The thought of leaving her with another person today, even kindly old Ms. Orlov, who lives next door and absolutely spoils her, is unbearable.
But no one is answering the damn phones at work.
I send Lily a desperate text and get no answer.
They can’t penalize me for this, can they? It’s hard to bring myself to care about the hospital when Ava is this sick.
I’ve tried my best to let them know in advance. They can go back through my call log. The first call I made was at 3 am. And no one has responded.
I try to tell myself it’s enough, but I can’t lose this residency.
The stony, unsympathetic faces of those men in that meeting do not give a damn whether I’ve tried. They only care that I show up.
I drag myself out of bed, ignoring how sleep-deprived I feel, and plead with Ava to get her into clothes as well. The best I can manage is a jacket over her pajamas.
Her movements are slow and lethargic, and she keeps rubbing her eyes with exhaustion.
Once I’ve dressed for work, I hoist her onto my hip and kiss her forehead. My lips burn at the touch.
“It’s okay, baby, we only have to go there and let them knowMommy can’t work today. Then we’ll come straight back and we can sit on the couch and watch movies all day.”
Just as I’m about to drag a very sick and grumpy Ava out the door, my phone buzzes.
Lily
What’s up? Need cover?
I sink to the couch with relief.
Nina
Please please please! You would be a lifesaver.
Lily
I’ve got you! Hope Ava is better soon <3
She’s staring at me with wide, glassy eyes and I pull her in for a tight hug.
“We don’t have to go out, sweetie,” I tell her, and prepare for a day in front of the TV.
I brace myself, all day, for the impending call about my absence from management. But it never comes.
Because she’s an absolute angel, after working a double shift to cover for me, Lily comes by with a care package. Ava‘s favorite candy, ice cream and frozen pizzas.
I burst into tears. “You are literally my savior. She’s made something of a miraculous recovery in the last hour. Maybe the third watch of Frozen was actually the cure, right Ava?”
“Well, I haven’t seen Frozen in ages,” says Lily. “So maybe we need to do a fourth watch after dinner, how does that sound Ava?”
Shit-stirrer.
“Yes, yes!” Ava’s face lights up and she runs to Lily for a hug while I wipe away my tears and heat the oven, shooting a dirty look at Lily for her suggestion. She’s too busy being the audience as Ava demonstrates her dance moves.
“That Hawaiian pizza is for me,” Lily specifies, callingover her shoulder.
When we finally sit down to eat, she gives me a serious look.
“This visit is as much for me as it is for you. There’s something weird going on at the hospital. Have you checked your phone lately?”
