Page 78 of Waiting Game

Tilly nodded and looked at me with sympathy in her eyes.

I couldn’t believe that Pete was twisting the story in such a way. The smart thing to do would be to keep his mouth shut. I would never have brought it up if he hadn’t told Tilly. He could have continued pretending to be the good guy, the hero doctor who saved tiny babies’ little lives. I felt no shame about telling the truth now, he had brought it upon himself.

“So what happened with Ren? What’s your family involved in that’s such a secret? Like I know the basics, but what’s so bad that you’ve kept this quiet?”

I sighed, “Ren wanted me to come back to Melbourne with him. And I really don’t want to involve you in my family’s business. Honestly Till, the less you know, the safer you are.”

“So are you going to leave?” she asked quietly.

I smiled and shook my head, “No. You’re stuck with me unfortunately.”

She returned my smile and slapped my knee, “Good,” she beamed.

“I’d better go see Ev,” I said, standing up and feeling glad that the conversation was over, “I’ll tell you more one day.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she smiled, leaning back in her chair.

I rolled my eyes and headed back to the ward desk. Evelyn handed me the pile of charts and I flipped through them, frowning.

“Where’s Andreas? Has he been discharged?”

Evelyn gave me a confused look.

“Mr. Russo?” I asked.

“Oh,” her expression fell, and she shook her head, “sorry, Val.”

“What happened?” I asked, putting the pile down.

“He passed last night,” she sighed, leaning back.

“Oh,” I looked down.

“The infection in his kidneys looked like it was improving, but then last night he just crashed.”

I nodded, “I understand.”

I picked up my pile of charts and started doing my rounds, though I was distracted by the news. It felt weird to mourn a man I had only spoken to a handful of times. I was surrounded by death and unfortunate complications in my line of work, and it always did sting when a patient would pass - but it was far from a rare occurrence.

Why should this one have hit me like it did?

By his association with my father, he was a part of The Family. But I didn’t know him, I had no personal relationship with him. Maybe it was a sort of comfort having at least someone in Perth that I could relate to. But it didn’t matter anymore.

* * *

My shift was almost over.

I had been avoiding it, but I eventually wandered towards room 72A and looked inside.

The bed was made with fresh sheets, but the room had a few lingering bunches of flowers that must have been sent by the family. I went over and looked at them, and noticed a letter on his bedside that read “Miss Santino”.

I frowned, picking it up. I stared at it as I wandered back to the ward reception desk, sitting down next to Evelyn and opening it.

Dear Miss Santino,

I know that I will be gone before you return.

I wanted to thank you for your kindness, and taking the time to try and cheer up an old man.

---