Page 46 of After Everything
Emma's gaze held mine for just a second. Then she turned to Maria, and her entire demeanor softened.
"Hi, Maria. I'm Emma Peterson. You can call me Emma. Come on back."
Maria glanced at me. I nodded. "Go ahead. I'll be right here."
Emma held the door open, and Maria walked through. Just before the door closed, I caught Emma's eye one more time.
She gave me the briefest nod, one of mere acknowledgment, and then she was gone.
I sat in the waiting room and waited.
Forty-three minutes later,thedoor opened again.
Emma and Maria came out together. Maria looked calmer than when she'd gone in, less frightened. Emma was saying something to her in Spanish—when had she learned Spanish?—and Maria was nodding, smiling slightly.
They walked to the reception desk. Emma handed Maria some papers and said something else I couldn't quite hear. Maria nodded again, then turned back to where I was sitting.
I stood up. "All set?"
"Yes." Maria clutched the papers to her chest. "She was very kind."
"Good." I looked at Emma. She was already turning to go back through the door. "Emma—Ms. Peterson?—"
She stopped. Turned back. Her expression was that neutral, professional mask I was getting used to. "Yes?"
"Thank you. For making time for this."
"You're welcome." She looked at Maria. "I'll have the full report ready by Monday. You can pick it up here, or I can have it sent directly to Mr. Harrison's office. Whichever you prefer."
"Sent to my office is fine," I said. "If that works for you."
"I'll email it Monday morning." She paused. "Maria, if you need anything before then, or if you have questions, call the clinic. They'll get me."
"Thank you," Maria said. "Thank you so much."
Emma nodded, then looked at me one more time. Something flickered in her expression… I couldn't read it. Then it was gone.
"Take care," she said.
And then she disappeared back through the door.
I walked Maria to the car. She was quiet until we were on the road.
"She's very good," Maria said. "Very gentle. She made me feel safe."
"I'm glad."
"She asked me many questions. About my husband, about the violence, about the children. She did the exam. She took pictures of the bruises. She wrote everything down." Maria looked at the papers in her lap. "She said this will help with therestraining order. That the judge will see this and understand."
"That's exactly what we needed." I glanced at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Scared," she admitted. "But also... hopeful. Like maybe things will be okay."
"They will be. We're going to make sure of it."
I dropped Maria off at her sister's apartment and drove back to my office. Sat at my desk and stared at my computer screen without really seeing it.
Emma had been kind to Maria. Gentle. Professional. Everything a good healthcare provider should be. She'd done exactly what she'd promised to do: helped someone who needed it, documented everything for the court, gave Maria hope.
