Page 72 of Cherish

What I need is for my man not to be having a baby by someone who is not me. But that ship sailed before we ever met. As expected, I feel the tension leave my body. Good vodka, I think to myself as I feel the heat of the liquid spread throughout my body.

When the door of the bar opens, I look toward it, expecting Mellie and Ananda to come walking in, but it’s not them. It’s Dr. Doyle. I turn my focus back on my drink, but a few seconds later, he’s taking the seat next to me at the bar.

“Fancy seeing you here.” I don’t bother responding. “Must be fate. I do believe this is where it all began with us.” I make no pretense of hiding my snort or my exaggerated eye roll. He doesn’t take the hint though. “And since I don’t see Dr. Dupree…” He leaves the sentence unfinished as he makes a show of looking around the bar.

“Go away.” I flag the bartender and request a third drink, but he places a glass of water in front of me, followed by fries I did not order.

“At one time, you didn’t want me to go away.” He reaches up and grabs one of my tight curls and rolls it between his fingers. All I can think about is when Jason plays with my hair at night while we lie in bed together. I smile at the memory of him doing that just last night. “I was a fool. I liked you then. Hell, I like you now. It’s just that—”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. You’re in a bar drinking alone, and it’s not even five o’clock yet. I was stupid. I went home, and I told my brother about you. Showed him your picture even.” He stops talking, and when the bartender comes to him, he orders fish and chips and unsweetened iced tea.

I ignore Doyle and focus on my fries. Doyle grabs my chair and spins it around to face him. “I’m ashamed to admit this part, but he told me our family would never accept you.”

“What did you just say?” I lean over so he could repeat himself. Maybe it’s the alcohol coursing through my system because his words make no sense.

“My brother thinks my family would never accept you.”

“Why not? Because I’m not a doctor like you?”

I know deep down that’s not the reason, but I need to hear him say it.

“Not exactly. Obviously, you’re black, or part black.”

“And?”

“And they might have a problem with that at first, but I don’t care anymore. They will come around. Besides, they live across the country.”

“Andy!” I yell for the bartender. “One more vodka martini.” I wave my empty glass at him. He nods at me but goes to help another customer. As if I didn’t hear a word Doyle said, I continue to eat my fries.

“You don’t have anything to say, Alexandra.”

“Alex! And believe it or not, Dr. Doyle, I have way bigger problems than your family, their intolerance and your lack of backbone.”

“Is Dr. Dupree the problem? He’s not here, and I noticed you leaving the hospital in tears a couple of weeks ago. And now you’re at a bar drinking alone. The same bar where we met.”

Before I can respond to his ridiculous words, Ananda and Mellie walk through the door searching frantically. The minute they spot me, they both sigh in relief.

“What the hell, Alex?” Ananda picks up my water and smells it. Satisfied that it’s just water, she puts it down.

“Dr. Doyle, right?” Mellie asks. “I’m Jason Dupree’s sister. We met at his party.” She shakes his hand and says, “What are you two doing here together?”

“Smooth, Mellie,” I say with a snort. “Andy! Where’s that drink?” Andy looks at Ananda, who shakes her head at him.

“Just getting some dinner before I work overnight,” Doyle says.

“Really?” Ananda says with false enthusiasm. “I have a medical question for you.” She spins his chair around to face her and takes the seat next to him. I tune them out. Mellie takes the seat next to me, looking at me like a scared rabbit.

She doesn’t say a word as she takes out her phone and starts texting. She orders more food and water. Andy never brings me that third drink, and by the time the food Mellie ordered arrives, I’ve lost my appetite.

“What the hell are you and Ananda doing here? I want to be alone.”

“Jason told me,” Mellie says.

“You and Ananda have been tiptoeing around me all day. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you know. And please don’t treat me like I’m stupid. Don’t tell me that this doesn’t change anything.” I push the sliders away but pick at the now cold fries.

“It doesn’t change the most important thing. It doesn’t change the love you have for each other. It doesn’t change the fact that you agreed to marry him, knowing this was a possibility. It doesn’t change the fact that he’ll be devastated if he loses you.”

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