*****
I looked at the clock and watched as the second hand ticked slowly around its repetitive circle. I had seen my last patient of the day but had stayed late to try to catch up on some work and reading that I had gotten behind on from Grandma’s funeral. I had to cancel my patients for a total of three days and I was trying my best to make up the time, but no matter how much I tried to concentrate on my work, it just wasn’t happening. I had been reading the same sentence for five minutes and decided that enough was enough. I closed the file and placed it in my bag that I was taking home, hoping that I would be able to concentrate on it better later.
I heard my phone chime and rushed over to check it. It had
been four days since Steph and Ethan had returned to Bridgeport and every day
since she had texted me on her first break from serving at the club. I clumsily picked up the phone, almost
dropping it, and selected the message.
Are you available to
talk? This had been the start of our routine for the last four days. She
would text, see if I was able to talk and I would call her. I kept telling her
it was okay to just call instead of text but she kept insisting that she didn’t
want to interrupt me if I was busy. I selected the phone icon and after a few
seconds, I heard ringing.
“I guess you are.” I heard her say when she answered her
phone.
“You know, you could have called. . .” I jokingly hinted.
“I know, but what if you were with a patient.”
“Steph, I’m never with a patient this late, ever. So it’s
okay to call.” I smiled thinking about how this was the exact conversation we’d
had since I had returned to work. “Someday maybe you’ll believe me. . .” I
joked.
“Maybe, or maybe I’ll just keep on doing it since I know it
bothers you.” She joked back.
“You’re as stubborn as I am.” I said and laughed. “How’s
your day been?”
“It’s been okay, the usual, got home around 2:30 in the
morning, woke up around nine, ran, tried to pass the time, then came to work.
Real exciting stuff. Umm. . .speaking of exciting, have you talked to Charlotte
today?”
