Doctors Orders (Book#1 Hope Ridge)

Chapter Two: The Real Surprise...

We made it home in record time. My mother may be the calmest person I know, but that woman can weave effortlessly through rush hour like it's nobody's business.

She belonged on a race track. She's fast but she is never rash or careless. She loves her Mazda SUV, though. She says if you're comfortable with your tools, anything is possible.

Once we arrived at the house, Dad rushed out with Dr. Winston and they both carried the massive cake carefully into the house while Mum and I pulled out of the driveway and parked with all the others a few blocks up the road.

Since Nate thought I was out of town, we didn't want him to see any familiar vehicles, so I instructed everyone attending the surprise party to carpool, if possible, and park further up the street.

The walk back to the house was a fast one. Mum and I went through my checklist verbally as we walked back, making sure nothing else was missed or overlooked. Confident we had everything taken care of, we stepped inside the house and were greeted by a few of my and Nate's friends as well as my family. Nate was always really private about his life and our marriage, so we didn’t have a wide friend circle and Nate never talked about any of his family. We all just presumed they didn’t speak. After his parents divorced, he hadn’t seen his mother's side since, and his Dad, Nate never spoke of him. My parents tried, but Nate was never one for the family dynamic. My parents were more or less here because it was important to me.

Mum and I immediately separated. She beeline'd to my dad and was quickly pulled into his embrace while I made my way to the kitchen and checked on the cake and food. Everything was perfect.

"Stop worrying, Ruby." I whipped around and found Dr. Winston smirking at my panic as he rested against the door frame. Dr. Winston was tall, standing six feet one and lean. He wore tailored dress shirts that would show you just how toned and lean he was. He was a delicious addition to the male gender, but he was also very much off-limits. Not only because we were colleagues, but also, because I was a married woman and not the type to ever consider straying from my husband.

Dr. Winston and I had a great many chats about the most random of things. He was smart and funny. He'd make any woman happy, which was in part why I invited him here tonight. I had several single female friends in attendance and they would love to get their claws into a Doctor. Especially if they looked like Dr. Winston. That man was straight-up s*x wrapped in a lab coat.

"I can't help it. You know me. I have lists and once I am done with a list, I will review and review once more until I am confident it is perfect. I am no different from home or work."

Dr. Winston often made light joust of my frequent planning and lists, but I was also his favoured nurse on staff for just that reason. I didn't miss things at work like some of the others. I was incredibly thorough in everything I did.

Pushing himself off the door frame, he walked to me. His arms crossed his chest. His facial expression was solid stone. He was one of the hardest men to get a read on correctly. I both loved and hated it. This was one of those moments where I hated it.

Instinctively, I tried to take a step back. The kitchen island directly behind me stopped that from happening. Dr. Winston smirks again at his obvious victory. Dropping his arms from across his chest, he takes hold of my shoulders and locks his eyes. His deep crystal blue locked onto my sage green, I was trapped.

"You should relax, Ruby. What you did here is nothing short of inspiring. I wish I had someone to go to these lengths to celebrate my life. If he doesn't see all the great, then he is a fool." He knew how to calm me. His voice was low. It was private, so no one would hear how I was freaking out but Dr. Winston.

"Dr. Winston," He cuts me off with a stern look. "When we are out of the office, it's Tom. Not Dr. Winston, Ruby." Again I smiled. He hates formalities off-shift. That’s fair. I like to keep it formal because I know Nate is uncomfortable with how close Dr. Winston and I are. I have expressed time and time again that we are just colleagues and friends, but Nate has it in his head that attractive people of the opposite gender can't be just friends.

That statement made me internally panic. Not because of Dr. Winston and I, but rather Nate. He knew a lot of very beautiful women. He had lots of very beautiful female friends. Was that his way of low-key letting me know he had slept with the majority of his female friends?

Some things are best left alone and not pondered on.

"You know Nate would hate it if I started calling you Tom," I replied. I was feeling a little shy about the fact that I had just admitted he made Nate uncomfortable. It didn't go unnoticed that his lips curled up slightly when I said it, either.

"Sounds like a personal problem for Nate." I slapped his chest playfully and chuckled as I stepped around him to make my exit.

"Running away?" he tried to bait me back. I shot him a smirk and said I had others vying for my time just as much as he was and walked out laughing.

Stepping back out into the living room where the bulk of everyone was. I took in all the decorations and the smiles and laughter. People were sharing stories of Nate when he was younger, while others were commenting on the decorations and how great everything looked. Several people made comments about how lucky Nate was to have such an incredibly planned surprise party.

A few of his guy friends had already dipped into the beers and were taking bets on how he'd react by stepping inside and getting the surprise of his life. Lots of laughter and lots of jokes were shared around the room.

It was harmonious, even though I was still slightly anxious and worried he would hate it. As if they had an internal beacon when I needed reassurance, my parents made their way over to me with big smiles on their faces.

"Well, it's official. Your father now expects something like this for his birthday next year. Thanks ever so much, my darling daughter." My mother's sarcasm didn't go unnoticed and gathered a few laughs from people around us listening.

"I think it's only fair. They've been married for four years and look at all this," my father dramatically waves his hand around, drawing more laughs from others. "We've been married for twenty-seven years." To my dismay, my father followed up by wiggling his brows suggestively at my mother. I internally cringed. Laughing, my mother slaps his arm and shakes her head.

"I second that motion, Harry." Dr. Winston said, coming up from behind me. Dr. Winston and my father agreed on many things, especially when it came to me. To say they were friends would be a stretch. It was more like, Dr. Winston was the son my father always wanted. They had so many similarities and interests. It was creepy how alike they were at times.

Another reason Nate felt uncomfortable about his relationship with him is that my parents loved Dr. Winston.

When Dr. Winston transferred to our clinic. He had just moved away from a bad engagement with his college sweetheart. He doesn't go into details ever, but he walked away from his position within a major General hospital and took a less-paying job at a walk-in medi-clinic just to get away from it all. His first week on the job and he saved me from a mugging one night. That was the moment my parents were Team Tom.

I was heading home from work and I blew a tire. I stupidly forgot to charge my phone and I was stranded. With my dad being a car guy, I knew how to change a tire properly, so I thought nothing of it. What I didn't calculate was the not-so-safe area I was in. I just knew I needed to get home quickly before Nate got upset. I knew I would be in trouble with my phone dead. We argued last night, and I completely forgot to put it on the charging base overnight.

Thankfully, Dr. Winston took a wrong turn and happened to be passing by while I was being accosted by the mugger who was trying to take my purse and jewelry.

He hopped out of his car, barely stopping the vehicle before he stepped out. He chased after the mugger and ended up getting my possessions back. I used his phone to call Gerald, my dad's friend who runs a tow truck company, and Dr. Winston drove me back to my parent's home. They didn't want me home alone when Nate was out of town visiting old college friends.

My dad shook Dr. Winston's hand the moment we stepped out of his car and, since that moment, Dr. Winston has become a part of the Collins extended family. He was invited to everything now. Christmas's, Easter dinners, church- which he only attended on occasion, but still more than Nate did. Church was my mother's thing. We all respected it. Faith grounds a person. That's what she always says, and I can see that. It gives you hope, and being in the profession of medicine, you see miracles that simple science can't always explain. I know I will continue going, and I will always encourage my future children as well.

It is important to have structure, and faith, regardless of your beliefs, offers that foundation and structure. My parents loved that Dr. Winston supported that with them, they made lots of subtle jabs about how Nate doesn’t. Never when he was around, of course.

Pulling my attention away from my dad and Tom bonding over the latest car my dad is working on in his shop, I moved around the room and checked on everyone. We were all socializing and finishing the last few touches when one of the neighbours around the corner let me know that Nate's car had just driven by and was heading our way.

I checked the time; it was only five p.m. The branch would have just closed thirty minutes ago. It was weird him coming home so early when, typically for the last few months, he was never home before six.

He always said he had lots to tie up after branch closing hours. That all of course made sense.

I did find it a little odd that on the night I wouldn't be home waiting for him with dinner ready, he'd be rushing home.

That's how things worked out, though. When you want it- it's not available.

Shushing everyone and all getting into their hiding spots, we turned off all the lights and waited for Nate to walk in.

I was grinning like a child in anticipation as I crouched in between my parents. Dr. Winston crouched across from us; even with the lights off, I could still make him out. I smiled, to which he returned with a wink.

I felt a hand smoothing across my back. I flinched slightly at being touched on my back but instantly calmed down once I realized it was my mum.

Then the headlights came around the big bush at the end of our driveway as Nate pulled in rather quickly. Too quickly if there was any other car in our driveway, but thankfully there wasn't.

"OK everyone, shush" My mother whispers and the room falls silent.

It takes Nate longer than it should to get out of the car, but we finally hear his car door open and then close. It was shortly followed by another door opening and closing. Perhaps he brought his work home since he was going to be alone.

I could hear him fumbling a lot with his keys, his voice was mumbled but it almost sounded like a moan.

That was weird. I stared straight ahead. What was going on? It sounded like he banged against the door. Again we could hear muffled sounds and the keys fumbling around the keyhole.

Perhaps he was drinking a bit too much? That wouldn't make sense since he just got off work, though.

My Mum looked over at me and whispered "Something is not right, Rubes". I agreed but ignored it while I stared straight at the door. I had a bad feeling all of a sudden.

Before I could think further about it, the door opened and we were all greeted by a woman's backside and Nate's hand up her skirt and cupping her bare ass. The muffled sounds were not muffled anymore, their moans and kisses filled the air as they both staggered in clumsily; unaware that all our friends and family were hiding in the dark room watching his adultery play out.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught many heads shaking in disbelief and turned to watch me.

It was still dark, Nate and his mistress didn't bother turning on the lights or even closing the door.

He lifted her and carried her to the big leather sofa while her legs were wrapped around him like a serpent strangling his hips. Her hands weaved and tugged at his hair, demanding his dominance, and he responded with dominance.

Laying her on the sofa, he stepped back only to remove his blazer and dress shirt.

"I can't believe we have finally got this chance. I have wanted to bring you back to the house since we started months ago." He says as he dips back down and leaves wet kisses all along her neck and shoulders possessively.

We all watch in horror as she moans loudly at each one. "Mmm, me too baby. I hate that we always have to either do it in your car or in the office. Finally, a real bedroom. Our bedroom."

Nate moans and chuckles into the slope of her neck as he cups her left breast boldly. "Yea baby, our room."

"When baby?" She moans out. "When can we make it official? You love me, don't you?"

Pulling back, Nate looks down at her face while he cups it. "You're the only love of my life, baby. I just need a few more months before I am free from this burden."

Just like that, my heart breaks in front of our closest people. I could hear light gasps and whispers. I wasn't the only one affected by this betrayal, but they all seemed to be waiting for me to do something.

My husband of four years had just brought home his mistress, declared his love in front of everyone, and then labelled me his burden. What's worse is, he still had no idea we were all here.

I wanted to slink away and lick my wounds in private, after everything he’s put me through, I am the burden? And just like that, a streamer overhead loses its hold and slowly glides down, landing across Nate's bare back on the sofa. He flinches, noticing the strange touch.

Reaching behind him, he turned on the lamp on the end table next to the sofa and was startled by all the decorations filling the living space.

"What the…" and then he noticed the crouching friends and family surrounding him. His face paled when he saw me. I rose, standing at my full height of five feet two, and stared at him. Into his brown eyes, I wanted him to see the feelings I was battling right now. I wanted him to feel it all.

Instantly, Nate backed away from the sofa and rushed to put on his dress shirt. He carelessly tossed it on the floor in the heat of the moment. He pried his eyes away from mine and took in everyone else's sour and disappointed expressions.

"Surprise," I said in a neutral tone. There was no longer any excitement or love in my voice. It was low and mono-toned. I didn't want to be here anymore and I certainly didn't want to break in front of everyone, especially Nate.

Turning back to me, Nate took a cautious step toward me. I raised my hand to stop him from coming any further.

"Ruby, I can explain." I stopped him with one sharp look. “It’s not what you think.”

"You don't need to say anything, Nate. We heard it all. Our friends and family just heard everything from you and your whores own mouth."

With me saying that, his mistress snaps back into reality and stomps towards me angrily. "What did you just call me, b***h?"

I don't take my eyes off Nate's. He looks nervous and conflicted, as though he needs to say something important, but he is wrestling with an internal dilemma.

Before Nate's mistress could slap me with her rising hand, my mother beats her to it. A proud momma bear.

"Don't you dare touch my daughter? You are a snake slithering into her home with her pathetic husband in the middle of the night when you thought she was gone. You are a w***e. No self-respecting woman has car and office s*x only if they're not. Does he buy you things for these acts, or do you like ruining marriages for free?"

"How dare you slap me!" The mistress rebutted, still in shock that she was slapped.

"How dare you come into a married man's home behind his wife's back… w***e!" My mother was not one to curse, but she was angry and when she got angry, she looked out.

Before she could reply and stop it entirely. "Mum, enough. She couldn’t break a marriage that wasn't already broken. Isn't that right, Nate?"

He remained rooted, his eyes didn't leave mine.

"I knew we weren't perfect. You had these incredible standards that I endured and struggled to maintain, but I did it. That was what marriage is about. Adjusting and compromising when necessary. I thought we were finally making headway. We were different. You were different last year. Although distant, it was better. We never disagree about anything anymore. But then the distance became greater as the months went on. You were working later and later, we stopped eating meals together and stopped going out. I always ate up the excuse that work was busy, but Nate the player was back and I was a fool to ignore the signs. These were things you did in the beginning when I told you I wasn't interested in the player type. I pulled away last year. I was at my end but then you changed. I realize now that the change was just to win, wasn't it? I gave you a challenge, you won and now you're bored, right?"

Nate seemed to find his voice again and took another step forward. "Rubes…"

"It's Ruby to you." His face fell a bit at my correction. I don’t know when I became brave. Usually, I wouldn’t voice my needs or disagreements because Nate would make sure he was always right. Perhaps it was because I had the room's support and I was done with being let down or hurt by my husband.

"Ruby, I am sorry. I don't know what happened. I lost focus on the plan. Please. We can fix this. You can’t leave me. I need you. You need me. Remember?" His voice cracked like a child losing his favourite toy because he was being grounded. It didn't sway me in the slightest. He had embarrassed me in front of my family. There was no going back from this.

I laughed sarcastically and smiled sweetly. "Nate, I never "needed" you. I made you work for me because you wanted me, not the other way around. Once I saw a change, I allowed you into my life because you earned it, but I never needed you. I will never need you and I will never go back with you after this betrayal. I’ve endured too much over the years, this is the line I draw." I turned to face his mistress with a sweet smile.

"I hope you love the home, it's all yours. "

I turned back to Nate with a strait-laced expression. "I will have my Dad and his friends come for my things tomorrow. Don't be here when we arrive, as I only want to see you again in court when we file for divorce."

"Divorce?" Nate choked out.

I laughed at his idiocy. "Yes, divorce, Nate! You were just announcing to all your friends and family who came all this way to surprise you with a birthday party, that you only loved "her" and you were going to go up to your bedroom. And it's "your" house. You announced that it'd been months, you were undressing and going to f**k HER!" I paused and inhaled and exhaled. I am not a confrontational person by nature. I didn't argue, I negotiated, but everything in me wanted to tear this room apart.

"We will be divorcing, Nate. I will never be a burden to you ever again. I might even change banks because I "don't" even think I can trust you with my money. That's how little I trust my husband now. Enjoy the house. f**k her in every room for all I care. I wish you luck when he takes you to the basement."

I shuddered at the thought. I looked around the room and paused at my parents. Both of them shaking in anger.

"Happy birthday, Nate. I hope you got everything you wanted." With that, I walked towards the door, grabbed my car keys, and stepped out.

I planned this huge birthday surprise party for my loving, overworked husband, but I was the one who got the biggest surprise of them all.

The truth!