Page 29 of Fourteen of a Kind

CHAPTER 9

Graham

I threw my keys on the island, opened the refrigerator, and grabbed a beer. I still couldn’t believe that Ella lived here and worked at Cedars. I’d thought about her all day. I asked around the hospital how old she was and couldn’t believe she was twenty-two. She was mature for her age—more mature than some of the women my age I’d dated. She was beautiful, and I felt instantly attracted to her when I saw her standing in front of the cooler at the hospital back in New York. But even more so when I ran into her in Central Park.

She lied to me about who she was for a reason. She told me it was complicated. Glass houses. People lie out of fear—fear of being judged. For the last seventeen years of my life, I’d been living a lie. My phone rang. Pulling it from my pocket, it was my Aunt Dorinda.

“Hey, Aunt Dorinda.”

“Hello, Graham. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay. I started at Cedars today.”

“And? How did it go?”

“It went good. It was a long day.”

“I know being back there must be hard for you. I wish you had chosen another place besides Los Angeles for your fellowship.”

“You know why I chose Cedars. Aunt Dorinda, it’s been seventeen years. I’m fine.”

“Maybe you are, or you aren’t. You’ll never tell me the truth anyway. If you need me, call me, and I can be there in a flash.”

“Thanks, Aunt Dorinda, but I’m fine. These next two years will be insanely busy, and before you know it, I’ll be back in New York.”

“It better not be two years before I see you again. You do get time off, so I expect a visit. I have to get some sleep. I’ll talk to you soon, Graham.”

“Night, Aunt Dorinda.”

I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into bed. My eyes flew open at the gunshots that kept going off in my head. I was soaked with sweat. Sitting up, I placed my feet on the floor and cupped my face in my hands. Standing up, I went into the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water. Gripping the edge of the sink, I stared at the scar on my abdomen from the accident that changed my life.

The following morning, I woke up early and went for a run before I had to go to the hospital. A morning run always cleared my head and set the day for me. It kept me grounded in the way I needed to be, especially being back here. After showering, I grabbed my bag and drove to Cedars. Standing in line at the coffee bar in the lobby, I heard a voice behind me.

“The rooftop has better coffee for the employees.”

Turning around, I saw Ella standing there with a smile.

“The rooftop?”

“Oh my God. Don’t tell me my Uncle Christian didn’t tell you about that.”

“He didn’t.” I chuckled.

“Then come with me, and I’ll show you. By the way. Good morning.”

“Good morning.” I smiled.

We entered the elevator and took it up to the rooftop.

“This is where all the doctors and nurses come. Not only is there coffee, but they have sandwiches too if you’re super busy and don’t have time to get to the cafeteria.”

“It’s nice up here,” I said as we stood in line.

We ordered our coffees, and I glanced at my watch. I had fifteen minutes before my shift started.

“Did you just get here?” I asked her.

“No. I’ve been here a couple of hours. I wanted to check on Mr. Connolly.” She tipped the cup to her lips.

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