Page 35 of Pining for Pierce

Frankly, I would have thought it was obvious, but I don’t say anything, and he storms into his office, closing the door behind him just as the phone rings. I answer it straight away, still feeling flustered.

“Is that Doctor Dodds’s office?” The female voice sounds nervous.

“Yes. How can I help?”

“This is Diana Leyton. I—I wondered if it was possible to make an appointment to see him.”

“He’s got a couple of openings on Monday, I think,” I say, tapping on the keyboard.

“Monday? He hasn’t got anything this afternoon?”

At that moment, the door opens, and Doctor Dodds comes in.

“Can you give me a moment?” I say into the phone, and put the call on hold, looking up at the doctor, who frowns at me. “I’ve got Mrs. Leyton on the phone,” I say. “She wants to come and see you this afternoon.”

“Have I got any free time?”

“No.”

He sighs and says, “Fit her in at the end of the day.”

“Okay.” I go back to the call and offer the appointment to Mrs. Leyton, who’s very grateful. Once I’ve hung up, I look back at Doctor Dodds, who’s still standing by my desk.

“At least she’s coming in,” he says, sounding relieved.

“Yes. Although I wasn’t expecting to see you yet.”

“You weren’t?”

“No. Doctor Singleton told me you’d gone to see Miss Anderson… and was bemoaning the fact that you hadn’t got your car.”

He frowns. “My car? Why would I need my car? Miss Anderson only lives just down the street.” He points over his shoulder, although it’s not clear exactly where he’s aiming. “Even if I had my car here, I’d still have walked,” he says, rolling his eyes.

“I see. And how’s Miss Anderson?” I ask.

“Cranky as ever.”

“Did you persuade her to go to the hospital?”

“I did. Eventually.” He tips his head to one side. “Are you okay?”

I look up at him, and without any warning, my eyes fill with tears. I do my best to blink them back, but with no success, and a lone tear falls onto my cheek.

“Hey…” Doctor Dodds comes around to my side of the desk and pulls back my chair. “Come into my office.”

I want to say no. I want to tell him I’m fine… but it’s clear to both of us I’m not, and I get up and follow him into his room, waiting for him to close the door behind us.

“Take a seat,” he says, dumping his jacket over the back of his chair before he sits, resting his elbows on his knees. “What’s happened?”

“It’s nothing.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not nothing. You’ve been here for a year now, and I’ve never known you to get upset at work. Not like this.”

“No. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for, but if it’s something to do with your job…”

He lets his voice fade, and although I’ve got more than one reason for crying, I feel I have to say something…

---