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Her eyes remain narrowed.
“And no one will want to,” I add. “They already tried hating you once. They didn’t succeed. You’re too good of a doctor and too kind of a person to hate.”
Ellis looks away and draws a deep breath. “True. No one can resist me once they get to know me.”
Just like me.
“But I still don’t want to continue with this fake engagement.” She pulls her hand away. “There’s no reason.”
“I thought I just gave you one.”
She punches my shoulder playfully.
“Ow!” I rub it. “The ring hurts.”
Ellis looks at it. “Hmm. I might finally have found a use for it.”
“So you’ll keep it on, then?”
“No.” She takes it off and lifts it up to take a look at it. “I can’t wear this at work. You know they don’t allow rings in the operating room.”
“So wear it around your neck like everyone else,” I tell her.
“No. I’m not going to keep wearing it. Our deal was that you allow me to accompany you here and I pretend to be your fiancee, so I’m going to give it back to you the second we leave this place and that’s final.”
I sigh. “Fine.”
So much for trying to push my luck.
Ellis, too, sighs. “I guess we really are leaving, huh?”
I hear the sadness in her voice. I still don’t think the Northups deserve her concern or her loyalty, but I do understand now why she feels that way. It’s the doctor in her. She can’t stand to see anyone suffering. Or maybe that’s just her.
I stroke her hair. “I’m sure the Northups will be alright.”
She nods. “I hope so.”
~
“I hope you enjoyed your stay in our humble home.” Calvin shakes my hand with both of his. “And we hope to see you again next year.”
I glance over at Ellis, who is talking to Christine. “We’ll see.”
I try to pull my hand away, but he grips it and pulls me forward to whisper in my ear.
“I hope that next time we meet, we’ll have the chance to talk in private. Just the two of us.”
So he’s making his move, huh?
In the recent public functions I’ve attended, I’ve often seen Calvin speaking with influential, wealthy men. Once, I saw him leave the room with the son of the CEO of an insurance company. That’s why I told Ellis he’s plotting to take over the entire Northup estate. He has a good chance of succeeding, too, since Samuel Northup doesn’t have long left to live, Vivian is a wreck and Gabriel seems to have fallen out of his father’s favor. Christine doesn’t seem interested, and Suzannah? No one can trust her to run anything. Calvin Beaumont may be young, but he is smart, charismatic and ambitious, all of which are necessary to handle a fortune.
“I certainly wouldn’t mind hearing the thoughts of a man who I hear has a promising future,” I tell him.
I have to do everything I can to make sure the partnership between the hospital and the Northups continues.
He smiles. “Good to hear it.”
I leave him and join Ellis, who’s now speaking to Norman.
“We are honored to have had you,” Norman tells her. “Maybe the next time you come here, you’ll be wearing a different ring?”
Ellis looks stumped. “Um…”
I step in. “We don’t have a date yet, but I’m sure you’ll know when we do since we’ll be sending the family an invitation. My fiancee here seems to have grown fond of them.”
I pat Ellis’s shoulder.
“Indeed?” Norman asks her.
She nods.
Norman smiles. “That’s wonderful to hear.”
Ellis looks like she wants to say something – ask another question about the Northups, maybe? Instead, she puts on her own smile.
“It was nice meeting you, Norman.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he answers.
As footsteps approach in our direction, he backs off.
Vivian stands in front of us. “On behalf of my father, thank you for coming.”
“I hope he gets better,” I say.
She turns to Ellis and gives her a hug. “It was nice meeting you, dear.”
“Same here,” Ellis says.
After pulling away, she glances around.
“Where are the others?”
“Gabriel says he’s still in pain,” Vivian answers. “If you ask me, though, it’s more of his ego that’s hurting. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Judging from what Ellis saw last night, I’m sure he is.
“Will you give him Rainier’s apology again?” Ellis asks.
Again? I never apologized in the first place.
“Oh, that’s alright,” Vivian says. “I’m sure he deserved to be punched. I’ve been wanting to do it myself.”
“Then you’re welcome,” I tell her.
Ellis frowns.
Vivian looks around. “As for Christine, well, I thought she was here.”
But she isn’t anymore.
“I’ve spoken to her,” Ellis says. “You have such a kind daughter.”
“Soft like me, I’m afraid. What about Suzannah? Has she said goodbye?”
Ellis shakes her head.
No surprise there. I’m sure she’s still pretending to be sulking over my engagement.
“Well, I’ll just tell her you left,” Vivian says. “I’ll tell my father, too, of course.”
