Page 9 of New Year's Billionaire
Ten Years Later…
“Dr. Magnus, we need you.” It’s my oldest son's ninth birthday party. We’ve hired a bouncy house and a clown and all his friends are here. There’s even an ice cream stand. But, the look on my resident's face tells me something serious is happening at the hospital.
“What is it, Kyle? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
The young man visibly blushes and squirms. I don’t like playing the role of the big bag doctor, but it’s part of the job. If the residents don’t respect authority, then they’re more likely to go off on their own. Half cocked and causing trouble. And when an inexperienced doctor causes trouble in the hospital, that can be deadly.
“It’s a little girl, Dr. Magnus. There’s been a car crash. You’re the best damn brain surgeon in the country. She needs you. She needs you bad.”
“A little girl?” My heartstrings are burning. I hate it when bad things happen to kids. It makes me sick. But, at least I am skilled and trained to help them. “Tell me everything.”
Kyle rattles off all the medical information I need to hear. It doesn’t sound good. This poor, innocent soul is going to need a miracle. And I’m the only one who can give it to her.
We walk through the party towards the exit. I look around for Caden, but I can’t see him anywhere. He understands how my job works. Through all these years, he’s always managed to keep his pinky promise. Never holding me back. Supporting me all the way. But, I’d like to tell him what’s happening. He may be big and scary to most people. But when it comes to his family, he can’t help but worry.
“Just a minute,” I say to Kyle, “I really must find my husband.”
As if on cue, Caden walks through the door. Amanda, our daughter is on his hip. She’s eating an ice cream. Half of it’s all around her mouth. My motherly instinct kicks in and a serviette appears in my hand as if by magic. I wipe the mess from her lips and kiss her head. She’s so small. So innocent. So happy. All I can think about is the little girl her age in a hospital bed. The girl’s mother waiting nervously in the hall. Crying. Terrified she’ll never get to hold her baby again.
“I have to go,” I say. "Something's come up at work."
“I know.” Caden kisses my cheek. He hands me a bag with a couple of sandwiches in it and a drink. He’s always doing things like that. Looking after me. Making sure I’m well fed. I might have to be at the hospital all night. The food in the cafeteria all tastes like cardboard. “The chopper’s already waiting.”
“The chopper?” I look over at Kyle. He's smiling from ear to ear. There's something about souring through the sky at a hundred and fifty miles an hour that really brings a smile to men's faces. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“Of course,” he says, “that little girl needs you there as soon as possible.”
He guides me to the front entrance. I look at him, wondering how the heck he knew about the emergency before I did. But then again, he’s Caden Magnus. Not much gets past him. Especially when it comes to his family.
“You’ll explain things to Brett, won’t you? I feel terrible leaving in the middle of his party.”
“I’ll tell him his mommy’s a kick-ass superhero.” He kisses my cheek. Amanda somehow manages to touch me and get ice cream all over my face, my hand, my arm, and my shirt. It’s impressive, even for her. “And that there’s someone special who needs your superpowers.”
I kiss him on the lips. “Don’t wait up.”
He slaps my ass as I rush toward the helicopter. His touch turns me on. My foot catches in a divot and I almost fall over.
Then I’m climbing on board. Fastening my safety belt. Our pilot is saying hello and giving me a rundown on the weather and how long he thinks it’ll take to get to the hospital. Kyle's looking out the window. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had an erection. There’s something about big engines and men that I don’t understand. It must be in their DNA.
As we take off, I look down at my house. At my husband waving to me. At my little daughter, and then my sons and all their friends running around all hocked up on candy. I wonder how in the heck I ever got so lucky. And how good the last ten years have been.
I really wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull it off. The world-class career. The big, happy family. But it turns out when you have an amazing husband who always has your back - and an almost infinite supply of cash - almost anything is possible.
I turn to Kyle to discuss the surgery I’m about to perform. He’s holding his stomach. His skin is green.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I’ve never been in a helicopter,” he shouts. “It’s kind of bumpy, isn’t it?”
He puts his hand over his mouth. His eyes pop wide open. I reach for the sick bag that’s tucked into the compartment in the door. I really do have to do everything. “Here,” I yell over the sound of the rotors. “Take this! And if you vomit on my shoes, I’ll have you wiping old people's asses for the rest of the year!”
He retches into the bag. I turn back to the window and look down at all the houses zooming by beneath us. I reach for my purse and take out a little picture I keep in my wallet. It's from my wedding. Caden in his suit with his arms around me. Lifting me off the ground. I'm smiling. The happiest woman in the world. And you know what... I still am.
