Doctor Gets a Visitor by E Walk

The Doctor Gets a Visitor
by: E Walk

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Chapter 4

The Inquisition Begins

I reached into the back of the car and pulled out two bottles of Chardonnay and two bottles of Burgundy since I had no idea what might be served.

When we got to the house, we were ushered into the living room. I looked around and saw that I knew who all of the people were. There was Jane Thompson, who worked for me, with her husband Hank, Father Gilbert and his wife, Toby's parents and sisters and there sat Mrs. Tillison.

Toby took the initiative to made sure everyone was introduced. He turned to me and asked, "Doctor Wilson, didn't you bring any non-alcoholic drinks? My parents don't let us have wine when our grandparents are here."

"Dad, I need the keys. Toby and I need to go get something," said Jeff. "Come on, Toby, let's motor."

The two guys put on their jackets and took off for the door. "We will be back in ten minutes," Jeff announced.

"Yeah, and don't eat all the shrimp," yelled Toby.

"Jane, you knew what was happening. Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"Because you wouldn't have believed me if I told you the truth. Linda called me last week and asked if I would help Jeff pull off his surprise," she laughed. "I thought it might be fun to see if you were even human. Hey, it almost worked. I even cancelled all of your appointments for Monday and rescheduled them."

Greg spoke up and said, "The music director at Jeff's previous church called me and we arranged for Jeff to sing at the first service. I had no idea he would be so powerful. I told Toby beforehand that he should try to get Jeff to sing more. The words Toby used were his own."

Toby and Jeff came in and Toby announced, "Okay people, we can have our cocktails now. Girls, do you want red or white?"

The girls each asked for a different color. "Dad, you fix the grownups their drinks. Jeff and I are going to fix us kids our drinks -- and make sure you save us some shrimp," ordered Toby.

The guys left and Mrs. Tillison asked, "When did Toby come out of his quiet shell? I have never seen him be so bossy and demanding."

"Mom, he has probably been taking lessons from you and I think the way Jeff handled the children last night probably boosted his self-esteem by four or five levels," said Jane.

The guys came in carrying young people's drinks and Greg brought the adults drinks. When everyone had their drinks, Toby raised his glass and said, "Merry Christmas, everyone."

As everyone was sipping their drinks, Jane said, "I understand you are going to be my new grandson's godfather?"

I must have looked totally lost because she added, "The young man you helped deliver last night is my newest grandson, James Wilson Ellison."

I started to laugh and said, "Jane remind me to dock your pay for the extra time I spent at the hospital last night."

She glared, "I have already issued the paychecks for the month and gave all your employees a $500.00 bonus. Of course, I gave myself $800.00. The only thing I haven't paid for the month is to your trust. I will put $1000 in that account on Tuesday when we open again."

Toby's mother, Anita, came into the room and announced, "Dinner is ready. Everyone come sit down."

Everyone adjourned to the dining room. Toby and Mrs. Tillison made sure that they were sitting beside Jeff. I was relegated to sitting between Jane and Father Gilbert.

Anita asked, "Dad would you say the blessing please?"

Father Gilbert said a short, meaningful prayer and added a thank you for adding two members to the family. When the prayer was finished, I looked at Jeff. He and Toby were laughing.

Jeff looked at me and said, "Dad, I think we have just lost control of our lives." Everyone else laughed.

As we were eating, Toby and Jeff were talking animatedly. I heard Toby ask, "Jeff will you be my big brother and help me be a man?"

Jeff looked at me and then turned to Toby and said, "Toby, I have three younger brothers. I would love to have another, but your parents need to approve."

Toby looked at his parents and said, "Would it be okay for Jeff to be my big brother?"

Greg responded quickly. "We will have to interview him and make sure he will be able to be a suitable big brother."

As we were finishing our dinner, Mrs. Tillison asked, "Greg, Honey, what's the special music for tomorrow?"

"Grams, I don't think there is going to be any. Yvonne Carter was supposed to sing but her husband called this morning and said that she has laryngitis so bad that she can't possibly do it," he answered.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do. Jeff you will sing, won't you, Honey?" Mrs. T. asked.

"Father Gilbert, what time does the organist arrive at the church in the morning?" asked Jeff.

"She is usually there by 7:15," he answered.

"I'll try to do something, but I can't promise how good it will be" Jeff answered and then he turned to the kids and said, "Okay you buckaroos, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna let these old folks here go get some rest while they tell each other tall tales. Mrs. Thompson, since you cooked, we will take care of the dishes," Jeff ordered politely.

"Let's go. Clear the table and bring everything into the kitchen. Candy, you put all of the leftovers away. Georgia, you stack the dishes when Toby brings them from the table," ordered Jeff.

"What's my job, boss?" asked Mrs. Tillison.

Jeff looked at her and said, "Since you act like you are sixteen I guess you can dry the dishes and the other two ladies can put the dishes where they belong. We wouldn't want you to mess up your sneakers would we, Toby?"

Toby looked at his great grandmother and said, "I have never seen Grams do any work that I can remember."

"Toby, I have never seen you and your sisters do the dishes without throwing a fit either," Anita added.

Greg led the rest of us into the living room and served after-dinner drinks as we sat and listened to all the laughter coming from the kitchen.

Suddenly it got silent and the next thing we heard was some amateurish piano playing. Two other songs, evidently by other more skilled participants, followed it. Then someone started to play the Moonlight Sonata -- someone who evidently hadn't played for a long time. Then all of a sudden someone started to play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue that sounded like a professional playing.

Everyone just sat there and listened and when the song finished, everyone started applauding. But then a clear voice that was definitely Jeff started to sing This Little Light of Mine with the rest of the people in the other room joining him.

Toby came bursting into the room. "Dad and Mother, can I take piano lessons from Jeff instead of Miss Erickson? She won't let me do anything fun."

The two girls came into the room and Georgia said, "Mom, Jeff makes things fun. He doesn't talk about playing in Carnegie Hall like Miss Erickson does. He says that playing the piano should be fun and everyone shouldn't try to be another Van Clyburn."

I looked at Anita and she coolly said, "It's time for you all to take some goodies to your other sets of great grandparents at the center. There are two big trays of goodies in the kitchen with cards."

Greg flipped his car keys to Candy, "Be careful young lady. I don't want my car dented and be back in an hour-and-a-half or your mother will be wearing out the threads in the rugs."

"Jeff, aren't you going with us?" asked Toby.

"No Toby, I don't know your other great-grandparents and they wouldn't want to see me."

With that, the three young people left and Greg said, "Everyone get comfortable. We are about to interview Jeff now. He looked at Jeff said, "Jeff this is very important to us. Toby is our only son and the oldest grandson for his grandparents. We are going to ask you some very pointed questions and you need to answer them honestly."

Jeff seemed very composed, but I felt like I was about to have to walk over a bed of burning coals.

To be continued…