Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
But I can’t help it.
I feel it. I feel that pull towards him, and I so badly wanted to see where it could go.
I allow myself to cry for ten minutes and then I pick myself up and dust myself off.
That’s it now. Get on with it. I wipe my eyes and mentally prepare myself to toughen up. I need to stop with this sappy shit.
He’s gone.
I shower, dry, dress, and then go downstairs and dial Mom’s number. She answers on the first ring.
“Hello, Ash. What’s wrong?”
I smile and roll my eyes. “Hi, Mom.”
“Is Owie okay?”
“Yes, Owie is fine,” I reply. “Sorry to ring you so early.”
“Oh gosh, Ash, you scared me. I never hear from you at this hour.”
“I know, I’m sorry. Jenna’s mom had a heart attack.”
“Oh no.” She gasps. “Is she okay?”
I nod. “Hopefully.” I shrug. “They are doing more testing to today.”
“Is Jenna going home?”
“Yeah.” I hesitate, this is the part I hate—the asking for help bit.
“What are you going to do with Owie while you work Ash?” she asks.
“I’m kind of stuck, Mom.”
“Oh—”
I cut her off. “I was wondering, if I bought you an airline ticket, would you be able to come over here for a week or two and help me out with Owen?”
“Of course, love.”
I smile. “Really?”
“Of course I can. I would love to get to spend some time with the both of you.”
I close my eyes as they fill with tears again. “Thank you, Mom. It means so much.”
“I’m going to the doctors first thing this morning for my blood tests and then I will call you later and we can arrange flights.”
For the first time in ten hours I feel optimistic. “That’s great. Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“I love you, too, Ash. Speak soon.”
At 7am sharp, I ring the hospital. I know Cameron does his hospital rounds at seven on the dot and that there is absolutely no chance at all that he will be the one to answer the phone.
“Hello, surgery,” the female voice answers. I frown as I try to remember the girl’s name. Shit, what is it?
“Hello, this is Ashley Tucker. I’m one of Dr. Stanton’s interns.”
“Yes, hello, Ashley,” the kind voice replies.
I scrunch up my face. I really don’t want to do this. “There’s been a family emergency and I won’t be in for a few days.”
“Oh dear. I hope everything is okay.”
I nod. “Me, too.” I pause for a moment. “Would you please be able to give Dr. Stanton a message for me?”
“Yes, of course.”
I think quickly. It’s Wednesday now, so if I fly Mom in on Thursday or Friday, I will be good to go again on Monday. “Can you just tell him that I had an emergency and I won’t be in until Monday?”
“Sure.”
“Can you please tell him that I will be taking the days without pay?”
“Ashley, that won’t be necessary. You’re entitled to sick days.”
“I’m not sick,” I reply. “I’m just unable to help it that’s all, but I want him to know that I am not sick.”
“Okay,” she answers. I know what she’s thinking: This chick is wacko.
“Just… tell him that I will definitely be in on Monday.”
“Okay. Good luck. I hope everything works out well.”
“Thank you.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I did it.
We’ve parked the car at the airport and are walking across the parking lot towards the terminal. Jenna and Owen are in front of me holding hands and I’m dragging the suitcase on wheels. “Look at that big plane, Owie,” I call from behind.
A plane takes off over us and we all stand still as we watch it zoom past.
“Awesome!” he yells, and we all laugh.
My phone rings. It’s Mom. “Hey.” I smile as I struggle with the heavy suitcase.
“Hello, love. We have a problem.”
I freeze. “We do?”
“My bloods came back, and remember how I stopped taking the blood thinners for the thrombosis I had last year?”
“Yes.” I frown.
“The doctor said I am unable to fly for a month.”
“What?” Shit.
“He said I can’t fly until I take another course and it will take a month until my blood is safe enough for me to travel.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. Fuck’s sake.
“But that’s okay. Why don’t you fly Owen here and he can stay with me for a week or two, and then you can fly back and get him?”
“Oh no. That’s okay. I’ve never been away from him before. I couldn’t do that.”
“Ashley, he will be fine.”
“No, Mom. It’s too long. We’ve never been apart for more than one night. Never mind, I will try and think of something else.”
Jenna has overheard our conversation and is standing watching me with a frown on her face. “What?” she mouths.
I shake my head. This is just my luck.
“Can I speak to Owen for a moment, please?” Mom asks.