A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Thirty Four
Sam is lying on the bed when Jeffrey comes out of the closet. "I hung my towel and put my clothes in the hamper." He says, walking over to the bed after he turns the light off.
"Wow, once in four months." She says, moving over to him as he lies down beside her. "When are you going to talk to Josh about Lewis?"
"I don't know. I haven't even thought about it. And sarcasm doesn't suit you."
"Actually sarcasm suits me quite well." She says with a smile.
"I wonder what you will say if our son has that same sarcastic attitude?" He says, idly playing with her hair.
"With us as his parents, sarcasm will be in his blood." She says, looking at him.
"Our son will be the sweetest angel there ever was, because you are his mother." He says, as she laughs.
They lay there for several minutes before she finally asks what's on her mind. "When do you expect to hear from Noah?"
"I'm hoping for tomorrow, but definitely within the next couple days. The immediate protection of an agent will take precedence over everything else."
"You make it sound like my brother plans to kill me."
"We don't know what he plans to do Sam. That is the problem. Your brother is an enigma that I would rather we both avoided." He says, as she sighs. "I'm sorry. I know you feel slightly responsible for what's happening, but it's not your fault."
"It's a little bit my fault. I didn't play along. I didn't follow their plans."
"You were only doing your job by honoring the oath you took."
"I know all that. That doesn't matter to my brother. He wants to destroy everything we're working for."
"Your brother will destroy nothing we ever work for. You were only doing your job. The problem is with your brother not you."
"The problem was with my father. He trained Jeremiah to be him. He tried to train me and he almost succeeded."
"What happened?"
"I was shown the truth. The same truth that I'm sure Jeremiah was shown as well but he refuses to believe it."
"What did you see?" He asks, nuzzling her hair.
"I was fifteen when I was finally forced to see what my father did to my mother. He destroyed her and he did it for no other reason than she defied him and left. He used every means he could to discredit her, to make her appear unfit, unstable. He made her appear to be everything the courts would penalize her for. Everything, whatever it took."
"How did you find out?"
"You know this guy that my brother has that works for him, doing his dirty work. My father had the same type of man. Intimidation, coercion, whatever it took to get what he want, this man did it. One day after my father caught me and mother together and I was punished. The next day I overheard my father talking in his study. I stopped outside and I listened and I quickly realized that he was planning to do something that would permanently keep my mother from seeing me."
"He was going to kill her."
"No, he wouldn't do that. He was going to pretend that he had offered my mother forgiveness for leaving. And while he offered this forgiveness and allowed her to see us, he was going to find/plant evidence that my mother had sexually abused all of us. It wasn't bad enough to put her in prison. He wanted to her to die there when he finished."
"What happened?"
"Once I realized what was happening, I went back to my room and I grabbed a small tape recorder that I used for note taking and reminding myself to do things. I stood outside the door and I recorded everything. When the meeting broke up, I hurried down the hallway and around the corner. My father was coming out of his office when I walked around the corner again. He never suspected that I had overheard them talking until I turned eighteen and I played the tape for him."
"What did he do?"
"He tried to deny it, but I had the proof right there on tape. He tried to take the tape away from me. That's when I told him I was leaving. If he tried to stop me, I would make sure everyone heard that tape, including the law. I packed my bags and I went to my mother. I finished out my senior year, graduated and in the fall went to college in DC. From there I went to the agency and you know the rest."
"How did that affect Jeremiah and Megan?"
"Megan understood, Jeremiah took our father's side and believed everything he said about me and our mother."
"So if your father attacked your mother continuously, why did she turn to them when she became ill?"
"I don't know, unless it was the fear of dying alone. She wanted to have her kids around her, all of them. But I was in Russia. Megan was with Patrick so that left Jeremiah."
"You know that if you hadn't've been in Russia at the time she got sick, she might've still died."
"Yes, but there was a higher probability that she would've survived if I had been home when she was first diagnosed because I would've insisted that she go to a doctor and seek treatment."
"And it might've ended up the same way."
"That's true, but they gave her no option but to pray, that was it."
"And her mother was too old to do anything?"
"No, but in the eyes of Jeremiah, Gran had turned her back on the church and god when she and Poppa left."
Putting his arm around her, he pulls her against him. "I love you, everything about you. And I know that we'll come out of this whatever may happen."
"I love you too."
"Let's get some sleep." He says, reaching for the lamp beside him. Turning it off as she snuggles in closer to him.
Reva comes downstairs as Josh is pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Are you going to be home tonight?"
"I should be." He says, turning to her.
"Why?"
"Because I thought maybe we could go out to the shed and get the Christmas stuff down for Thanksgiving. That way it's down and we won't have to search for it."
"I can do that, but right now I have to go. I've got to meet Billy about a new project." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
"You haven't eaten anything" She says, as he shrugs into his coat.
"I'll grab something at Company when I met Billy." He says, opening the door as she follows behind him. Turning, he leans in and kiss her. "I love you."
"Love you too Bud." She says, standing at the door as he walks to his truck.
Getting in, he starts the truck and then puts it in gear. They wave to each other as he pulls out of the drive. He takes the back roads to get to Company, avoiding downtown and rush hour traffic. Pulling it, he parks and gets out. Walking into Company, he finds a table as Buzz comes in from the kitchen. "Good morning, Josh." Buzz says, walking by his table.
"Morning, Buzz."
"Coffee?" He asks, stopping for a moment.
"That's fine." Josh says, as he nods, heading for the bar as Billy walks in.
"Morning, Buzz." Billy says, walking past the bar for Josh's table.
"Good morning Billy." Buzz says, following him over to Josh's table.
He sets Josh's coffee down and then asks. "You guys want the usual?"
"Yes." They both reply as Buzz nods.
"I need some of that." Billy says, nodding to Josh's cup of coffee.
"I was bringing you a cup." Buzz says, turning away.
"So, did we get the bid for the Little Rock company?" Josh asks, reaching for his coffee and taking a sip.
"I think we have it. I should hear officially by this afternoon."
"Great, if we can get this bid. I'm sure we'll be able to get most of the bids from the companies Richard is bring in. Are you going to be able to focus on this project, with the loft?"
"Yes, that's not going to be a problem. The job at the loft can be handled by Chris. Have you talked with Jeffrey?"
"No, why?"
"I was wondering if he told you about Lewis."
"I overheard him talking to his lawyer about it, sort of went off on him when I heard about." Josh says, sheepishly.
"He told me about it."
"Well, Reva and I went to see him yesterday at his house. You both did a really great job with that house, by the way."
"Thank you."
"Anyway, Reva and I went over there and Jeffrey and I talked. I explained some of the things I felt when I learned that HB had slept with more than one woman besides my mother. It was hard enough facing the fact that he cheated on her once. I didn't want to face it again, but not facing it doesn't change the fact that he did it again with Jeffrey's mother." Josh says, as Buzz brings their breakfast.
"Jeffrey told me you talked after you and Reva came to the house. Thank you for the compliment on the house, but really Ava and Sam are responsible for what that place looks like. They did all the decorating."
"I have to say, having our own decorating team has turned out to be a very wise venture." Josh says, as Dj walks in. He spots Josh immediately, but looks away quickly, ignoring him, as he finds a table on the other side of the room.
Josh looks up as he catches a movement out of the corner of his eye. Spotting Dj, he sighs softly before he quickly looks down. "Some thing wrong?" Billy asks, looking around. He quickly settles on Dj. "Do you know him?" Josh doesn't answer. "Josh."
"Ummm, sorry." Josh says, shaking his head.
"Do you know him?"
Sighing, Josh looks at Dj and then back at Billy. "Yes, I know him. He's my son."
"He's your what!" He glances at Dj. "Wait did you say he's your son?"
"Yes."
"I don't understand. Did you and Reva…?"
"He's not Reva's."
"You had a child by another woman! When?"
Sighing, Josh sits back, settling in, to tell Billy the story. "You remember when we thought Reva was dead?"
"Of course."
"The night the officials in Florida called off the search for her, I got drunk, very drunk. I think I was drunker than you the Fourth of July before HB died when we…."
"Get on with the story." Billy says, nodding.
"That night I went to a bar in South Miami. I was alone, angry that the search was called off, angry at Reva for driving her car off the bridge in the first place and I was missing her. We were on our honeymoon and it wasn't supposes to be that way. Anyway, I met a woman and we got to talking about things. I don't remember everything that happened that night or when we went back to my room, but I woke up the next morning with her beside me, a splitting headache and feeling very much alone. I got up and I left and I never talked to or saw her again until a few months ago."
"How did you find her again?"
"I didn't go looking for her, if that's what you're thinking. I had a couple of confrontations with Leah and Dj this summer. And I became suspicious that she wasn't telling me everything so I had Harley do some digging. Her contacts in Florida found a woman that used to be Leah's sister-in-law. She told the whole story on DVD and Harley brought the DVD to me after it was sent to her. Reva saw the DVD…."
"Reva knows about this?"
"Yes, and surprisingly she's standing behind me and I know I've been such a hypocrite judging Jeffrey for all the things he's done and all the things he never had any intention of doing, but anyway. When I watched the DVD, I confronted Leah and she admitted that it was all true, so now I have a son and he wants absolutely nothing to do with me."
"What about his mother?"
"Leah, there's nothing going on there. She didn't want to tell the truth but I forced her too. And every time I try to talk to him." Josh says, glancing up. "We end up in a fight."
"He must have wanted something to do with you. He came here from Miami. That was were he was raised, wasn't it."
"Yes, he was raised in Miami. And I don't know why he came here. Leah came to find him after her husband died. Dj left Miami after the man he believed to be his father died several months ago. It's all a twisted mess and I have no idea what to do. Reva's tried to get him to listen to both his mother and I but he flatly refuses to."
"It sounds to me like he needs something to get his attention."
"He probably does, but is that my right." Josh asks, looking at Billy.
"I know who you could probably talk to about this and get help, at least get some perspective on the situation."
"Who?"
"Jeffrey, I know he's probably the last person…."
"You know you're right. Jeffrey's been in this situation and not too long ago at that." Josh says, looking at Dj.
"It doesn't hurt to ask him."
"No, it wouldn't." Josh says, still watching Dj. "Do you know Reva invited them to Thanksgiving dinner?"
"She didn't. She invited them to Thanksgiving dinner."
"Yes, but Leah declined the offer."
"At least she's learning." Dj says, standing behind Billy.
Josh looks up and then says. "Hello Dj."
"You know, it's too bad my mother didn't decline the offer when you slept with her." Dj says, staring at Josh.
"You know what I'm tired of your little comments Dj." Josh says, standing up. Billy follows him.
"What are you going to do?" Dj demands.
"I should bend you over my knee right here. I realize that it was a shock to find out that the man you thought was your father wasn't, but it's time to accept it and move on. Your mother…."
"My mother is a slut and you're..."
Josh takes a step closer as Billy gets between them. "Son, I don't know you, but I suggest you learn to show your elders a little more respect, especially your mother." Billy says, looking at Dj.
"What do you know about it?" Dj demands as he reaches up to push Billy.
Josh grabs his wrist and twists it back behind him. "That's enough. You have the right to be upset about what happened. You don't have the right to be disrespectful or belligerent to me or your Uncle."
"He's not my uncle!" Dj spits out as he tries to throw off Josh's hold.
"Have you ever considered that you're fighting against something that could benefit you?"
"Have you considered that you should've left my mother alone?" Dj demands as Josh releases him and he spins around to face him.
"Actually, I have and I should've. I should've walked away that night but what I did with your mother concerns you up to a point and that doesn't include insulting me, your mother or your father." Dj looks at him and then turns and walks away.
Josh and Billy watch him leave, before Josh turns to Billy. "Well, that is my son as hot-headed and stubborn as his father."
"You handled that pretty good, but maybe you should still talk to Jeffrey."
"Go over the bids for the Little Rock job and I'll support any decision you make." Josh says, reaching for his coffee. He takes a sip as Buzz walks up.
"Is everything okay?" Buzz asks.
"It's fine." Josh says, as Billy nods. "I see you at the office."
"That's fine." Josh says, as Billy turns to leave.
Sam walks into the bedroom. 'You're late." She says, watching Jeffrey tie his tie.
"I wonder why that is?" He asks, looking at her in the mirror.
"You didn't complain in the shower."
"I'm not complaining now." He says, adjusting his tie for the final time before he turns to her. "When's your first patient?"
"Nine."
"Alright.' He says, reaching for his jacket. He slips it on and then walks over to her, slipping his arms around her. "I'm only a phone…."
"I'll be fine J, I won't go anywhere by myself until my agent gets here."
"I just want you and him…."
"I know. I'll be fine here at the office. I won't go anywhere and I'll lock up at lunch when the staff leaves. I will be totally fine."
"Alright." He says, leaning in to kiss her. He steps back after a moment. "I can come ho…."
"Go, you've got work to do and I'll be fine." She says, stepping back
He walks out of the bedroom and she follows him. "I'll come home…."
"At five and we'll be here waiting for you. We'll eat dinner and then we'll order a movie or something. I'm not going to let my brother change what we do."
"Alright." He says, walking up to the door. He reaches for and pulls his coat on. Turning to her, he leans over and kisses her. "I love both of you."
"And we love you." She replies smiling as he opens the door. She stands at the door watching him as he walks down the steps to the sidewalk and then to his car, the crunch of frost as he walks. So, they will have their first snow he thinks, looking up at the sky as he walks to his car.
She waits till he's pulling away from the house before she closes the door, locks and sets the alarm. Walking over to the laundry room, she goes downstairs. The rest of the staff will be arriving within the next thirty minutes. Walking into her office, she walks over to her desk, sitting down. She sits there for a moment before she picks up the phone. Dialing information, she waits for them to pick up. "City and State please." The operator asks.
"Yes, Laurel Falls, Il.
"What listing please?"
"Jeremiah Whitmere." Sam says, glancing at Jeffrey's picture and then she looks away.
"Here's the number."
She waits for a moment before an automate voice reads the number to her and she jots it down on a note pad beside her. Hanging up, she stares at the number. She knew that if Jeffrey had any idea about her plans, he would stop that's why she didn't tell him about them. She's looking at the number when Leah comes up. "Good morning, ma'am." After a moment, Sam doesn't look up. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Leah asks, watching her.
"I'm fine Leah." Sam says, pulling off the paper and folding it up before she puts it in her pocket as she walks around her desk. "We have a busy day today?"
"Yes ma'am. We've got appointments up until lunch and a few after."
"Great."
"You're also supposes to go to Cedars to look in on Ms. Marler today."
"Yes, I remember. I don't think I'm going to be able to do that for a couple days. Some things have come up."
"I'll let her mother know."
"No, I'll call Holly." Sam says, walking out into the hall as the rest of the staff arrives. The receptionist unlocks the front door and Sam is carried away with the day.
Josh walks into the Mayor's office. Stace is out her desk when he walks in. "Hello, Mr. Lewis." She says, looking up.
"Hello." Josh says, looking around.
"May I help you?" Stace asks, after a few moments.
"Yes, is Jeffrey in?" Josh asks, looking at her.
"Ummm, he's running be…"
"Good morning Stace." Jeffrey says, walking into the office.
"Good morning, Sir." She says, as Josh turns to Jeffrey.
"Josh." Jeffrey says clearly surprised to see him there.
"Hello." Josh says, looking a bit unsure of himself.
"Ah, did we have a meet…?"
"No, nothing official." Josh says, shaking his head.
For several moments there is silence before Jeffrey asks. "What can I do for you?"
"Ahhh, do you mind if we go into your office?"
"Ahhh, sure. Stace I'll be busy." He says, walking towards his office.
"Of course, sir. Would you like me to bring you some coffee?"
"Actually could you call Company for me and order my usual. I didn't have time to stops." Jeffrey says, turning to her he opens his door.
"Yes sir." She says, reaching for the phone.
"I'm sorry. I'm running a little bit late this morning." Jeffrey says, walking over to his desk. He puts his briefcase down before he takes his coat off.
"I completely understand. I remember when Reva and I were first married. There were a number of days that I came to work later than normal." Josh says, with a smile. Jeffrey blushes slightly. "Don't be embarrassed, Sam is a beautiful woman."
"How did you know?"
"Well the hickey pick out from your collar gave a bit of a clue." Josh says, with a smile as Jeffrey sits down.
"Please sit." Jeffrey says, nodding towards the chair sitting in front of Josh. "I'm a bit nervous as to why you're here."
"I'm not here to attack you." Josh says, holding up his hand. "It was brought to my attention this morning that you have experience with a particular problem I'm having right now."
"I do!" Jeffrey says, surprised.
"Yes, it's only been a couple years since you found out about Ava."
"They weren't easy years."
"You both seem to have settled into an established relationship and rather quickly."
"Ava is a good girl. She makes it easy to love her."
"Yes, she does. And she's quite talented to, which she most likely got from you."
"I can't take the credit for Ava being the woman she is. I didn't raise her."
"No, but I'm sure a bit of your charm wore off on her genetically."
"Are we here to discuss my influence on Ava?"
"No, we're not. I find myself in the same situation you found yourself in a couple years ago. And I can't seem to reach this man." Josh says, settling back.
"What are we talking about here? A colleague, family, what?"
"I suppose I should start at the beginning."
"Alright."
"Several years ago, we all thought Reva was dead. She had driven herself off the end of the bridge and was never seen again until she ended up in Amish country and involved with Alan Spaulding. It's a long story. Anyway, I spent weeks in Florida, trying to find her before the Florida officials called off the search and she was declared miss and presumed dead. The night the officials called off the search, I got drunk, extremely, incredibly drunk and I met a woman at the bar I was at. We got to talking and one thing led to another and it ended up she came back to my room and we had sex. It was a one time, one night thing. I left her the next morning and I didn't see her again until a few months ago, when she turns up here in Springfield." Josh looks up, but Jeffrey doesn't flinch. "At first I had no idea who she was. I had a few encounters with her and her son. And they were confrontational. I questioned Leah about her past and who she was, and what was going on with her son, and she told me what happened between them, but I felt like I wasn't getting a straight answer from her, so I asked Harley to dig into her past. She contacted her contacts in Miami, where Leah was from and they found a woman that was supposedly Leah's former sister-in-law. That woman gave Harley's contact the whole story and he sent it to Harley on a DVD. Harley gave that DVD to me, well she gave it to Reva first and then Reva gave it to me. After I watched it, I confronted Leah and I forced her to tell me everything. From that one night in Florida after the search was called, I have a son, Dj." Josh says, looking at Jeffrey.
"You have a son by another woman. Someone you slept with after the search for Reva was called off in Florida." Jeffrey says.
"Yes, his name is Dorian Joshua. He's named after me and Leah's father, at least the Joshua part is. Leah liked the name Dorian. Anyway I have a son."
"What do you want from me?"
"You've been here. You didn't find out that you had a child until Ava was grown."
'That's true. Our story is a bit messier than yours."
"But you still have a grown child you knew nothing about. How did you get to the place you are now?"
"It didn't happen over night. When I first found out about Ava, neither she nor Olivia wanted me in their lives. And Olivia didn't want me to have anything to do with Ava. I didn't want to have anything to do with Ava at first. I don't know why I felt that way, unless it was simply because of fear. I had never had anyone that depended on me, not after Sam, and certainly not my own child."
"How did you get Ava to accept you?"
"Time and patience, eventually I realized that Ava really did want a relationship with me. She was just as scared as I was. Once that was established and Olivia did some of the things she did, Ava and I started to develop our own relationship. Olivia hated that idea. I'm wondering, how Reva is handling this?"
"She's actually been very supportive. She's even tried to get Dj to listen to us."
"What do you mean?"
"He's incredibly anger. He's been very rude to his mother on some occasions when we've met together."
"With Ava, she was never rude but our relationship wasn't an instantaneous thing, mostly because I pushed her away, but eventually we did end up being what we are. I don't know if it's because of the things Olivia did, or because of me."
"So, you're saying to give it time."
"Yes and accept that he may never accept you."
"I already knew that. " Josh says quietly.
"I'm…."
"No, I'm not blaming you. I know it's going to take time but he is so angry and I can't let him speak of his mother the way he does."
"That is something I'm sure you can handle." Jeffrey says with a smile.
"I'm sure I can too." Josh replies, smiling back as he stands up. "Thank you for letting me talk with you."
"You're welcome, although I don't know if I was much help."
"It's good to talk to someone other than Reva and Billy about this."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but how is Reva handling this?"
"She's actually been very accepting. More accepting that I was of her in this situation."
"What do you mean?"
"When Reva came back and we found out about her time in San Cristobel, I was incredibly jealous. So jealous in fact, that I forced her to send Jon away without telling him where he was and then I forced her to leave San Cristobel. And when we left and we came back to Springfield. I expected everything to go back to the way it was before Richard came into our lives. I knew she was struggling with her feelings for Richard, but I ignored them, forcing her to handle things on her own. And then when it all fell apart, I left her, pretending that everything that happened was her fault, not mine."
"And I'm assuming that she's not behaving that way?"
'No, she's tried to get Dj to talk to both of us. She even invited them to Thanksgiving dinner." Josh says, as Jeffrey smiles. "Leah turned her down."
"I think that would've made an uncomfortable dinner even more uncomfortable." Jeffrey says, sitting back.
For a moment, Josh looks at him. He starts to say something and then closes his mouth and then he says. "If you're talking about how you and Sam coming to dinner, I want both of you to come." He says, as Jeffrey looks at him. "I know I've been an ass to you lately and I am sorry about that, ignoring you as my brother doesn't change the fact that you are my brother and what happened between my father and your mother was out of both of our control."
"I don't know what to say?"
"Come to dinner, Reva and I want you there."
"Alright." Jeffrey says, as Josh stands up.
"Before you go." Jeffrey says, reaching for his briefcase. He opens it and pulls out some papers. "Here." He says, holding out the papers for Lewis Oil. "I was going to give…."
"You were going to give it to Billy but he told you to give it to me." Josh says, taking the papers. "I had breakfast with him this morning and he told me about your conversation yesterday. He's the one that suggested that I speak to you about the situation with Dj. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I'll tell Reva to expect you and Sam for Thanksgiving dinner."
"Let me talk to Sam and I'll let you know."
"Of course." Josh says. He walks over to the door with Jeffrey following him. Opening the door, Josh turns around and then holds his hand out. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Jeffrey says, shaking Josh's hand. Josh leaves as Jeffrey closes the door behind him.
Sam stood in the break area. She was between patient at the moment and she pulls out Jeremiah's number. Looking down at the number, she stands there for several moments debating within her self whether she should call him. She knew what Jeffrey's reaction would be if she did it without telling him what she was thinking. Putting the number away, she pours her a glass of water and takes a drink as Leah walks in. "Dr. O'Neill, your ten o'clock is here."
'Thank you." She says, putting the glass down before she walks out of the break area. Leah watches her.
"Are you okay?" She asks, following behind her.
"Ummm, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"You seem a bit preoccupied to day."
"Everything is fine. Who am I seeing now?" Sam asks, as they walk down hallway towards the exam room.
"Ms. Stanaway."
"Really, again, what is it now?"
"Ummm, she's complaining of pain in her lower back. She thinks her kidneys might be shutting down, because kidney disease runs in her family."
"Every disease runs in her family, according to her." Sam says, stopping outside the exam room as Leah smiles.
"Good luck." Leah says, walking away as Sam opens the door.
Sam walks into the exam room. There is a older woman sitting on the exam table. "Good morning, Ms Stanaway." Sam says, closing the door behind her.
"How are you?" She says, smiling.
"I'm fine."
"How is the little one coming?"
"He's fine as well. I hear you are having some pain in lower back."
"Ummm, yes, on my right side."
"Well, let me take a look." Sam says, walking over to the table. "If you'll lie down on your left side, I'll take a look."
"Alright." She says, lying down on her left side.
After brief examination, Sam walks over to the sink. "You can set up Ms. Stanaway."
"So what's wrong?" She asks, sitting up.
"Ms. Stanaway, have you done any lifting or sudden twisting."
"Well I organized my garage yesterday and I had to lift some boxes."
"And could you have possibly pull muscles in your lower back and that's why you're in pain." Sam asks, turning to her.
"I suppose it's possible, but kidney disease does run in my family."
"Have you had any other symptoms or problems?"
"Well, no. This didn't start until last evening."
"Here's what I suggest. I'm going to prescribe a very mild muscle relaxant I want you to go home and you have a heating pad."
"Yes."
"Good, alternate sitting on it, twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off." Sam says, writing out the prescription and handing it to her.
"Thank you, Dr. O'Neill. I didn't know what I would do if it was something like kidney disease. It's so hard to get a transplant and the insurance."
"You're fine, Ms. Stanaway. Just a minor pulled muscle and no need for a kidney transplant." Sam says, opening the exam room door.
"Thank you again." Ms. Stanaway says, gathering up her purse.
"Another think you might consider, is cleaning out that purse." Sam says, noticing how heavy it looked.
"I only care the bare essentials." Ms. Stanaway replies, following her out of the exam room.
"That maybe true, but the weight of your purse could aggravate the pulled muscle." Sam says, walking down the hallway, following Ms. Stanaway to the receptionist. "Thank you for coming in Ms. Stanaway."
"Thank you, Dr. O'Neill. You took endless months of worry of my mind. A simple pulled muscle, now why didn't I think of that?" She says, as Sam smiles.
"Have a good day, Ms. Stanaway."
"And you too, take care of that little one." She says, as Sam nods.
Turning away, she walks away as the receptionist takes over. Leah is in the lab when Sam walks in. "What was wrong?" Leah asks.
"A pulled muscle, from moving things around yesterday and she was convinced that she would need a kidney transplant." Sam says, shaking her head. "I gave a prescription for a mild muscle relaxant."
'You should've referred to a psychiatrist."
"She's sweet and harmless. I think part of the reason she comes in is because she wants to be around me and the baby. Is the lab work back for the Rosslyn case?" Sam asks, turning to the lab tech.
"Yes, but I don't think you're going to like the results."
"It's what we thought it was."
"Yes."
"Alright," Sam says, holding out her hand for the file.
"Do you want me to call and set up an appointment with them?"
"No, I'll call them personally. I wish Dr. Chase was here?" Sam says, taking the file. He's the best oncologist I know."
"Dr. Noah Chase." The lab tech asks. "You know him?"
"Yes. We worked at the same hospital in DC."
"He used to be on staff at Cedars. He saved Lizzie Spaulding's life a few years back, with a transplant from her mothers cord blood after she gave birth to Lizzie's brother James."
"I heard about that."
"If he's available to treat the Rosslyn boy then he'll survive."
"Let's take it one step at a time." Sam says. "I'm going to call Mrs. Rosslyn." Sam says, walking down the hall.
When she reaches her office, she walks over to the desk and sits down. She sits there for a moment collecting her thoughts before she picks up the phone. Dialing the number given on the file, she waits for them to answer. After several rings, she gets their voicemail. "Mrs. Rosslyn, this is Dr. O'Neill. We've received Josiah's test results and I would like to discuss them with you as soon as possible, so if you could call the office we'll schedule an appointment for us to discuss the results." She hangs up and then closes the file. Getting up, she walks out of the office as the rest of the staff is getting ready to leave for lunch.
"Are you staying in today?" Leah asks, walking by with her coat on.
"Yes, I believe I will." Sam says, smiling as she nods and she and the rest of the staff leave. She locks up and sets the alarm before she walks back towards the stairs leading upstairs. When she reaches the upper floor, she walks into the kitchen. Looking in the cupboards, she can't decide what to fix for lunch. Closing the door, she looks around and then reaches the phone. She's dials the number for City Hall. Stace answers as she's leaving for lunch. "Springfield City Hall, Mayor's office."
"Stace, is Jeffrey there?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. O'Neill. He's already left the office for lunch.
"Do you know where he's going?"
"Ummm, I'm not sure. But he usually eats….
"At Company, thank you."
"You're welcome, ma'am." Stace says before they hang up.
Walking over to the door, she reaches for her coat. Slipping it on, she picks up her purse and then opens the door. Setting the alarm again before she closes it. She walks quickly to her car. Getting in, she starts the car. Backing out, she pulls out of parking lot, headed for Company.