Chapter 21

“Excuse me; I’m looking for Dr. Kimberly Anderson?”

“She’s over there with the couple.” The nurse answered and continued her walk down the hallway.

“Thanks.” She turned and watched that young woman talking with the parents and joking around with the little boy.

He didn’t seem to be afraid of her, even though the huge band aid over his right eyebrow and the blood spots on his shirt indicated that he had a rather nasty head wound, which she probably sutured. But that the little guy didn’t seem to care and was more interested in Kimberly’s shirt, which had a huge cookie monster on it.

She walked closer to Kimberly and could hear the last words of their conversation. “Thanks a lot again, Miss Anderson.”

“No problem. Bye.” Kim turned and wanted to walk away.

“Dr. Anderson?” She stopped and turned around.

“Yes?” Kim looked at the woman standing in front of her. She couldn’t remember ever seeing her here. Maybe we have a new patient?

“My name is Dorothea Bongiovi.” Dot said when she realized after several seconds that Kim had no idea who she was.

“Oh….uhm…Hi, nice to meet you.” Kim said surprised. Dot shook her hand.

“Could we maybe talk somewhere?” Dot asked. Kim swallowed. From the corner of her eye she could see Fran standing only a couple meters away. Her best friend had probably a rather good idea who she was talking to.

“Yeah, sure…I have a break in 15 minutes…” Kim said after glancing at her watch. “There’s a small café across the street…Dan’s. Would that be ok?”

“Yeah, that’s fine with me. I meet you there. “Dot agreed and walked away, leaving a confused and nervous Kimberly behind.

Fran rushed over to her. “What does she want here?”

“She wants to talk to me. I meet her over at Dan’s in a couple minutes.” Kim answered nervously and entered her office.

“How does she know about you? Did Jon tell her?” Fran asked curious.

“I have no idea. If he did, he forgot to tell me.” Kim said and pulled her mobile from the pocket of her doctor’s overall to dial Jon’s number.

Voicemail! Shit! She sighed and sat down on the couch. Why was Dorothea here?

“Fran…what…I mean…oh, fuck!” Kim stuttered and leaned back groaning.

“Kim calm down. She wasn’t angry or mad or anything, right?”

“No, she wasn’t. But she’d lived with Jon in the spotlight for more than 20 years. Do you think she would make a scene here?” Kim already started to analysis the situation gain. I’m thinking too much!! She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

“No, she wouldn’t. And you are meeting her in a café...another public spot. She will not freak out there either.” Fran sat down next to Kim and hugged her. “You meet her and figure out what she wants. It’s no big deal.”

Kim snorted. “I’ll remind you when you will meet Heather the first time.” Fran looked at her shocked.

“Oh, my God…” her best friend paled visibly.

“Don’t tell me you never thought about it?” Kim watched her best friend surprised. “Oh Shit!...you didn’t!”

“…for me it was always Richie and his daughter…” Fran hid her face in her hands. “Dammit!”

Kim rubbed her back softly. “Great! Now you are worried too. “ She sighed again and stared at the clock on her wall. “I think I better get over to Dan’s.”

“Good luck, sweetheart.” Fran hugged her again.

************************************

Kim spotted Jon’s ex- wife as soon as she was outside the hospital and walking across the street to the café. Dorothea sat outside and enjoyed the sun; a cup of coffee in front of her. Why was she so nervous to meet her? It’s not that they broke up because of her!

Dot watched Kim crossing the street. Even though she was only wearing her doctor’s overall with a pair of jeans, the t-shirt with this huge cookie monster and her gorgeous hair in a high ponytail, some men were turning their heads and looking after her. But the young woman didn’t seem to realize it. Dot wondered how Jon would deal with it. He wasn’t the jealous type, but he definitely didn’t like it if other men were checking out his girl too obvious.

When Kim was approaching the table, Dot could see that she was nervous. Oh, Jon…you didn’t tell her about our conversation!

“Hi.” Kim greeted her and sat down.

“Hi. Would you like something to drink?” Dot asked smiling.

“Uhm…yeah, could you get me a coffee…and I take the Club Sandwich.” She told the waiter.

“Ok, doc.” The girl hurried back inside, knowing that the staff from the hospital never had much time.

“I never know when I get the chance to eat something again.” Kim explained her order.

“That’s ok…I’m sure you have a lot of stress in your job.” Dot assured her. Kim only nodded and an uncomfortable silence formed between the two women.

“Oh, god damn…this is stupid…” Dot cursed after several minutes and made Kim chuckled. Dot smiled at her.

“Kimberly, I’m not here to…I don’t know …scare you away or anything. I simply want to get to know you. Sooner or later you will meet my kids and I wanna know the person they will spend their time with.”

Kim blinked several times. “Your kids?” she whispered. Dot nodded and smirked lightly.

“Let me guess...Jon didn’t tell you he talked to me AND the kids yesterday and that he’s planning a meeting in the next couple weeks?”

“No.” Kim shook her head. Why was he doing that? Was she ready for a meeting with his kids?

Dot watched her closely. She could see panic in her eyes. Maybe Jon was moving too fast here.

Kim cleared her throat. “Listen, Dorothea...it’s not that I don’t wanna meet your kids…I’m just a bit overwhelmed by it right now…I thought Jon and I would still be miles away from a meeting…”

“You agreed to take it slow?” Dot asked and took a sip of her coffee.

“Yeah…I feel a bit lost, you know…I’ve never been in a relationship before.” Kim admitted.

“Wow! And then Jon…not easy to handle for a starter.” Dot said laughing. Kim relaxed a bit. Somehow she really started to like Dorothea.

“Yeah…” she stared at her hands. “How did the kids react? Uhm…I mean are they fine with it?” Kim asked concerned.

Dot smiled. She liked it that Kimberly was considering her kids feelings in this as well. Her fear that the other woman might not be able to deal with her kids slowly vanished. It seemed that Jon made quite a catch with her.  

“Well, Jake and Romeo...the little ones…” Dot clarified.”… were excited when they heard you have two dogs. They really miss Cooper, our dog, since we moved to New York.” Kim smiled.

“And Steph and Jesse …well, they are teenagers ...and I think they somehow still hoped Jon and I would get back together…they weren’t over the moon, but I think they understand that we all move on…you should have a fair chance with them.”

“That’s all I want.” Kim said smiling and took a bite from her sandwich.

Chapter 20

Jon entered Dot’s apartment after a light knock at the half open front door. The concierge already called ahead, so she knew he was coming.

“Hi Dot.” He greeted her when she walked out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Hi Jon. What are you doing here? The kids are still at school and Jake and Romeo will spend the afternoon with your parents?” Dot wondered.

“Yeah, I know…there’s something I wanna talk with you about.” Dot watched him for a second. She knew that day would come.

“Coffee?” she asked before walking back into the kitchen.

“Yes, please.” Jon followed her and sat down at the table, wondering how he should start.

“How old is she?” Dot asked when she put the cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up surprised. She grinned.

“You ain’t the type for being alone for long, Jon. I already wondered when you would find someone again.”

Jon sighed. “Yeah, you are right….she has her 26^th birthday in a couple weeks.” Dot had to stop herself from saying something mean. But she knew her ex-husband. If this wouldn’t be serious for him, he wouldn’t tell her about it.

Jon watched Dot and could see a bit anger, pain and frustration in her eyes. “Please don’t tell me she’s a model.” Dot said dryly.

“No,…hell, no…” Jon assured her immediately. I would never replace her for a younger model. That’s what he said when they were still happily married.

“She’s a pediatrician at Harlem Hospital Center.”

Dot looked at him surprised. “With 26?”

“Yeah, she’s a little genius. Graduated from High school with 16.”

“Wow.” Dot was impressed. Maybe that woman wasn’t as bad as she thought. “What’s her name?”

“Kimberly.” Jon said with shining eyes. Dot could tell he really liked her. She was happy for him, but at the same time it hurt just a little. For more than two decades he had this shining in his eyes when he was talking about her.

“And you are sure she not just after your money and some fame.” She asked rather bluntly. His eyes met her eyes and she could see anger there.

“Jon…I’m not saying that because I don’t want you to be together with someone again,…I just don’t want you to get hurt…” Jon frowned lightly.

“Listen,…” she put her hand on his and he looked at her again. “…We’ve been together so long…as I said you aren’t able to stay alone for long, I just don’t want you to rush into something and then a couple weeks later everything is over…I don’t want you to get hurt.” He watched her carefully while she was talking and could see that she was holding back the tears.

“I know Dotty…” he whispered softly, using his personal nickname for her. She bit her bottom lip. He didn’t call her that in a long time. But know it was too late.

He took her hand in his and smiled sadly. “You could always read me like a book. Thanks for still looking out for me.”

“That’s what friends are for. You are doing the same for me.” Dot said and was fighting hard for control. Why was this so damn hard? She really thought she was through this. But him being in a relationship again opened the old wounds again.

She got up and walked over to the coffee machine. She needed to get some distance between them. Jon watched her standing with the back to him.

A couple years ago, he would have followed her and hugged her, now he wasn’t allowed to do it anymore. How could he put her through all this? How could he make her go? The woman he loved more than half his life?

He sighed. “You don’t have to worry about me…” he continued as if nothing happened after Dot’s last question. “…Kim has more money as I have and always tried to keep her life as private as possible.”

Dot turned around surprised. “Really?”

“Her parents were Matthew and Diane Anderson.” He said softly, knowing Dot could place the names.

“Oh, my God. She must have gone through hell, when they couldn’t find them.” Dot remembered the news three years ago rather well. Jon nodded.

“It still hurts to talk about them.” He said with a deep sigh.

“I’m sure it does…” she paused shortly. “…you want her to meet the kids, right?”

“I would really like that…and I would like to tell them, especially Steph and Jesse.”

“Are you asking me for permission?” Dot asked lightly amused. Jon chuckled.

“Well, no  ...not really…but let’s face it, when you… as their mother… don’t like the idea of our kids meeting Kim, you could make things rather complicated.” Dot grinned lightly about his nervous babbling. Does he really think I would act like that?

“…and besides, Kim and I will probably be photographed soon together and I wanted you to get to know from me…I think I owe you that much.” He nearly whispered the last words.

She smiled softly. Hopefully all this wouldn’t feel this weird anymore in a couple years.

“Do you really think I would try to get in the way?” She asked softly.

“No, it’s…..I…” Jon started. She put her hand on his left shoulder and shook her head.

“I’m happy for you Jon and when you think it’s time that they get to know her, it will happen.” She assured him. He looked at her relieved.

“They are your kids too…and just because you deposited them here, doesn’t mean I have to decide or deal with anything and everything.” Dot continued only half joking.

Jon laughed out loud. “Ok, what did they do?”

“I tell you later, first I need some more facts about Kimberly. You know how investigative especially your daughter is.” She said and sat down again.

“Oh, yeah…” he smiled and grabbed her hand. “Thanks Dot.”

“You are welcome, Jon.”

Chapter 19

Jon looked around in her office. The huge dark wooden desk was loaded with papers and patient files. Her degrees and awards hung framed on the wall. Next to a tall filing cabinet sat a comfortable looking couch, on which she probably slept more than one night.

Kim walked over to a small table in the corner.

“Coffee?” she asked and pointed at the coffee machine.

“Mt. Dew?” Jon said smiling and held up a green bottle. Kim clapped her hands excitedly.

“Oh, yes, please!!” Jon laughed and handed her the bottle. Before she could turn and walk away again, he sneaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close for a long kiss.

“What if someone would have seen us?” Kim asked softly after they parted and she realized her office door was still open as always.

“They are all outside.” Jon pointed out.

“But they could have come back.” She said.

“Do you mind?” Jon asked.

“Them coming back?” Kim looked at him confused.

“No, someone seeing us together…kissing.” He said a bit worried. Did she? Was that the reason why she was holding back? She bit her lower lip lightly.

“No. Do you?”

“Definitely not! I want the whole world to know that we are together.” Kim tensed in his arms. His expression softened.

“I know, it’s too early for that. I know you always tried to stay out of the public eye and that you need some time to get used to it.” She nodded.

“But Kimi…” she looked up at him. “…I want to be together with you, I want this relationship….with everything that belongs to it.” He added softly.

“I know Jon.” She knew very well what he was referring to. She didn’t understand it herself. She simply couldn’t let go and she had no idea why.

“And please believe me, I really wanna be together with you too…with everything that belongs to it. I don’t know why…why …why I always stop you. I don’t understand it myself.” She added a bit desperate.

He pulled her close to his body again, relieved that she wanted this relationship as much as he wanted it. Now they had to work on trusting each other. She more than him.

“You just need a little bit more time Kimi. It’s not that long that we are already together.” He tried to assure her.

She snorted. “Jon, it’s eight weeks. Fran and Richie nearly jumped each other the first day they met.” Jon looked at her amused.

“Everybody is different, honey.” Jon said and kissed her temple.

“Yeah, I know.” Kim sighed. That’s what she was always telling the kids at the Adolescent Health Center, when they thought they already needed to have sex, but couldn’t get themselves to go for it. Somehow it doesn’t feel so good to be on the receiving end of the advice.  

“How about we eat something?” she finally asked.

“Hungry?” Jon asked grinning.

“Starving!” Kim clarified. Jon laughed.

“Well, we can’t have that.” He pulled her over to the couch and unpacked the sandwiches.

“Oh, this is really good.” Kim said after a few minutes and grabbed another sandwich. Jon shook his head. He already bought double as many sandwiches as normal and it looked like they would be all gone in a minute.

“Didn’t you eat anything since breakfast?” he wondered when Kim took a huge bite from her ham and cheese sandwich.

“Breakfast? I’m here since last night. I had dinner shortly after midnight.”

“Midnight? Aww, honey that’s not healthy.”

“Tell me about it.” Kim mumbled. He grinned.

“So, what are you doing the next couple days? Jon wondered while saving another sandwich for himself.

“Tomorrow I have to work, then I’m off for two days, Thursday and Friday I will probably be over at the Adolescent Health Center besides my normal shift, of course.” Kim told him.

“Of course…” Jon said. She was really working too much.

“Adolescent Health Center?” he asked.

She nodded and swallowed the last bite of her sandwich. “It provides help and information for teenagers about the health risks from tobacco, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity or even emotional stress from school.” Kim explained.

“Sounds good. Maybe I need some advice in the near future.” Jon said.

“About what? Sexual activity of teenagers?” Kim wondered.

“Hell, no!” Jon groaned. “Don’t say things like that…my baby girl won’t have sex until she is forty!”

Kim laughed. He wasn’t any different than the parents she had to deal with on a day to day basis. “Yeah, right!...So, what’s the problem then?” Jon sighed.

“Well, it seems Jesse thinks smoking is soooo cool. Dot already caught him a couple times. Unfortunately I’m not the best example for him.”

“Why don’t you stop?” she wondered. He nodded.

“Believe me, I try. The idea that he only started with it, because he saw me smoking and thought it’s ok to do so, really kills me. But it isn’t that easy to stop after that many years.” He sounded a bit desperate now.

“Did you try it with a substitute?” she asked and leaned back.

“You mean those gums?” he wondered.

“For example.” She agreed.

He snorted. “Do they really work?”

“For some they do…when you believe in it.” She grinned when he shook his head.

“I don’t think that’s something for me. But maybe it would help Jesse.” He sighed. “If the kid would just talk to me, but he is in this total ‘I’m-an-adult-now’ phase. No chance to get through to him…not for me.”

“No wonder…with fourteen…” Kim mumbled more to herself. Jon looked at her surprised. He didn’t expect her to know the exact age of his kids.

“Uhm…Fran, she …uhmm…gave me a little briefing.” Kim blushed lightly.

Jon laughed. “Why didn’t you ask me?” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Kimi, I don’t expect you know everything about me and my family. You wouldn’t know those things when I wouldn’t be that much in the public eye. You can really ask me. Ok?”

“I just didn’t wanna bother you with all my questions…” she said contrite. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“You will never bother me.” He said before kissing her softly.

Chapter 18

Jon exited the elevator and entered the children medical unit. Surprised he realized that it was a friendly and happy place. The walls weren’t white like in the rest of the hospital, but in a sunny yellow and well know cartoon characters were greeting the kids.

In the distance he could hear kids laughing and playing, something he didn’t really expect in a hospital, but he had to admit it was a quite comfortable atmosphere here.

Unsure he looked around. No one was around. He really expected to at least see one nurse. How should he find Kim here? He couldn’t check all the rooms?

“Who are you?”

Surprised Jon turned around and saw a maybe five year old blond girl in a pink Barbie pyjama looking at him curious. He smiled. Seems someone was around.

“I’m Jon. And who are you?” he asked while kneeling down to be on her level.

“I’m Celeste and this is Edgar.” She pointed at her Teddy. “I fell of a horse!” Jon nearly had to laugh out loud about the pride in her voice.

“A horse? That’s how you hurt your arm, right?” he asked while obligingly shaking Edgar’s hand when Celeste held him up.

“Yeah, and my head. But it’s better now and I can go home tomorrow Kim said.” The girl smiled.

“Really? That’s great….So, you know Kim? Can you tell me where she is?”

“She’s my doctor. Come on, I show you the way.” Celeste took Jon’s hand and pulled him with her down the hall.

Smiling he followed her past empty patient’s rooms, offices and play areas and wondered where everybody was. Celeste stopped in front of an open door.

“There she is.” Celeste whispered and pointed at Kimberly.

“...but you have to be quit when she is with another kid.” She said seriously. Jon nodded understanding and before he would say anything else she was walking into another room. He shook his head, that girl was really one of a kind.

Turning his attention back to Kimberly, he watched her carefully examine a baby and putting it back into the bed.

“See, Samantha. Wasn’t bad at all…” she talked softly with the little girl and was rewarded with a chuckling and two tiny hands reaching for her face.

Kim smiled. “Hello, little girl.” She touched the small hands gently. The baby squealed happily.

“Hello…hello Sam.” Kim said again and tickled the baby softly. Again the baby squealed happily and wriggled with her arms and legs. Kim laughed.

“God, you are such a cutie.” She sighed.

“You never told me, you were opting for the Pink Team.” He said with laughter in his voice.

Jumping a little Kim turned around and smiled when she saw Jon standing at the door watching her.

“Well, be happy. You would lose against this beautiful little lady.” She said laughing and took the little girl out of the bed again. Jon walked closer and was greeted by a happily drooling baby.

“What’s her name?” he asked with shining eyes. He loved babies.

“This dear Jon is beautiful Samantha. Sam that’s Jon, a really cute guy, but don’t tell him.” Kim whispered conspirative after she introduced them formally.

Jon chuckled at her comment. “Well, hello beautiful Samantha.” Softly he touched the baby’s hand and Sam immediately grabbed his finger and tried to suck on it.

Jon laughed. “Sorry, girl. No food for you there.” Kim grinned.

“She’s always hungry.”

“Oh, I know that from a certain other beautiful lady.” Jon murmured softly against Kim’s ear. She took a step towards the baby bed away from him.

“That’s why you came over with food?” she already spied the bag in Jon’s hand. And even though she was saying it in a light voice Jon could see that she wasn’t comfortable with him stepping so close to her. 

“Just a couple sandwiches for lunch.” He said and kept his distance.

They really needed to talk about a few things. Sometimes he wasn’t sure she even wanted to be together with him. He really didn’t like this uncertain factor in his life. He needed to know, but at the same time he was afraid she would reject him…for what ever reason.

“Perfect.” Kim said and put Sam back in her bed.

“She doesn’t look sick.” Jon observed.

“Well, she isn’t and I hope it stays that way.” Kim answered. Jon looked at her confused.

“She was in a car accident with her parents. They are both on ICU, but it looks good for them. Sam wasn’t injured, but the impact was so strong, that we want to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion or other problems.”

Jon looked at the little girl again. It was probably a good thing she was too young to remember the crash. It could have effect her whole life.

“How about we have lunch in my office.” Kim suggested and watched Jon unsure. Why can’t I let him  closer?

“I can’t leave the unit. Most of the stuff is outside with the kids, who can leave the bed.”

“Ah, that’s why no one is around. I already wondered when I only met Celeste.”

“…and Edgar!” Kim pointed laughing. “She didn’t really want to go outside.”

“I see. So show me the way, honey.” Jon stepped aside and let Kim entered the hallway first.

“Alright.” She said and he followed her down the hall.