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“You did great today,” Zoe offered.

“Do you mean with the puke at eight-thirty this morning or the squirt of ketchup covering my blouse?”

“Your first blouse. You had a spare.”

Laughing ached as did every other movement at this point. “Thank God for extra clothes.”

“Last patient. Time for you to go home and put your feet up. Unless you have a hot date.”

“Oh, please. You know I’ve sworn off men.”

“That’s right. Didn’t you call them twinkies?”

Snorting, I gave her a funny look. “What I said was their dicks were like twinkies. Gross on the outside and ooey, gooey in the middle. And in my case, the twinkie was cut in half.”

“Ouch. The visions will never leave my mind.”

I leaned my head back, staring up at the ceiling. “Who are you kidding? You’re dating a nice guy. As for me, I have a birthday celebration to head to with my great family.”

“Another ouch.”

The special ring on my phone made me groan. “Speak of the devil.” I didn’t bother asking her to leave. Zoe knew how hard I tried to avoid my family, especially my father. It wasn’t that I didn’t love him, but just by talking to him, I was reminded of a dark past and a possible ugly future.

One I’d tried with everything I had to prevent.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Just a reminder that Amber’s party is tonight.”

“How could I forget? She’s turning the magical, terrifying age of seventeen. She has the entire world in the palm of her hands.” I adored my half-sister. I really did. But the huge Italian family get-togethers were something I wasn’t interested in participating in.

“Just be here. And make certain you bring a present.” My father had more money than God, but he never missed an opportunity for a freebie or a handout. Vendors used to drop off goods and products to our house all the time. Of course, I’d learned a long time ago some were bribes.

Like the new car still driven by my dad and his second wife.

“I’ll be there. I’m leaving work in a few minutes. A quick shower and I’ll be on the road.” I tried to keep a nice tone in my voice. I really did.

The hour drive wasn’t usually a big deal.

Except when I was tired.

Which seemed to be all the time lately.

“Don’t be late.” My father wasn’t his usual grouchy self. At least that meant maybe business wouldn’t interfere with the joyous celebration and I wouldn’t need to get into an argument with him as usually occurred.

I tossed the phone, returning to staring up at the ceiling. Here I’d thought life would get less complicated once out of the family enclave and living on my own. Maybe it had, but what I’d thought would be an easier, more fulfilling road was certainly draining.

“Don’t forget you have a seven-thirty appointment tomorrow.” Zoe acted as if she was telling me a secret.

“Oh, shit. I forgot about that.” It was a special favor for a long-term client, the woman fighting to keep her son from going to the hospital. “I won’t be late. I’m driving out, dropping off the present, and leaving after a piece of cake of course.”

“An hour there and back and you’re only going to stay until you wolf down cake?”

“That’s the plan.”

“I’m going to see if there’s any way to push Mrs. Mason’s appointment for Timmy back or to another day.”

I laughed as she retreated from my office. She certainly knew how I was when it came to what ended up being three visits a year. One for Amber’s birthday, another for my half-brother Michael’s, and another during the holidays. Although I never specified the visit would be on Christmas.

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