My foot bounces while I nervously ring my fingers together. The car zooms through the traffic and towards our new house. All our things have already been moved to the new place, and I’m thrilled, but a part of me still can’t quite adjust to the new setting and the fact that I’m now living in the same town as my parents. My heart twists, knowing they are here but still not a part of my life. I haven’t talked with them since the one video call where I told them about Casper and about Mark and I getting married. It seems like ages ago, but it has only been a few months. Mark reaches over from the driver’s seat and covers my hands with his. “Stop worrying. Everything will be alright. I’m sure of it.”I nibble on my lower lip and shake my head. “I’m not so sure. Don’t you remember what they said on the video call? They were horrible, and we have cut them out of our lives now. Somewhere inside of me, I fear they will find us and upend our lives. I can’t have that happening. C
Evan shakes his head. “No. Now, you are going to get a crash course on the ER. A school bus full of kids was just involved in a multi-vehicle accident and we need everyone available to help.”My heart sinks. Before I can stop and think about anything, Evan barks, “Come on. They need our help.” He doesn’t wait for a response and bolts down the hall. A large group of kids is hurt. I don’t have to think about it twice before I sprint after him. Since the hospital didn’t have an opening in the pediatric department, I have agreed to work in the ER until something opens up. Nothing like jumping feet first into things and learning by fire. Izzy and I catch up to Evan as we round the corner and head towards the ER. Through her heavy breathing, Izzy grunts, “Get used to this. Evan likes to come down and help out all the time. He says something about being his hospital and he wants to make sure everyone is treated fairly.”I remain silent and nod. Evan calls out over his shoulder
“When is mommy coming home?” Casper taps my leg and stares up at me. I wish I knew. I press my lips together and shake my head. “I don’t know, buddy. She only said there was a big accident, and she was needed at the ER. When she gets done helping everyone, she will come back home. Let’s not worry about it right now. Okay?”His innocent eyes have more questions swirling in them, but he remains silent and slowly nods. I pat his head and force a smile, hiding my concern. “I’m sure mommy is going to be hungry when she gets back. Let’s go see what there is to make for supper.”The concern in his eyes fades and is replaced with a spark of excitement. He flashes me a small grin and dashes towards the kitchen. “I want chicken nuggets.”I shake my head. I don’t believe my question was about what he wants for supper. A loud bang echoes into the kitchen. “Ow!”My heart races, and I bolt forward. “What happened?”I stop right inside the door and bite my lower lip to keep myself f
KatieI shake my head and sigh as I look in the car’s side mirror at the reflection of our house. Mark’s frustrated voice, and his persistence to stop me from going to work still rubs me wrong. What is he thinking? Evan might be my friend, but I still have a job, which I just started. I know when I reach my limit, and I slow down or stop then. Last night, I wanted to stay at the hospital and continue to watch over the few patients in critical condition, but I didn’t. I had gone home. If I wasn’t thinking of anyone besides the patients, I would have slept at the hospital. When I left, there were still several children who didn’t have anyone visiting them. It breaks my heart to see children sick or hurt and no adults or parents are there to stay with them. I rub my stomach. I’m not letting anything like that happen to my kids. Ring…ring…ring…I shake my head and press my foot down on the accelerator. He can’t even let me think in peace. I dig my phone out of my pocket and
With a slight frown, I glance to my side at Evan and mutter, “You know I can do this on my own. I don’t need to have someone following me around all the time.”I can’t prove it, but someone has always been right next to me all day today. If it isn’t Evan or Izzy, then another doctor is hovering around me. I’m not a baby, and I’m far too old to need a chaperone. Evan sighs. “You aren’t listening to me to take it easy, so I’m going to make sure. If you think you are special because you are my friend, you are sadly mistaken. If any doctor refuses to ease up after I have requested them to, they get similar treatment. You can ask any of the staff. They will tell you I’m like this with everyone.”I give him a side-eye, but I remain silent as my frustrations build. I’m a doctor. I know what I’m doing and when I need to slow down.With a bright smile, Izzy jumps in line with us. “He is telling you the truth. Some of the staff refer to him as the big father when he gets like this
CasperI hold the phone tight against my ear. “Jenny, is this really you?”Her familiar soft voice replies, “Yes. I miss seeing you. I keep thinking you will run into my room any minute, but you never come.”I nod with a slight frown. “Me, too. The missing part. I wish you were here. You can still be transferred here. We can be together then.”I sink deeper into my pillow and my sheets. Her voice eases the crazy feeling I’ve had in my tummy and my chest since my family has moved here. Sadness is in her voice. “I can’t. I’ve begged mom, and she says no.”My lips pucker. “Why, though? My mommy and daddy will help. They promised me.”Her voice cracks and wavers. “I don’t know. She says something about I’ll understand when I get older, but that doesn’t make any sense. I want to be there with you and Dr. Katie. She is the nicest doctor I’ve had. I don’t want to get used to a new doctor.”My eyes sting as I nod. “I know. My mommy is the best. Maybe if I talk to my mom
MarkWith my thoughts stuck on Casper and his sad face, I march into my family’s company and through the lobby. I nod at everyone, but I don’t give the staff my usual greetings. Whispers and murmurs float into the air, but they don’t register to me. My mind is still on my wife and sad child, wondering how I can fix everything. As I step into the elevator, my father steps in with me. “Something wrong, son? I thought you would be bouncing off the walls with happiness, but you have on a long face today.”I look beside me at him and sigh. “Casper is sad for some reason, and he won’t tell us why. Also, Katie doesn’t seem to want to slow down now that she is pregnant. She came home really late the other night from staying at the ER for a big accident. She now has a really bad case of morning sickness. I had to leave her home with medicine. She wasn’t happy with me when I called Evan and told him about it. He told her to not come into work. He would find someone else to cover t
Jack tilts his head and stares at me for a moment. “Are you sure?”I sigh and lean back in my chair. “Yeah, I’m sure. She won’t go away any other way. Show her in.”He pauses and furrows his eyebrows. The room falls silent. An uneasiness gnaws at me, but I ignore it. I raise my eyebrows and motion my head towards the door. “Show her in. I might as well get this over with right now. If I refuse, she will only come back another day.” And probably never leave.Jack stares at me for a few more moments before he shakes his head and turns around. As he walks out of the door, he mumbles something, but I can’t hear what he says. Is there something he forgot to tell me?Moments later, a flurry of footsteps rush towards my office. I take a deep breath. This is it. My fingers wrap around the chair’s armrests while I mentally chant, “This will be the last time you have to see her. You can do it.”Not that I don’t want to tell her to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, but her f