Page 46 of The Chef's Kiss
We were still staring at each other when Nurse Mackenzie shoved the curtain aside. “Well, good news, Jorgina. We don’t need to keep you. I’ll have all your test results sent to your doctor, and she may want to do a few more.”
“Thank you.”
When she was gone, Jorgina reached for her phone on the small table beside the bed. “I’m going to call Carter to see if he’ll come get me.”
“I can take you home.”
She sighed. “No, I don’t want to subject you to the estate.”
Or she didn’t want to be seen with me bringing her home.
She pressed the phone to her ear and waited. When she lowered it, a curse left her lips. “He’s not answering. Conner will make a huge deal out of me being in the hospital, and it would take too long for Conrad to get here. I guess I can call my friend Colin.”
“What’s with all the Cs?” I laughed as I stood. “And no, you’re not calling someone else. I can handle whatever awaits us at your house. I’ll wait for you.” I stepped outside the curtain to let her change in private.
When she pushed it to the side, she wore the same black pants and blue polo shirt she’d worn at work, and her hair was pulled back with a hairband.
“What?”
“Huh?”
She touched her hair. “You’re staring. Is it because you see me differently now? I’m not just the young employee with the big attitude anymore, am I? Now, I’m that pregnant girl. Are you thinking of how to let me go gently? That you don’t have time to deal with me anymore, and—”
“Jorgina.” I stepped closer, dropping my voice. “For once in your life stop talking.” I smiled down at her thinking this woman was going to drive me insane.
She nodded, swallowing heavily. “But—”
“No.”
“I—”
“For the sake of all that is good, I’m not going to fire a woman for being pregnant. How awful do you think I am?” I started across the emergency room to the exit.
“A teensy bit.” She stumbled, and I caught her. She looked up at me. “Okay, maybe a little less.”
“You’re never going to stop being a pain in the—”
“Absolutely not.” She grinned. “That wouldn’t be any fun.”
I got her to my car and into the passenger seat then let her direct me back toward Superiore Bay and the Ashford house.
When we reached the tall gates, I realizedhousewasn’t the right word. The treelined drive was gorgeous in the afternoon sunlight, and as we exited the canopy, wide, expansive lawns came into view, spanning to the horizon in all directions, with the ocean visible to the north and east. Massive stables stood at the far reaches of the visible property, and we passed a smaller barn closer to the three-story brick mansion.
“That’s actually Conner’s office and his little winery there.” She pointed to the small white bricked barn that looked like it belonged in some Germanic village of the last century.
Beyond lay the Ashford mansion. There was no other word for it.
We pulled up the circular drive, and a young woman ran from the house. “Jorgie?” She yanked open Jorgina’s door. “Carter called and said you’d left a message about the hospital, but you didn’t answer his return call.”
“Oh.” She gave a weary sigh. “I didn’t hear my phone ring.”
I rounded the car quickly to help her out.
“Ruby,” she said, “this is my maid. Hudson, this is my boss.”
Ruby and I looked at each other, and I could tell we were both trying to keep from laughing. I pointed to her. “Maid?”
She nodded and mimicked the gesture. “Boss?”
