Audrey’s POV
The evening air carried a hint of chill as Ethan and I reached my apartment complex. The exhaustion from our hospital encounter with Blake and Laurel still lingered. Just as we approached the entrance, my phone buzzed with Dr. Evans‘ name lighting up the screen.
Audrey.” Her voice carried an unusual tension. “Remember that patient who wanted to use the same experimental treatment as you?”
My fingers tightened around the phone. “Yes, what’s wrong?”
“This… lady. She’s here at Mayo Clinic and wants to meet with you…”
“I’m sorry, but I have an emergency to deal with.” I refused directly, my patience wearing thin at the mere thought of this mysterious collaboration proposal.
Dr. Evans‘ hesitation was audible through the phone. “Audrey, she’s quite…” She trailed off, clearly uncomfortable with the implied pressure from above.
“Look, I softened my tone, knowing this wasn’t her fault. “Just tell her I’m at the police station right now – my child is missing. The lie slipped out smoothly, born of desperation. “I’m sure someone of her… standing can understand that takes precedence.”
A beat of silence. She can have her lawyers reach out another time.” I added pointedly, “That was the original plan this morning, wasn’t it?”
“I…” Dr. Evans sighed, her voice showing her understanding and concern. “Yes, of course. I’ll let her know. And Audrey? I truly hope you find your… child. Don’t lose hope.”
The kindness in her voice made my throat tight. She knew I had lost my child, so I understood that she was trying to comfort me. “Thank you,” I managed, the words barely a whisper.
As I ended the call, my gaze drifted to the darkening sky. The excuse wasn’t entirely a lie – Snow was as close to a child as I’d ever have now.
I shook my head and looked at Ethan by my side, “Come on, we’ve got a cat to find.”
He had drifted to lean against a nearby street lamp. A hint of amusement played at the corners of his mouth. “So you can lie that smoothly when you want
to.”
I frowned, and looked at him with confusion. “Is it wrong to tell a white lie to avoid people I don’t want to see right now?”
‘I’m not judging the lie itself.” His expression turned thoughtful. “I’m just wondering… if you can lie so easily, why didn’t you let Blake think there was something between us when we ran into him?”
The question hit closer to home than I would have liked. I started walking toward my building, but Ethan wasn’t done.
‘He’s got Laurel hanging all over him. Why can’t you have someone new by your side?”
“There’s no point.” I shook my head.
“Why not try?” His voice carried a playful challenge. “Maybe he’d get jealous.”
A cold laugh escaped me. “Impossible.”
Blake Parker, jealous? The man who woke from his coma two years ago with only four words for me: ‘Get out, Now. Leave.”
I’d spent countless nights by his bedside, changing IVs, monitoring vitals, whispering prayers to a God I wasn’t sure I believed in anymore. I’d seen every moment of his vulnerability, every second of weakness.
It was a cruel irony. The very acts that had bound me to him were exactly what made it impossible for him to love me. The closer I’d tried to be, the more walls I’d unknowingly built.
“How do you know it’s impossible if you won’t even try?” Ethan’s voice cut through my thoughts.
1/2
Chapter 59
“Why are you so insistent? I faced him, feeling the exhaustion in every muscle. “You want to be my boyfriend?
Chapter Comments
BubbaCoop AGA
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Audrey has suffered so much tragedy. When will it all end? I hope some good comes out of all this, as I’m finding this hard to read….
L
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