Rogue

The cab stopped in front of her building, and she suddenly realized how bone tired she was as she got out. Her legs felt like cement, and the high heels were killing her. She was still wearing the white lab coat over her evening dress, and carrying her black evening coat. Charles had worn a good-looking conservative dark suit, a white shirt, and a navy tie. She liked the way he dressed. And he still looked impeccable after the long night.

“I feel like I've been dragged through a bush backward,” she said, and he laughed.

“You don't look it. You were absolutely fantastic tonight.” “Thanks, it's all about the team, no one person, and how the luck runs on any given night. You just never know how it will turn out. You do your best, and pray a lot. I always do.”

He looked at her with eyes full of fresh respect and admiration. It was six-thirty in the morning, and he suddenly wished he could go home and go to bed with her. He would have liked to sleep with his arms around her, after the night they had shared. Instead, he bent down, as he stood outside her building with her, and brushed her lips with his. It was sooner than either of them had planned to kiss, but tonight had changed a lot of things for both of them. They had somehow formed a bond. He kissed her again, harder this time, and she kissed him back as he slipped his arms around her and held her close to him.

“I'll call you later,” he whispered. She nodded, and went into her building.

She sat in her kitchen for a long time afterward, thinking about all of it, her patient, the long night, and Charles's kiss. It was hard to say which of the three had shaken her most. Her patient's suicide attempt undoubtedly, but she felt as though lightning had struck her when Charles kissed her. But it felt nice too. She had loved having him there for her. In so many ways, Charles seemed like everything she had ever wanted. And now that he was here, she was scared of what it meant, and how she would do it. She wasn't sure there was room in her life for him and her kids. She was worried about that.

It was nearly nine that morning when she finally got to bed. Her children were still asleep, and she was hoping she'd get some sleep before she had to get moving with them. And she wasn't prepared for Daphne's attack, when she finally got up after two hours' sleep, and was drinking a cup of coffee in the kitchen around eleven. Daphne was glaring at her in fury. Maxine had no idea why, but she was sure she'd find out soon.

“Where were you last night?” Daphne asked her. She looked livid.

“At the hospital. Why?” Maxine looked blank at the question. What was her problem?

“You were not! You were with him!” She said it like an angry lover. Hell hath no fury like a kid in the face of a parent's new boyfriend, or even the suspicion thereof.

“I was with ‘him' for dinner, as you put it,” her mother said calmly. “I got a call on the way home, one of my patients coded, and I had to go in. I think we managed to save her, if nothing goes wrong today.” She often reported to them on the emergencies she had spent the night with. “So what's your problem here?”

“I don't believe you. I think you were at his apartment all night, sleeping with him.” She spat the words at her mother in a rage, as Maxine looked at her in amazement. This was totally uncalled for, but it made Maxine realize what kind of resistance she might get from them over Charles. Or from Daphne at least.

“That could happen one day with him or someone else. And if anything gets that serious in my life, I'll give you a heads-up. But I can assure you, Daphne, I was at work all last night. And I think you're completely out of line.” She looked angry herself as she turned away, and Daphne looked momentarily mollified and then turned on her again.

“Why should I believe you?” she asked as Sam walked into the room, and looked at his sister with concern. She sounded like she was being mean to their mom, which was the case.

“Because I've never lied to you,” Maxine said sternly, “and I don't intend to start now. And I don't appreciate your accusations. They're rude, inaccurate, and unnecessary. So back off and behave yourself.” And with that, Maxine stormed out of the kitchen without saying another word to either child.

“Now look what you did,” Sam scolded his sister. “You made Mom mad. And she's probably tired from being up all night, so now she'll be really crabby for the rest of the day. Thanks a lot!”

“You don't know anything!” Daphne said, and stormed out of the kitchen too, as Sam shook his head, and poured himself a bowl of cereal. This was clearly not going to be an easy day.