CHAPTER FOUR
Austin
This is why I’m single.I glance down at my watch just as the little hand hits the two. I’m never home long enough to enjoy a damn beer, never mind entertain a woman. We’ve been short-staffed for more than two years now, so I’m constantly in the floating nurse role. Seeing as this is the only hospital within the surrounding four towns, our ER is constantly swamped with patients so I usually end up there.
After walking in a few hours ago to standing room only, we’re down to the last few patients, and these are the least critically injured.
“Well, at least I didn’t have to watch “Top Gun” again,” Clara says as she slumps over the main counter to take a quick breath.
“And I didn’t have to drink myself to sleep. See? Win-win for both of us.”
“Austin, you make my heart sad.”
“I am perfectly content with drinking myself to sleep. Why would that make your heart sad?”
She groans and lifts her files off the countertop. “Someday, you’ll understand,” Nah, probably not. The despondent look in her eyes mimics my statement as she glances back up at me.
I take a glance around the waiting room. We’re still taking patients in order of the seriousness of their injury. However, I don’t recall seeing the little girl who’s sitting in the corner by herself, squeezing her arm. She looks like she’s trying to be brave, but where the hell are her parents?
I head on over to her and squat down to make eye contact. “Hey, sweetheart, what’s your name?”
“Candace,” she says softly.
“How old are you, Candace?”
“Eight.” She swallows hard and looks down at her arm.
“Where are your parents?” I ask her.
“They’re at home, asleep. I—I kind of snuck out to meet my friend down at the square.
“Is that when you found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time?” I ask her.
She looks terrified. Sneaking out after dark isn’t an uncommon activity around here for kids her age, but it looks like it may be her first offense.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, I’m going to give your parents a call, okay? They need to know you’re down here.”
“Please don’t,” she begs.
“Miss Candace, there are rules I have to follow here. You don’t want me to get in trouble now, do you?”
She looks down, past her injured arm and thinks for a moment. “No, sir.”
“Can you give me your telephone number?”
She exhales loudly and looks up at me, tears filling her eyes. It’s breaking my heart having to get her in trouble. I did the same shit at her age, but I’d lose my job if I didn’t get their permission to treat her.
“555-0253.”
“Got it. Come on over here with me. You know what I bet? I bet your parents will be so worried that you’re hurt that they won’t even be thinking about the part where you snuck out. That’s how parents are, you know?”
“Is that how your parents are?” she asks innocently.
A minute of thoughts enter and exit the dark hole inside of my head. “When I was your age, they sure did.”
“What about now?” she asks. This kid is definitely trying to stall me. Or she was just sent here to test me tonight.
