Page 58 of After Everything
"I'll do that. Thank you." He hesitated, then added, "It was good working with you today. Really good."
I nodded once, then turned and walked away.
Behind me, I heard him head back up the steps, back to Maria and whatever post-hearing work needed to happen.
I made it to my car before I let myself exhale.
That had been fine, hadn’t it? We'd worked together, helped Maria, and kept appropriate boundaries. Exactly how it should be.
So why did I feel so off-balance?
I sat in my car for a moment, hands on the steering wheel, letting the adrenaline from testimony fade.
I checked my phone. A text from Connor.
How'd it go?
I smiled and typed back: Good. Mariagot the restraining order. Dinner sounds great. Pick me up at 7?
His response was immediate: Perfect. Proud of you.
I started the car and headed back to the clinic. I had three patients this afternoon and paperwork to finish before Connor picked me up.
This was my life. My normal and good life.
The kind of Tuesday where you testified in court, helped someone get safe, and then went back to your regular schedule like it was just another part of the job.
Because it was.
I pulled into the clinic parking lot and grabbed my bag. My next patient was in twenty minutes. Mrs. Williams, follow-up for her hypertension. Then the college student who needed her IUD replaced. Then the new patient intake for prenatal care.
Work I loved. Work that mattered.
I walked into the clinic, waved at the front desk staff, and headed to my office. I pulled up Mrs. William’s chart and got to work.
CHAPTER 18: DAVID
January
Subject: Medical Documentation - Yolanda Martinez
Mr. Harrison,
Ms. Martinez has an appointment scheduled for Thursday at 3 PM. Please have her bring any existing medical records and police reports.
Best regards,
Emma Peterson, NP-C
I forwardedthe email to Yolanda with the appointment details and a note that Emma was excellent at what she did. That her clients always felt safe.
I didn't mention that I'd worked with Emma before. That we had history. That seeing her name in my inbox made my chest tight every single time.
March
The courthouse hallway was packed.I sat with Carmen Estevez—another woman fleeing, another restraining order hearing—and watched her hands shake as she gripped the folder of medical documentation.
"Ms. Peterson's report is very thorough," I told her. "The judge will see the pattern clearly."
