He didn’t come home last night, and I was lucky if I slept two hours. I tossed and turned all night thinking the worst. I was on my way to drop Everleigh off at pre-school. She was in some mood this morning and if I’m being honest mine wasn’t much better.
Pulling up outside I cut my engine and turned to look at her. “Mommy will pick you up today and then we’ll go for some ice-cream”.
“I see papa?”.
“Yes, baby I’ll take you to see papa”. She had been going on about my dad since the minute she opened her eyes this morning.
Getting her out the car I grabbed her bag and walked her up the path. Bending down in front of her I placed a kiss on her forehead. “Have a good day and I’ll see you later”. I didn’t leave until she was safely inside.
Pulling away from the side of the road I continued my way to the hospital. I didn’t plan to go back today but I couldn’t stand another minute staring at the same four walls. I felt trapped in my own home.
He could be dead for all I know. No text no phone call no nothing. Maybe Jared was telling the truth, and he was in fact on a job. I still couldn’t stop the thoughts circling around in my head.
I wasn’t crazy right?
My reaction to another girl answering his phone was normal right?
Turning on the radio I tried my best to think of something else. I still had to fix things with my dad. I said some shitty things and I felt terrible for it. He adored Everleigh and I went about it all the wrong way.
Part of me still believed in what I said. He needed to back off when it came to the decision making and not overrule everything I say. But I do wish i had worded it differently.
I could still see the look on his face when the words came out. My words hurt him. Parking in my spot I grabbed my bag and made my way inside. I stopped to get some coffee before making my way to my office.
“Ava”. Josh frowned. “I didn’t expect to see you until next week”. He held the door open for me and I walked through.
“You know me Josh I need to work”. Stopping by the board I glanced up at the surgeries planned for today. “It’s a good thing I came in. A bullet wound in room five?”.
“Several bullet wounds. We didn’t think he’d have made it through the night”.
I didn’t recognise the name.
“Gregg Bates. How old?”.
“Thirty. Over 10 bullet wounds, beaten to a pulp. Planned surgery for one if his circumstances don’t change”.
“If you need me to scrub in let me know”.
“I’m glad you said that. I’ll come find you when it’s time”.
Reaching my office, I got straight to work. I had so much paperwork to sort through and file. Kicking off my shoes I turned on my computer and connected my iPad.
I still remember the days when we used clipboards.
As I got myself settled a groan fell from my lips when there was a knock on my door. “Come in”. I called out taking a sip of my coffee.
“Dr Mendez?”.
A young girl stood awkwardly in the doorway clutching to an iPad. Her uniform fresh, her hair scraped back into a neat bun.
Fresh meat.
“Can I help you?”. I asked.
“I’m Mia your intern. I’m on your service today”.
“First day?”.
“Third”.
She looked a little sheepish, nervous even.
“How old are you, Mia?”.
“Twenty-four”. Glancing at her watch she held her tablet tight. This girl was shy, shy enough that she couldn’t hold eye contact.
“You can come in and sit down. I won’t bite”. I smiled. “How are you enjoying it so far?”.
“These last few days have gone by so fast. There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to fit everything in”.
“Amen to that”. I laughed. “But it’s something you’ll need to get used to. Who’s your mentor?”.
“Dr Brown but I haven’t met him yet”.
“Her”. I corrected. “You haven’t met her yet”.
“Oh god I’m sorry I just assumed”. She ran a hand down her face. “Is she nice?”.
“She’s the best”. I winked. I couldn’t think of a better person to bring her out of her shell than Ally. “A little crazy but she knows her stuff and it you stick it out you’ll learn a lot from her”.
“Thank god”. She sighed. “I was on Dr Murphys service yesterday and let’s just say I didn’t learn much”.
“Coffee runs?”. I smiled. “He’s old fashioned but what you need to do is get him to believe in you and make him believe you want it”.
“Right, thanks. Is there anything you need me to do right now?”.
“I start my rounds at nine-thirty. I have some paperwork to sign off first, but you can go get yourself some coffee before we start”.
“Okay will I meet you back here?”.
“I’ll meet you outside room ten”. I smiled.
Slipping my feet back into my sneakers I ran through several documents making sure everything was signed and up to date. Turning off my computer I unhooked my iPad and looked up the details of my first patient.
Tom Forbes, 67 years of age, broken hip.
Lifting my phone off the desk it started vibrating in my hand. I was wondering how long it would take for him to call me. And if he was calling me then he hadn’t misplaced his phone. Sliding my finger across the screen I brought it to my ear.
“Hello?”. I answered.
“Morning baby where are you?”.
“Work”. I couldn’t help the dryness and it wouldn’t be long until he picked up on my mood.
“Everleigh at pre-school?”.
“Yes”.
“You need me to pick her up?”.
“No, I’ll pick her up”.
So, he wasn’t out of town, but he didn’t come home? I felt the sicky feeling in the pit of my stomach. Where exactly was he?
“You, okay?”. He asked.
“Fine I have to go I’m busy”.
“You don’t sound fine sweets”.
Maybe he didn’t know another girl answered his phone? He was acting as if he didn’t. “I’m tied okay. I didn’t get much sleep. Not that you would know”. I made a face as soon as the words fell from my lips.
“Don’t tell me your pissed because i didn’t come home? I was on a job babe; it ran later than expected and I didn’t want to wake you up by coming home so late”.
“Right, I have to go”. I ended the call before he could say anything else. It never stopped him waking me up before so what had changed?
Turning my phone on silent I shoved it in my front pocket before heading to do my rounds. Mia was stood outside room ten patiently waiting for me.
“Ready?”. I smiled.
“Yes”. She grinned.
Opening the door, I smiled at Tom as I made my way inside. “Mia, do you want to present please?”.
“Tom Forbes age 67. Recently broke his hip but is now in recovery. Suffers from high blood pressure and-…”.
“I’m fine dear”. Tom interrupted. “I don’t need to hear my history or that I have high blood pressure. When can I go home lass?”.
Mia glanced at me before looking back at Tom. “Suffers from high blood pressure. History of a minor stroke and is dealing with arthritis”.
“Thank you, Mia. Mr Forbes I’m just going to take your blood pressure is that okay?”.
“Dr Mendez”. Josh smiled as he walked into the room. “Can I have a word; Holly will take over”.
Following Josh out into the corridor I frowned. “Is everything okay?”. I asked.
“Blaze is here”. He whispered. “I took him to your office because he wouldn’t leave”. Scratching the back of his head I caught the slight blush that flushed his cheeks. “I told him you were busy with a patient, and he told me that if I wanted to keep my teeth, I was to get you”.
Of course, he did.
“I’m sorry josh”. Running a hand over my face a sigh fell from my lips. “I’ll make sure he leaves”.
“Are you two, okay?”.
“Just peachy”. I smiled.
Sure enough he was sat in my office smoking a cigarette.
“You do know you’re not allowed to smoke in here, right?”. Closing my office door, I sat my tablet on the desk before sitting in my seat.
“I’ve opened the window”.
“Why are you here?”. I asked.
“Patient brought in last night?”.
“It’s a hospital, there were lots of patients brought in last night”. I narrowed my eyes. “What have you done?”.
“I saw Jared this morning”.
“Okay”.
“Said he dropped by last night”.
“He did”. I glanced at my watch. “I really am busy today”.
“I was on a job sweetheart, and I left my phone at the clubhouse”.
Oh.
“You really think I’d do that to you? To Everleigh, to our unborn kid?”.
“I didn’t know what to think Blaze”. I had fucked up twice now but this time I had good reason to. “Who was it?”.
“Fuck if I know”. He took a long drag of his smoke. “But what I do know is you don’t trust me”.
“Can you blame me?”. I frowned.
“I thought we were past all this Ava”.
“Yeah, well how would you feel if a guy answered my phone?”.
“Don’t turn this around on me because you fucked up. I wouldn’t cheat on you babe and it’s about time you fucking realised that”.
“Are you done?”.
“You can’t fucking accuse me of cheating every time I don’t come home Ava”. He slammed his hand on the desk making me jump.
Getting to my feet I glared at him. “It wasn’t because you didn’t come home”. I poked his chest, hard. “It was because some skank answered your phone”. I poked his chest again only this time he grabbed hold of my hand.
“I love you darling, I am in love with you. I don’t want anyone else but my girls. Fuck are you gonna bring up my past every fucking time?”. He let go of my hand and put some distance between us.
“I’m sorry okay”.
“Sorry ain’t gonna cut it this time sweetheart. Until you trust me again, I’m gonna stay at the clubhouse”.
“What, no”. I frowned. “I do trust you it’s just-…”.
“You don’t darling and until you do this ain’t gonna work”.
What?
“Don’t do this Blaze”.
“I didn’t so this babe, you did. I’ll let you get back to work”.
I collapsed into my chair the second he left. There was no point in following him or causing a scene. For once this one was on me. I had no one to blame but myself.
Placing my head in my hands I squeezed my eyes shut as I muffled my sob. Why did I have to be so insecure? I should have known better; I should have known he wouldn’t do anything to break up our family.