25. Hudson
25
HUDSON
I look at Lacy’s blood test results and frown.
“She is more than a fine candidate,” Melody says over the phone in a tone that indicates she’s agitated, while I am gripping on to the phone like it has a death wish. She flew in here yesterday, did the consult, and flew straight back out. She didn’t even have time to see Harvey after school.
“Her iron is too low… and her inflammatory markers look a little off.” I tell her the same thing I’ve been saying for the past ten minutes since I got hold of her. Lacy had her tests done and Melody put a rush on them and got them back in twenty-four hours. While Lacy is fit and healthy, her iron is a little low, her blood pressure is a little high, and I just don’t like it. Something feels off.
“Hudson, you asked me to come on board as the specialist. My recommendation is that Lacy is fit and healthy to donate and that a transfusion for Veronica is literally the only thing she hasn’t tried at this point. But let’s be honest, it may buy her a few extra months, at most.” Melody huffs, and while most doctors have a dark sense of humor, Melody’s flippancy is somewhat annoying.
“I understand that,” I grit out. My inner turmoil about this is causing a pounding in my head.
“Great. But here is something I don’t understand…” Melody says as I run my hands through my hair for the hundredth time today.
“What’s that?” I ask, looking over Lacy’s test results again and again, not wanting to miss anything.
“It seems that you are a little too close to this situation,” Melody says, and I pause.
“I’m just trying to look at it from all angles. But you are the expert, and I wanted you here. Veronica is best friends with my mom. I wanted to create a little space between me and her care.” I’m not interested in getting into this right now.
“Well, you are a good doctor, so I can believe that. But what I find hard to believe is the way you were holding Lacy’s hand in the consultation room and why now you seem more concerned for Lacy’s health than that of the patient you brought me in to consult with,” Melody says, and I sigh.
“Veronica and Lacy are well-known in the community. Lacy is her primary caretaker…” I start to explain.
“Hudson. I don’t need a community history lesson. I know what I saw. Amanda was not only my sister, but my best friend. But if you think you can fuck some young girl from a small town and that I’ll be okay with that, then you’re mistaken,” she spits out.
My anger rises, and I swear if Melody wasn’t the amazing doctor she is, I would not be entertaining this completely inappropriate conversation. “Who I fuck is none of your business. Lacy, outside of the medical support you are giving to her mother, is none of your business. I appreciate you consulting on Veronica’s health for me, but if you can’t be professional about this and leave this personal bullshit at the door, I might be better to find someone else.” I’m protective of Lacy, and there’s no way Melody is bringing this bullshit to Whispers. I would like to think her professionalism would be at the forefront, but she was close to her sister, so I should have thought about this more.
“You got me to take time out of my busy schedule to consult for you, and that’s what I’m doing. I would have appreciated a heads-up on the entire situation before I started with the consultation. However, what I don’t expect is for you to undercut my opinion. In my opinion, Lacy is fine to donate blood to her mother. You either want me to manage this, or you don’t, Hudson. Which one is it? Because I have better things to do with my time.”
I sit forward and look at Lacy’s file again. The numbers look fine, and even though I don’t like it, it doesn't mean the facts are lying.
“Fine,” I murmur in agreement. Medically speaking, she can. Maybe I’m just too protective and too close to this situation.
“Great. I’m going to manage this process moving forward. I will have my office talk to Williamstown Hospital and organize the donation immediately. We may need a few from Lacy as Veronica’s tests did come back showing some issues. And as you know, we need to have some time in between, so the sooner we start, the better,” Melody says, and I nod, even though she can’t see me. I need to trust her.
“Okay, Melody, we will do it your way,” I tell her, closing Lacy’s file.
“Good, and Hudson?”
“Yes?” I ask, knowing she has more to say.
“I think you need to take a good, hard look at what you are doing. I always thought you were a smart man. But dating someone so young like Lacy, and Amanda has only been gone a short time…”
“Amanda has been gone for years…” I say, letting my words hang between us as my frustration simmers. I’m a widower, I know that, but how long do I need to remain single before moving on with my life? It’s literally been over five years. I need to move on, and I have. I don’t need her family’s approval, and I find it astounding that I’m getting this attitude from her, considering her own father is a known philanderer and her mother a socialite who turns a blind eye.
“I need to go. I will keep you updated,” she says, ignoring my statement, then the line goes dead. I throw my cell on my desk and sit back in my chair as the familiar feeling of despair settles in my chest.
I don’t like it. But Melody is the specialist, and while her opinion on my private life is none of her business, I don’t want to get in the way of her medical expertise.
I sit opposite Tanner and Connor at the bar. It’s quiet tonight. Midweek is always like this, and after the day I have had, I needed a friend.
“Tough day at the office?” Connor asks, watching me closely.
“You could say that,” I murmur, lifting the glass of whiskey to my lips, appreciating the burn.
“What’s going on?” Tanner asks.
“I got a specialist in from of the city to consult on Lacy’s mom,” I tell them. It isn’t a secret; practically the whole town already knows.
“Lacy said. Melody, right?” Connor asks, leaning back in the booth.
“Yeah,” I say, trying to collect my thoughts, wondering if it was such a good idea after all.
“Lacy mentioned her time at work might be a little ad hoc for a while. She needs to give blood?” Tanner frowns.
“It’s something for Veronica.” I don’t elaborate; they don’t need details, and while I know they will keep everything confidential, I need to ensure I keep things private, not telling them anything Lacy hasn’t already.
“So what’s going on with you and Lacy?” Tanner asks, looking me dead in the eye.
“Are you two are a thing?” Connor follows up, and I look at them both.
“Yeah… yeah, we are.” There’s no point denying it.
“Don’t fuck with her. She’s my best employee ever. Plus, she’s Victoria’s best friend,” Tanner warns, and I give him a nod.
“Not planning on it.” I sip my whiskey as I think about her .
“Aw, double dates in your future, then, boys?” Connor quips, and I smirk. I’m relieved he has no interest in Lacy, even though I initially had reservations about that fact.
“Smart-ass. Just wait your turn,” Tanner says with a chuckle, and I smile.
“What turn?” Connor huffs. He’s never said anything, but he seems to like the single life.
“Your turn to be pussy-whipped,” Tanner says, pointing at him.
“Never going to happen,” Connor says, shaking his head like he is having the last laugh.
“Gee, I look forward to the day some woman puts you on your ass,” I tell him, grinning.
“Lacy is pretty independent.” Connor smirks before lifting his drink to his lips.
“She’s smart too. Funny, caring, sexy as hell,” I finish for him, smiling as I think about her while Tanner’s hard stare hasn’t wavered.
“Are you sure?” Tanner asks, and Connor looks at his father before looking back at me.
“I’m sure. I want her and I’m pretty sure she wants me.” Lacy doesn’t have a father in her life, and while Tanner isn’t overly close with her, he is her boss and his girlfriend is best friends with Lacy, so I know he takes the care of her seriously.
“Good to see you back into dating,” Connor says.
“Took me long enough.” I smile, happy about my connection with Lacy and comfortable with how things are going, even though the conversation with Melody left a bad taste in my mouth .
“I think Dad holds that record,” Connor jokes, and I laugh as Tanner grumbles.
“Fuck off, the both of you,” Tanner murmurs, which has us both laughing even more.
“Pretty nice bunch of roses you sent her this week. Must have cost you a pretty penny,” Connor says, and my smile falters.
“Roses?” I ask, my eyes narrowing, and his cheekiness mellows.
“Lacy got a flower delivery. We all thought it was from you.”
“Not this time. I know she likes the roses in the distillery garden, so I never sent any…” I say, suddenly feeling off. If she isn’t getting flowers from me, who the hell is sending her flowers?
“When did they arrive?” I ask, knowing Lacy has been off for a little bit lately, especially after witnessing her reaction to whatever she checked on her phone.
“The morning before her mom’s hospital appointment,” Connor says, and I look at Tanner, seeing him frowning.
“She has never had a delivery of that nature before,” Tanner murmurs, and I shake my head. None of it makes sense.
I clear my throat. “It was probably from a friend,” I say, my stomach feeling heavy, knowing that Lacy isn’t seeing anyone else. But I know she is keeping something from me, and I need to figure out what that is.
“Well, we have the New York trip for Lacy coming up,” Connor mentions, trying to change the subject slightly.
“About this New York trip…” I start, because I have be en meaning to talk to them both about it. And especially now. The next few months are not going to be great for Lacy, and I want to do everything I can to make her smile. I just wish I knew what was going on so I could fix it.