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𝘞𝘙𝘌𝘕 𝘑𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE WORK TRIP Fernando finally congratulated us on the good news about more companies considering partnering with us. He also said that he bought a copy of the magazine. It seems like everyone in the office has.
I mean picture how weird it is to see yourself-topless-smooshed against your shirtless coworker on top of the receptionist desk. Because that is what Gloria did. She framed it. And it’s sitting on her desk. Even Maxine offered me a smile when she saw it.
So i’ve locked myself in my office.
Rhys isn’t here yet, but if he was-i’d probably lock him out too. I take a long sip of my coffee and close my eyes, but then the mental image of Rhys’s hand on my waist enters my mind and my eyes fly open.
I ditch the coffee and get right to work. I’ve been so busy with the project that i’ve been drowning in my regular work. And between my mom and the magazine, i’ve had no time to just stop.
A feel that only came out once makes it way back into my chest. I’m burnt out.
Dread fills my entire body as I try to shoo the awful thought out of my mind. I’m not burnt out, i’m just tired, but i’m always tired. Everything’s fine. I’m fine.
My phone rings and look down at the caller ID. It’s the hospital.
“Hello.”
“Hello Miss Wren. This is The New York Hospital. We’re calling about your mother, Margo Perry.” She says it like I have more than one mother.
“We’ve found blood clots in her lungs. We’re afraid she isn’t going to make it through the night. She’s also experiencing…” My ears start ringing and I can’t follow anything else.
My mother wasn’t going to make it through the night. And i’m sitting here. Working. Reality of what I just said slams into me. Yes, I am sitting here, and i’m not at the hospital because she wouldn’t do it for me. But now she might. A stupid voice says in my mind.
I love you because i’m your mother and mother’s love their daughters.
“I’m heading there now.” I cut off the lady on the phone and hang up.
My mind doesn’t catch up to my feet until i’m in the elevator. My body is on cruise control as my mind is on overload. I haven’t had anything to eat and people in the hallway are looking at me like they have been all day. They are staring at me like they’ve seen me naked-oh wait they have. I just need a break, I need to-
“Are you alright?” A voice asks me gruffly. When I don’t respond, a hand is placed on my shoulder and I look up.
Messy hair, cloudy eyes, strong features, masculine jawline. Dress shirt-slightly wrinkled-dress pants perfectly tailored. Rhys.
“Miss James?” He asks.
“Fine. I’m fine.” I nod and try to walk around him.
A presence makes it’s way beside me. I ignore it and walk straight outside into the cool New York City air. I don’t know what I planned to do, but I didn’t bring my car.
A hand catches my wrist. I whirl back and meet Rhys’s hard expression. He rubs his thumb over my pulse and I pull my arm back.
“I’m fine.” My voice has never been harsher.
“You’re not.” Rhys argues. I don’t have time for this.
I turn my back to him and take one step before his arm snakes around my waist and he starts walking in a different direction. I try to get out of his grip, but it only tightens.
“Rhys.” It slips out before I process it.
Rhys stops walking. I stop walking by association. He looks down at me. I stare up at him.
“What happened?” His voice is sincere and cuts right through me.
“My mother. She’s dying-well I don’t know if she’s dying but they said she wouldn’t make it through the night. She has Alzheimer’s and her lungs are collapsing and somehow has blood clots.” I say more to his chest then to him.
“Get in.” He says without missing a beat.
“What?”
“My car. Get in, i’m driving you to the hospital.”
__________
“I’m here to see Margo Perry.” I say when both me and Rhys approach the front desk.
“Can I have a name?” The woman behind the counter asks.
“Wren James.” I tap my finger tips on the marble countertop.
“Oh, okay. You’re her daughter?” I nod. “Yes that’s what it says as emergency contacts.” Of course it does. Or of course it still does.
I’m sitting on my brothers bed doing my schoolwork when my phone rings. It’s a small phone that can only be called-not texted. I saved up enough money from tutoring, lifeguarding and returning Lex’s birthday present-plus the stash of ones I had from taking out the neighbors trash, and bought it myself.
The number isn’t one I recognize but pick it up anyways. A female voice greets me. “Hello, is this Wren James?” She asks.
“Yes.” I look at the clock to see that it’s nine twenty-seven at night.
“Okay honey, well this is the New York Hospital. We’re calling about your mom. She’s been in a car accident, she’s alright but she needs a ride home. If you could come here to pick her up, we could talk about the extent of her injuries.” My blood runs cold and it’s hard to breathe.
“Okay.” I nibble on my thumb and wait for the woman to speak again.
“Okay, see you in a bit.” The line goes dead.
I slowly put down the phone and pause. Car accident. Injuries. Ride. Me.
Without thinking twice, I get up from the bed and run to the front door. I grab the house key, shoes and i’m out the door. I don’t have a car-because I can’t drive. Well, I can, but not legally. But Mr. Murray has a car, and he can’t even get up to drive it.
I turn around and make my way to his door. When I twist the knob, it unlocks. The house is dark and so I reach onto the small table I know is beside the door and feel around for the car keys.
My finger traces the cold metal of the key and I carefully slid them off the table. I thank the Gods that Mr. Murray’s care taker isn’t home-or this would’ve been awkward.
I slip back out the door and break into a sprint as I go down the many flights of stairs. With shaky hands I manage to open the car door and slid into the drivers seat.
My mind is blank as I pass buildings and people on the sidewalks. I have my eyes peeled for the hospital sign, and that’s all i’m thinking about-all i’ll let myself think about.
I find a parking spot close to the entrance and shut off the car. I let myself slump down in the seat for a second. Then I stop with the self-pity and walk into the hospital.
“Hello, i’m here to pick up my mother. Margo Perry. I got called and they said she’d been in an accident.” I tell the lady at the front desk, she nods.
“Just go around the bend and she’ll be waiting.” She starts typing on her keyboard and smacking her gum.
I do as told and see my mother sitting on a chair. A bandage wrapped around her head, and a cast on her foot. But then I see the police. Lots of them standing around her. They look at me and back at my mother.
We look alike. Our hair is short and dark brown-our eyes the same green, and we both have freckles-though she wears makeup to cover hers. My brother and her look nothing alike. He looks like his dad.
“Benny.” My mother says when she sees me. She calls me Benny because of my father. His name was Ben and I was his ‘mini’. Ben-mini, Ben-ni; Benny.
“Are you her daughter?” One of the men in uniform ask me. I nod. “Is it just you?” He asks, I nod. He slightly cringes. “Can I speak to you, privately?” I nod.
I stand and face the officer as he tells me that my mother and her boyfriend-didn’t know she had a new one-were under the influence of not only alcohol but drugs too when they crashed. My mother had a concussion and a broken ankle. He didn’t give more details.
That night while I was tucking my mother into bed, I swore I wasn’t going to help her again. Not after being humiliated in that hospital. They looked at me as though as was her exact copy. I wasn’t. I would never be.
But i did help her again. Every time she needed me.
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