Page 80 of Lost on Ice
“We really need to update our system,” I sigh with a shake of my head. “We’re living in the stone age with all these clipboards and papers.”
I reach for a clipboard and a couple of papers to try and help him, but he snaps, “Don’t touch anything!”
I jerk my hand back, like I’ve been burned and stare at him with wide eyes.
“Oh… I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.”
He clenches his jaw and gives me a look that I think is supposed to be apologetic.
“No, I’m sorry,” he grumbles. “I just have a particular way I like things organized.”
I suppose that makes sense. Still, I’ve never seen him snap at anyone, so I’m a bit shaken.
“I appreciate your concern,” he tells me, “but I’ve got this. You go on back to your friend. It’s all right.”
I slowly push to my feet. “Okay… if you’re sure.”
“Yes, quite sure.”
Reluctantly, I make my way back into the breakroom, leaving him to his mess.
“Everything okay?” Sophie asks as I sit back down.
“Yeah,” I reply, trying my best to sound nonchalant. “Dr. Westbrook tripped and dropped some papers. He’s fine, though.”
“Oh, I gotcha.” Sophie shrugs and goes back to eating her burger.
By the time we finish our lunch and make our way back out into the hallway, Dr. Westbrook has gotten all the papers and clipboards picked up and is in his office again. Except, now, he has the door closed, which is a little strange. He usually only closes it when he’s having a private consultation with a patient.
I walk Sophie to the front door and she gives me a wide smile.
“You want to meet for a girls’ night tomorrow?” she asks. “I’ll be the designated driver if you want. I really just want cheese fries from Danny’s Bar.”
Chuckling, I nod. “That sounds great! I could use some girl time.”
“Woohoo! It’s a date. I’ll talk to you later, then.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She gives me a quick hug before walking out the door. I make my way to the back of the clinic again after she’s gone, but Ipause in front of Doctor Westbrook’s office. For a moment, I consider knocking and checking to see if he’s really okay, but I think better of it. He seemed so upset earlier, and I wonder if he was embarrassed that he fell like that. Maybe I should let him have his privacy. I know I prefer being alone sometimes when I’m having a bad day.
I decide not to worry about it. I’m sure he’ll be fine after a little while. I’ll just let him be, for now, and get back to work. Still, the nurse in me can’t help but wonder what really happened, or if he had some sort of medical condition that may be the cause.
After a long day, I head to Dad and Vivianne’s to have dinner and spend time with Lilah and put her to bed. I’m trying to maintain as much of a routine for her as possible, even though she’s not staying with me at the moment.
“All right, sweetheart,” I say once I’ve changed her into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. We’re looking through the collection of books in her room together. “What story do you want tonight?”
“Ummm… fish!”
I chuckle. “The Rainbow Fish? Again?”
“Fish! Fish!”
“All right, all right.” I grab the book she loves so much, with multicolored fish with shimmering scales. Lilah loves how pretty the fish is. “We’ll read it again.”
I settle in the rocking chair in the corner and Lilah climbs onto my lap. As I read and rock her, I try not to let my aching heart distract me too badly. I want to be here, in the momentwith her—I don’t want to think about the reasons she’s not coming home with me tonight.
I also don’t want to think about how guilty I feel that Jake doesn’t get this time with her either. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that I can’t keep holding onto this secret. Jake so obviously cares for Lilah, and is so good with her, and she adores him in return. It’s not fair to either of them that I continue standing in the way of their bond with my lies.
