano looked between both women completely at a loss. He got up, "You know what, I'm tired.... think I might just call it a day."
"It's only eight thirty!" Elizabeth exclaimed, standing up as well.
"Yeah, well like I said I'm beat. G'night." He said, stomping off towards the stairs.
Elizabeth followed him and caught his hand as he started to climb.
"Are you okay?"
"No Lizzie I'm pissed."
"At me?"
"Mainly at your mad mother, but yeah you too.... thanks for the support back there."
"Robert she's my mother...I don't see much of her, so you'll understand I don't want to fight with her when I do."
"Whatever.... you stay and have your cosy little chat about Mark, let her upset you and insult me.... let her say whatever the hell she wants...but don't bother waking me when you're through!"
He dropped her hand and climbed up the stairs, leaving a shell shocked Elizabeth at the bottom.
TBC