“No, we aren’t friends. I work in a di erent department than your mom. And I’m not a doctor—just a paramedic,”

  Ava replied.

  “Do you have to be a doctor to be friends with mom?”

  Vivienne continued. This was probably the longest she had talked to someone without being asked to do so.

  That comment made Ava burst into a short, sweet laugh, as she looked at Vivienne’s innocent face. “No, sweetheart, I meant that we don’t see each other a lot,” she clarified, still laughing.

  “You said I’d be ready to leave the hospital soon. So can I come here again to see you?” Vivienne asked, her voice having an almost childlike quality. She really had really taken a liking to Ava.

  “Of course, you can! We are friends, remember? Just promise me you won’t try to harm yourself like that again, or else you cannot see me here. What you tried was very dangerous. You know that, right? I don’t want my new friend getting hurt and I know your Mom doesn’t either. She loves you very much. Maybe if you feel like hurting yourself, you can ask your mom if you can come and visit me instead,”

  Ava suggested.

  “I promise! I won’t do anything like that ever again,”

  Vivienne said. “The next time I come here, I’ll show you my sketches.” She smiled shyly as her eyes met Ava’s.

  “I would love to see them. I’ll have something for you too, but let’s keep it a surprise for now,” Ava said cheerfully,

  patting Vivienne’s head and making her giggle.

  “Espera un momento!” she exclaimed. “Wait a minute!”

  Ava finished re-tying her wild hair again. “Okay, I’ll have to leave, sweetheart. I’ll see you again, all right?” she said gently to Vivienne as the young girl smiled and nodded.

  Ava turned to Hollis, who was watching her intently.

  “Goodbye, Dr. Roman. Have a nice day.” As Ava smiled at Hollis, her dark eyes dazzled. Hollis couldn’t stop watching Ava’s round ass as she walked away.

  12

  “What do you mean—those supplements don’t

  work? I see them every night on TV,” an elderly patient asked Sophia.

  “Yeah, of course. Being on TV gives them legitimacy,”

  Sophia said, sco ng quietly to herself. “Mrs. Robinson, I cannot stop you from buying them. After all, it’s your money. But unfortunately, the pills aren’t backed by any scientific evidence and there is no proof that they work.”

  This time, Sophia spoke more loudly, annoyance seeping through her tone. This lady had been arguing with her for the past twenty minutes, and was determined to make Sophia agree.

  “Dr. Wells, report to Dr. Miller’s o ce.” The PA system echoed and Sophia sighed.

  “Oh God, what does she want? Has she found out about last night?” Sophia thought to herself, as her patient signed the consent forms and returned them. At least Sophia would be free of Mrs. Robinson’s clutches. She moved towards Rebecca Miller’s o ce. The door was open and she saw that Katherine was inside.

  “Hello, Dr. Wells. How are you doing?” Rebecca greeted Sophia, motioning for her to sit down.

  “Um, good, Dr. Miller. Thank you. You paged me?” Sophia replied rather sheepishly, settling down in the chair next to Katherine.

  “Yes, wait right here,” Rebecca said, turning to Katherine, making Sophia nervous.

  “Dr. Ross? Are you alright? Looks like you didn’t get enough sleep last night.” Rebecca asked Katherine, as she noticed her trying to yawn discreetly.

  “Yes, Dr. Miller, I’m fine. I just stayed up sorting some research papers last night. I probably went in too deep.”

  Katherine’s reply was laced with wit, making Sophia blush.

  “I hope you finished your research,” Rebecca commented, clearly not understanding the sexual innuendo.

  “Yes, it took almost an entire night, but I got what I needed,” Katherine replied, glancing at Sophia with a secret smile.

  “How’s it going with you, Dr. Wells?” Rebecca asked, turning to Sophia. “I understand Dr. Roman can be a little tough to work with, but you will value this experience once you are done,” she said. “Dr. Roman spoke highly of you after you solved that case. Well done!” Rebecca added, a big smile on her face.

  “Thank you, Dr. Miller. I am so thankful to you for this opportunity,” Sophia finally spoke, her eyes expressed the gratitude she felt.

  “It is tough to get a compliment out of Hollis. A rare gift, so—well done!”

  Katherine turned to Sophia after Rebecca lavished her with praise. “Well, Dr. Wells, I view you as one of our most promising interns. You have had excellent feedback from all the attending and resident physicians. I know you have been moved around slightly because of your relationship with Dr.

  Ross, but working under Hollis Roman will not harm your

  career one bit. You will be back in Surgery before you know it.”“At any rate, I have called you two here because you need to sign some HR documents regarding your relationship. Just a formality, and it will not take long. We have drafted new rules to take into account relationships between colleagues,”

  Rebecca said, handing them the papers that they both read through, signed, and smiled about afterward.

  Coming out of the o ce, Sophia sighed, relieved. “Phew!

  I thought she knew about last night.”

  “Shh! Keep your voice down. The woman has the hearing of a moth,” Katherine warned her girlfriend, chuckling.

  “I am just glad she is happy with me,” Sophia said, her face glowing as she talked.

  “I would be jealous, but thank God she is straight. I know you have a thing for older women who just so happen to be exceptional doctors!” Katherine teased.

  “It was fun sneaking out on that incredible date with you last night, though, not to mention everything else that happened when we got home,” Sophia said, glancing lovingly at Katherine.

  “Speaking of being together, Emma invited me and you to Luke’s birthday party next week. Seems the two of them are hitting it o quite well,” she informed Katherine with a laugh.

  “Oh, Sophia. You know how I feel about birthday parties. .

  .” Katherine began, only to be interrupted by Sophia.

  “Yes, yes. They are useless. A birthday is nothing to be proud of; it is no personal achievement. The person celebrating it has no contribution of his own in being born. I know all that.” Sophia parroted all she had heard from Katherine about birthdays back to her. “But you still have to come with me!”

  “Okay, okay,” Katherine said, grabbing Sophia by the waist and smiling. “But just because it’s Emma, and she’s your friend! Now I have to go take a tour of the ward. These interns barely do any work!” Katherine complained, placing a kiss to Sophia’s head.

  “Excuse me! I am an intern!” Sophia exclaimed, crossing her arms and pouting like a child would.

  “Except you, love. Except you!” Katherine laughed boldly, her thick honey-colored ponytail swaying.

  13

  The door clicked shut behind Hollis as she and Vivienne entered the house. The two had not said a word on the ride back from the hospital and Vivienne was becoming more anxious by the minute. Hollis had been deep in thought all the way home and had not even looked at Vivienne once, which rattled Vivienne’s nerves.

  “I’m going to go freshen up, Mom,” Vivienne spoke, breaking the silence.

  Hollis looked at Vivienne as she took o her leather jacket. She responded with a nod. Vivienne stood awkwardly near the grand staircase, but bolted as soon as she saw the gesture that meant she could go.

  Hollis let out a sigh and took o her shoes before moving to the kitchen. Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, she gulped it down quickly. She knew she couldn’t face cooking, so she pulled up an app on her phone and ordered takeout from Vivienne’s favorite pizza restaurant. She rarely let her daughter have junk food, but tonight Hollis was prepared to bend the rules.

  Hollis sat in the living room with the TV playing, but her mind was elsewhere. She knew she had to talk to Vivienne

  about what had happened, but she didn’t know where to start.

  Hushed steps caught her attention. She looked up to see her daughter entering the living room. Then Vivienne sat next to her on the sofa. Her hair was wet and it stuck to her neck and shoulders as droplets trickled down her loose, pink tank top and pajama shorts. Vivienne’s head hung low as she nervously fingered the hem of her top.

  “Mom. . .” Vivienne began, her voice soft and scared.

  Hollis looked at her, turning the volume down on the TV.

  Giving Vivienne her full attention.

  “Mom, I—” Vivienne’s sentence was cut short as Hollis pulled her into a hug, arms tightening around her daughter’s small body. Vivienne’s eyes filled with tears as she let out a mu ed sob and hugged her mother back.

  “I’m so sorry, mom. I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t want to . . . I just—” but she was cut o again by Hollis.

  “I know, baby. I know! I’m so sorry for not being a good mother. I try my best Vivi. I really do. I adore you. Being a mother just doesn’t come so naturally to me, I guess. I’ll do better though. I promise.” Hollis let out her thoughts as her voice cracked.

  Vivienne quickly shook her head in disagreement as she peeled herself from Hollis and looked up at her. “No, Mom!

  You’re an amazing mother. I just . . . I’m so sorry. This isn’t your fault; it’s mine. Things got to be too much to bear.

  You’re not here most of the time and Karen is always away.

  The bullying has gotten worse at school and I just didn’t know what to do. I felt so alone! But I shouldn’t have done what I did. I’m so sorry,” Vivienne managed to say, before breaking into sobs once again.

  Hollis held her tight and stroked her hair. “Please talk to me, Vivi. I know I’m at work a lot, but that’s just how the job

  is. Believe me; I try my best to give you and our home as much time as I can. I left the army so that I could spend more time with you, baby. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. Please don’t ever do that to yourself again. Ever.” Hollis’s voice filled with anger and hurt as she thought of harm befalling her daughter.

  Pulling back, she grabbed Vivienne’s face into her hands and held her gaze. “And as for the bullying, I’ll see to it. I’m going in to the school tomorrow. No one is going to hurt you.

  No one,” She told her firmly as Vivienne nodded, her eyes still full of tears.

  Hollis was ready to break bones and tear limbs because she was so angry about her daughter’s misery. It was time to pay a visit to the school and its children.

  The doorbell rang.

  Wiping away her tears, Hollis kissed Vivienne’s forehead.

  “I think that might be pizza from Angelo’s!” Hollis said, catching Vivienne’s eye.

  “No way!” A beautiful smile swept across Vivienne’s troubled face.

  “Go see.” Hollis smiled as Vivienne jumped up.

  “YOU KNOW, I think I’m going to give your friend an invite,”

  Lisa mused, as she and Ava entered Lisa’s apartment.

  Ava gave her a confused look and Lisa rolled her eyes, plopping on the sofa.

  “What friend?” Ava asked, perplexed, moving towards the kitchen and grabbing an apple from the fridge. Lisa moved to sit next to her and took a bite from her apple.

  “Dr. Roman, of course! Who else? And before you say no, you’re already friends with her daughter. Also, judging from recent events,” she said, stressing the “recent events” part

  and giving Ava a look, “the little girl could use a change of environment,” Lisa spoke, changing the channel. “Plus, Luke’s also a resident at the hospital, and so most of the people will be hospital employees. And you already know how good my dear sister, Emma, is at throwing parties. So . .

  .” Lisa finished, looking at Ava with a grin.

  Ava continued to give Lisa a flabbergasted look, the long-forgotten apple still in her hand, before regaining her senses.

  “Are you crazy? Okay, wait—no. Don’t answer that!” Ava said, holding up her hand as Lisa opened her mouth to deny the accusation. “Dr. Roman will never agree. If anything, she’ll get more upset! I saw the way she eyed me when her daughter and I were talking, okay? She wanted to murder me right then and there.”

  Lisa rolled her eyes and grabbed the apple from Ava’s hand. “Look, there’s nothing wrong with inviting them, now, is there? And you don’t know for sure if Dr. Roman will agree or not. Her daughter has taken a liking to you and this might even give mother and daughter a chance to— you know—catch up! Have some fun together. And just for the record, I’m totally not trying to hook you up. Nu-uh.

  Although I know you have noticed her big strong shoulders . .

  .” Lisa ended, with a sly smile. She was now halfway through the apple.

  Ava thought about it and she had to admit; it wasn’t a bad plan. Ignoring the latter part, of course. She brought her attention back to Lisa, who had now fully eaten her apple.

  Pig, Ava thought. She took a breath before speaking, “I guess it’s not one of the worst ideas you’ve had, so. . .”

  Lisa squealed, hugging her best friend as she wiped her hands on Ava’s shirt.

  “Ew! Go wash your hands, you glutton,” Ava exclaimed, scrunching her nose in disgust as Lisa laughed.

  “It’s just an apple, drama queen,” Lisa said, sticking her tongue out. Ava just rolled her eyes.

  HOLLIS LOOKED at Ava and her paramedic friend, the loud one that she didn’t know the name of, as they stood near the doorway of her o ce.

  “So, what do you think, Doctor?” Ava’s friend asked.

  Hollis sat up straight in her chair with a sigh, looking at the two women.

  “I appreciate the o er, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it,” Hollis said, turning down the o er as nicely as she could.

  “I’m sure you could take out some time to attend the party. I mean, it would also give Vivienne a chance to interact and to make some friends,” Lisa said. Hollis looked sharply at the two women again, at the mention of her daughter.

  With a stern voice, Hollis responded, “I am thankful for the o er and even more grateful for your concern about my daughter, but as I said, we will not be able to make it. Now if that’s all you have to say, kindly excuse me. I have work to tend to.” Hollis’s green eyes flashed with anger.

  Ava glared at Lisa and Lisa blew out her breath in response. Muttering a thank you, they left Hollis’s o ce.

  “Is it the right time to say, “I told you so?” Or should I like, wait for an even better opportunity?” Ava mused, holding a hand up to her chin—hinting that she was in deep thought about the decision.

  “Oh, just shut it,” was Lisa’s annoyed response. “She’s so full of herself! Like . . . damn, woman! Just because you got a doctor’s degree doesn’t make you some superior being.

  Somebody gotta get that stick out of her ass. Or, maybe put

  something in her ass!” Lisa snickered at the last part, making Ava laugh too.

  “Oh, well. It’s fine. Now we can actually enjoy the party. I feel bad for little Vivienne, but having Dr. Boring at the party would’ve only soured the mood,” Lisa said, with roll of her eyes.

  14

  Vivienne pulled out the books that she needed for the weekend and shut her locker. The hallway buzzed with students hurrying to get out of school.

  “Vivienne!” a voice called out to her as she walked toward the exit doors. She blushed.

  “Um, hi, Eric.” Vivienne greeted the young man as he ran a hand through his brown floppy hair, revealing ocean-blue eyes. She could look at those eyes all day and never get tired.

  “Hey, I, uh . . . was wondering if you were free tonight? I mean, I know we’ve got the English project to work on, but we can do that tomorrow. It’s nothing much anyway. So, uh .

  . . ” Eric rambled on, making Vivienne chuckle. Noticing this, Eric scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. The tips of his ears turned red.

  “Yes, I’m free tonight, Eric,” Vivienne said softly.

  “So, I was wondering if you would, you know, like to come to my brother’s birthday party. It’s at my parents’

  farmhouse, a few miles from here. My brother works at Forest Vale Hospital with your mom. So, it’s, like, a respectable party and everything. There will be lots of doctors there,” he said, hope shining in his bright blue eyes.

  Vivienne couldn’t believe that Eric was asking her to come to his brother’s party. It took her a while to process the information before she came out of her trance.

  Eric stood still, nervous in anticipation of Vivienne’s answer.

  Vivienne’s lips curved into a beautiful smile and Eric’s heart skipped a beat. “I would love to,” she said. As the words left Vivienne’s mouth, Eric couldn’t help but give her a big goofy grin. Vivienne felt butterflies in her stomach.

  “Awesome! I’ll text you the coordinates, then!” Eric told her, the grin never leaving his face. Stu ng his hands into the pockets of his jeans, Eric gave Vivienne one last smile before heading o .

  Vivienne squealed on the inside as she walked to her mother’s waiting car, still smiling.

  “Someone’s happy!” Karen said, giving her daughter a hug as Vivienne settled into the passenger seat.

  “Eric asked me to come to his brother’s party tonight!”

  Vivienne blurted out, her cheeks reddening.

  “Oh my, sweetheart! That’s great! Shall I help you choose something lovely to wear? I can do your hair for you, too,”

  Karen said, grinning as she drove them home.

  “But what about Mom? She probably won’t let me go. You know how she feels about parties.” Tears filled Vivienne’s eyes as she looked towards the window.

  Sensing the change in her daughter’s mood, Karen grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t worry about Hollis, baby. I’m sure she’ll let you go. She loves you. If she knows how much you want to go, she will absolutely let you.

  She just wants you to be happy,” Karen reassured her daughter. Vivienne gave her a small, hopeful smile.