The Price (24 page)

“Well she better,” stated Jack, feeling his authoritative state return. “We’re eight hours away and I’m not about to let you go back by yourself.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll give it to me,” she said, as if not overly concerned. “Let’s just finish our shower and then I’ll call her.”

“So, are we good, baby?” He lifted her chin and stared at her ocean blues that made him forget about everything else.

“Always, Jack,” she smiled.

How could she stay mad at him with those deep greens of his looking awfully remorseful? Jack lowered his mouth over hers, tasting the sweetness of her lips that always rendered her powerless to his charms. He ended the kiss and folded her into his embrace, wrapping those strong arms around her and cocooning her in.

“What do you say, we finish in here, dry off and grab some lunch in the kitchen?” He smiled down at her.

“You starved, Jack?” Kate looked up.

“Always,” he grinned and tapped his finger on the rim of her nose. “But for now, I’ll settle for food.”

It was a good sign. Kate hoped things would settle down and they could all go back to their normal lives. Once the assault charges were dropped, they could return to Nevada and the ranch. She would give Paul a day or so to cool down before going to talk with him.

They finished their shower and quietly dressed so as to not disturb Jesse from his morning nap. Kate turned on the monitor but just as they were ready to leave, Jesse poked his head up from the playpen and released a playful screech, as if to say,
take me with you.

“You hungry too, my little man?” Jack picked up his son and settled him on his hip. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and see what Grandma Marnie has in the kitchen.”

As a family, they made their way downstairs. They found Marnie sitting at the kitchen table enjoying her usual garden salad for lunch. She looked up from the stack of magazines she was flipping through to see her daughter, her grandson and that good-for-nothing cowboy, looking better than he had a right to, after spending the night in jail.

“Good morning, Mother,” said Kate as she went over to the coffee pot and poured herself and Jack two mugs full of coffee.

“Actually it is afternoon,” stated Marnie, looking over the black pair of reading glasses that were resting on the bridge of her nose. “How were your accommodations last night, Jack? I hope they were to your liking?”

“Not exactly,” he said, trying hard not to bite his tongue.

He looked exhausted and it was all Marnie could do to refrain from smiling. She watched him place Jesse in the highchair then move to the refrigerator and pull out a jar of green vegetables. Jack returned to the table with spoon and jar in hand. He sat next to his son, opened the jar and scooped out a spoonful. Jesse’s hand waved wildly as the spoon happily collided with his mouth and he clenched his teeth over it.

“At least Jesse is in a good mood,” said Jack, laughing as his son made a screeching sound and slapped his hands on top of the high chair tray. “Open up, buddy, here comes the airplane!”

Jack waved the spoon in the air and did a nose-dive right into the child’s mouth.

“Mmm,” Jesse exclaimed, savoring the strained peas.

“Mmm…that’s right. It’s good.” Jack crinkled up his nose and made a face then repeated the process.

“What do you want to eat, Jack?” asked Kate, poking her face into the fridge and searching for something to make.

“Kathryn, we have servants to do that,” stated Marnie. “Come sit down and enjoy your coffee while I call Hilda to come down and make lunch.”

“It’s okay, Mother. I don’t mind.”

“Nonsense, you look exhausted,” stated Marnie again. “Now sit!”

Kate sighed and closed the fridge. She really didn’t want Hilda or anyone else making them lunch, but she also didn’t want to make a scene. She returned to the kitchen table, taking a seat beside her husband. Wrapping her hands around the heated mug, she brought it to her lips and sipped at her coffee. Marnie picked up her cell phone and called one of her staff. Within minutes, Hilda was in the kitchen working quickly to prepare lunch for her employer’s family.

She set two plates beside Kate and Jack, boasting each a sandwich heaped with turkey, greens and a juicy tomato slice. Once Hilda left the room, Kate opened her sandwich and removed the tomato.

“You’re not going to eat that?” Marnie frowned, looking at the beautiful slice of red pushed aside on her daughter’s plate.

“Kate doesn’t like tomatoes.” Jack answered for her, seeing she’d just taken a bite.

“It appears my daughter doesn’t like a lot of things that are good for her,” said Marnie, and she went back to reading her magazine.

Once more, Jack held his tongue. He was not going to allow Marnie to get to him, not this time. He took the tomato and cut it up into small pieces then picked up a tiny piece and popped it into his son’s mouth. Jesse squinted his eyes shut and opened his jaw, spitting out the partially chewed tomato on-to the tray.

“I guess you don’t like it either,” Jack chuckled to himself.

Marnie looked over at the child and rolled her eyes, then returned to her magazine.

“Have you decided what you are going to do about teaching?” asked Marnie, feigning a subtle interest not worthy of drawing her full attention.

“I have to call Sye later today,” said Kate. “I hate to take a leave of absence for the second half of the year.”

“It should only be for a month, baby,” said Jack, feeling terrible for putting Kate through this. “If you want, I’ll talk to Sye.”

“No, I’ll do it,” she said, taking another bite of her sandwich.

“You also need to call the doctor.” He reminded her.

“I will,” she said, covering her mouth to hide her chewing.

Marnie placed the magazine down and looked at her daughter. “Why do you have to call the doctor?” She waited for Kathryn to answer.

“Kate has another clogged milk duct.” He again answered for his wife.

“I believe I asked my daughter and not you.” She shot back, as if to silence him.

“Well I was the one that found it,” stated Jack, reacting to her curtness as his back stiffened.

“And what were you doing to my daughter to make this discovery?” She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed those silver blue eyes on him.

She was challenging him and he got the distinct impression that if he gave the wrong answer she would be tossing him to the curb.

“I was feeling your daughter up. Is that all right with you?” He responded just to piss her off. “After all, she is my wife, and I know everything about her body.”

“It’s nothing!” Kate chimed in, seeing the two of them ready to go at it. It was like watching iron sharpening iron and neither one wanting to back down. “I’ll call the nurse practitioner and get a prescription. Now stop arguing, both of you!”

“Kathryn, it sounds like you have had this before?” said Marnie.

“A couple of times.” She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Her mother rolled her eyes. “I want you to see my doctor.” She picked up her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. “We will get you an appointment this afternoon.”

“You don’t have to do that, Mother,” she objected.

“You’re going, Kathryn, and I will not take
no
for an answer.” It was Marnie’s turn not to back down. “It’s time to see a real doctor for a change instead of one of those fake, hick-town practitioners that haven’t kept up with the twenty-first century.”

“Fine, call him.” She gave a resigned sigh.

But Marnie already had the phone to her ear. She worked her magic, throwing her influence and prestige around until an appointment was given.

“You have an appointment at two to see Dr. Bloom,” she said, placing her phone back on the table.

“That will give me enough time to nurse Jesse and settle him in for his nap.” Kate stood and undid the tray from the high-chair then held out her arms for her son. Jesse released a laugh, stretching his arms wide beckoning to be placed in his mother’s arms. Kate picked him up and settled him against her hip.

“I’ll have Collin get the car ready,” stated Marnie. “We should leave no later than one thirty since we don’t know how the traffic will be on the I-5.”

“You’re coming too?” Kate looked at her mother then at Jack. He just shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course I’m coming,” stated Marnie. “Someone needs to take care of you properly for a change.”

Jack felt the direct hit, and the vein in his neck began to pulse while his shoulders went rigid. He wanted to say something in the worst way, but he held his tongue.

“We’ll meet you in the foyer at one-thirty,” Kate re-iterated, and Marnie nodded with pleased satisfaction.

Kate left the kitchen and made her way back upstairs with Jack close on her heels. They returned to their room to get ready for the appointment.

SEVENTEEN

DISCOVERY

Jesse settled down for his afternoon nap and Maria agreed to watch him while Kate and Jack went to see the doctor. It was rather awkward in the limousine with Jack on one side of Kate and Marnie on the other.

Upon arriving at the doctor’s office, Jack was given a stack of papers to fill out while Kate sat anxiously in the waiting room to be seen. To make matters worse, once the nurse showed Kate to the exam room, Jack and Marnie followed. Now sitting on the exam table draped in a dressing gown that opened in the front, Kate looked over at Jack and Marnie as they huddled in two separate chairs in the crowded little room.

Dr. Bloom entered and upon seeing Marnie, a huge smile formed on his aged face. He was tall and about the same age as Marnie, though his hair was totally grey.

“Marnie, what a pleasant surprise.” Dr. Bloom walked over to the attractive woman to greet her.

“Allan, how are you?” Marnie gave her formal exchange of hug, kiss, then smile.

“So what brings you here?” He asked, seeing a rugged, sandy-haired man frowning in the corner seat and a pretty blond, the spitting image of the older woman, on the exam table.

“Allan, this is my daughter, Kathryn,” said Marnie. “She’s visiting from out of town.”

“So what brings you to see me?” He inquired as his attention now rested on the nervous young woman.

“I think my milk duct is clogged again,” explained Kate.

“I take it you’re nursing?” He gave her a warm smile.

She nodded yes.

“And I assume this is your husband?” he said, looking over at the man with his arms folded over his chest.

“Yes, that’s Jack,” Kate smiled at her husband before returning her attention back to the doctor.

“Well, let’s have a look,” said Dr. Bloom. “Why don’t you lie back, Kathryn.”

Kate lay back against the exam table and Dr. Bloom discreetly opened the one side of her gown. He began his examination, pushing and pressing against her breast. Jack sat up in his chair and closely watched.

“You’re doing the wrong side,” said Jack, arching his back as if annoyed.

He jumped from his chair and was by Kate’s side in a split second. He moved the doctor’s hands away and parted the other side of her gown then pressed and lifted on her other breast.

“This is where the lump is,” he declared, tapping on the fleshy area along the side of her breast.

“Jack, please,” said Kate, and she nervously laughed, looking apologetically at Dr. Bloom.

“It’s customary to check both breasts, young man so I can get a feel for what is normal and what isn’t,” he stated in a rather clinical manner.

“Oh.” Jack chuckled in the same fashion as Kate.

He released his hand and stepped back. Dr. Bloom examined her other breast under the scrutiny of her husband’s watchful eye.

“How long have you had this lump?” He asked his patient.

“A couple of months,” she replied. “It comes and goes.”

He nodded and continued to feel the nodule with his fingers. He finished and covered her with the gown.

“Go ahead and sit up,”

“So, what’s the verdict, doc?” Jack asked. “Can we get another prescription of antibiotics and be on our way?”

“I think before we prescribe anything, I want you to go for a mammogram,” stated Dr. Bloom.

“Why? Is something wrong?” Kate searched the doctor’s face as a worried expression crossed her own brow.

“No, I just want to err on the side of caution,” he responded. “I’m not ruling out that your milk duct isn’t clogged, but I want to be sure.”

“So where do we go for this mammogram?” asked Jack as he took Kate’s hand and held on tight.

“We have a facility right here in this building,” stated Dr. Bloom. “Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll make the arrangements.

Dr. Bloom left the exam room with Marnie following him out in the hall.

“Allan, I want this taken care of in an expedient manner,” stated Marnie.

“I figured you would,” he smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t worry I’ll take good care of your daughter.”

“Thank you,” said Marnie.

Kate dressed and several minutes later, a nurse returned instead of Dr. Bloom. She escorted them to the third floor where the mammograms were performed. This time Kate went alone into the room, leaving an anxious Jack behind.

“Have you ever had a mammogram before?” The technician asked while she maneuvered the robotic machine, pivoting its mechanical arm near Kate.

“No,” said Kate, looking at the large plexi-glass slab connected to the arm.

“You might feel a little discomfort but that’s all.” The tech smiled at her.

She seemed genuine and her soothing manner seemed to calm Kate’s fears. She was gentle in helping Kate maneuver her breast along the slab as another piece of glass pressed it tightly together. Kate felt like a lab specimen being sandwiched in-between the glass plates.

“Now hold still,” said the tech, slipping behind a screen. “I’m going to take several pictures, so don’t breath until I tell you.”

Kate held her breath and out of the corner of her eye, she watched the tech with brown hair and matching scrubs until she told her it was okay to breathe. When she was done, the tech re-appeared and wrangled Kate into another awkward position to take more pictures. When she was done, the tech repeated it on her other breast.