Just What The Doctor Ordered: A Lesbian Romance Read online

  JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

  By

  Lydia Rose

  Edited by

  Holly Schneider

  FOR LINDA ALWAYS

  CHAPTER ONE

  Alexandra Angelo was just starting her first day at work for Doctor Rachel Benson. She had previously worked for Doctor David Hanson until his recent retirement. Doctor Benson was also a General Practitioner as Doctor Hanson had been and knew her job well. Alexandra wasn’t nervous about the job, but getting comfortable with new co-workers and the doctor was her only worry. It had been ten years since she had to start all over again. In all the years of working, she never disclosed to any of her co-workers or employers that she was a lesbian. She figured what was the difference since she never had a long term relationship with anyone. Alexandra knew it was pathetic since she was thirty-six years old and still single. Unfortunately, her looks added to her still being single. Her dark hair was too straight, her face too thin and non-descript, and her blue eyes did nothing to boost Alexandra’s self-esteem. Alexandra overheard many people call her mousy which pushed her further into her shell.

  “Good morning, Alexandra,” Helen Jones called from the front office. “You’re early. I like that,” Helen added with a wide smile.

  Helen Jones’s position with Doctor Benson is nurse and office manager. Helen was the oldest one of the group, she had been with Doctor Benson since the practice opened. She was the one to interview Alexandra and hire her. She met the other employee Callie Anderson the day she interviewed for the job. Callie was just a year younger than Alexandra and her friendly personality bubbled over to the patients making them calmer visiting the doctor. Today would be the first time Alexandra would meet the doctor.

  “Morning, Helen.” Alexandra took off her jacket and hung it in the closet that Helen had indicated. She sat down at the computer and turned it on, ready to begin her day.

  “There’s coffee in the break room,” Helen said, “let me show you.”

  Alexandra got up and followed her into a small room at the end of the hallway. “Thank you.”

  “Last cup makes a new pot,” Helen said, looking over the top of her glasses.

  “Got it.” Alexandra poured herself a cup of black coffee and went back to her desk. Her hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail since she couldn’t get her contacts in this morning, she put on her glasses. With her headset in place, she opened the day’s schedule. Reading, she saw Doctor Benson would have office hours from eleven to four, after her rounds in the hospital.

  “Morning, Alexandra,” Callie said, as she rushed into the office. “Have you ever had those kinds of mornings where nothing goes right?”

  “Always,” Alexandra said softly.

  “I couldn’t get my husband and son out the door this morning.”

  “I see you decided to come in this morning,” Helen said to Callie.

  “Helen, I’m five minutes late. Get a life already.”

  Everyone went about their work and at ten thirty Doctor Benson walked in the back door. Rachel Benson went to her office without stopping to speak with her staff. She wanted to make some notes in a file before she started her day in the office. At five minutes to eleven, Rachel walked out to the reception area. She looked at the dark haired woman sitting at the desk and now remembered they had a new employee. She cleared her throat and the woman turned. “Hi. I’m Rachel Benson.”

  Alexandra swallowed hard. “Hello, Doctor Benson, I’m Alexandra Angelo.”

  “Welcome aboard, Alexandra,” Rachel smiled, and walked toward the back. “Hello, Helen and Callie. Are you ready to get this show on the road?”

  “Hey, Doc,” Callie said greeting her.

  “I thought you would have been here earlier,” Helen said, pointing her finger.

  Rachel shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I do have patients to see.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You have patients waiting here, too.” Helen added.

  “So that’s the new girl,” Rachel said with a flick of her head.

  “Yes.” Helen answered and continued. “I know she’s not a looker, but she came highly recommended from Doctor Hanson.”

  “Not a looker,” Rachel said lowering her voice. “That’s not very nice.” Rachel pointed her finger sternly.

  Helen pointed her thumb. “This one,” she said pointing to Callie, “wants to give her a makeover.”

  “Callie, mind your own business. You can’t do that,” Doctor Benson instructed.

  “Okay, okay, Doc.” Callie picked up the file for the first patient and went out to the waiting room.

  By Friday, Alexandra was comfortable with her new environment. Her co-workers seemed friendly enough and Doctor Benson was pleasant. Grant you, she hadn’t said more than a few words to her, but she always wore a smile. Today the office would be closing at three, but Alexandra wanted to finish up some paperwork before the weekend. Helen and Callie already left and she was alone in the office. Alexandra assumed the Doctor went home since her home was next door to the office. It was after five when Alexandra heard a door slam. She rolled back in her chair and looked down the hall.

  “Oh, Doctor Benson, do you need something?” Alexandra asked.

  “I didn’t think anyone was still here,” she said, moving closer to the reception area.

  “I had some papers I wanted to finish before the weekend.”

  “It’s Friday, Alexandra. You should be out enjoying yourself.”

  “Its fine, Doctor.” Alexandra looked at the doctor closely for the first time all week. Her short hair was styled and had blond highlights throughout the medium brown hair. The hazel eyes looked blue because of the light blue cashmere sweater she had on. The fitted jeans and black sneakers took away all her professional appearance and made you believe Rachel was younger than her forty three years. “You’re still working,” Alexandra said, adding a slight smile.

  “I just came to pick up a file I wanted to review before I saw the patient in the morning.” Rachel moved to the filing cabinets.

  Now Alexandra had a view of the doctor’s rear and her eyes glanced away before the doctor turned around.

  “Alexandra, go home. The work will be here on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.”

  Alexandra nodded and closed down her computer. “Enjoy your weekend too, doctor.”

  “Rachel,” the doctor said before she walked away.

  Alexandra smiled as she put on her coat and left the office. As she got into her car, she saw Rachel walking into her house next door.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “So tell us about yourself,” Callie said, Monday morning in the office.

  “Not much to tell,” Alexandra said, moving to her desk.

  “I don’t see a ring so you’re single. Right?” Callie continued.

  “Right.” Alexandra answered.

  “Divorced?”

  “No. Never married,” she admitted.

  “Leave the girl alone,” Helen said, hearing Callie’s interrogation.

  “I’m just trying to learn about our new employee. Alexandra knows I’m married with a kid and you’re divorced.” Callie smiled. “The doc is gay and single.”

  Alexandra’s eyes opened wide. She couldn’t believe that Callie had just outed the doctor.

  “Don’t look so shocked. The doc’s out and proud.” Callie added, and now she began to touch Alexandra’s hair. “You would look cute with shorter hair.”

  “Callie,” Helen scolded, “leave Alexandra alone right now.”

  “Okay. I’m only trying to be nice,” she said going toward the back.

  “I’m sorry,” Helen said to Alexandra. “She m
eans well, but she sticks her nose in other people’s business all the time. She’s always trying to fix me up. Just tell her to leave you alone or let me know if she makes you uncomfortable.” Helen left the reception area.

  Alexandra now looked at her reflection on the computer screen and wondered what she would look like with shorter hair. She loved the doctor’s hair, but the doctor had the face to go with the hair.

  As Alexandra was eating a sandwich in the break room, Callie walked in.

  “I’m sorry, Alexandra, if I made you uncomfortable. I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut sometimes.”

  “It’s okay, Callie. I know you meant well.”

  “It’s just that you have such a pretty face.”

  Alexandra laughed and shook her head. “I forgave you already. You don’t have to try flatter me.”

  “You do have a pretty face. You just need the right hairstyle and make-up to bring out those great features you have. Your eyes are amazing.”

  Alexandra’s mouth dropped open, shocked by Callie’s words. “I don’t know who you are looking at, but it certainly isn’t me.”

  “I can’t believe no one has ever told you how pretty you are,” Callie said with a shake of her head.

  Alexandra collected her trash and walked over to the garbage can.

  “Well, you better believe it, because it’s true,” Callie kept insisting. “You should come over to my house on Saturday and I will show you how beautiful you can be. I learned to cut hair and apply make-up when I was putting myself through school.” Callie touched Alexandra’s arm. “Think about it.”

  Alexandra walked to the doorway and turned. She couldn’t believe Callie’s words as she walked away. Pretty, ha. No one had ever told her she was pretty. Even her parents never said it. Her sister Mary was born with the looks in the family, and the body to go with the face. Alexandra put her glasses on and went back to work before the patients began to arrive.

  *

  Friday afternoon, Alexandra walked into Callie’s office. “What time do you want me to come to your house?” Alexandra asked before she could talk herself out of asking.

  Callie smiled brightly. “How’s one o’clock?”

  Alexandra nodded. “Fine.”

  “I’ll text you my address.” Callie put her hands on Alexandra’s shoulders and leaned near her ear. “I’ll take good care of you.”

  As Callie walked down the hallway, Rachel was standing there with her hands on her hips. “What was that about?”

  “Just taking care of a friend,” Callie said with a smile and walked away.

  Walking up to Callie’s front door made the butterflies in her stomach jump to life. What are you doing? You can’t change what God gave you.

  Callie opened the door smiling. “Hi, Alexandra. Come on inside.

  “Hello Callie, and please call me Alex.”

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No thanks.”

  “Anxious to get this remake done?”

  “No, and I think I’ve lost my mind agreeing to this.”

  “Have faith. I went to the store and picked up make-up and all the accessories you’re going to need.”

  “I want to pay for whatever you bought,” Alexandra said firmly.

  “Okay, but it isn’t necessary.”

  “Yes it is, Callie.”

  “Let’s get started.” Callie led her downstairs to the finished basement. Over in a small room was a hairdresser’s chair and a large mirror with bright lights.

  “Do you have a side business here?” Alexandra asked chuckling.

  “Just family.” Her hands went to Alexandra’s shoulders as she sat in the chair. “Trust me, Alex.”

  “I am, Callie.”

  Callie began to work her magic. She wet Alexandra’s hair and began cutting. Callie couldn’t believe it only took her two weeks to persuade Alexandra into this make over.

  After the hair was cut, she turned Alexandra away from the mirror and began to blow dry her hair. Callie turned Alexandra toward the mirror and waited for her reaction.

  Alexandra’s hand came up to her hair. Her mouth opened and closed unable to find the words. Tears formed in her eyes as she said softly. “It looks so full.”

  “The weight of your hair was pulling it down. The blow dryer and brush fluffed it up. Now the make-up.” Callie showed Alexandra how to apply the foundation and put on the eyeliner. Now she added some color to her lids. By the time she was finished, a new woman sat in the chair. “Well, what do you think?” Callie asked with her hands on Alexandra’s shoulders.

  Alexandra looked at her reflection and couldn’t believe that was her in the mirror. “I can’t believe it, Callie. Is it really me?”

  “It’s you, honey. Men will be falling at your feet trying to get you to go out with them.”

  Alexandra’s face fell and her eyes looked away.

  Understanding the look, Callie said. “Okay, women will be falling at your feet.”

  Alexandra looked up and smiled. Callie had guessed correctly and for the first time in her life, she didn’t care.

  Callie leaned down. “Wait until the doc sees you.”

  Alexandra shook her head. “I’m not interested in her.”

  “I didn’t say you were,” Callie said with a smile.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Alexandra walked into the office Monday morning, having duplicated what Callie had done to her on Saturday. It wasn’t exactly the way Callie had styled her hair, but it still looked great. Doctor Benson was the first to arrive in the office.

  “Good morning, Alexandra,” Rachel said on her way for a cup of coffee. When she came out of the room, she saw her. The coffee she had in her mouth almost came back up in shock. Rachel walked closer. “Wow. You look fantastic.” Then she realized what she had said. “I mean it’s not that you didn’t look good before.”

  “Its fine, Doctor Benson. If it wasn’t for Callie, I wouldn’t look like this.” Alexandra touched her hair gently. “It feels so strange being short.” Alexandra took off her glasses and watched as the doctor’s eyes opened wide.

  “You have beautiful eyes.” Then she realized this could be sexual harassment. “I mean I didn’t notice before. Now I’m going to walk away before I put my foot deeper in my mouth.” Rachel went back to her office as she heard Helen come in.

  “Holy cow,” Helen said as she approached Alexandra.

  “Callie,” Alexandra said softly as her hand went through her hair.

  “You look beautiful, Alexandra.” Helen’s head went up and down as her smile grew wider.

  Callie walked in the door. “So what do you think?”

  “She’s beautiful, Callie.” Helen turned to Callie.

  “It’s easy when you have a beautiful woman to work with.”

  Rachel sat back in her office listening to the woman go on and on about Alexandra. She couldn’t believe that this was the Alexandra woman who was there on Friday. Who knew a little make-up and a haircut could turn a plain woman into a living dream.

  “Good morning, Doc.” Helen called as she went to her office.

  Callie appeared in her doorway. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “She’s single too,” Callie said softly.

  Rachel looked up. “She won’t be for long. I’m sure some of our male patients will try to take her out.”

  Callie shook her head and grinned.

  “Oh,” Rachel said, understanding her meaning.

  *

  All week long patients spent more time near Alexandra’s desk. She did not want to be rude to anyone, but she had work to do. Many times she would just say excuse me and close her window to force both men and women to sit down instead of standing there chatting with her.

  By Friday afternoon Helen and Callie left for the day on time as usual. Alexandra stayed at her desk working alone.

  At six o’clock Alexandra heard the back door open and knew Doctor Benson was
coming into the building. As she approached, she said, “I see you are hard at work again on a Friday night.”

  “I have a lot of work to catch up on,” Alexandra said, not stopping what she was doing.

  “I thought if you’re going to work late for me, I may as well feed you.” Rachel opened a bag and handed a foil wrapped hamburger to Alexandra. Then she handed her a plate of fresh made onion rings.

  “Doctor, you didn’t have to do this. I could have picked something up on the way home.” Alexandra opened the foil burger and took a bite. “Thank you. This is good.”

  “Almost forgot,” Rachel said reaching into the bag. “How about a coke?”

  Alexandra reached for the bottle. “Great. Thanks.”

  “So are you enjoying the job?” Rachel asked keeping Alexandra company while she ate.

  “I am. The work is rewarding. Helen and Callie are great and even your patients are nice.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Rachel asked with a big grin.

  “Oh, sorry, Doctor.” Alexandra chuckled. “Of course you are included.”

  “How about if you stop calling me Doctor and call me Rachel?” Rachel asked smiling.

  “That’s going to take some getting used to. I called Doctor Hanson by his professional name for the ten years I worked for him.”

  “At least when we’re all alone, you can try.”

  “I’ll try Doctor. I mean, Rachel.” Alexandra grinned. “And please call me Alex.”

  “Okay, Alex.”

  Alexandra crumbled up the foil and placed the garbage back in the bag. “Thank you so much, Rachel. You saved me an extra trip on the way home.”

  “Well, I’ll let you get back to work and Alex, don’t stay too late.” Rachel called as she went down the hallway.

  “Good night, Rachel.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Rachel walked back to her house berating herself. She’s your employee. You can’t be seeking her out drooling over her. You had no interest in Alexandra before the makeover so it shouldn’t be any different. But she looks so damn good now. Her mental argument with herself didn’t do anything to get the image out of her mind of Alexandra’s blue eyes. As she spoke her eyes darkened with emotion. It was as if you could see into Alexandra’s soul by looking into her eyes. Especially now that Alexandra began wearing contact lenses everyday. You need to get laid. Rachel said to the empty house. She picked up her phone and called her friend Natalie.