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The words tumbled from my lips, and before I realized it, I’d told him almost everything.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, raising the glass to my lips and taking a haphazard gulp.
For the first time since I’d met him, Dyson seemed to be at a loss for words. He looked at me for a moment before shrugging.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You did what you had to do in that situation. Simon’s a lucky kid. Never apologize for doing the right thing, Ava.”
With my hands still wrapped around the glass, I shook my head. “That’s not what I was apologizing for. I just didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”
“Well, I asked you about it. It’s not a problem.”
I placed the glass back down on the table and sat upright in my chair once again. “Um, well, thank you for understanding. Thank you for listening.”
“Sure thing. Thanks for… trusting me.”
I nodded and reached down to my lap, smoothing my napkin across the tops of my thighs.
“So, why did you stop at being a nurse? Someone like you, Ava, you could easily be a doctor.”
I glanced up at him, smiled and chuckled. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re going to get all of my secrets out of me tonight?”
Deep dimples formed on either side of Dyson’s mouth as he smiled at me. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Picking up my nearly empty wine glass, I tossed back the final remnants. After I did, Dyson lifted the bottle and poured some more. While he filled it, I watched the dark liquid swirl around the bottom of the glass.
“Well, the truth is,” I began. “I was in medical school when my sister died. I had to leave. There was no one else who could take care of him. I mean, there was my mother but… Never mind. That’s a nightmare itself.”
While I spoke, Dyson poured some more wine into his own glass. “So, you want to go back someday? To finish up?”
I shrugged. “I used to, but raising Simon has given me so much joy. I’m not saying I wouldn’t, but if it meant doing it at the expense of having him in my life, then no, I wouldn’t do it.”
Dyson swirled his wine around in the glass and looked at me. “Sorry to hear that. See, to me, that’s exactly why you deserve to do it.”
AVA
Jillian was predictably annoying with an endless stream of questions about my dinner with Dyson. As much as she wanted to make it seem otherwise, there really wasn’t much to say.
Yes, Dyson was more pleasant than he’d been before, bordering on charming. I had a good time, even enjoyed myself. But as I explained to her over and over again, none of that mattered, because he was still the same player. And to make matters worse, he was a playboy leaving town as soon as the race finished.
Speaking of the race itself, Dr. Wilcox insisted I accompany him to it the next day. He even asked me to bring Simon if I wanted. But the events of the day before proved to be too much for him, and he’d gotten sick. As much as I didn’t want to go without him, I really had no choice. We’d all been invited to sit in the team owner’s suite, high above the track.
Soon after the race got underway, Dieter Marsh, the team owner, made his appearance. Middle-aged, and speaking with a thick German accent, he introduced himself to us not long after he entered.
The whole experience was surreal.
It wasn’t anything I was used to, and in fact, as much as I tried to make myself at ease, I never really felt comfortable in the extravagant setting. Dr. Wilcox noticed and approached me not long afterward.
“Is everything all right, Ava?”
I nodded. “Mmm hmm. Yes, I’m having a wonderful time.”
“I see,” he began, gesturing towards the far wall. Along the entire length of it was a massive spread of food. “Are you hungry? Don’t you want anything to eat?”
“Oh, I will. I’m just taking it all in.”
Dr. Wilcox smiled and gestured for me to follow him towards the bar. “Come on, I think a drink will settle you down.”
I swallowed and tugged a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think I like the sound of that.”
Not long after, I’d taken a few sips of my dirty martini. As the mix of vodka and olives settled in, I began to relax a bit. Around that time, Dieter approached Dr. Wilcox and me.
“Are you enjoying the race?” he asked, glancing between us.
Dr. Wilcox and I took turns nodding.
“Is this your first Formula One race, Ava?”
“Yes.”
Dieter lifted his glass to his mouth and drank. “How do you find it?”
If I were being truthful, I’d say it was interesting, but since I wasn’t completely at ease in the situation, I couldn’t enjoy it as much as others looked to be. Of course, I didn’t want to tell him that, so instead I smiled and took the polite route instead.
“It’s really exciting, Dieter. It’s too bad there aren’t more races in the United States.”
Dieter nodded. “Well, we are all hopeful this tour will help us expand the fan base. I suppose time will tell.”
I took another sip of my drink. Dieter turned his attention towards Dr. Wilcox.
“I want to thank you for helping us out on such short notice. I’m not sure what we would have done otherwise.”
Dr. Wilcox waved his hand with a casual motion. “It was our pleasure. Happy to help. Which reminds me, what’s the latest with Dr. Luca’s passport?”
While Dr. Wilcox spoke, Dieter drank more of his cocktail. “It’s funny you should ask.”
I glanced at Dr. Wilcox. A confused look came to his face.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “He did get his passport issues resolved, didn’t he?”
Without speaking, Dieter shook his head. He spent the next few minutes explaining that the earliest Dr. Luca could return to the team would be after the completion of the U.S. tour. In the meantime, the team would be left without a doctor they could trust.
“And so, Dr. Wilcox,” Dieter began, clearing his throat for emphasis. “I’m wondering if it would be possible for you to step in on his behalf until the end of the tour.”
Without wasting any time, Dr. Wilcox answered, “No, Dieter. I’m afraid that’s out of the question. As much as I would like to help out, I’m simply not able to leave my practice for an extended period like that on such short notice. I expressed that sentiment to Dyson when he came to my office. I suppose the message didn’t get passed along.”
Dieter shook his head.
He either wasn’t concerned Dyson hadn’t mentioned it or didn’t care. Dieter remained silent for a moment. I took a sip of my martini and studied him as he considered Dr. Wilcox’s response. Before I even had a chance to swallow, Dr. Wilcox swiveled his head in my direction and pointed at me.
“Ava?” he began. “What about you?”
I snapped my gaze towards him.
“Me?” I muttered. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes,” Dieter interjected. “What do you mean?”
Dr. Wilcox reached towards me and placed his hand on my shoulder, giving me a gentle squeeze. He proceeded to rattle off my qualifications and assured Dieter even though I wasn’t a doctor, there was no one else he’d be more comfortable filling in for him.
“I have absolutely no doubt Ava can handle the job for you, Dieter.”
Dieter nodded and offered a polite smile.
“I’m quite certain that’s the case, good doctor.” Dieter looked at me. “No disrespect to you Ava, but Dr. Wilcox was Dr. Luca’s hand-picked substitute.”
And then, behaving in a way I wasn’t used to seeing from him, Dr. Wilcox straightened his spine, making himself taller and appearing aggressive.
For him, that is.
“Sir, if you have any doubt in my ability to make a recommendation like this, I suggest you contact Dr. Luca yourself and ask him. I can assure you that Ava is more than qualified for this job.”
Dieter looked at him and nodded his head. For a moment or two, I suspected he might phone Dr. Luca and take Dr. Wilcox up on his challenge. Rather, he turned his attention towards me.
“I don’t suppose I can argue with passion like that. Does this interest you, Ava? This position?”
Speechless, I stood there looking at the two men with my mouth open. “I, um…”
“Oh, I should mention the compensation,” Dieter said, straightening his index finger. “The position will pay fifteen thousand dollars per race.”
Holy shit!
Before I could say a word, Dr. Wilcox smiled and looked at me.
“By the way Ava, you don’t need to worry. Once you’re finished with the team, you’re more than welcome to come back to the office.”
Dieter placed his empty rocks glass down on a nearby table and clapped his hands together. “Wonderful! It’s settled then.”
Simon, Simon, Simon!
“No wait,” I said, interrupting his celebratory mood. “I’ve got a young child to care for at home. I’m not able to just leave for weeks on end. As much as I appreciate your incredibly generous offer, I’m afraid I just can’t do it.”
Dieter looked at me. After a few seconds his features softened into a kind face.
“Ava, I understand this dilemma. I have seven children of my own, and as I built my business over the years, leaving them was always the most difficult decision I faced.”
