Chapter 25
Madison
“What? No!” I stood up, straightening my skirt. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re doing that thing with your hands.” She pointed to where I was fidgeting with my sleeve. “You always do that
when you’re hiding something.”
I quickly dropped my hands. “There’s no one, Mom. I’m just busy with work and… everything else.”
“Everything else being…?”
“Make sure my mother rests instead of playing matchmaker from her hospital bed.”
She huffed dramatically. “Fine, fine. But just so you know, I wouldn’t mind having a doctor for a son–in–law.”
“Mom!”
“What? I’m just thinking ahead. Plus, imagine the family discount on medical care.”
Birkenaugh. “First day in a fancy hospital, and you’re already trying to set me up with the staff.”
I shook my head, trying not
“Hey, a mother can dream.” She adjusted her pillows. “Besides, did you see how gentle his hands were? Imagine those hands
making you breakfast in the morning-”
“Mom!” I covered my face. “Please stop.”
“Fine, fine. But don’t blame me when he finds another pretty young woman who actually appreciates his medical expertise.”
ме орг
“You need to rest.” I appreciated the opportunity to shift the focus. “The nurse mentioned you have tests later.”
“Oh, now you’re using my health as an excuse to avoid talking about your love life?” She crossed her arms, but I could see the playful glint in her eyes. “That’s low, even for you.”
“I’m using your health as a legitimate reason for you to sleep.” I tucked the blanket around her. “Doctor’s orders, remember?”
“Doctor Dreamy’s orders, you mean.
“Mom!”
“I’m just keeping track of my medical team.” She grinned. “Very thoroughly.”
I pressed my lips together, fighting back a smile. “Sleep. Now.”
“Yes, boss.” She settled back against the pillows. “But this conversation isn’t over.”
“It never is with you.” I leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll come back tomorrow after your tests.”
“Mmm, maybe I’ll have more doctor stories for you by then.”
“Goodbye, Mom ”
“Love you, Maddie.” Her voice was already getting drowsy. “Even if you refuse to give me grandchildren with excellent healthcare benefits.”
I shook my head as I walked to the door. “Love you too, mom.”
The door clicked shut behind me, and I let out a long breath. Leave it to my mother to turn a hospital admission into a dating opportunity. I headed for the elevator, digging through my purse for my phone to check the time.
The elevator dinged, and I looked up just as Dr. Williams stepped out
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“Ms. Harper.” His smile was warm and professional. “How’s your mother settling in?”
“She’s…” I thought about her matchmaking schemes. “Getting comfortable.”
“Excellent. Alexander asked me personally to oversee her care.” He shifted the charts in his arms.
“Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
“Of course.” He paused, his expression thoughtful. “You know, it’s interesting. I’ve known Alexander for years, but this is the first time he’s ever reached out about an employee’s family member.”
I shifted my weight, unsure how to respond. “Oh? Well, I’m very grateful for the help.”
“Oh, right.” Dr. Williams checked his watch. “I should get back to my rounds. Other patients to see, charts to review – a doctor’s glamorous life never ends.”
“Of course.” I stepped aside to let him pass.
“We’ll take good care of your mother, Ms. Harper.” He quickly nodded and strode down the hallway, his white coat swishing behind him.
I pressed the elevator button and stepped inside the empty car, sagging against the wall as soon as the doors closed. The conversation with Mom played through my head – her jokes about Dr. Williams, her curiosity about the hospital, her questions about how we could afford it all.
How could I possibly explain this arrangement to her? “Hey, Mom, remember my boss? Well, funny story – I’m actually his girlfriend now. Sort of. For money. But not like that! It’s more of a business arrangement with benefits.”
Yeah, that would go over well.
The elevator descended smoothly, each floor ticking
as I imagined all the ways that conversation could go wrong. Mom would either have a heart attack right there in her fancy new hospital bed or worse she’d try to set me up with a doctor even harder as some kind of rescue attempt.
I rubbed my temples. It had been just one year–one year of pretending, keeping this secret, and letting Mom believe that insurance and bonuses had magically solved all our problems. Then everything would go back to normal–whatever normal meant these days.
The elevator dinged at the lobby. One year wasn’t so long, right? People did way crazier things for their families. At least I wasn’t robbing banks or selling organs on the black market. Though honestly, explaining either of those might be easier than telling Mom I’d agreed to be Alexander’s girlfriend–for–hire.
I stepped out into the lobby, my heels clicking against the polished floor. One year. I could handle one year. Then, Mom would be better, the bills would be paid, and this whole arrangement would just be a strange chapter in my life that nobody
ever needed to know about.
Right. Simple as that.
The next afternoon, I pushed through the hospital doors. The familiar antiseptic smell hit me as I made my way to the top floor. A nurse at the station looked up and smiled.
“Ms. Harper! Perfect timing your mother just came out of treatment about twenty minutes ago.”
“How did it go?”
–
“Dr Williams said everything went perfectly.” She gestured down the hall. “She’s still a bit groggy from the sedation, but you can go in ”
I thanked the nurse and headed down the pristine hallway, my heels muffled by the thick carpet. The luxury of this place still caught me off guard even the air felt expensive somehow.
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I pushed open the door to Mom’s room as quietly as possible. The sight of her sleeping form made my chest tighten – she looked so small against the crisp white sheets, her face peaceful but pale. The steady beep of monitors filled the silence.
Moving closer, I noticed the bruising on her arm where they’d placed the IV. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and I found myself matching my breathing to hers.
Alexander had made this happen. The same man who’d proposed our bizarre arrangement had also given my mother a fighting chance. The thought twisted my stomach into complicated knots.
A week ago, Mom had been sharing a room with three other patients, fighting for attention from overworked nurses. Now,
she had round–the–clock care, premium treatment options, and doctors who actually remember her name–all because I’d agreed to play pretend girlfriend to my impossibly complex boss.
Was it worth it? I watched Mom’s peaceful–face, the worry lines around her eyes less pronounced than I’d seen in months. The answer was obvious, even if it made my chest ache.
I owed Alexander, not just for the money or the hospital transfer but for giving Mom back her dignity. Here, she wasn’t just another patient number. She was Mrs. Harper, the woman with the quick wit who made nurses laugh and flirted with her
doctor.
My cheeks warmed, remembering her comments about Dr. Williams. I trusted Mom to turn even premium healthcare into a
dating opportunity for me, of course. If she knew about Alexander…
But that was exactly who
she couldn’t know. This arrangement with Alexander might be helping her heal, but the truth
raised me to be independent, strong–willed, and proud–not the kind of woman who traded her
would break her heart:
personal life for medical bills.
The monitors beeped steadily. Each sound represented another moment of proper care, another step toward recovery.
Another reminder of what Alexander’s help meant.
I sank deeper into the chair, letting out a long breath. Maybe this was what growing up really meant – doing whatever it took to protect the people you loved, even if they’d hate how you did it.
The door creaked open, and I turned to see Hazel’s familiar face peeking in. Her eyes widened at the sight of the room.
“Holy shi-” She caught herself, lowering her voice to a whisper. “This place is nicer than my apartment.”
I pressed a finger to my lips and stood up, gesturing toward the sleeping form of my mother. Hazel nodded, tiptoeing into the room like she was infiltrating a top–secret facility.
She mouthed “wow” as she took in the panoramic views and high–end medical equipment. I tugged her sleeve and pointed
toward the door.
I led Hazel into the hallway, closing Mom’s door softly behind us. The moment we were out of earshot, Hazel grabbed my arm.
“Madison, this place is insane! It’s like a five–star hotel with medical equipment.” Her eyes darted around the pristine corridor. “How did you swing this?”
I shifted my weight, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my skirt. “Mr. Knight offered me a loan.”
“Oh right, you mentioned that.” She leaned against the wall. “But girl, this is Hallmark. Even with a loan…” She whistled low. The monthly payments must be brutal.”
“I worked out a payment plan.” I focused on a spot just past her shoulder.
“Must be one hell of a plan.” Hazel’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. There’s no way a loan covers all this. The premium care
alone would cost.”
“It’s just a loan, Hazel ” I cut her off, perhaps too quickly. “Mr. Knight has good connections with the hospital ”
She crossed her arms. “Uh–huh. Rich, powerful men don’t usually hand out medical loans to their assistants without
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expectations.”
“It’s not like that.” I rubbed my temples. “Can we just be happy Mom’s getting better?”
Hazel’s expression softened. “Of course, I’m happy about that. I just…” She touched my arm. “Be careful, okay? These kinds of arrangements can get complicated.”
“There’s no arrangement.” The lie felt heavy on my tongue. “Just a standard loan that I’ll pay back slowly.”
“If you say so.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Just remember I’m here if you need to talk. About anything.”
“I know.” I forced a smile. “Thanks for checking on Mom.”
“Always.” She squeezed my hand. “But Madison?”
“Yeah?”
“Whatever’s really going on… just watch yourself. Okay?”
I nodded, guilt churning in my stomach. “I will.”
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Gregory Ellington author
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