Chapter Five

“So, what do you think of her?” Jon asked after Kimberly walked upstairs.

“I like her. Hot woman, man.” Richie said and eyed the dogs carefully while handing each of his friends a bottle of beer from the fridge and taking a coke for himself. These dogs were looking at them as if they knew they were talking about their mistress.

“She knows how to hand out. I like it. Could probably joke around for hours with her.” David added smiling still sitting at the grand piano.

Jon shook his head. These two guys were so easy to read. “Tico?”

The drummer looked at him with his dark brown eyes. “Heart of gold, treats you normal, doesn’t seem to be affected by us, if she’s real and doesn’t make her money in an illegal way, you should try to keep her.”

Jon smiled. Tico always summed it up and he was right when she was real, he had to grab her with both hands and never let her go again. Wow! You only know her for a couple hours and already think like that. Better slow down!

“Why are you guys so silent? I was sure you would talk about me?” Kimberly walked downstairs again. Jon looked up and wasn’t able to bring out a word. She was wearing a pair of washed out jeans, black top and wore her hair in a high ponytail. Most of the make up was gone. She wore nothing special, but for him simply looked amazing.

“We did.” David answered her question and tried not to stare at her. She looked damn sexy in this casual outfit and Jon was already pissed at him.

“Good.” She poured herself some vodka with lemon before she sat down in one of the armchairs. “Where were we?...Oh, yeah…What do I do for living? I’m a doctor.” She said and sipped at her drink.

“A doctor?” Richie looked at her surprised. He sure thought she would do something with music with all those instruments in the apartment. “I didn’t know that you could do that much money with it.”

“Well, you can’t. Maybe except you do esthetic surgery. This here…” she gestured around. “…has nothing to do with my job. My parents were rather rich.”

They all looked at her stunned for a moment. “Were?” Jon asked.

“Yeah, they died three years ago when their private plane crashed in South America.” She said and stared in her glass.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to…” Jon started but Kimberly stopped him.

“It’s ok Jon. It doesn’t hurt that much anymore, but I’m sad that they aren’t here to see what I achieved so far. We had a real good relationship. I always thought they would be there when I finish my education and start working… when I marry, when I have kids… Those things you know.” Her eyes watered, but no tear felt down. She has a huge self control, Tico thought.

“Matthew Anderson” Jon whispered. He remembered reading an article about him and his wife were missing. He was a self-made millionaire or better billionaire when he remembered correctly. No wonder she can live in this apartment.

Kimberly nodded. “Yeah, Matthew and Diane Anderson were my parents. It took more then two weeks to find their crashed plane in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.” The men looked at her in shock. These two weeks must have been a nightmare for her…between hope and black despair.

Kim smiled sadly. “I can hardly remember those two weeks…I’m just glad Fran was with me.”

“Fran?” Richie asked.

“My best friend. Jason, the boy who was with me at the show tonight, is her son.”

Richie nodded and watched her carefully. Even though she said it doesn’t hurt anymore he could feel her sadness and he knew it still hurt. He knew it would take a long time until it wouldn’t hurt anymore.

Somehow the dogs seemed to sense her sadness and showed up next to her. Sambo softly put his big head in her lap. She smiled. “I’m ok, buddy. Don’t worry.” She ran her fingers through the dark fur.

“I bought them after my parent’s death. They have been my family for the last three years.” She looked up again and the men could see that she had her control back. She pet the dog’s back. “Come on go outside again…You too, baby.” She gave Kidd a soft pet as well and the dogs walked outside again.

“So, you are a doctor. You know my shoulder still hurts from time to time…” Richie started and tried to ease the sad atmosphere. Jon gave him a thankful look. He was way too shocked about her story to lighten up the mood. He wished he could have been there for her. Kimberly laughed at Richie’s comment.

“I’m sorry Richie…I’m a pediatrician…but I could recommend some really good colleagues if you want to.” They all laughed about Richie’s surprised face and the dark clouds that hung in the air vanished slowly.

“So, you are already finished with your studies and this all…” Jon thought loudly. Kimberly nodded and knew what question would come next. “…how old are you?” he asked confused.

Tico wanted to slap him. Sometimes Jon was like a bull in a china shop, but Kimberly seemed to have humor. A good thing. She may need it when she would be together with him.

“I’ll be 26 in a couple weeks.” They looked at her surprised. Kimberly sighed.

“Ok, ok…here comes my CV in short: I graduated from High school when I was sixteen; did Yale medical school in two years instead of three; then one year of internship and after that six years of Residency. I finished about nine month ago. Does that answer everything?”

“Where did you do your residency?” David asked from the piano bench. He wasn’t able to leave the Steinway alone…not yet.

“CHOP.” She answered and took another sip of her drink.

Jon whistled appreciative through his teeth, while the rest couldn’t put the short term into the right place.

“Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.” She explained.

Now the rest saw daylight. “Isn’t it ranked #1 in the nation for pediatrics?” Tico asked. He knew where to bring his son if there should ever be a problem.

She nodded and put her glass down. “Yeah, for the last five consecutive years.”

“Wow, and you are still working there?” Richie asked impressed

“No, not on a regular basis. When I have a complicated case I take the kid there. My mentor is more than happy with it. He still hopes I will come back someday. But now I’m working at Harlem Hospital Center.”

They looked at her in disbelieve. “Why?” Jon asked for all of them

“Because I wanted to be a doctor to help people, to help children. I’m not doing this because of money. It’s more than obvious that I don’t need it. They have a lots of good pediatricians in Philly, but at Harlem Hospital Center they don’t have so many doctors who are specialised on pediatrics and believe me there are a lots of kids in that area, especially with asthma. The hospital gives the families the opportunity to bring the kids there even though they can’t effort the treatment right now and with the Asthma Prevention Project we try to research the causes and solutions for this health problem…I can really help there and deep down inside my mentor understood that.”

Kimberly’s voice was strong when she talked about the Hospital and the advantages it had, you could see that her work meant everything to her and that she would do anything possible to promote the research to find help for her small patients.

Jon looked at her with a warm smile. “You are great!” He said softly.

“Thank you.” She whispered and blushed deeply. The men grinned at each other. She really wasn’t used to get compliments. It seemed natural for her to help others who weren’t as lucky as she was. Great attitude, Jon thought.

“Uhm, Kimberly…” Richie said staring over her left shoulder.

“Yeah?”

“What does it mean when one of your dogs has a paper plate in his mouth?”

She turned around and saw Sambo standing behind her armchair with a plate in his mouth and a pleading look in his eyes. She laughed. “That’s his way of telling me that it is time for food. He’s doing it a couple times a day, but this time he’s actually right. It’s time for their dinner.” She got up and walked over to the kitchen. “Come here, you greedy pig.“ The Dog let the plate fall and ran into the kitchen.

They watched him laughing. “What about Kidd?” Jon asked curious and tried to espy his namesake.

“He will come in a minute, eat and ran around afterwards to train it off again while Sambo will lie on his cover and sleep.” Kimberly explained with a grin on her face.

David erupted in laughter. “So, it’s not accidentally that you named them like that!“ Tico had to laugh too. Jon and Richie looked at each other and frowned.

“Fran suggested the names and after a few weeks I knew they were a perfect match.” Kimberly said and watched Kidd walking to his bowl.

They continued to talk for a while and watched Kidd ran around inside and outside of the apartment, while Sambo peacefully snoozed on his cover. Jon shook his head in disbelieve.

A little bit after 1 am, Kimberly wasn’t able to hide her yawning anymore.

“I’m sorry. We sit here and talk and you probably have to work tomorrow.” Jon stood up. “Come guys, let’s go.” Even though he hated it to leave her now. He felt really comfortable with her around and she looked sweet with those sleep eyes.

“No, you can stay…” she assured them, but Jon stopped her.

“No, you need your sleep.” He paused and waited till the guys said their goodbyes to her. “Can I see you again? How about dinner tomorrow?” He asked nervously.

She smiled. “I have to work tomorrow night…”

“Oh…” she could see he was disappointed.

“…but lunch would be ok? Do you have time?” she asked smiling.

“Yeah! I pick you up at one, ok?” His eyes sparkled excited. She nodded.

“Ok, see you tomorrow.” He pressed a soft kiss on her cheek and vanished through the door. Kimberly looked at him surprised and touched her cheek. He kissed me. Smiling she closed the door.