(Complete) Nick has suffered sorrow and loss. He has relied on his family to help him survive. Can Nick ever find happiness and a love?
Sara has spent the better part of her twenties caring for the sickest people of the world. Realizing that her dre...
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Sara hardly slept, between worrying about Lily and the memory of being in his arms again.
Why did he hold her? Was he being kind? Maybe he was the kind of husband who fooled around, but she didn't believe it - not with her.
Her feelings for him were beyond a crush. Her entire body responded to his embrace in ways she had only read about in books.
The next morning, she was tired, but arrived before him. Like déjà vu, Clare approached her right away asking about Lily. Sara explained what she knew. Dr. Tim arrived next.
"I heard you had quite the night." He didn't know all of it.
"Where is Dr. Burke this morning?"
"He went to check on Lily. He'll be in soon."
She heard the receptionist explain that Dr. Burke was running late and offered that they wait or see the physician assistant instead, then called her name.
The patient needed a blood pressure check and medication change. She had reviewed his labs. Blood pressure was spot on. She recommended a slight decrease in medication and a recheck in one month.
When the doctor arrived, she could tell he slept as poorly as she had. She wanted an update on Lily, but they were behind schedule.
At lunchtime, Clare stepped into Tim's office, but turned to Sara. "Come eat with us. We'll be talking about Lily and you deserve to be included."
She shocked Sara. Most every day the three doctors went behind a closed door for lunch. Often she heard laughter, but they never included an outsider before.
"Are you sure?" She tentatively looked at the youngest doctor.
He casually said, "It's fine."
She entered the private world of the Burke siblings. She didn't feel like she belonged. The younger brother came in last with a dish, he had heated.
Clare said, "Where did you get that food?"
He said, "It was my dinner from last night. I never ate it."
She held her breath and waited to see what he would say about what he ate, but he just spoke about his morning.
"First off, she was up and about this morning. Her head hurts, and she has minimal issues with balance. She happily performed for me, so I could assess her." They laughed. "The hospice nurse came in and we sat down with Christine and Gordon."
As he continued his update which included a list of changes they should expect, Sara felt herself tear up. Looking around she was glad to see Clare's eyes glistening. Clare reached out and squeezed her hand, which caught Tim's attention.
"Women! Always so emotional!"
"Listen brother," Clare said. "I'll bet you fifty bucks that you'll cry over Lily before all is said and done."
"I've already lost." Their younger brother glanced at Sara. They laughed despite the sadness that permeated the room.
Sara had seen him with tears in his eyes the day they found out there would be no more treatments. It was a day she could never forget, because it was when he first held her.
As the week went on, he continued to see Lily medically. Other than updates, he did not include her in those visits. Instead, she visited when she could in the evening. Often she would lend a shoulder to Christine or Daphne. She wondered who was supporting Gordon. She didn't know him very well. Although he was friendly to her, he hadn't opened up. She would continue to support his wife.
Sara received a text on Saturday night.
🗨Dr.B: Did you visit today?
She replied, Yes, she was tired.
🗨Dr.B: Sorry to disturb your evening.
🗨S: Nothing to disturb but the TV.
🗨Dr.B: You're not out?
🗨S: No. a quiet evening in.
Once again, he surprised her. 🗨Dr.B: That is every evening for me.
Sara hadn't expected his response. 🗨S: Have a nice quiet evening. Good night.
Sara did not understand the text exchanges. She didn't want to speculate about his personal life, but she was curious.
The next day, she went to see Lily again. Her eyes had lost their twinkle. The little girl was happy to see her, but she was in pain.
Christine explained the medicine needed to dull the pain made her sleepy. It was a dilemma that would only get worse. As much as Sara enjoyed visiting Lily she felt sad afterward. She went to the gym to run off her emotions. She waited to text the update on Lily.
🗨S: Lily's head was hurting. She was less like herself.
She expected an immediate response, but didn't receive one. She chastised herself for feeling unhappy that he hadn't responded. She was too attached to their text exchanges. After over an hour a response came.
🗨Dr.B: Thank you.
Nothing more. Just as well she realized.
Doctor Burke often checked on Lily during lunch. When he returned, she stood at his office door. "How was she?"
"Not good."
She stepped into his office as they continued to discuss Lily's condition. It made Sara shiver just thinking of the reality they'd soon be facing.
He asked, "Are you alright."
Looking up to respond, she was lost in his blue eyes. She couldn't think. She couldn't speak, until finally she murmured, "I don't know."
"You need to take care of yourself. You are getting too involved."
She shook her head. "I can't stop caring."
"I know," he whispered.
She left his office, but it was not Lily that had her so unhinged. It was him. When he looked at her, all she wanted was for him to kiss her. She had been dreaming of it for weeks, no months. It was very wrong to think that way. That evening, she refused to text him even though she wanted to.
