The Imposter (Alexandra Destephano Book 2) Read online

  "No. I had a cocktail party to go to. I'll have it on your desk in the morning." Don was whining again.

  "Good. Make sure you do. Whitset's the major player here. Make sure you can control him. I'm not your problem and neither is Monique." Alex knew her voice was condescending, but she didn't care.

  "Dammit, Alex! Desmonde is the problem, not Whitset!"

  "Don, you and I both know that there are a dozen Whitset's for every Monique Desmonde. You need to stand tall on this. If you lose Dr. Desmonde, you will lose psychiatry at CCMC."

  "I don't give a damn about psychiatry! Let the wackos go! I just don't want any bad press!"

  "You'll destroy our reputation as a world class hospital. You must have a psychiatric service to keep the world class designation. You're going to get bad press if you don't get Whitset in line. After all, you are the CEO." Alex knew she was venturing on the fringe, but she didn't care. Don had already tried to fire her once this year -- back in February. Her appointment by the hospital board of trustees made it impossible for Don to fire her without their approval. And, so far, they really liked her.

  "All right, all right. Just fix Monique." He was backing down and his voice was contrite.

  Alex rode her advantage home. "Look, Don. Think about it. Your win-win position is to keep Dr. Desmonde and psychiatry -- even if Whitset and his management company have to go. Think about that."

  "Okay, okay. Just keep Desmonde away from the press, promise?" Don's voice was placating now, sugarcoated.

  Alex was disgusted. "I won't have to keep Monique from the press if you give her what she needs to provide safe, reasonable, standard care. Get the picture, Don?" Alex 's voice was defiant.

  "Yeah, yeah. I'll do what I can. You do your part." He clicked off the phone without saying goodbye.

  "Bye to you too, you idiot!" Alex slammed down the phone. "I hate that Mother Fucker," she grumbled to Robert.

  Robert laughed. "Whoa! That's rough talk for you Alex. Can I assume your boss hung up on you?"

  "You bet he did. Slime ball!" Alex was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "Robert, I'm going to tell you the truth. I don't know how much longer I can stand working with him. He's an absolute idiot, a model of incompetence. He's the Peter Principle personified. I have a very interesting opportunity on my desk at the hospital. A large, managed care group is looking for a corporate attorney. Of course, I would have to leave New Orleans …." Alex demurred a bit. "I'll never understand why the board keeps him here."

  Robert gave her a matter-of-fact look and said, "Sure you do, Alex. For all of his faults, we all know why they keep Don around. Montgomery is a financial wizard. Crescent City is one of the few hospitals in New Orleans that is financially solvent. No one cares that he is rude, inappropriate, and non-appreciative of nurses, physicians, and other providers. No one cares that he is insensitive to needs of patients, staff, and families. They only care about money. We are making money and that is ultimately what it's all about -- the bottom line, like it or not. CCMC has held together when other hospitals have gone out of business or have been bought up by conglomerates. Don will skillfully maneuver CCMC through health care reform. He understands the health care portability act better than the politicians that wrote it. That, my dear, is very simply Mr. Montgomery’s strength."

  Alex sighed. "Yeah, I know Robert. But Don truthfully doesn't give a rip about the care that patients receive. He doesn't even know about clinical care. It seems unlikely that his success will continue."

  Robert shrugged his shoulders. "Rest assured, it will continue as long as he keeps giving the physicians the technology they crave and the raises they deserve. I hate to give the man any accolades, but he's doing a fairly good job, all things considered. Even the nursing salaries are competitive, I hear."

  "Yeah, but the quality of care is dropping and the working conditions suck. The nurses have absolutely no support. Betty Favre treats them like street workers, not like professionals. Money is important to nurses, but so is professionalism, research, and continuing education -- important aspects of a nurse’s role that Favre refuses to recognize. Motivation and morale is almost zilch at CCMC among nursing staff." Alex shook her head, "It's actually very sad because CCMC has some of the best nurses I have ever seen."

  "Yes, a fact which the physician group is profoundly concerned about. None of them like Favre." Robert paused for a moment and winked at her, "Don't say anything to anyone, but I think Favre may take a fall in a few months."

  "Robert," Alex's voice was gleeful, "That's the best news I've heard." She ran over and hugged him.

  "Shish. Don't say anything. It is definitely in the making. I've just come from a medical staff meeting and Ms. Favre's leadership, or lack of it, was the topic of discussion. I'm sure it will happen. Just be patient. Besides, I don't want you anywhere other than New Orleans!"

  Alex smiled to herself. She was enjoying the feel of being in his arms again. When she broke off the embrace, Alex literally danced around the kitchen making a gourmet salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh chicken breast. She even pulled out her food processor and made Robert's favorite salad dressing, a creamy vinaigrette, for old time's sake.

  Robert knew what she was doing and was secretly pleased. Once again, he could kick his own ass for divorcing her.

  "Robert, let's set the table in the dining room! It's been a long, lousy day. It deserves a good ending. No shoptalk at all. The china is in the linen press. I have a bottle of barrel-fermented Virginia Chardonnay that should go well with the salad. It's great! Estate bottled at Windy River Winery, a new winery close to my grandparents’ home in Hanover County. Grand shipped me four bottles last week. She's impressed with the quality – what do you say?"

  "Why in heaven's name would I argue with such a beautiful lady? I'm on my way to set the table." Robert was feeling happy and lighthearted as he moved into Alex's formal dining room. He switched on the brilliant crystal chandelier. It glowed magnificently against the pale blue moiré of the wallpaper. He adjusted the dimmer switch to a low light level until Alex's antique silver service glistened in the light. The silver candlesticks and fresh flowers were beautifully set against the antique mahogany and cherry of the dining room furniture. Robert sighed in appreciation as he looked around the room. The Sheraton banquet table gleamed in the light of the chandelier. Again, he was awed by Alex's taste. He wondered briefly if Mitch Landry had been a part of the house’s renovation. A flicker of jealousy flowed through him. Then he realized that Mitch could not have been. He remembered they had started seeing each other three months after Alex had moved in to the renovated townhouse. The flat was obviously Alex's creation alone. For some reason, that pleased him.

  He continued to think about the relationship between Mitch and Alex, as he moved the heavy silver from the drawer of the sideboard. He had known Mitch for years and had been a little perturbed when he had learned that Mitch and Alex were dating. Of course, Mitch had been charming. He was sincerely sorry at the way things had ended. But, to be honest, it did allow him an opportunity to win Alex back. Oh, and how Robert wanted her again. He had been such a fool -- young and foolish, a real macho idiot. He could admit that to himself now. Monique had helped him see that.

  He had wanted Alex to be a typical haus frau, a stay at home wife and mother. That was what his mother had been. Of course, his mother had always done civic and charity work. She was a proverbial do-gooder. Back then, that was what he thought all men wanted, a wife that stayed at home and cared for the home and children. He never thought a man wanted a professional wife, one who shared his world. Looking back, he guessed it was a culture thing. He had just recently realized that marriage in the world he lived in was very different than the world his parents shared.

  Thank goodness for Monique Desmonde! Now, due to her influence, he saw things differently. He wanted Alex, just as she was. Actually, since he had gotten older, Robert had learned that his mother had given up her professional career for
his father. She had been a well-known classical violinist. Of course, it hadn't been all bad. She was the first lady of Louisiana when his dad was governor, and now she was a ranking senator's wife. Still, Robert realized, his mother had made considerable sacrifices throughout the years, missed opportunities she could never regain.

  As Robert opened the antique linen press, he felt a little maudlin. The china was the same. Alex was still using their wedding china. It was English Aynsley, the pattern, Capistrano. He hadn't liked the china when they were married. He had considered it too busy, garish in fact. Now he thought the colors were beautiful and the birds magnificent. What a purist he had been in those days! He had wanted China that was white, with a platinum ring around the edge. He had possessed no imagination at all back then, only a preconceived notion of what a wife, a woman, should be.

  Alex had fought him on the china decision, telling him continually that if the Queen of England dined on Aynsley, so could they. He had acquiesced, but had never liked the china with its colorful birds and flowers. Now he touched the plates fondly, as if trying to atone for his former dislike. He loved the china. It was beautiful. It was so very Alex, beautifully designed, etched, and colored. He had just finished setting the table when Alex appeared in the doorway with the salad in a large cut glass bowl and a silver basket full of French bread.

  "Robert, you did great! When did you learn to set the table? Good job … I'm impressed." Alex really was pleased. Before and during their marriage, Robert would never have helped her in the kitchen, much less have set the table. She looked around. The silver, china, wine and water goblets were perfectly placed on the table. She continued, "If you light the candles, I'll get the wine. It's chilling in the silver ice bucket in the kitchen."

  Alex was thinking about how much Robert had changed, as she returned to the kitchen. He was a wonderful man. Kind, good, even tempered. A healer. Would she ever recover from the distrust and feelings of abandonment he had left her with? Maybe, just maybe, she could. She felt her heart beat pick up. Maybe they could get back together. She knew Robert was interested. She even believed Robert loved her and always had -- but he did have a lot of baggage. He had been an excellent surgeon prior to his injury earlier in the year, and while he seemed to be coping well with his limitations, Alex knew he was prone to depression. Of course, what man would not be? He had been at the precipice of national fame prior to his injury. He had pioneered several surgical techniques that were now written in the medical books. After all, it was quite possible that a brilliant surgical career had ended in a gun battle at the Endymion extravaganza during Mardi Gras.

  Alex also remembered that Robert was a wonderful lover. She briefly allowed herself to think back to their married years and, as her heart quickened, she felt her legs weaken. Even when they weren't getting along, they had always had a consuming passion for each other. They had been great lovers. She felt a little nervous about the dinner. What was going to happen? What would she do if one thing led to another? Well, she made up her mind. She would just savor the day. Wasn't that the avant-garde thing to do? Besides, it'd been so long. There had only been one other man in her life since Robert, a physician in Texas. She and Mitch had never been intimate sexually. Why, it'd been over two years. No wonder! Alex's heart began to flutter.

  Robert reappeared in the kitchen. She heard the sounds of Vladimir Horowitz, her favorite pianist and Robert's favorite as well. He had remembered and played the CD for her. She was beginning to feel wonderful. She felt the tension drop from her body like a discarded garment.

  Robert smiled at her – a deep, caring, and sensual smile. She looked into his eyes. She knew the look, the sensitive eyes that smoldered and bespoke of countless pleasures to come. He said in his deep voice, "May I escort the lovely lady into dinner?" He was so gallant, so cultured, so … French. So sexy. She loved this.

  Alex laughed a little nervously and accepted his arm. "Of course … I'd be honored," she said, remembering her Virginia upbringing.

  He seated her to his right, and he sat at the head of the table. He deftly poured the wine and served her salad.

  For a moment, Alex had a flashback. This evening was so typical of the evenings she and Mitch had spent at her house. Only Mitch had been seated at her table. No other man had ever graced her dining room. She pushed the thought from her mind, not wanting to think about Mitch tonight. Mitch wasn't an option any longer.

  She had a fleeting thought of what her grandmother, Kathryn Rosseau Lee would do in a similar situation. It was easy. Grand would tell her to go for it. Grand was such a pragmatist, a wise lady and so fair with people, their flaws, and relationships. Besides, hadn't Grand encouraged her in March to try and rekindle her love for Robert? Hadn't she urged her to consider a reconciliation when they had been in Virginia in the spring? Grand had suggested this and Alex had brushed it off, way too raw from the death of Mitch.

  Actually, Alex couldn't be hard on her grandmother, her mentor. Grand had suggested to her in her exacting, precise, and practical way, "Alex, my dear, real love comes only once. Robert was your first love, just as Adam was mine. People fall in and out of love with each other many times throughout a marriage. My generation, we put up with each other, but you younger folks run for divorce -- an easy out which prevents people from trying to work things out …."

  Alex had interrupted her grandmother, angry and defensive at the conversation. She had accused her grandmother of blaming her for ending her marriage. Boy, she had some raw nerves back then.

  Kathryn had denied this, saying only that she was sure Robert still loved and wanted her. Because the conversation had been painful for Alex and the loss of Mitch so recent, Alex had abruptly ended the conversation. Her grandmother had assured her that she understood and asked only that Alex keep an open mind with regard to Robert's intentions. She asked that Alex be honest with herself. Grand also mentioned she knew Alex had secrets locked in her heart, as Grand did herself. Alex had found this remark particularly perplexing. One day when she wasn't so emotional she would ask Grand about her secrets.

  Robert interrupted her thoughts. "Alex, what are you thinking?” His dark eyes bored into hers.

  "I was just thinking about Grand. Something she said to me when we were home. It's nothing really. How's your salad, Robert?"

  "It's wonderful! Just as you are, Alex. I'm going to savor this evening -- it's perfect!"

  Robert reached for Alex's hand and rubbed it gently, tracing the veins in her hands softly. Alex again remembered the passion of their marriage. She decided to let herself be romanced and lured. It felt so good.

  Robert continued, "You know, Alex. You're so fortunate to have had your grandparents. They are fine people. The very best actually. I admire them both."

  She laughed. "Even Granddad? You always said you never had a handle on how Adam felt about you. Has that changed?"

  Robert contemplated her remarks. "No, I guess not. But, I still admire Adam Patrick Lee. He's one of the most noble and ethical men I have ever met." He looked a little sheepish. "I don't think Adam Lee thinks any man is good enough for his Alex."

  Alex smiled at him.

  "And you know what," Robert continued, "He may be right …."

  Alex smiled at Robert. Their eyes locked. He continued to stroke her hand. She looked at him, conscious that she was going to have to make a decision very soon -- a decision that could possibly affect the relationship for a long time, maybe even forever.

  Alex said to Robert gently, "Robert, I don't have any dessert. Sorry." Alex pretended to ponder this impropriety.

  He finally said, "Well, I guess I'll accept a dance instead. Isn't that Richard Clayderman?"

  Alex nodded. Clayderman, a popular pianist, was playing a romantic medley of songs. They moved into the living room to dance. Alex was pleased that Robert had cut off the lamps and had lit the electric wall sconces. The room was romantic, the sconces casting a warm, mellow glow over the pastel furniture.

  Robert an
d Alex began dancing, each caught up in their own thoughts about the rest of the evening. It was a wonderful feeling for Alex. She felt like a teenager. It seemed so right. After all, Robert had been her husband. That made it feel especially right. Besides, it felt perfect in his arms. It was so familiar.

  Robert was thinking the same thing. He felt sure he was interpreting Alex correctly. He wanted her to want the same things as he did. He wasn't looking for a one night stand. He was looking for the opportunity to reclaim his wife. He said to her softly, "Alex, I love you. I've always loved you. I want to be with you, but only if you really want me .…"

  She moved her head from his shoulder and looked at him directly. His eyes were smoldering with passion and love. She knew the delights they held.

  She said simply, "I want you, too, Robert. I can't promise anything forever, but I want you .…"

  He pulled her closer and kissed her. A long, lingering, passionate kiss.

  Alex felt her heart beat faster and her legs and arms become weak with anticipation. She was aware of the degree of Robert's passion, as he held her in his arms. She took his hand and led him into her bedroom. "Give me a moment, Robert, so I can brush my teeth."

  He laughed at her, remembering that this was Alex's prelude to love. He said, "I'll do the same."

  Alex went into her bathroom, stripped off her clothes, and changed into a satin gown. She reemerged and found Robert waiting for her in her bed. No, it was their antique walnut bed with the deeply carved rosewood ten foot headboard.

  For a moment, Alex was infinitely glad she had Helene, her cleaning lady, continue to put satin sheets on her bed. Over the past couple of years, she had laughed at herself for using them, but now, it was worth it.

  She smiled shyly at Robert and he pulled her into bed. She fell into his arms. Robert was naked and she felt his muscled, lean body press against her as they embraced. She breathed a sigh of contentment as he kissed her. It was beautiful. It was poignantly familiar, it seemed so right. It was right, Alex convinced herself. She loved the way he smelled, so fresh and masculine. She was giving herself up to a night of ecstasy, when the phone rang. Robert gave a little, sad moan. Alex giggled and picked it up. It was Monique. Alex felt guilty. She had forgotten all about Monique and Jack.