Chapter Twenty
“Okay, we can so do this.”
“I changed my mind.” The butterflies in Bethany’s stomach threatened to fly up into her throat.
Jaya put her hands on her hips and pinned Bethany with a certified Mom stare. “I know you did not text an SOS, had me drop everything to drag me and Priyanka over to your place and now you’re quitting.”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
“How badly did you screw up?”
“Bad,” Bethany was forced to admit. Desperate times called for desperate measures and she’d asked her best friend for help. But it wasn’t going well.
“What’s wrong, Miss Bethany?” Looking up from her tablet, Priyanka’s eyes were wide with curiosity.
“Nothing. Go back to watching Bluey.”
“She’s sad because she and Mr. Ethan had a fight.”
“Jaya!”
Pri put her iPad down, concern all over her little face. “Why did you and Mr. Ethan fight?”
Bethany looked at Jaya.
“Grown-up business, honey. But we’re here to help Miss Bethany fix things and feel better.”
Priyanka’s eyes lit up. “I can help!”
Happy to avoid the issue a bit longer, Bethany turned to the little girl. “You can? How?”
Pri bounced up with excitement. “A cake. Cake always makes me feel better, and even better if it’s purple and has unicorns. Unicorns and glitter make everyone happy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Bethany promised with a laugh.
Jaya tilted her head and her expression softened in sympathy. “Jokes aside, I’m sorry you’re hurting. You really miss him, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Ethan has been giving me wide berth at work, not deliberately ignoring me but treating me with the utmost professional courtesy and ruthless politeness. At least he’s not actually running away from me or ducking into a hiding place whenever he sees me.”
“But I get it. Ruthless politeness can be the absolute worst.”
“Exactly. He doesn’t search me out for consults anymore. I’m distracted at work and getting looks from the nurses. The other day, someone came in vomiting and ended up passing out. All I kept thinking how much more fun it would have been if he’d been around and we’d worked together to figure it out.” In the end, it turned out the young woman had a copper allergy exacerbated by her IUD, but she didn’t need to bore Jaya with the details.
“Damn, you got it bad.”
“You have no idea.” Pride prevented her from admitting to having a moment when she saw leftover dumplings in her freezer, reminding her of their dumpling contest. And when she saw her I Heart NY T-shirt in her laundry basket. The worst was when she was minding her own business heading home from work and a damn busker was singing “Sway” at her subway stop. Thank God her train had been on time because another ten seconds and she would have lost it on the platform. Which would have been a total violation of The Bethany Way.
“Well, if you want my advice…”
“That’s why you’re here isn’t it? Why else would I put myself through this?”
Jaya flicked a glance at Pri who was totally absorbed with her screen, and put earbuds on her daughter. “In my experience, men are simple. And sex always works as a makeup tool and apology. If you ask me, the solution is simple. Show up at his apartment wearing nothing but Saran Wrap, heels, a trench coat, and a smile. I guarantee if you do that, problem solved.”
“Absolutely not.” Apologizing was one thing; Saran Wrap and a trench coat was a line she could not cross.
Besides, she was opposed to wearing heels, just on general principle.
“Have it your way.” Jaya shrugged.
They chatted awhile longer until it was time for Priyanka’s nap. The Mehras left, leaving Bethany too much time alone with her thoughts.
She drifted off and was nodding off when her phone pinged.
It was Jeffrey. What did he want? Curious, Bethany accepted the FaceTime call.
“How are you? Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. I was worried about you.”
“We were worried,” another voice chimed in. Someone grabbed Jeffrey’s phone and suddenly both his and CeeCee’s faces were on the screen.
“I’m okay. Or, at least getting there.”
“You’ll bounce back. I know you will. In the meantime, I have a few tickets for the Blood and Treasure premiere next month. I know what a fan you are of Sam Harper and Kate Yu. Interested? Could be a nice distraction.”
“How did you not tell me you worked on the script for that??!!??!!!” Bethany shook her head. Unbelievable.
“Calm down,” Jeffrey replied with an eye roll. “I didn’t. I know one of the producers. We worked together a year or two ago and I mentioned my sister was a fan, so he hooked me up.”
“I’ll have to see if I can take the time off. Will let you know for sure ASAP.”
“If you can make it, we’d love to see you,” Cecily added. “I’m sorry we couldn’t meet when you were in San Francisco a few weeks back.”
“Oh, and if Ethan wants to come along, we can make that work. It’ll be nice to finally meet him.”
Bethany frowned. She would have bet her bottom dollar that Pam had spread the word of the “breakup” to the whole family, but her brother seemed totally oblivious.
“Uh…guess you haven’t heard. Ethan and I no longer have any sort of relationship outside the hospital.”
“I already know that. Ma called me. I assumed you’d have fixed the problem, even if you’d had to club the man into submission.”
“Seriously?!”
“Or face the wrath of Ma. What would you do?”
Her brother had a point.
“I take it you still haven’t gotten off your ass?”
“It’s not as easy as you and Ma make it sound!” Bethany protested.
“May I remind you of what you told me a few years ago when I said the same thing when I didn’t know how to fix things with CeeCee?”
Oh God. Was she really about to receive relationship advice from her brother? And have her words thrown back in her face in the process?
How had she sunk so low?
“Thank you again for helping him get off his ass by the way,” CeeCee added, her amusement evident.
“Grand gesture time, sis.”
“Hell no.”
“Do you want my help or not?” Getting into the spirit now, Jeffrey’s eyes were bright with excitement.
“To be honest I’d rather pull three double shifts in a row.”
“Too bad. Acknowledge you were an idiot, but you’ve seen the error of your ways and are taking steps toward a better you. And will do whatever it takes to make it up to him.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, it works.” Cecily shrugged. “A heartfelt apology and admission of wrongdoing goes a long way.”
Both Lee siblings just stared at her.
“What?” Cecily demanded, a tad defensive.
“Oh nothing,” Jeffrey drawled. “Just trying to remember the last time you said I’m sorry or admitted you were wrong.”
Cecily gave her husband an elbow to the stomach and huffed. “Last week when I forgot you asked for extra spicy Pad Thai and I ordered you the medium.”
“Which is totally the same thing,” Jeffrey replied, rolling his eyes.
“Do I really have to make an idiot of myself?” Bethany asked, wanting to get the conversation back on track.
“No pain, no gain, my friend. If he’s the one, he’s worth putting it all on the line. Just channel your best Julia Roberts in Notting Hill.”
“How does Richard Curtis feel about you plagiarizing from him?” She heard CeeCee’s snort of laughter and her brother’s answering glare.
“Shut up. You know what I meant. But seriously, get this done, Beth. You’re my baby sister and I love you. You deserve to be happy.”
“Damn it, now I can’t make fun of you anymore.” Despite herself she was very touched.
“My evil plan has worked. Besides, we could always use another doctor in the family.”
“Very funny.”
“His constant film references aside, you know he’s right, Beth.”
“I know.” And it killed her to admit it.
“Let us know when you two have made up. I wasn’t kidding when I said I have FOMO. I’m still mad I got sick, and I didn’t get to meet him while you two were in town.”
“And I still need to do the big-brother routine,” Jeffrey added. “You know, threaten him a little and make sure he’s worthy. Stuff like that.” Jeffrey then did the “watching you” eyeball-to-eyeball motion.
Giving up, Bethany sighed. “Fine, message received. Let’s hope the corner market isn’t out of Saran Wrap.”
Cecily cackled as Jeffrey sputtered and blanched. “Saran…what the hell?? You know what? Never mind. I don’t wanna know. In some cases, ignorance is bliss.
“You have NO idea.” It gave Bethany no small measure of satisfaction to end the call after getting in the final word. She was finally beginning to feel more like herself.
It was time to get to work and channel every ounce of The Bethany Way.
Game on.