But my mother couldn’t afford to stay home from work. And what the doctor failed to recognize was that my mother had a severe case of pneumonia from the flu she’d contracted. She died in our small, shitty apartment while I was at school.
“This shit ain’t fair,” Ace said.
“I know,” I consoled. “I wish you didn’t have to lose your mom, too.”
Ace’s mother was sweet. Ever since the first time I met her, she’d welcomed me into her home. She hadn’t looked down on me because I was from the poorer side of town or because I was Black.
Ace’s father was less welcoming.
His mother had been diagnosed with cancer not long before he and I met.
“But getting yourself killed isn’t going to fix this,” I said.
He wrapped his hands around my wrist and kissed the inside of my palm. “I’m sorry.”
Two words that most people overused, but not Ace. If he apologized, I knew he meant it. At that moment, I realized he wasn’t ignoring me because he was done with our relationship, but because he was scared.
“You’re not alone in this.” I remembered I’d never felt more forlorn in my life than when I came home and realized my mom had died.
Ace had his father and his brothers, but he also had me. He would never feel what I felt.
I wanted him to know that.
“Neither are you,” he said, pulling me in for another hug. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he said into the crook of my neck.
It didn’t take much for me to forgive him. I’d been more scared than hurt.
“I love you,” he mumbled.
“Love you, too. Even if you did scare the shit out of me.” I wiped his tears away. “It’s going to be all right,” I promised, even though I knew there were more painful times ahead. I just didn’t know how painful.
CHAPTER14
Savannah
I rolled away from the patient on the stool I sat on before standing up. “Now make sure to keep it covered for the next few days to avoid getting dirt or anything into the wound, okay?” I told the middle-aged man who’d come into the clinic.
I had one more hour before the end of my shift, and I’d go pick up Aiden from school. I thought about maybe taking him to get some ice cream and possibly inviting Ace to come with us. That is, if he was back from visiting with his father, like he planned to do earlier.
The thought of spending the late afternoon with those two brought a smile to my lips.
“Thanks, Dr. Greyson,” my patient said as I held the door of the examination room open for him.
“Just Ms. Greyson is fine,” I corrected, not wanting my patients to mistake me for the actual doctor.
I waved as he proceeded down the hallway.
“Savannah, how’s it going?” Dr. Pierce asked, exiting her office.
“It’s busy today.”
She pushed out a breath. “I know. For some reason, Wednesdays seem to be our most hectic day,” she commented. “Thanks again for coming in early. You were a lifesaver.”
“How’s your patient? The one that had the emergency.”
“She’s at the hospital with a burst appendix.”
I hissed and made a pained expression. A burst appendix was painful as hell. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
