TWO WEEKS LATER
Jennifer had just completed ten of the twelve rounds of Interleukin therapy and usually the doctors considered you a superstar if you were able to handle nine. She was looking forward to a break from the hospital for the next couple of weeks before returning for another round. She was on the phone with her father while getting her things together to go back to the apartment.
"Pa, I'm okay. This treatment isn't nearly as hard on you as chemo and I don't get nauseous as much…I know you are Pa…okay, I'll see about coming home for a few days in between treatments.." there was a knock at the door, 'Oh Pa, someone's here, it may be the doctor, I'll call you later…bye."
"Come in" She called closing her suitcase
Jonathan opened the door and stepped inside, "Hi, I just wanted to see how you're doing."
She smiled, "Oh, I'm doing okay, looking forward to being away from here for a while."
"I have an idea." He said, "Why don't you come out to the house for a couple of days."
"Oh Jonathan, I don't think so." She replied
"Come on, you can relax, sit by the pool, have some privacy."
"I thought that's what the apartment was for."
He took her hands in his for the second time, "You can stay in the guest house if you like and besides, I know someone else who would really like to see you."
She smiled thinking of her old friend who was still very dear to her …Max
"I'd really like to see him, too." She replied
"Is that a yes?" He asked
She nodded and smiled, "Yes." She replied, "But only for a couple of days."
"Good." He said, "So what time are you being sprung from this joint?"
She looked at her watch, "Well, any minute, I hope. I'm just waiting on the doctor."
"I can drop you off at the apartment, if you like, and pick you up tonight after work."
"Oh you don't have to do that. I don't know how much longer I'll have to wait. But I will take you up on tonight."
He smiled and the corners of his blue eyes crinkled, "Okay, I'll call you later."
"Okay."
He headed for the door just as there was a knock. Dr. Fleming appeared clipboard in hand.
"Jonathan." He extended his hand, "I'm glad to see you're checking on my favorite patient."
"Well Doc, I hear she's a superstar."
"That she is." He replied then turned to Jennifer, "I have some paperwork for you and then, my dear, you are free to go."
Jonathan gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "See you later." He quickly made his exit finding himself smiling all the way to his car
Back in the hospital room Dr. Fleming was going over the paperwork and what Jennifer needed to be aware of post treatment.
"Now, I know this is California but be careful of the sun. You can get out in it but use plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat."
"Yes, of course." She replied reading over some of the information
"Jennifer, if you don't my asking, how are you and Jonathan getting on?"
"Fine, why?" She asked
"Well, I know you go by Jennifer Edwards but we all know who you are." He explained, "I've known Jonathan since I moved here eight years ago to head up the oncology department here. He always spoke fondly of you."
"Ah, I guess my effort to remain incognito and fend off curious by standers has failed." She replied
"I don't have to tell you how important it is to not be in stressful situation right now." He echoed Dr. Archer's sentiments
She gave him a half smile, "I know, Doctor and I promise I won't let that happen."
LATER THAT NIGHT
Jonathan picked her up at the apartment after work and they made the drive out to Willow Pond Road. It wasn't until they were in Mandeville Canyon that she felt her stomach knot up and she wondered she could possibly be thinking coming back here. Talk about a stressful situation. They pulled up to the gate, still bearing the trademark H, and up the drive to the front of the house.
He opened the door and let them in. She stood looking around taking in her former home. He was right, not much had changed. Some of the furniture was new but overall it still looked the same.
"Mrs. H!" Max boomed coming in from the kitchen
She smiled broadly, taking a moment to look him over before going to him and hugging him warmly, "Max, I can't tell you how good it is to see you. But I'm not Mrs. H anymore, you can call me Jennifer."
"You'll always be Mrs. H. to me." He said softly then turned to Jonathan, "Mr. H you better hurry up and get changed."
"Changed for what?" Jonathan asked
"That big shindig at the Biltmore tonight, you and Ms. Caldwell." He reminded him
"Oh no, I completely forgot." He said, "Jennifer, I'm sorry but I have to go…"
"No need to apologize. I plan on taking a hot shower and curling up with a good book." She replied
Well, it's your first night here." He said
"Max will keep me company if I get lonely, won't you, Max?" She turned to her old friend with a smile
"You betcha, Mrs. H. Maybe I could interest you in a couple hand of gin, for old time's sake?"
She smiled thinking back on all the times he had beaten her at gin, "I may just take you up on that."
"Alright, I guess I better get changed." Jonathan said heading upstairs
"You wanna join me in the kitchen Mrs. H? I'm fixing my famous tenderloin for dinner."
"I knew I smelled something heavenly." She replied, "Lead on."
A short while later Max was putting the finishing touches on the tenderloin and a garden salad. He steadfastly refused to let Jennifer help in any way, insisting she relax. She was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee when Jonathan reappeared having changed into his tux.
"Well, what do you think?"
"Very debonair, Mr. H." Max assured him
Jennifer looked up from her cup and smiled, "Well, don't you look dashing."
"Speaking of dashing Mr. H."
"Yeah, I better get going." He said taking in the scene before him for a moment. There was something comfortingly familiar seeing the two of them together and for a fleeting moment he thought back to when he and Jennifer would have been heading out together, arm in arm, "I'm not sure what time I'll be back so don't wait up Max."
"Okay, Mr. H."
"Bye." Jennifer called out
Max brought the plates over and took a seat to the right of Jennifer, "Here you go."
She surveyed the plate, clearly Max still had the touch, "Looks wonderful." She cut piece of meat and tried it, "hmmm, delicious."
"I made it the way I remember you like it." He told her
She took a drink of water, "Thank you, Max." She paused for a moment, "Max?"
"Yeah, Mrs. H?"
"What's she like?"
"Who?"
"Diana Caldwell."
"Mrs. H I don't think…" He trailed off not sure he should answer her
"It's alright, Max, I'd like to know." She wasn't sure why
"Well I'll tell ya, Mrs. H, she's one hoity toity dame." He said, "Real high class, or so she likes to make out like she is."
"That sure doesn't sound like Jonathan's type." She said, Jonathan might be a millionaire several times over but he abhorred high and mighty attitudes in people
"She's alright I guess, just got that old money air about her."
Jennifer chewed her meat thoughtfully, "You know, I haven't eaten this good in a long time. Hospital food is for the birds."
"Tell me about it." He replied, "I had surgery a few years ago and thought the food I ate while recouping in the hospital was going to kill me."
She gave him a puzzled look, "You had surgery?"
"The old ticker needed a tune up." He said pointing at his chest
"I wish I'd known. I'm sorry." She said
"Well, I asked Mr. H not to tell you. He was gonna call Stephen to get your number but I didn't want him to worry you and besides, I'm good as new."
She smiled as a tear escaped her eye
"And you will be too." He assured her
Her words got stuck in her throat and all she could do was offer him a friendly pat on the arm.
A few hours later Jennifer retired to the guest house to take a hot shower and curl up with a good book. But realized she had left the book she was reading at the apartment so she put on her robe and went up to the house to check out the library that was still behind the desk in the living room. She came in the back door to find Max sitting at the table smoking one of his favorite cigars.
"Mrs. H, you okay?"
"Yeah, Max, I just forgot to bring my book so I thought I'd see if I could find one to read."
"Okay." He said as she walked into the living room
She made her way over to the book shelves scanning them for something that might be interesting. Her eyes grew wide when she saw a familiar title The Pleasures of Mature Love. It had been a gift, a gag gift of sorts from a friend on their fifth wedding anniversary. She wondered why he would have kept it. Then she saw it, not a book, but a photo album. It sat there as it had all those years. She picked it up and leafed through it, pictures from their travels, on their boat, at the ranch. There were pictures on the piano or anywhere in the room and she wondered again why he kept this, a photographic history of their life, neatly tucked away. A single tear escaped her eye.
"Mrs. H?" Max said entering the living room, "You find a book to read?"
She put the album back on the shelf, "No, nothing really jumped out at me."
"How about a couple hands of gin." He offered
She smiled, "Why not?" She agreed, "You're on."
About an hour later they were deep in the middle of a game when Jonathan walked into the kitchen, "I'll be right back." He called back, "Oh, I didn't think you two would still be up."
"I'm on a roll Mr. H."
"I'll say." Jennifer quipped
"You'll never beat him, you know?" Jonathan said getting two wine glasses down
"Jonathan…oh I'm sorry." Diana entered the kitchen
"How are you, Ms. Caldwell?" Max asked, "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you." She replied, "Jonathan, what is going on here?"
"Diana, this is…"
"I think I know who she is." She replied, "The questions is, what is she doing here?"
Jennifer stood up, "I…I should be getting back to the guest house." Why the hell didn't Jonathan tell her I was here?
"Let me walk you back, Mrs. H."
"No, Max that's alright." She assured him
"Jennifer…" Jonathan called after her
She reached the back door and turned around, "It's alright." She quickly made her exit
"I'll make sure she's alright, Mr. H." Max followed suit and exited through the back door
"Mrs. H?" Diana repeated, "He calls her Mrs. H? And why is she staying in your guest house?"
"Just give it a rest Diana." He replied heading back into the living room
She followed him, not intending to let up, "Answer me, damn it."
He sighed heavily, "Alright, I thought it might do her some good to come out here for a couple of days. She's been through so much, some downtime away from the hospital and the city might do her some good."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "Why do you feel responsible for her?"
"I don't feel responsible. She's alone and I wanted to do something to lift her spirits."
"I thought that's what dinner was for."
"Diana, she'll be going back to her apartment day after tomorrow." He said, "I'm not going to argue with you about this."
"Fine, then take me home."
"Fine."