Chapter 3

That shower was exactly what I needed. I can't even begin to tell you how much it helped me to deal with what was going on, and to crystallize what I would have to do next.

What I did next is something I have a feeling I'm going to be doing every day. Mary, you remember how we fought over that giant mirror in the corner? Well, I stood there and I stared at myself in it. I ran my hands through my sandy blonde hair, looked into my eyes, startled again at the deep blue they are. I studied every inch of my face, hell, every inch of my 6 foot frame, looking for some sign of disease or defect. All I found is the slightly pudgy body of a 45 year old man who works out with his wife three times a week.

A body that was invisibly turning on itself.

I walked into the giant walk in closet that we both agreed on, and threw on an old t-shirt and my workout shorts, then flopped on the bed. I grabbed the phone, called Fabbrini's Flowers, and ordered up a dozen tiger lilies, Mary's favorite flower, to be rushed to the house ASAP. I then called up good old Louie, and made him warm up the limo for the evening.

Louie was someone I met at one of those stuffy hospital dinners. The man had a head for money, I'll tell you what. He bought himself a limousine and rented it out to only doctors, and only for rich swanky parties. He was assured great money that way, and barely had to work. I delivered his first son, and after that, we were the best of friends. Some days I'm pretty sure he'd even drive me for free.

Then I looked at the phone like it was a live snake. I knew the call I had to make next. I had made the reservations for nine, and it was pushing six. I picked up the phone, hesitated as I reached for the numbers... and I was saved by a knock on the door.

"Dad?" AJ called from the other side of the door.

"What's up?" I replied, gratefully replacing the handset.

"Just telling you that Kat and I are leaving now. I gave Julie her money and she took off out of here for Amanda's. She said she's gonna spend the night there if you need her."

"Thank you." I told him, and was answered by footfalls heading away from my door.

I turned and looked at the phone again. Never before in my life did I wish that Bell was still alive so I could strangle him with a phone cord. Then I realized that this was something I was going to have to do, whether or not I called her, or I called and cancelled everything I had planned for the evening. Mary would know that something was wrong, and this was the best way to soften the blow.

I dialed. "Yume Inc. - Live your dream, this is Tamra. How may I help you?"

"Hey tam-tam, this is Lance. How are you sweetie?"

"Hey baby. I haven't heard from you in a long time. How you been?"

"I'm just fine, sweetie. Just been busy saving lives, you know?"

"I sure do. Sometimes I'm jealous of ya'll. I shoulda done something like that." She said wistfully.

"But then who would do your job, sweets? No one knows this place like you do."

"You got that right. You lookin for Mary?"

I winced. "Yeah, sweetie. She still hanging around?"

"Sure is. Here ya go."

"Lance? What are you calling me here for?" Mary's angelic voice echoed in my ear.

"Hey baby. I'm calling to tell you to come home - I made dinner plans at Maggiano's tonight."

"Mmm... what's the occasion?" I could hear her purring across the phone line.

"I found out I had some vacation time owed to me, so I'm going to use it up. Doctor's orders."

"What time?"

"I made the reservations for nine, and got us tickets to that new Sandra Bullock movie you wanted to see for after. I also took the liberty of calling up Louie - I don't feel like driving tonight." I winced, hoping she wouldn't say what I knew she was going to say.

"Not drive? Are you feeling alright, baby? You know I worry about you." I knew it, immediately she was full of concern.

"A slight headache is all. I fell asleep on the couch when I came home from work, and I think I slept wrong is all. But you better get started home - I wanted to dress up a little for tonight. You know, your red dress came back from the cleaners... the sexy little number that drives me wild?"

"You pervert." She laughed.

"Of course - but I'm YOUR pervert. Besides, we don't get dressed up much anymore. It'll be a nice change of pace."

"Oh all right. I'll be home in an hour or so, ok?"

"All right baby. I'll see you then. Love you."

"Love you more."

I retreated back to the walk in closet after that, and quickly threw together an outfit for later - my favorite burgundy shirt that always made me look like a million bucks, a comfortable pair of black trousers, and my trademark sweat socks and sneakers. I've never really felt comfortable in dress shoes - I guess that's the point - but as a doctor I spend the balance of my time in sneakers, so... I guess it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

I wandered through the house after that, looking around and marveling at how far I had come in my life. From homeless person to a man worth 100 million plus in 25 years... had any of the other great millionaires accomplished this, I wonder?

Eventually I ended up in my favorite spot, watching the sunset from the sakura grove I had planted. I sat leaning against my favorite tree - the one I received from the Japanese Consulate-General. He said it came from a cutting in the emperor's personal grove, but I was never sure. Man, I tell you though; none of my other sakura trees could ever match its beauty when that one bloomed, though that could simply be because of the source.

I was still there when Mary came home. She had found her flowers sitting on the bed, and knew just where to find me. She curled on my lap and we watched the sun fall together, hand in hand. We also made out under that tree, with a promise of more for later.

Getting dressed was an experience that we haven't shared for a long time. I had forgotten why we had that giant easy chair in the walk in closet. Mary sat and watched me change, making comments the entire time, some downright naughty, and finally pouted when I finished. That was the best part, though, because I got to watch her, and she was definitely more pleasing to the eye than I was. Her smaller frame was easily a foot shorter than mine, and way more delicate. She should have been a gymnast with such a narrow waist, but her cute little bubble butt threw her off balance. Besides, she always complained that her long golden hair and ample breasts got in the way of her vision.