A Kiss is Just a Kiss CHAPTER 4
Dr. Sarah LaFleur checked her patient's pupils, having rather abruptly dismissed Becks and Betty to leave the room.
Daniel looked into the flashlight, responding to the doctor's requests as to where he should focus.
She checked his vital signs and took samples of his blood and urine. When she started to pack up her things, she looked towards the door to Betty's suite, "So...Mr. Meade. I have one more question."
"Call me Daniel, please, doctor."
"Fine, Daniel. You can call me Sarah, then."
"Sure, Sarah. What's your question?"
"The girl that was here."
"Betty?"
"Yes, what's her...um...relation to you?"
"Her relation? She's my...well...I'm her boss. And...her friend. She's my best friend, actually."
"I see. Is that all?"
He sighed, rolling his eyes, "Well, yeah. But...why does everyone always ask me...ask US about whether we're more than friends all the time?"
She shrugged, "Well, I can't speak for everyone. But for one thing, the way she looked at me when I shooed them both away I'd say if looks could kill, I'd be dead! She seemed extremely annoyed and even angry. She was VERY protective of you!
When she called my office earlier, it was the same thing. And you… you seemed EXTREMELY jealous and annoyed at that other guy, hitting on her!"
"That's because he...he hits on EVERY woman he meets!"
"Yesl, I suppose he did hit on me when I first arrived, too."
"See what I mean? Don't get me wrong. I love the guy like a brother! We grew up together. But he's pretty much a dog! He doesn't know how NOT to hit on a pretty girl! No offense, doctor.
You're...you know, a very smart woman. Not just...some girl he met at a bar. I apologize for his idiotic behavior. And I appreciate you coming here to do this for me."
"Your mother is a very well-respected patron of the hospital and she is paying me quite well. I need to get your samples to the lab as soon as possible, so I can find out exactly how much toxin you were exposed to. To be perfectly honest, I sort of 'made up' something to talk about to gauge your vocabulary and comprehension.
You seem to have whatever drugs they gave you out of your system. Your assis...Miss Suarez said they did have you drinking a lot of water? That was probably to avoid a build up of toxins, which is good news. Did they have you drink some sort of 'ceremonial tea'?"
"Yes! At the 'level' ceremonies. I take it, that's when they were giving me the poison? I was so stupid! I was so desperate to talk to Molly!
First, I trusted Connor Owens and let him have access to my family's funds to steal from me. Now, this crap! I really am an idiot! I don't deserve to have the 'keys to my father's kingdom!" I doubt I'll ever be able to handle that much power. He was right to groom Alexis instead of me to run his company."
She placed her hand on top of Daniel's, shaking her head, "Don't blame yourself. Grief makes fools of us all. Trust me, you'll be able to get to the other side of this. Sadly, it takes the one thing none of us want to allow, the passage of time!
We all look for a quick cure, a magic potion to feel healed from our pain. But grieving the loss of a loved one doesn't work that way. We have to be patient with ourselves and allow the pain to subside naturally, in its own way and at whatever pace we may need. Give yourself time."
"You sound as if you know what you're talking about."
"I do. I lost my brother two years ago. He was my twin brother, so...we were very close! He got brain cancer and it was terminal. He fought it and went into remission five years ago, and we all really thought he was done, he was better. Then, the cancer came back and he said no more chemo. It was over...in a matter of months."
"That's what happened with Molly, too. She had fought it twice before I met her and thought she had survived. So this time, she refused to take chemo, either. We were only married a few months."
"I'm so sorry for your loss! I truly mean that. And you are NOT stupid, okay? You're just in pain. Those people took advantage of your pain."
"Excuse me. I hope we're not interrupting anything. I wanted to see how it was going with the examination, Doctor." Betty was glaring at the hand Dr. Lafleur had on Daniel's rather pointedly.
Sarah glanced at Daniel, then at Betty and smiled, patting his hand as she rose, "I was just leaving, Miss Suarez. I got the samples I needed. I'll get them to the lab now and contact you when I have the results. I'm sure you and Mr…"
"Scott. Beckett Scott. It's a pleasure, Dr. Lafleur. Thank you for your discretion and for coming on such short notice. We really appreciate your…"
As Becks extended his hand, Sarah looked at him, seeming puzzled, "Your name is...Beckett?"
"Like Samuel Beckett. The Irish playwright. Yeah. My mom was obviously a huge fan. I go by Becks. I sincerely apologize for being such a jerk before. I've been...well, we've ALL been really worried about Daniel. Including his mom, of course. Who…"
The Meade matriarch, Claire Meade appeared, as Betty answered the knock on the outer door to the main suite, ushering the woman inside after a quick hug to both Betty and Becks,
"Who is here now! Hello, Becks! It's so good to see you again! And Betty, dear! I can't begin to thank you both enough for all your help! And you must be Dr. Lafleur? Thank you for coming so quickly, Doctor! You've seen my son, I take it?"
"Mrs. Meade! It's a real pleasure to finally meet you in person! Your endowments to the hospital wing have been invaluable in extending my research grants! Thank you again for thinking of me. Yes, I've seen your son and I'll call you as soon as I get his lab results.
In the meantime, continue to monitor him and keep me informed if he has any residual side effects from the drugs. It was very nice meeting you all. Welcome to Boston!"
"Thank you, doctor!" Daniel and Claire both said, before the older woman went to embrace her son.
The three observed the tender reunion, as Becks walked the young doctor to the outer door, "So, do I have your number, doc? I mean...you know, to get good old Danny boy's test results, of course!"
"Of course!"
He leaned his arm above the door frame, and grinned impishly, "Yeah, listen, about how I acted earlier! It's...well a disease, you know. When I'm stressed out, I sort of hit on women indiscriminately. I seriously should know better. Normally, I do. I AM better. But sometimes, I revert. Old habits, you know."
She rolled her eyes, and handed him her card, shaking her head, "Of course, Mr. Scott. You're forgiven for your...less than charming greeting earlier. Please keep me informed of your friend's mental and physical state. I hope to be able to tell you all very good news about his prognosis as soon as I get the test results. Goodbye."
"Goodbye? So, wait, you live close by? I may end up staying here for a while after Daniel and his mom go back to New York."
She smiled, "What about...Miss Suarez?"
"Betty?"
"Yes, Betty! You two seem...close."
"Not really. Don't get me wrong, she's a very sweet girl. And she was...well, sort of hitting on me earlier, if you want to know the truth. She kissed me but good! But I can see pretty clearly that she's actually totally in love with Daniel! She's just not willing to admit it yet."
"I see. That's your professional opinion? So, tell me, do you have a degree in psychology, Mr. Scott?"
"Actually, I DO have a minor in literature and did some graduate work in psychology, although I never finished my Masters program because I started working and traveled extensively with my job.
I majored in Fine Arts here at Harvard ten years ago. Daniel and I attended at the same time. He was a business major and I studied photography. I'm a photo-journalist, see?"
He grabbed his camera, and began showing her some of his photographs. She looked somewhat surprised, nodding as she smiled, "I see. Impressive, actually!
So, Mr. Beckett Scott. As soon as you help your friend stop feeling guilty for being in love with Miss Suar...with "his Betty" so he can get closure on grieving for his wife's death and get Betty to stop hitting on you and admit HER feelings for HIM, give me a call."
Becks laughed, as he kissed her hand, winking, "It sounds like you're pretty damn good at making accurate diagnosis, Doctor. Good call on both of those two! It was a pleasure meeting you! I've always had a thing for redheads!"
She rolled her eyes, "You should have stopped while you were ahead!"
"I know! Sorry! Forget that last sentence, please! Bye, doc!"
When the pizza arrived they all ate heartily, joking about Mode, and Wilhelmina as well as Becks regaling everyone with his exploits in various places out in the wild.
Claire was thrilled that Daniel was speaking to her again. She rose, "I hope you'll excuse me, but I'm rather tired after that long ride here! I believe I'll go and freshen up before heading to bed. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Mom. Thanks for coming. I'm glad you're here. I really am sorry I worried you and everyone! I wish Alexis was here or Dad. I clearly suck at running the company. First, I lose Molly, and let Connor rob us, then I get involved with those people at a damn cult! No wonder Dad never trusted me with his "kingdom"!
Betty shook her head vehemently, "Daniel, that's just not true! Your father really loved you. I was too selfish, worrying about my precious job! I let you down! I didn't keep the promise I made to him on his deathbed! Your dad's ghost is going to haunt me again!"
Everyone stared at Betty in shock. Claire stopped at the door, with a look of amusement on her lips, "Sorry, what was that? Bradford's 'ghost' haunted you? When was this? What on earth did the old goat have to say for himself? Why was he upsetting you? You've done nothing but help Daniel! All he ever did was make him feel bad about himself! Pay no attention to that idiot!"
Becks laughed, "Yeah! Why the hell was Daniel's old man's ghost scaring you, Betty? What did you supposedly do that was so bad? You're always helping Daniel!"
Daniel nodded, placing his hand on Betty's, "Exactly! You've always been there for me, Betty! I agree with my mom and Becks. Why in the world did my dad's spirit talk to you? Ha! And nobody had to drug you or steal from you! You should have told Bennett you've already talked to 'dead people' without his stupid "Community'!"
"Just before he passed away when I was in his room in the hospital, he asked me to keep you on your path. He said he saw me the day I came there for my interview and he could see I had passion...for my work. Then, after he died, when I quit at first, his head appeared in my refrigerator and he yelled at me for not helping you.
And he also told me to stop eating empanadas! Or tamales. I can't remember which. But his spirit went away after I went back to Mode. Then, he left, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and casual slacks. He looked happy!"
Claire and Becks both laughed at Betty's confession.
Daniel smiled, then hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face, "My dad really said that? That he wanted you to look out for me, Betty? I think that's...pretty amazing! Thank you for telling me that! It's like he knew how incredible you were and he picked you for me!"
Becks took Claire's arm and whispered, "Maybe we need to let them talk about this alone, Mrs. M? Can I escort you to your room, pretty lady?"
She nodded, rolling her eyes, "If you're flirting with ME now, young man, you REALLY have a problem!"
After a moment, Daniel pulled away, "Sorry, Betty! I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable in front of...nobody! They left?"
"We're alone!" She observed. They both seemed a bit unnerved to realize they had been left by Claire and Becks to speak alone.
He laughed nervously, "So it would seem. Look, I didn't mean...um...I don't know why I said that about my dad. It's just…"
"Everyone always remembers that he only picked me because I was so ugly, you'd never be tempted by me!" she finished.
Daniel made a face, placing one hand on her cheek tenderly, "Betty, stop, please! I hope you don't really believe that! I wish you would listen to me when I tell you that I think you're beautiful! I've never thought of you as anything other than a very beautiful girl!"
"That's sweet of you to say, Daniel."
"It's what I truly feel. Don't listen to those idiots at Mode, like Wilhelmina, or Marc or Amanda! They're all just rude and stupid and jealous because they know I listen to you over them and they're all obviously blind as hell! Fashion isn't everything! Do you really think I would have had to punch stupid Matt if he wasn't extremely jealous of us? He clearly thought I was 'tempted' by you! He accused us of sleeping together."
She blushed, looking down at her hand, with him still holding it, "Well...we did, sort of. I mean we...SLEPT! We fell asleep together. We just didn't have...sex!"
He laughed, "Yeah, Betty. I remember. I was there. I mean, I know I was pretty messed up. But I think I would remember if we HAD...really had sex!"
"Right!" she practically choked. Did he really just say that? Geez! How freaking blue were his eyes? They seemed darker blue somehow, if that was even possible! She blew out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding while she tried NOT to get lost in those impossibly blue eyes!
He took a step closer, and she chewed on her bottom lip nervously, which made him take a deep breath as he slid his hands up her arms, holding her face as he continued to close the distance between them.
"So, Betty?"
"Mmhmm?"
"When you said I...uh...KISSED you before?"
"Mmhmmm?"
"Was it...like this?" He dropped one arm around her waist and held her face with the other hand, bowing his head and closing his eyes as he kissed her tenderly and slowly for several minutes.
Finally, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down, closer to her level, and deepened the kiss intensely. Before long, Daniel's one arm reached to grab her leg and pull it up, as he began to walk her backwards towards the bedroom.