Take Care of Your Business, Don Vaughn

Hazel's POV

A year into our engagement, Julian Vaughn kept telling me that, as the family’s future Donna, I couldn’t expect him to make every little decision for me, even about dinner.

As the young Don who ran Philadelphia’s docks and casinos, he already had plenty of people waiting for him to tell them what to do.

So I’d finalized my resignation and accepted the job in Seattle. When a friend asked me to bring my fiancé to her wedding, I told her I’d be coming alone.

It took running into me at a private clinic for Julian to realize something was off.

“Surgery’s a big deal. How could you schedule it on your own?”

I took the appointment slip from the nurse and answered casually.

“It’s all set. Go ahead and take care of your business.”

His outstretched hand froze in midair.

I used to want to tell him everything. Even if I found a really sweet strawberry, I wanted to tell him right away.

Now he was busy reassuring Callie Bennett, and I finally had things I no longer felt the need to tell him.

Like the fact that I was pregnant.

And the plane ticket that would soon take me out of Philadelphia.

“This time tomorrow? You’re sure?”

The doctor flipped through his appointment book, then looked up at me.

“Julian should be back in Philly in a day or two. Give him a call. We can always push it back.”

“Let’s keep it tomorrow. I already have someone to pick me up.”

He’d known me for years. Even after I said that, he still hesitated to write it down.

This clinic had been looking after the Vaughns for decades. Everyone here knew I was going to be the family’s Donna.

Whenever I came here, I used to check my phone first. Even if Julian had only promised to stop by for ten minutes, I’d wait another half day for him.

This time, I urged the doctor to put me on the schedule.

As I came out of the exam room, a black SUV pulled up outside.

Julian got out of the back seat. His driver was getting his luggage, and the bodyguard by the door bowed his head in greeting.

Callie had her arm through Julian’s. She had the black cashmere coat I’d spent two months choosing for him draped over her shoulders.

I’d helped him into it on the night of our third anniversary. All he’d said was, “It’s okay.”

It looked good on her, though.

When Julian saw me, his eyes went straight to the papers in my hand.

“What are you doing here?”

Before I could answer, he took them from me.

“Your knee?”

He flipped to the last page and frowned at the date.

“I’ve got a meeting with some people from Sicily tomorrow. Make it next week. I’ll clear a day for you.”

He used the same tone he used with his driver. He was already handing the papers to one of his men when I took them back.

“I’m keeping the appointment. I’ve got it covered.”

He watched me for a few seconds.

I could guess what he was waiting for.

He was probably waiting for me to ask him to cancel his meeting or complain that I always had to work around his schedule.

I walked past him and handed my appointment slip to the receptionist.

I used to send him a dozen pictures when I passed the docks and caught the sunset turning the water red. I wouldn’t put my phone away until he sent something back, even if it was just one word. Before a family dinner, I’d lay two dresses on the bed and ask him to pick one.

He’d complain that I made a fuss over every little thing. I’d smile, lean closer, and keep asking until he answered.

Now it hadn’t even occurred to me to tell him what time I was going into surgery.

“Hazel.”

He reached out to stop me, and a paper pharmacy bag slipped from his fingers. A small box rolled to a stop by my shoe.

Birth control pills.

Julian picked up the box and slipped it back into the bag.

“They’re for Callie. She gets bad cramps every month. Her doctor said the pill would help.”

Callie had been leaning against him. Now she took a small step to the side.

“Don’t be mad at him. We were almost home when it hurt so much I couldn’t help saying something. That’s why he had the driver turn around.”

She smiled, then looked down at her shoes.

“I get nervous even coming in here by myself. I wish I could be more like you. You handle everything on your own.”

The bag of medication ended up back in Julian’s hand.

The bosses down at the Philly docks waited for his nod before they took a seat. If one of his men got hurt, he could get a doctor to open the clinic in the middle of the night.

Of course he could go with a girl to pick up her medication.

I just hadn’t known it could be that easy to ask him.

Once, I’d been curled up at the edge of the bed in the middle of the night with stomach pain. I asked Julian if any of the family’s doctors were gynecologists.

He was changing his shirt. He kept right on buttoning it.

“The list of doctors’ numbers is in the drawer. Call around.”

I was in so much pain I didn’t want to move. I begged him to make just one call for me.

He finally turned around and sighed.

“Hazel, don’t you know how much I have to deal with every day? You’re twenty-five. Do you really need me to hold your hand through this?”

My hands kept shaking as I flipped through the list that night.

By the next day, he assumed the whole thing was over. I never brought it up again.

Watching him hold that pharmacy bag, I realized I could stand there quietly and listen to all of it.

I hadn’t asked about the coat. I didn’t feel like reminding Callie who he was engaged to, either.

“Got it.”

I tucked my papers into my bag and stepped aside to let them pass.

Julian stayed where he was, his eyes still on my face, as if I hadn’t said what he’d been waiting to hear.

I had nothing else to say.

Another medical report lay on top of my plane ticket inside my bag. One thin sheet of paper that said I was eight weeks pregnant.

I’d rehearsed how I’d tell him so many times.

Now I just wanted to get home and finish packing.

Once this baby was here, I’d teach him to walk. I’d listen to him talk.

He wouldn’t have to sit with his mom at a table where the food had gone cold, waiting until he fell asleep.