“Sure thing. Feel better, Ava,” he says with a wave. She waves back and then remembers her finger is injured and winces.
“Careful, sweetie,” I say as I carry her back to an exam room where I patch up her finger and explain in little-kid terms what her injury means.
“Thanks for saving me, Unca Bray,” Ava says as we walk out of the hospital towards my favorite diner. I’ve just texted Carly, who is heading over to meet us. She’s a little miffed that I didn’t call or text immediately. And by little, I mean a lot.
Her exact words were, “What the hell, Bray? You should have called me right away.”
Oops.
I tried to explain that I was like a panicked new parent and completely went into ER doc mode without another thought, but I know she’s pissed, and I feel horrible about it, both for not watching Ava more closely and for not calling her until we were patching her up in the ER.
We get seated and the waitress brings a kid’s menu with crayons for Ava.
My phone buzzes as Ava settles into coloring at the table. It’s my childhood friend, Lanie.
“Well, that’s serendipitous,” I think to myself as I accept the call.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Hey, how are you?” she asks cheerfully. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything. I didn’t expect you to answer.”
I laugh. Nine times out of ten, when she calls, I’m working or sleeping.
“Well, you caught me at a good time,” I lie because Carly will be here any minute, and it will not be a good time, plus I’m still stressed about what just happened.
“You OK?” she asks.
Sighing, I turn away from Ava. “Ava just had a fall, and we had to go get X-rays,” I explain.
Lanie knows all about Ava and Carly. She’s constantly asking me when I’m going to admit my feelings and ask Carly out, which drives me crazy.
“Oh no! Is she OK? What happened? Do you need anything?” Lanie asks. I stifle a laugh at my friend’s immediate line of questioning. She’s a lawyer through and through.
“Yeah, just a sprain. We’re drowning our sorrows in a dinner of ice cream and waffles,” I state.
“Sounds like fun. Well, I won’t keep you. Was just thinking of you because Ashton set a school record for the half-marathon yesterday,” she says. “The season hasn’t even started yet; they are just doing some friendly meets before school starts.”
“That’s great! Wow, I can’t believe he’s starting high school,” I say, wondering if any of my high school records still stand. Cancer may have robbed my friend of her chance to have biological kids, but the universe works in mysterious ways. A few years ago, she and her now husband, who is also a doctor, were assigned to help with a foster kid. They ended up adopting him.
“Yeah, it’s crazy. Anyhow, I’ll let you get back to your patient. Talk soon,” she says.
“Bye, Lanesville,” I tease as I hang up and turn back to Ava. She’s managed to color most of the menu.
“Waffles?” I ask.
She nods and then frowns. “Mommy looks not happy,” she says. I turn to see a worried Carly rush over to us.
“Tell me everything,” she says as she hugs Ava and examines her hand.
“It’s fine, Mommy. I’m a brave, big girl. And it’s only a sprain,” Ava explains as if she’s fifteen and not five. Although if I said that aloud, she’d tell me that she’s nearly six, not five.
Carly glares at me. Fuck. I’m in big trouble.
CHAPTER NINE
Carly
I practically chug my glass of wine at ladies’ night.
