Softly Awaken

 

 

Chapter Nine

 

*****

It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young. 

                       Lam. 3: 27

*****

 

“Mom?  Dad?” Jing Mei called, as she waded through the uninteresting crowd of people.  She knew she shouldn’t have come as soon as she stepped pressed the rotating doors of the hotel.  No sooner did she arrive, Jing Mei was surrounded by her work acquaintances, and old friends of her parents.  But the worst of the group were the older, more mature bachelors of the fundraising scene.  “Did you set me up to walk into that wall of people?” groaned Jing Mei.

 

As she finally reached her parents, Jing Mei was stunned to see Abby and John standing before her.  Jing Mei swallowed uncomfortably.  “Uh, hi John.  Abby.”  She fidgeted with the gold chain that hung around her neck.  This was definitely another reason why she shouldn’t have come.

 

John smiled and Abby waved her hand in an awkward hello.  “Deb,” John chuckled.  “Didn’t expect to see you here.  I never guessed you to be a fundraiser groupie.”

 

Jing Mei rolled her eyes and was about to reply, but her mother interrupted.  “You still call her Deb?  I thought she changed her name back to Jing Mei?”

 

John nodded.  “Yes.  I’m sorry.  I’m just so used to calling her Deb,” coughed John, who caught her eye.  Jing Mei smiled and they shared a brief moment of understanding.  Meanwhile, her parents shook their heads, dismissing it as some childishness.

 

Finally Jing Mei changed the subject.  “Mom, was there a reason I needed to come tonight?”

 

The older doctor nodded excitedly.  “Yes, Jing Mei.”  The older woman looked around the milling crowd surrounding them.  Her eyes lit up, and Jing Mei assumed she found what she was looking for.  Her mother motioned for a tall figure to join them.  “This is Henry Liang,” announced the female Dr. Carter.

 

A tall dark Asian man turned around and smiled.  The chandelier candlelight glinted off his glass lenses.  Henry reached out his left hand to greet Jing Mei, while the other held a champagne flute.  “Hello.  You must be Jing Mei.  I’ve heard so much about you.”

 

Jing Mei smiled politely and could only stifle her desire to pull her hand away as Henry kissed it.  “Hello,” said Jing Mei politely, although everything in her wanted to run.

 

Her mother introduced Henry to John and Abby who were quite interested in the new arrival.  “Henry’s a pediatric surgeon at Mercy,” explained Mrs. Chen.  “And since Jing Mei is in the process of applying for a position, we thought she should meet some of her potential colleagues.”

 

Jing Mei rolled her eyes as she listened to her mother’s schpiel.  It was obviously a ploy to set her up with another one of her mother’s eligible Asian doctors, whom Mrs. Chen had always talked so highly of.  Jing Mei didn’t quite believe that he just happened to be at one of these fundraisers.  No one ever came without being either blackmailed or dragged.  As Jing Mei gave Henry the once over though, she thought the Asian doctor wouldn’t have been so bad, if her mother hadn’t been the one to introduce them.

 

As John, Henry and her father carried on a conversation, Jing Mei watched John’s hand snake around Abby’s waist.  She closed her eyes and took a swig of her champagne.  This night was getting worse by the minute.  Jing Mei wished Stephen were here.  He’d rescue her from this torment.  Jing Mei smiled and nodded at the appropriate times.  She felt like a Stepford wife, without the husband.  Once and a while John would glance her way and send a reassuring and empathetic smile.  It put a lump in Jing Mei’s throat.

 

Suddenly to the displeasure of her parents, Jing Mei excused herself.  Amidst the crowd, she fought her way to the ladies room.  Once there, Jing Mei let out a loud sigh.  She knew her parents were pleased with the prospect of Jing Mei working at Mercy, but she didn’t expect such a surprise at the fundraiser.  Jing Mei laughed to herself.  She wouldn’t leave County for Mercy, just because of a guy.  And Jing Mei certainly wouldn’t choose Mercy over County for one either.

 

After catching her breath from receiving unwanted attention and awkward surprises, Jing Mei took one last look at herself in the mirror, reapplied her lipstick and went back into the trenches.  Jing Mei stopped at the bar to get another glass of champagne before she head back into the dreadfully boring conversation, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.  She turned around to find John standing beside her, holding two empty flutes.  “John,” Jing Mei sighed.  “Having a good time?”

 

John leaned on the counter as the bartender left to refill the flutes.  “Probably not as good of a time as you are,” he joked as he motioned towards Henry.

 

Jing Mei pursed her lips.  “Yeah, you could say that!” Jing Mei said dryly as she raised her eyebrows.  Suddenly Jing Mei felt John studying her as she waited for her champagne.  Nervously she tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, wishing she’d checked her make up more closely.  Swallowing, Jing Mei smiled and tilted her head towards Abby.  “You two seem to be having a ball.”  John grimaced at the pun.  “Pardon the pun,” laughed Jing Mei as she observed the crowd of overdressed guests.

 

An awkward silence fell between them.  Jing Mei bit her lip as she raced to think of something else to say.  Luckily the bartender returned with a bottle of champagne and cider and refilled their flutes.  “Well we’d better get back,” Jing Mei said sheepishly.  John nodded and escorted her back to the less-than-interesting group of family and acquaintances.  But before they arrived John quickly whispered into her ear, something that made Jing Mei’s heart skip a beat.

 

~~~

 

“You look beautiful tonight,” whispered John to Deb just before he reached out to grasp Abby’s hand.

 

He didn’t quite know why he’d said it, but it just felt like something that needed to be said.  John kissed Abby on the cheek.  “What did we miss?” John joked.

 

Abby filled him in on the latest research that Deb’s father had been doing on the feasibility of using tissue from an abnormal growth to develop some vaccine for cancer of various types.  Apparently Henry had also been developing his own article along similar lines.  “It’s really got some potential,” Henry commented.  “Have you gotten into the research field Dr. Carter?”

 

John shook his head.  “No.  I’m more of a hands-on kind of doctor.  Maybe one day, but working in the ER is a challenge enough for me right at this point.”  He looked at Abby who smiled half-heartedly.  She seemed bored and antsy to leave.  John nodded and smiled at Henry.  “I’m sure it’s fascinating though.”

 

Unexpectedly though, Mrs. Carter appeared beside Abby.  “Why Emily and David!  How are you?  I haven’t seen you at one of these functions in ages,” gushed Grams.  “What have you two been up to?”

 

Dr. and Dr. Chen smiled graciously.  “Work as it is Millicent.  You know how it can be,” replied Deb’s father.  Grams nodded.  “And who is this stunning couple?” Mrs. Carter inquired, as she pointed to Jing Mei and Henry, who stood to her right.

 

Emily smiled and pointed to Jing Mei.  “You know Jing Mei, our daughter.”  She paused and widened her smile.  “And this is Henry.  A doctor at Mercy.”

 

Grams shook her head.  “Do you mean little shy Deb?  The one who always had her nose in the books and kept John on his toes? Gasped Grams.  “She’s grown up to be a fine young woman.  And a looker Emily!”  Grams patted Henry’s hand.  “You’re a lucky man to catch a woman like her!” Grams winked at the timid doctor.

 

John interrupted his Grams.  “No.  Grams, they aren’t dating.  They just met tonight,” announced incredulously.  John looked apologetically at Deb who was blushing furiously.  He wasn’t her type anyway.

 

Mrs. Carter looked indignant at being corrected in front of her acquaintances, known and unknown.  “No need to shout John.”   She smiled politely at Deb and Henry.  “Young people these days.  They have no manners.”

 

Deb shook her head.  “That’s all right Mrs. Carter.  It was an easy mistake,” Jing Mei said dismissively.

 

Grams nodded and then glared at John.  “You could learn a thing or two from her again John!” chided Grams.  John rolled his eyes as he noticed Deb and Abby stifling their laughter.

 

“Yes John.  You could learn from her,” Abby repeated, trying to hold a straight face.

 

John shook his head.  How did it become about him?  He looked over at Deb who was oddly enough, whispering to Henry, who laughed and whispered something back.  John frowned.  What was that all about?

 

~~~

 

Abby couldn’t help be a little bored during one of these functions.  She’d accepted John’s invitation because she knew that he was excited about introducing her to his grandmother.  Though the reception was less than warm, Abby tried to take in stride.  Abby just thought that the evening might turn out like the last one of these functions, except less, well criminal. 

 

They had begun to have a little fun, watching the guests and even making a couple of jokes at some of their rigid postures, but then she’d gone to the ladies room and things had changed.  Though John paid attention to her, it seemed he was more focused on the mystery woman.  And when it turned out to be Jing Mei, Abby had a twinge of jealously.  Carter didn’t really do anything that made Abby feel competitive, but in the back of her mind, she remembered some of the rumor mills going around about the idea that Carter and Jing Mei might make a cute couple.  They’d filled Abby in on the two’s competitive med school days and though Abby knew Carter was infatuated with her, some part of her couldn’t help feel a little insecure.

 

“Well, we’d better get going,” John sighed, looking down at Abby.  Abby perked up at the idea of blowing the rich self-righteous snobs that inhabited these parties.

 

“Oh, so soon?” Emily frowned.  “We were just catching up.”  Abby watched Jing Mei’s mother pat John’s arm.  “You could stay a little while longer.  Couldn’t you?”

 

Abby looked up at John, her eyes imploring for them to leave.  John swallowed and shook his head.  “Maybe some other time Emily.”

 

The Drs. Chen smiled graciously and nodded.  “Well, you’ll have to come over for supper one evening.  You can even bring your girlfriend,” Dr. Chen offered.

 

Abby secretly felt like rolling her eyes.  They couldn’t even remember her name.  John nodded and then whispered into his grandmother’s ear.  Abby assumed that it was to arrange how they’d be getting home. Abby smiled politely and shook hands with the Chen family as John escorted her from the ballroom.  “Oh my gosh!” exclaimed Abby.  “I never thought we’d get out of there.  Between Dr. Chen and his research, to Henry’s exciting life as a pediatric surgeon, I didn’t know how much more I could take,” laughed Abby.

 

John undid his bow tie.  “It was interesting that’s for sure.  I didn’t know the Chen’s would be here, let alone Deb,” John mumbled.

 

Abby frowned at the comment.  “Why?  Aren’t they part of the elite crowd?  The Chen’s are obviously rich.  You could tell by all the jewelry Mrs. Chen was wearing.”

 

Suddenly there was an awkward silence between them.  The observation wasn’t as keenly noticed by John apparently.  Abby made a face to herself.  ‘Carter was always sensitive when talking about money.  Just like the time she and Susan teased him at the sexual harassment course,’ thought Abby.  “So how are we getting home?” asked Abby as she took the initiative to break the silence.  Abby rubbed her arms underneath her lace shawl.  It had cooled off during the evening.

 

John kissed her neck.  “I told Grams we’d take a taxi and that she could have the limo.”  Abby watched John hail a taxi over to the curb.  “After you my lady.” John smiled and motioned for her to slip into the yellow taxi.  “Thank you,” giggled Abby.

 

~ * ~

 

As Abby turned the key in the lock of her apartment door, John was gently nibbling on her neck.  “Stop it!” giggled Abby.  “That tickles.”  John followed her into the apartment without so much as a word.  Abby bit her lip as he made himself comfortable on her couch, beckoning her to join him.  She pursed her lips and ran her hands through her shoulder length hair.  Abby wasn’t quite in the mood to snuggle.  She just actually wanted to sleep.  But before Abby could have said anything, John had invited himself in.  Not that she hadn’t invited him in for the past couple of weeks.  But Abby was just irritated that certain night with his presumption.

 

Maybe it was the fact that he’d paid more attention to the Chen family and that guy named, Henry?  But Abby was just exhausted and she wanted to throw her high heel shoes in a corner and curl up on the couch with a good cheesy movie.  “Are you going to come and sit with me?” John asked.

 

Abby held up her finger, signaling for him to wait for a moment.  “I just want to get changed out of this dress,” shouted Abby from her bedroom.  “I’ll be just a minute.”  While she changed, Abby heard John rattling around in the kitchen and saying something here and there.

 

“Didn’t you feel horrible the way Emily sprung Henry on Deb tonight?” asked John.  “It was horrible in kind of a funny way.”

 

Abby shuffled out of her bedroom into the kitchen with her bathrobe and bunny slippers.  “That’s parents!” mumbled Abby.  “At least her parents don’t throw fits in front of everyone you know.”

 

John pouted.  “Aw, did Abby feel left out tonight?” John teased, kissing her forehead.

 

Abby rolled her eyes.  “Well, it’s kind of hard to hold any type of conversation when you don’t know anyone there.”

 

John tugged her gently to the couch.  “You know Deb!” stated John.

 

Abby sighed.  “Well, it’s kind of hard to hold a conversation with her either.  It’s not like we’re best of friends or anything.”  She watched to see if John caught the dig.  He pulled her onto his lap and started kissing her neck.  He didn’t.

 

“Well,’ said John, his voice muffled as he nibbled on her neck.  “I have to say one thing, she’d definitely make her parents happy if she left Mercy.”

 

Abby frowned.  “When did she actually start thinking about this anyway?” asked Abby, as she sat up and pulled out of John’s grasp.  Abby positioned herself next to John on the couch.  “I mean, you obviously knew about it?  I don’t think anyone else in the ER does.”

 

John looked curiously at her.  “Why does it matter?” he smirked.  “Are you feeling a little jealous?”

 

Abby opened her mouth, but nothing came out.  She looked at him incredulously.  “I am not jealous!  I was just wondering why she would tell you?”

 

John pulled her close.  “Because we’ve known each other forever,” dismissed John, as he kissed her lips.  “It doesn’t matter anyway.  It’s not like I could change her mind even if I wanted to.”

 

Abby pulled away.  “Do you want to?”