Worthington Wives

Chapter Three

Reyanna woke up eight hours later with a splitting headache, blurred vision, sutures in her forehead and two black eyes. Her mother and father were at her bedside. The two were overjoyed at seeing her waking up after being out so long. “Mom? Daddy?” Reyanna asked, surprised to see them both. “We’re here Shortcake”, her father said, smiling. “Where am I?” She asked. Her mother told her she was in the hospital and that she had been in a car accident. “We were so worried because you wouldn’t wake up,” her mother told her with tears in her eyes.

“How did you know about the accident?”

She asked. “That nice guy that caught you when you passed out at the scene of the wreck called us. He stayed with you all night and then stayed with us a couple hours after we got here this morning. He had to go to work, but he sent that big two dozen red roses over there for you,” Melissa Elswick said.

“Yes, he was a really nice gentleman, and he seemed genuinely concerned about you,” Tom Elswick said. “Was it Ben?” She asked. “Here’s the card off the roses”, her mother said. “I wish you well, Coffee Shop friend Ben” it read. Reyanna smiled.

The next day, Ben arrived to find Reyannas parents sleeping in the waiting room. They woke up when he came into the room and greeted them. He told them that they shouldn’t stay here when he has an apartment right in town. Ben was very persistent and so they agreed.

“If Reyanna is alright this morning, I’ll take you both out for breakfast and get you settled in the apartment,” he told them. He would not accept their protests. Ben insisted, so they reluctantly agreed to his hospitality.

Ben went in with her parents and he was happy to see that she was sitting up eating breakfast. Reyanna was embarrassed when she saw Ben coming in dressed so fine in his expensive suit and coat and here she was looking like the loser of a dog fight.

Reyanna grabbed her menu and quickly covered her face. “Ben! I don’t want you seeing me like this,” she complained. He gently pulled her cardboard shield down and smiled at her. “You look better than you did the last time I saw you,” he said.

“Oh my heavens, he is so handsome and he smells so good!” Reyanna thought to herself. “What are you doing here?” She asked him, trying not to stare into his way too sexy eyes.

“I came to check on my new friends,” Ben said, motioning to her parents, “and to bring you someone to keep you company,” he said, handing her a big soft teddy bear.

Reyanna took the bear and hugged it to her and smiled. “Thank you, Ben, that was so sweet,” she said, smiling. He smiled at her and moved back, motioning for her parents to come visit with her.

“How is our sweet girl?” Her mother asked, gently kissing her on the forehead. “Hey Shortcake,” her dad said, kissing her cheek. “I’m better today than I was yesterday,” she said. “My head still hurts, my whole face hurts and I can’t breathe through my nose, but I’m better,” she said.

“The doctor wants to keep me a couple days more because my brain still has some swelling and he wants to watch that,” Reyanna told them. The two doted on her as Ben watched them. He thought it was sweet how close they were as a family.

“Ben has offered to let us stay at his apartment while you are here and you too when you get discharged from the hospital,” her mother told her. Reyanna looked curiously at Ben. “Why would you do that for us?” She asked.

Ben stood and came closer. “Because I have a business proposition for you, and I’m buttering you up, hoping you will agree to it,” he said with a mischievous grin.

Reyanna looked at him questioning what he had in mind and wondering if her parents had agreed to this “proposition” on her behalf. “Explain please,” she said giving him a cautious look.

Ben pulled a chair up close so he could talk to her on eye level. “Reyanna, whatever this hospital pays you, I will triple it……if you will move in Worthington Manor and be my dads nurse. After you have time to recooperate, of course,” he added. “And you are welcome to stay at my apartment until you are ready,” he said, hoping she would agree.

Reyanna could not believe her ears. Yesterday she lost her fiancé, her apartment and her job, and today a total stranger wants to give her a home a job and take care of her. God sure works in mysterious ways, she thought. “I love your dad, Ben, of course I’ll do it,” she said, nodding a little too hard making her head start throbbing. “Owww!” She yelled, grabbing her head.

“Here, lay back and rest, he said, helping her. I’ll go get the nurse,” he said. When he left the room, the three of them talked about Ben’s plan and how generous he was to offer it.

Reyanna smiled. He was a very good man indeed, she thought. But he’s going to be my employer, so I’ve got to stop staring at him,

she thought, scolding herself.