Doctor's Order

Chapter 13

Early the following morning, Maine just finished doing her morning rounds with the residents and was on her way to the doctor's lounge. She had just settled on one of the couches to rest her eyes a bit when a soft knock can be heard outside the room. She had every intention to ignore the knock but because of curiosity, she answered "Come in."

A man whom she presumed to be a messenger entered the room with a package on his arms. Maine looked at the messenger expectantly and the messenger finally spoke. "I have something for Dr. Mendoza." The messenger then looked around the room and seemed to be searching for another person.

Maine was immediately annoyed as she knew that the guy was looking for a male doctor.

"I am Dr. Mendoza."

The messenger looked at her in surprise. "You're a doctor?"

"Yes," Maine said impatiently. "I'm a doctor. Do you mind?"

He shrugged. "No lady. Not at all. Would you sign here please?"

The package was surprisingly heavy. Curious, Maine carried it to the living-room table and unwrapped it. It was a miniature model of a beautiful white two-story house with a veranda. In front of the house was a little lawn and garden, surrounded by a white picket fence. Just like how she had described her dream house last night.

The package comes with a card. When she opened it, she immediately looked as to who it came from. It was from Richard. He must have stayed up all night making it. She then again looked at the card. The card read,

                    Mine [  ]        Ours [  ]

                                          Please check one.

She sat there looking at it for a long time. I was the right house, but it was the wrong man.

What's the matter with me? Maine asked herself. He's been attractive and charming. But she knew what the problem is. He is not Miggy.

Her telephone rang. It was Ricahrd. "Did you get your house?" he asked.

"It's beautiful" Maine said. "Thank you so much."

"I'd like to build you the real thing. Did you fill in the box?"

"No."

"I'm a patient man. Are you free for dinner tonight?'

"Yes, but I have to warn you, I'm going to be operating all day, and by this evening I'll be exhausted."

"We'll make it an early evening. By the way, it's going to be at my parents' home."

Maine hesitated a moment. "Oh?"

"I've told them about you. And they are dying to meet you."

"That's fine," Maine said. Things were moving too quickly. It made her nervous.

When Maine hung up, she thought, I really shouldn't be doing this. By tonight I'm going to be too tired to do anything but go to sleep.

She was tempted to call Richard back and cancel their date. It's too late to do that now. We'll make it an early evening.

As Maine was getting dressed that night, Valeen said, "You look exhausted."

"I am."

"Why are you going out? You should ought to go to bed."

"No. Not tonight."

"Richard again?"

"Yes. I'm going to meet his parents."

"Ah." Valeen shook her head.

"It's not like that at all," Maine said. "It's really not what you're thinking..."

"Yeah. If you say so." Valeen said with a trace of smile on her lips.

--------------------------------------------------

Richard and Maine arrived at Richard's house. Richard's parents lives in a charming old house in the Pacific Heights district. Richard's father was a spitting image of Richard but an older version. Richard's mother was a warm, down-to-earth woman. They made Maine feel instantly at home.

"Richard has told us so much about you," Mrs. Faulkerson said. "He didn't tell us how beautiful you are."

"Thank you."

They went to the library, filled with miniature models of buildings that Richard and his father had designed.

"I guess that between us, Richard and his great grandfather, and I have done a lot of the landscape of San Francisco," Richard's father said. "My son is a genius."

"That's what I keep telling Maine," Richard said.

Maine laughed. "I believe it." Her eyes were getting heavy and she was fighting to stay awake.

Richard was watching her, concerned. "Shall we now have dinner?" he asked.

They went into the large dining room. It was a long table set for a 7 course meal. The walls were every attractive and some portraits were hanging on the wall. Once, they were seated, a maid began serving.

Richard's father said, "That painting over there is Jason's great grandfather. All the buildings he designed were destroyed in the earthquake of 1906. It's too bad. They were priceless. I'll show you some photographs of them after dinner if you..."

A loud thud was heard from the table. Maine's head had dropped to the table. She was sound asleep.

"I'm glad I didn't serve soup," Richard's mother said.

The Faulkersons shared a quiet laugh before Richard stood up and carried Maine. "Well, it was a lovely dinner." He joked.

"I would want to stay mother for the desert but I guess I need to bring her home now."

"Why don't you just bring her to your room and sleep beside her?" his father said.

"Ricardo! That's not a nice thing to either say or do." She looked sternly at her husband first then turn to her son.

"It was merely a suggestion. Then Maine will have no choice but to accept our son's proposal." Ricard's father said.

"Oh! For heaven's sake, Ricardo. You cannot rush things, not these kind of things for that matter."

"Well, I'm a Faulkerson, and so is my son. We Faulkersons know that if when we have met the right woman. Once that happens, we will do everything in our power to make them ours." He said pointedly at his wife.

"Hahahahaha..." Richard was laughing at his parent's banter while still carrying Maine into his arms.

"I appreciate the concern Dad and Mom. Don't worry Mom, I do respect her too much to compromise her honor." He then turned to his Dad, "But I agree with Dad. I'm a Faulkerson, and I know that I found the other half of me now."

"I really wanted to stay and talk to both of you, but I still need to bring my princess to her home... for now." He said pointedly to the lady he is carrying.

His parents then did smile and said, "Okay. But you need to invite her again here." His mother said.

"Definitely. I will let you know once we scheduled another date."

Both his parents and smiled and bid him farewell for the night.