Toni grinned as James tried to change the diaper of a squirming baby. Jamie was six months old and a very happy baby who smiled easily but was very busy. They were coming to the end of their time off and were reluctant to go back to work. For the past two months they had been interviewing sitters and not caring for any of them including some of the ones recommended by colleagues.
One of the recommendations reminded Toni too much of Kim in the way she only looked at James when Toni had been the one to ask a question. Another one, they both had bad feelings about and so it went. Wanda had volunteered to help but she was busy trying to catch up with school and both James and Toni weren't sure that it was a good idea at least for now. They talked about each of them going part time and working different days eliminating the need for a sitter and decided that it was the best option. They would meet with the supervisors and see what they could work out.
Toni watched as James finally got the squirming baby diapered and felt a pang that they couldn't have a child together. James made sure that it wouldn't happen by having what he called the "good old snip-snip" of which for him the hardest part was not being able to make love although he offered to please Toni.
"Nope, not until you can." she said kissing him.
Having a baby in the house was an adjustment for the both of them, on more than one occasion their lovemaking was interrupted because of a crying baby or postponed because Jamie was sick but they wouldn't have changed anything. They loved Jamie as if he was born to them.
***
The last month of their time off was over, fortunately the hospital was able to meet their demand and allowed them both to go part time, the question was what was the best way to break up the schedule. After much debate they decided to alternate weeks. Toni would work her week first, they would have a more than a week off in between and then James would work with the difference being that he wouldn't work his days in a row.
Instead of Jamie having separation anxiety it was James. He called Toni several times when he thought that she wasn't busy. The fact was Toni missed them too, the six months of constantly being together had spoiled her and when he wasn't calling her, she was calling him. That first day was the longest day of her life and couldn't end soon enough. She couldn't wait to get home to hug and kiss her two men.
While Toni was at work and Jamie napped, James set up the video camera and started video taping conversations for Toni and Jamie. He felt great but he wanted to be sure that he told the two loves of his life everything that he thought they should know, mainly how much he loved them. When he finished, he dated and timed the disc and put it in a small box. When he had more, he would take them to his attorney for him to give to Toni when and if the need arose. He was surprised at how much he had to say to her and Jamie, the first thirty minute disc was full.
The next day he did the same thing, sometimes he talked about the things that they did together and of the things that he hoped that they would do together. Sometimes as he talked, he would hold a sleeping Jamie in his arms and talk just to him about what he hoped and dreamt for him.
Each night Toni would come home and would ask, "What did you do today?" He would tell her everything that happened except for the videos.
When it was his turn to go to work, he didn't want to go; he wanted to spend every waking moment with Toni and Jamie and was considering resigning. He knew that if he did that Toni would think that there was something wrong when there wasn't, he just wanted to be with them. By the time James got to the hospital, he had made his decision; he wouldn't resign but would strictly take call meaning that he could work from home. He didn't know how Toni would feel abut that but the decision was made.
James found the director of internal medicine and asked to speak with him privately. When they were in his office behind closed doors the director offered James a drink.
"No, thanks." James said. "I just wanted to talk to you about something. I know that you have a couple of doctors on staff that only take call and I was wondering if you could use one more."
The director sat back in his chair and eyed James.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked.
"I'm good; it's just that I miss being at home with Toni and the baby." James replied.
"You discuss this with Toni?" the director asked.
James didn't see where it was any of his business but answered the question.
"No, not yet. I wanted to see if it was a possibility before bringing it up."
"Well, as luck would have it, one of the on calls is leaving next week. She got a job in Hawaii that was too good to turn down so if you want her position it's open."
"I want it." James replied without hesitation.
James left the office feeling as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. The only thing left to do was to tell Toni in such a way that she wouldn't worry.
****
Mason lay on his bed resting; Eustace and Gretchen were officially mated. Eustace once again offered his practice to Mason so that he could move to LA with Gretchen and open a new practice. Any of Ethan's relatives that were seeing him would follow him there. Mason declined; he wanted to be able to leave whenever the need arose. As a matter of fact, he had already been to San Diego and had purchased a condo there. It was fully functional although he hadn't lived in it yet. Something was telling him that sometime soon, that he would be moving.
Eustace ended up selling his practice to one Dr. Lydia Smythe. She and Mason clashed on their first meeting and only meeting.
"I understand that Eustace let you do whatever you wanted but this is my practice now." she said in a tone that sent Mason's defenses up.
"I am also aware that he allowed you to set your own hours, this will not be the case. Our hours will be from five pm until five am and every other weekend." she added.
Mason looked at the woman as if she had gone insane. Just who in the fuck did she think she was talking to? He wondered as she rambled on about what she expected from him. When she was finished and asked if he had any questions, Mason stared at her for several minutes before speaking.
"I don't know who in the fuck you think you are but you will not dictate to me my hours nor will you dictate the way that I treat my patients. If I am not mistaken, you've lost more than one associate and colleague because of your manners. Yes I investigated you and I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt but it seems that the stories that I heard about you are true so lady take your fucking office and stuff it up your ass. I'm done."
Mason left the office from where he sat leaving a startled Lydia staring at his empty chair. He wasn't home for more than ten minutes when his phone rang. Lydia.
"I do not appreciate the way in which you just spoke to me!" she said as soon as he answered the phone.
"Tough shit!" Mason replied and hung up. It looked like he was leaving Boston much sooner than he had anticipated.
He packed his suitcase and decided to drive back to California. He wanted to enjoy seeing the Palm trees as he made his way to San Diego. As he packed he called Eustace.
"Why didn't you tell me that she was such a bitch?" he asked.
Eustace laughed, "I heard that she had changed and when I spoke with her it appeared that she had but apparently not. What are you planning?"
