Secluded Heart Read online

  Secluded Heart

  by

  Graysen Morgen

  Secluded Heart © 2012 Graysen Morgen

  Blue Turtle Press

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Edition – 2012

  Editor: Melissa Strauss

  Cover Design: Blue Turtle Press

  Interior Design: Blue Turtle Press

  Also by Graysen Morgen

  Falling Snow

  Fate vs. Destiny

  Just Me

  Natural instinct

  Submerged

  Dedication

  To my loving partner, you make it possible for me to write these stories. Thank you for everything you do.

  1

  The silver convertible Mercedes Roadster parallel parked by the curb. When the door opened, a woman with short, messy blond hair stepped out. She was dressed in a black business suit with a light pink blouse underneath. As soon as she walked through the doors of Rainer’s, a local coffee house as well as, soup and sandwich deli, she heard the voices before she even saw their usual table.

  “It’s about time you made it, we were about to order without you.” The auburn haired woman sitting at the table flashed a smile. She was dressed business casual in a crème colored sleeveless top and khaki pants.

  “Frankie, I’m not in the mood for it. So I’m late, big deal.” The blond sat down and took a sip from the water glass in front of her. She was already sweating from the Miami heat in the middle of March and was sure her business suit would be soaked before the day was over.

  “Ouch! What crawled up your butt Chase?” The other woman sitting at the table asked. She had short spiky jet black hair and was dressed in chinos and a polo shirt.

  “Nothing,” The blond barked.

  “French bitch?” The last person to join the table, a tiny Asian woman in a charcoal gray skirt suit, butted into the conversation as she sat down.

  “Would you stop calling her that?” She snapped. The blond looked around the table at her best friends. She really couldn’t stay mad at them, even though they called her girlfriend ‘French bitch’. She had to laugh. Yes, her girlfriend was French, and she could definitely be a bitch at times.

  “Okay, how about playboy bunny?”

  “Look, we had a fight this morning. Cut me some slack.”

  “Chase, we’re only razzing you, we like Yelena.” Frankie said.

  “How about a subject change?”

  “Good idea Ping Pong.”

  Chase looked around the table at her best friends. Frankie, short for Francis, was the oldest at thirty six, but didn’t look a day over thirty. Her auburn hair hung loosely around her shoulders and her hazel eyes stood out gracefully. She was taller than Chase, especially in the heels she usually wore. Frankie owned and operated her own art gallery in South Beach, where many major artists were shown each month. The ebony haired woman sitting next to Frankie was Gayle Vincent, a thirty one year old computer programmer. Chase dated her for a month a few years ago and realized they were better off friends. The last woman at the table was Ping, a five foot three inch, thirty three year old Asian woman that looked like she was still eighteen. Ping was an editor for a large fashion magazine.

  Chase was the baby of the group, at thirty. She was five foot five, so at least she wasn’t the shortest, but she definitely didn’t look a day over twenty-five. Her short blond hair was kept very short and always worn in the messy look like she just got out of bed. Her jade green eyes had a light blue hue around them, sort of like a cat’s. Chase was a resident cardiac surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital, she’d worked very long and very hard to get to where she was at such a young age, all of the doctors and surgeons at the hospital looked at her with respect, and of course the occasional wandering eye.

  “So, what’s for lunch ladies?” The salt and pepper haired man asked as he pulled up a chair. The thin pencil was still stuck behind his ear. Paul Rainer, the owner of the place had known the girls for years. He treated them like family, in a way they were, ‘gay family’ that is. As soon as Chase went to answer him her cell phone rang on her hip, she reached into her jacket to check the caller ID. She decided against answering it. One fight per day with her girlfriend was all that she allowed.

  ***

  “Dr. Leery, please dial one-four-two.” The page rang over the hospital loud speaker. Chase was on her way to the lounge to get a cup of muddy coffee. She grabbed the phone attached to the wall as soon as she walked through the double doors. Her black sneakers squeaked on the freshly waxed floor. Her bright blond hair stuck out in contrast to her dark blue scrubs.

  “This is Dr. Chase Leery.” She said when the woman answered.

  “I couldn’t find your pager number. I think I have a Mitral Valve Regurgitation.” The ER doctor’s voice stuttered nervously.

  “Have you ordered an echocardiogram?” She asked.

  “Yes, I just got the results, but it’s inconclusive.”

  “I’m on the way.” She slammed the phone down and headed towards the nearest elevator. As soon as she saw the results of the echocardiogram and the ECG she knew it was too late. She always hated this part.

  “Mrs. Neilson, this is Dr. Leery. She’s a cardiac surgeon. She’s going to talk to you and your family about your test results.” The ER attending left the area and pulled the curtain closed.

  “I’ve reviewed all of your tests. Unfortunately, I do have bad news for you. Mrs. Neilson you have Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation. Your left ventricle is dilated causing displacement of the papillary muscles. You’re going to need a mitral valve replacement immediately.” She took a deep breath and answered all of the family’s questions as the woman was wheeled up to the OR.

  ***

  As soon as the surgery was completed Chase went straight to the woman’s family in the surgery waiting area. Her husband and daughter were hunched together in a corner staring at the TV.

  “Mr. Neilson, we’re finished. She’s in stable condition in the recovery room right now. The replacement went well.”

  “When…” He sniffled. “When can we see her?”

  “As soon as she’s out of recovery you’ll be able to see her. She’ll be asleep for awhile. She needs her rest.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  Chase nodded and squeezed his hand. The easy part was over, now the hard part begins. The surgery procedures were like second nature to her, but the after affects and the waiting game always tormented her. Some patients recovered, some didn’t. Carrying that kind of failure rate around was not something she wished on anyone’s conscience. But, honestly she was one of the best surgeons in Miami. She had no control over the variables such as age or overall health, seventy-five percent of the heart patients were already at risk to begin with. She stopped letting herself feel for the patients a long time ago. Chase stood and walked out of the waiting room. She hoped Mrs. Neilson was awake and recovering when she returned in the morning. For now, she was headed back to her tiny office on the cardiac floor to finish some patient charts. She was already twenty hours into overtime for the week. This eight hour surgery just added to it.

  ***

  “Hey, I’m home.” Chase called out as she walked into the large beachfront condo. Driving a hundred thousand dollar car and living in a million dollar condo was simple property to her, but she did enjoy the lifestyle.
r />   “There you are, I thought you’d be home hours ago. We’re meeting your friends at some little bar in town in an hour.” Yelena Guichard, a French American model with long bleach blond hair, big boobs, and fake tanned skin was the classic style ‘playboy bunny’. She was thirty and going through a mid life crisis. She blew as much of Chase’s money as she could every chance she got. Chase’s friends hated her, but Chase supposedly loved the woman so they tolerated her air-headedness.

  “I had an emergency surgery to tend to.” Chase said as she stripped out of her scrubs and headed towards the shower.

  ***

  “Here they come, behave ladies.” Frankie said when saw Chase enter the bar with Yelena at her side.

  “I still don’t know what she sees in that bitch.” Ping added.

  “Ssshh!” Frankie hissed. “Hey Chase.” She leaned in and gave her friend a hug. “Hi Yelena.” Chase hugged all of her friends then turned towards the bar to order a drink. After the day she’d had she was looking forward to a stiff cocktail. The band was just about to take the stage.

  “Have you ever heard these girls play?” Yelena asked sarcastically.

  “Of course we have, they’re awesome.” Gayle retorted and rolled her eyes.

  The blues band began playing a familiar cover song. Women and men were dancing and drinking, having a good time. Yelena was appalled at what she saw. She expected them to be at some ritzy salsa club throwing around money with the high rollers of the city.

  “I’m ready to go.” She said loud enough for the group to hear her.

  “Right now? The band just started.”

  “Yes Chase, right now.” She huffed and began to storm out of the tiny bar. She turned around with her hands on her hips to make sure she was being followed.

  “I need to go. I’ll call you.” Chase rolled her eyes and walked out of the bar.

  2

  Chase changed from her scrubs into her black pants suit and a baby blue blouse and hurried towards the hospital parking garage. The physician parking was on the third level so she took the elevator.

  Minutes later the Mercedes sports car parallel parked in downtown South Beach. Chase got out and walked into the Deluca Art Gallery.

  “Good afternoon Doctor Leery, Ms. Deluca is expecting you.” Chase walked into the large office at the end of the hallway. Frankie was just hanging up the phone.

  “Hey!”

  “Sorry I’m late. I had a cardio angioplasty run longer than expected.” Chase said as she collapsed into the leather chair in front of the large wooden desk. Various paintings covered the surrounding walls.

  “You look beat. Are you still working a hundred hours a week?”

  “Yeah,” She closed her eyes and yawned.

  “Chase you’re going to kill yourself working like that. What the hell’s going on with that hospital?”

  “Honestly, it’s not a staffing problem.” She stretched, her muscles were still sore from her morning jog that she completed half asleep as usual. “I’ve just had a lot of consultations on top of surgeries every day. But, there’s also emergencies that have to be dealt with everyday and that pushes everything back. I’ve had six emergencies in the past three days.”

  “My god, no wonder you’re tired. How are things at home?”

  Chase rolled her eyes. “Fine,”

  “You can’t lie to me.” The auburn haired woman took on a serious tone. “I’ve told you from the beginning that I’m not going to butt in. I just don’t understand why you let her run all over you and spend your money like it grows on trees.”

  “It’s only money Frankie.”

  “Yeah, well it’s not hers to spend.” She huffed. “She treats you like shit and you let her.”

  “I didn’t come here to argue with you about Yelena.”

  “Good. I don’t care to talk about her anyway.”

  “Do you have anything good coming in?”

  “Yeah, I have a few new artists that I’ve been meeting with. I’m trying to put a show together for next month.”

  “That gives me something to look forward to.” Chase smiled. “I need to run. I have a meeting at the Heart Institute at two o’clock. I’m supposed to give a seminar there next week.” Chase stood up and walked towards the door.

  “Call me later if you wanna go have a drink. I should be out of here about six.”

  Chase closed the office door and walked into the lobby area of the office. She immediately noticed the woman sitting in a chair close to the secretary’s desk. She had short brown hair that was cut identical to Chase’s and big brown eyes. Her olive complexion blended in perfectly with her black pants suit and white blouse. Chase thought the woman was absolutely adorable. She might as well speak to her since she had to walk right by her to leave and the woman was starring a hole through her.

  Chase smiled, stopped in front of the woman and stuck her hand out. “Hi, I’m Chase…” Before she could finish her sentence Frankie’s secretary came running down the hall towards her.

  “Dr. Leery, you left your keys on Ms. Deluca’s desk.” The bubbly blond handed Chase her car keys.

  “Thanks.” Chase turned back towards the woman in the chair and offered her hand again. “Sorry, Doctor Chase Leery.” When the woman’s soft hand touched her own she literally felt her heart skip a beat. Get control of yourself Leery!

  “I’m Remy Sheridan. It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled, still holding the hand that was offered to her. Seconds later she let go and Chase smiled once again as she left the building.

  ***

  Two weeks later Chase was sitting in Rainer’s on Sunday afternoon with Gayle, Frankie, and Ping. Luckily for the group of friends, Yelena was out of town on a photo shoot. Chase was wearing thin tan pants that resembled scrubs, a white tank top and flip flops. All of the women were dressed causal and comfortable, and sitting around drinking coffee and eating blueberry crepes.

  “So I hear you picked up a new artist Frankie.” Ping said between bites of crepe.

  “Yeah, she’s going to be shown in a couple of weeks.”

  “What does she look like?”

  “Gayle, do you always have to be so pigheaded?” Chase cut in with sarcasm.

  “She’s young, cute, and straight. She has a boyfriend.”

  “That’s never stopped Gayle.” Ping laughed.

  “What’s her style?” Chase sipped her coffee.

  “She’s very abstract, lots of color. Actually, you’d probably like it.”

  “Yeah but it won’t go with your Monet’s.” Gayle snickered.

  Chase lost all train of thought when the front door opened and Remy Sheridan walked in wearing jeans, a black tank top and flip flops. She went right to the counter to place her order. Chase was starring in that direction. Frankie snapped her fingers in front of Chase’s nose to get her attention.

  “What!” She barked towards her friend.

  “That’s my new artist.” Frankie laughed. “The one you’re gazing at with your tongue hanging out.”

  “I was not!” Chase shook her head. “I met her at your office a couple weeks ago.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, she was waiting to meet with you.”

  “She doesn’t look straight, but then again, we don’t all look gay either.” Gayle joked.

  “Wow, she’s definitely easy on the eyes.” Ping said with a smile as she checked out the new comer.

  “She’s really quiet actually. Did she speak to you in my office?” Frankie asked as she sipped her coffee.

  “Yeah, but only for a second though.”

  “Hmm…” Frankie could see the look in her best friend’s eyes. Chase was watching every move the woman at the counter made. “Go talk to her.”

  “Yeah Chase, go get her.” Ping egged her on.

  Chase couldn’t hide the smile when she rolled her eyes and stood up. “I need another cup of coffee anyway.” She forgot about the waitress that was heading towards the table. Instead, she walked ri
ght up to the woman. Chase was surprised to see the woman was at least four inches taller than her.

  “Hi Remy.” Chase stared into chocolate brown eyes.

  “Hi.” She smiled shyly. “Dr. Leery, right?”

  Chased grinned. “Yeah, please call me Chase.”

  “What kind of doctor are you?”

  Chase placed her order for another cup of hazelnut coffee. “I’m a cardiac surgeon at Mount Sinai.”

  “Wow.”

  “Hey, I’m sitting with some friends, would you like to join us?”

  “Nah, I’m…I have some errands to run.”

  “Frankie’s with us.”

  Remy looked confused. “Who?”

  “I’m sorry, you know her as Francis Deluca.”

  “Oh. Well, tell her I said hi. I should get going.”

  “It was nice to see you again.”

  Remy smiled and continued to stare into Chase’s green eyes, then, she turned and left the restaurant. Chase made her way back to the table. Something about that woman sent her libido into high gear.

  “So?” Gayle asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.

  “What? Oh she said hi Frankie.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Pretty much, she’s very shy.”

  “You should ask her out.”

  “Gayle, I’m with Yelena, besides, she has a boyfriend. Didn’t you hear Frankie?”