Forever Young: Blessing or Curse (Always Young Trilogy) Read online

  “I’d love to go, but my stomach’s acting strange. If I feel better later, can I call you back?”

  By mid afternoon Dorrie’s insides had settled down enough for her to feel more confident. Maybe the disturbance had been something she’d eaten. Whatever the cause, it had passed. “I’ll pick you up at five,” she told her friend.

  Dorrie had a great time laughing with Kelly over the onscreen scrapes of two lovebirds who were finally united. To top off the evening, the two of them headed across the street to the ice cream shop. The cool, creamy treat tasted delicious. Dorrie felt tempted to buy another, but resisted. Her youthful metabolism could only handle so much. She’d already gained a few pounds, probably from overindulging.

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?” Kelly asked with a pointed look and a laugh.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, you know, first you had a bad stomach this morning. Now you’re devouring ice cream like you’ve never eaten any in your life.”

  “Only a good friend could get away with saying that. If I were pregnant it would be a miracle. There’s been no one since Larry.”

  “Darn. I’d hoped your sex life was better than mine.”

  “Come on now, from what you’ve said, Doug’s no slouch.”

  “Sure, when he’s not out saving the world, which is way too often.”

  “You love him all the more for being so selfless.”

  Kelly sighed. “You’ve got me there.”

  As they stood up, Dorrie yawned. “It’s getting late. Can’t wait to get home to bed.”

  “It’s only nine. You can still get some TV in.”

  “You’re kidding. That’s all? For some reason, it seems later. I must be rundown. I have been working super hard lately. I can’t help myself. Roman’s invention is so wonderful I want everyone to enjoy it.”

  “I don’t know. Doug says it’s too good to be true, and there has to be a catch somewhere.”

  “I haven’t found any.”

  Kelly laughed shortly. “That’s a cop for you. Always suspicious.”

  “It’s good he keeps the bad guys in line. Where would we be without such dedicated officers?

  “I’ll try to remember that while I lie in my empty bed, worrying if he’ll make it home all right.”

  Dorrie nodded. “I know where you’re coming from. I would have felt the same way if Larry had been on the force. You never know when it might be a loved one’s time, so treasure him.”

  Her stomach turned at the reminder she’d never see Larry again. The pain would never end.

  ***

  On Monday, she heard from Roman they’d be leaving for New York on Thursday. With the news, her mood lifted. The rest of the day she smiled and went around humming the New York song.

  She’d traveled more in the past few months than she’d done in the thirty years she’d been married. Overpacking was still her vice, but at least she’d wisened up enough to choose wrinkle proof clothes.

  The loose ones seemed more comfortable lately, a warning to watch her diet. No more ice creams after movies. Apparently, youth could only do so much, and it was still up to her to exercise some self-control. It wouldn’t do to parade in a bikini with her gut hanging out.

  Roman had said they’d stay overnight, so hopefully she could take in a Broadway play. She’d never seen one, and the prospect seemed exciting.

  On Thursday afternoon, she and Roman performed commercial skits atop the observatory of the Empire State Building, the famous setting for the romantic movie, “You’ve Got Mail.”

  With the taping done, Dorrie happened to glance down at the street. Next thing she knew, the platform whirled. She made a quick grab at the railing and closed her eyes.

  Roman reached over to hold her by the elbows. “Steady, now. Dorrie, are you all right?”

  After what seemed an eternity, everything moved back to its original position. She nodded. “Must be vertigo. I should never have looked down.”

  “Does it bother you when flying?”

  “Actually not. I’m fine when I sit.”

  “I see,” he said, letting her go.

  It was sweet of him to be concerned. Also, it felt good to have Roman worry over her well being, though she knew it was only due to their employer-employee relationship. She missed the feeling of meaning something to someone.

  Of course, the two of them could never be sexually involved like in her crazy dreams, but she didn’t want that now. Maybe someday she’d discover a forever kind of love like the one she’d had, but she couldn’t envision it. Something that special would be almost impossible to replicate.

  Not to mention the other item which could become a barrier to finding a partner. Any love interest would need to take the miracle pill or he’d grow old and she’d lose him. She couldn’t bear going through the same hell again.

  In the meantime she saw no harm in appreciating the beauty of her fine looking boss. So he seemed more frazzled than he used to be. So he dropped her off at the hotel instead of suggesting they take in a play. After all, she didn’t expect him to be her babysitter.

  That dizzy spell had left her kind of shaken. At this point, rest seemed an inviting option.

  ***

  Once she’d made it back to the hotel room, Dorrie kicked off her shoes and wriggled her toes. It felt good to get off her feet. Her ankles seemed more swollen lately, maybe from too much salt.

  Sighing, she stretched out on the huge bed, and willed her mind and body to sleep. Instead, her thoughts drifted to Larry. She longed to feel close to him again, in spirit if not in actuality. It would be horrid if their life together vanished, as if it had never happened.

  Thank goodness she had the iPhone. When she got back, she’d be sure to take it from the safe deposit box and charge it again. Though she hadn’t the courage yet to face what was on there, her defenses were strengthening. The photos and songs would be waiting for her when she was ready. How sad that those reminders could live, but not Larry.

  Her mind drifted back to happier times. She lay in bed next to Larry, who considerately used his earphones so as not to disturb her. After a few minutes, she tapped him on the shoulder. He smiled at the signal and reached out for her. They made love listening to the country songs playing on the iPhone in the background.

  She couldn’t travel back in time, but at least she had her memories. She smiled, thinking of the wonderful experiences they’d shared. Thank goodness, the young pill would let her keep those memories, without Alzheimer’s or a similar disease destroying them. On that comforting note, she drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  A week later, Roman plopped a spreadsheet onto Dorrie’s desk. “The results are in. We’ve conquered New York.”

  She glanced down at the paper. To her unpracticed eyes, the figures seemed huge. “My, but those zeroes on the ends look impressive. Where to next?”

  “We solidify our hold and practice damage control.”

  “What damage? The pills work fine.”

  “For a sensible person, yes, but we must instruct the public about how to go about taking them, so when they’re released for general consumption, no one suffers ill effects and blames such misfortunes on us.”

  She frowned. “Isn’t there room for error? What if I forgot to take the pill one or two days?”

  “A small slipup, say for a day or two, might not matter. Down the line, you’d notice slight reversals, but not enough to make a difference. Every person’s chemistry is different, so it’s hard to say exactly where the cutoff lies. Generally speaking, if you miss three or more doses, you’d land in the danger zone. Remember what I explained before. Stopping means aging naturally.

  “I wouldn’t recommend it, not for someone as lovely as you. You can’t start over again. You’re allowed only one shot.”

  “If I got the flu or something and the pills came up, I don’t suppose that would be a good thing.”

  “You can’t get it. You’re i
mmune. ”

  Thinking of her touchy stomach lately, she frowned. The pill couldn’t prevent everything. She better be more careful about what she ate, and lay off the hot spices. It would be hell to lose her well being, not to mention her looks, for want of precaution.

  “What if someone took more than prescribed?”

  “Depends on your original age. After the pills take effect, you’d be stuck wherever you land. If a child were to take them, it would be disastrous. That’s why I’m including adults only precautions on the bottle’s front and back labels, in bold and large case letters. Even with poor eyesight, the warnings will be hard to miss.”

  Dorrie shuddered. “Hopefully, parents with small children will be extra careful. It’s scary to think an innocent child might get into mischief and suffer ill effects. By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, is the pill compatible with other medication or vitamins? I know you said aspirin was okay, and at the beginning you told me to stop taking my thyroid boosting meds, but what about other drugs?”

  “The youth pill can be ingested with medications for blood pressure, birth control, insulin, even vitamins. Once the young pill takes effect, conditions need monitoring to confirm the other medications are necessary.”

  Dorrie nodded and quickly turned away, embarrassed to admit why she’d asked the question.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Dorrie didn’t like reminders of her body’s abnormalities. As a teenager her irregular periods had led her to a gynecologist who’d diagnosed her with endometriosis.

  Later, her condition had become so severe she’d not been able to conceive Larry’s child, no matter how much she’d longed to do so and how hard they’d tried. Larry had consoled her by saying they didn’t need anyone other than each other, but she knew deep down he would have loved to have a baby.

  Each month she still went through the same guessing game, wondering when or if her friend would arrive, along with its horrific pain. When it didn’t come, she suffered through an uncomfortable tradeoff of breast tenderness and bloating.

  Her current period-less bout seemed especially trying, making her wonder if something else was going on inside. Hopefully, it didn’t have anything to do with the young pill.

  She hated to ask Roman such an intimate question. Since she needed her yearly checkup anyway, she may as well set up an appointment. Maybe Dr. Lewanthal could set her mind at ease and help her decide if the hormone pills he’d suggested would still be a viable solution. Breast cancer warnings had scared her away before, but perhaps improvements in the pills had made them safer.

  She had to do something. She’d already gone up a size, and the thought of wearing a bikini made her grimace.

  Dorrie waited until her morning break the next day and dialed her gynecologist from her cell phone. When the receptionist learned who was calling, her voice came out in a rush. “My God, it’s really you. I just love your commercials.You look so amazing. I’m tempted to try those pills myself. What can I do for you?”

  The woman sounded in awe. Dorrie tended to forget her celebrity status, unless someone reminded her. She certainly didn’t feel any different than anyone else. To put the woman at ease, she mentioned her own surprise at the transformation, then asked for an appointment.

  “We’re booked solid. The earliest Dr. Lewanthal can see you is three weeks from now, unless it’s an emergency or you’re pregnant.”

  Thank goodness neither applied. Dorrie wrote the appointment details in her pocket calendar and already felt better. The doctor could figure out what to do when he saw her. Until then she’d live with the problem.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The days flew by, with Dorrie busily answering phones, typing madly and taping indoor commercials, without bikinis, thank goodness. Before long, September had arrived and she sat in her gynecologist’s examining room staring at the anatomy pictures on the wall, and waiting for Dr. Lewanthal to arrive.

  Along with the lack of her menses, she felt extra draggy lately. Had her endometriosis gotten worse? Or, maybe she need to go back on her thyroid meds. Hopefully nothing serious was happening, brought on by the young pill.

  The door creaked open. The doctor entered and held out his hand. “Dorrie, it’s good to see you. Since we last met, I hear you’ve had some great adventures. They seem to agree with you. I can’t believe how young you look.”

  “Thanks, doctor. It’s still hard to take it all in.”

  They went on to talk about the young pill and its possible repercussions on civilization.

  “All right now. Let’s get down to why you’re here.

  The doctor began a thorough examination. He listened to her heartbeat, tapped her knees, checked her throat, examined her breasts for lumps, then made her skootch down into the stirrups. She tried not to cringe as he inserted the instrument and performed the uncomfortable pelvic examination, which she never enjoyed.

  “You can get dressed now. When you’re through, come down the hall to my office and we’ll talk.”

  He usually concluded the examination in the same room, not his office. Had he discovered something horrible, like a tumor?

  Dorrie’s fingers trembled as she fastened the hooks of her bra and slipped into her slacks and top. Fully clothed, she had no excuse to delay the consultation. She tread slowly down the hall to his office. Swallowing hard, she stepped inside.

  “Have a seat, my dear,” the middle-aged doctor said gently, glancing up from his gold-rimmed bifocals.

  Her heart skipped a beat at the sympathetic tone of his voice. Something seemed wrong, but his expression didn’t give anything away.

  Dr. Lewanthal cleared his throat. “Given your present circumstances, I’m not sure if what I have to say will be good or bad news. We’ll run some blood tests to be positive, but from every indication, Dorrie, I believe you’re about three months pregnant.”

  She gasped. The room spun crazily. “I can’t be.”

  He gave her a searching look, as if to confirm she knew the mechanics of making babies. He cleared his throat again. “Birth control methods are not foolproof, my dear.”

  “I know that, but it still seems impossible.”

  “Not so. From my examination, it appears your endometriosis has remarkably cleared, making it possible for sperm to fertilize your eggs. Apparently, the youth pill has blessed you with fertility.”

  Maybe scientifically it was possible, but he had to be mistaken. How could she be with child if she’d not gone all the way since Larry?

  As she opened her mouth to refute what the doctor had said, an erotic dream flashed through her mind. Her jaw dropped. Oh, my God, it had happened. She and Roman had devoured each other like animals. That’s why the details still remained vivid. She flushed hot, then cold, trying to avoid the doctor’s eyes.

  He flashed a sympathetic look. “It’s best to face facts. You’re definitely in the family way. Would you like to carry the child to term?”

  “Yes, of course,” she said, feeling an age-old maternal instinct well up. It didn’t matter how or why she’d conceived. The baby was hers and she’d protect it. She’d make sure it knew the love of its mother, as she had.

  “Well, then, you’ll need to be extra careful. I’d advise you to inform Mr. Remington of your condition so he can assess the pill’s effects on your unborn child. I’ll prescribe vitamins and check your blood test results, but I’m sure they’ll be positive.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  Her knees buckled as she got up. Roman had some explaining to do.

  ***

  Dorrie’s mind whirled so much she didn’t know how she made it home alive. Being pregnant was too much to take in. She needed help to get through this.

  Her fingers shook as she called Jeanne. No one answered. Hopefully, nothing more had happened to Mike. He’d suffered enough. She hung up without leaving a message.

  She had to get away and forget, at least for a few hours. Hopefully, Kelly would be around. Fingers still shaking, she cal
led her. “Are you available for a movie?”

  “Only too much so. Doug’s gone until after midnight. When do you want to go?”

  “As soon as possible. I need to get away and not think.”

  “Okay, let me check the paper. Let’s see, there’s a promising flick over at the Condor. I can drive this time, if you want.”

  “You’re on. I’ll be ready.”

  After trying to laugh through what was supposed to be a comedy, Dorrie headed across the street again with her friend to the ice cream shop. Who’d guess Kelly’s jest had been dead-on? Several times she started to tell her about the situation, but stopped and licked her cone instead. She badly needed help. She had to get the words out, but how?

  Finally, Kelly gave her a strange look, and said gently, “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong? You make a last minute emergency call to see a show, and you’ve had this panicked expression in your eyes all night. I’m a good listener.”

  Dorrie glanced shyly at her friend. This was more difficult than she’d imagined. How could she explain something she didn’t understand, yet who else could she turn to?

  She took a deep breath then plunged in. “You are not going to believe this. I can’t even believe it myself. I still don’t know how it’s possible, but you were so right about my condition. I’m pregnant.”

  Kelly’s eyes widened. “You’re what?”

  “You heard me. I’m pregnant.”

  “I see.”

  She knew Kelly wouldn’t press, but once Dorrie had begun, she had to finish. “I believe it’s Roman’s child.”

  ”You and Roman…?”

  Dorrie’s face heated. “It’s not what you think. I kind of know what happened, but don’t remember it all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Remember when I went to Hollywood to do those commercials?”

  Kelly nodded.

  “We got through early one day and had a few hours to kill. We both went swimming at the hotel pool and agreed to meet later for a drink at the bar.