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She shakes her head.
“The doctor will be here around five. We can eat dinner after that.”
I turn away with a heavy heart. I have a feeling I know what he is going to say.
I wonder what would happen if I told Jennifer that I have developed feelings for her. Probably the same thing that happens every time I try to reach out to her—she would push me away and throw that angry glare in my direction, her bright green eyes turning a shade darker and burning into me.
I spend a few hours in my office, catching up on work and dealing with the administrative tasks my brothers have been sending me. Seeing as I don’t want to leave the house these days for fear of leaving her alone, they have been getting me to take care of the paperwork and online work. It is tedious work, boring and annoying, but at least I know I am still helping.
One of my men arrives at the door of my office. He announces that the doctor has arrived. I tell him to bring him in and then I go and wait in Jennifer’s room with a heavy feeling churning in my stomach.
She sits on the ledge by the window, staring out over the balcony of her second-floor bedroom.
The doctor arrives in his usual professionally cheerful manner.
“Hello, young lady. How are you feeling today?” the doctor asks, putting his bag down.
She smiles at him.
“Alright,” he says. “Well, if you don’t mind, can you come and sit on the edge of the bed here so that I can take a look at you?”
She stands up without arguing and sits on the edge of the bed. I imagine for a moment what it would be like if she was that accepting of the things I ask her to do.
He begins checking her over. He presses his fingers against her rib cage and she does not even flinch. He stares at the scar below her eye, which is barely visible at all. All of her bruises are gone and all that is left is her creamy smooth skin.
He asks her to lift her top and runs his fingers over the scar on her stomach, which is more obvious than the others. It is going to be a scar forever. She will carry it around with her for the rest of her life, as well as the one on her leg.
“This looks amazing,” he tells her. “And there is no pain when I do this?”
She shakes her head.
“Your ribs are completely healed, and the wounds are doing better than I could have hoped for. The truth is that physically, you are back to your old self. Well, what I mean is that everything is healed.”
She looks down at the floor. He places his hand on her arm. She does not pull away like she does when I touch her, and it grates me.
“Young lady, I can’t imagine what you went through when they took you. I cannot imagine the pain and the fear that you endured. But I know this—you are strong. It’s obvious. You are a fighter. One day, you will want to talk about what happened to you and when you’re ready to do that, I think you will find that your heart will begin to heal as well. Until that day, just know that you are strong.”
He steps back.
“Is there anything we need to know?” I ask.
“She’s perfectly healthy. She doesn’t need me anymore. She has recovered fully from what she experienced—physically.” He smiles.
I nod with a tight smile. “That’s amazing news.”
Jennifer returns to the window ledge where she quietly looks out over the garden again. While the doctor is packing away his things and getting ready to go, I stand to the side, unsure what to do with myself. I have spent such a long time taking care of her that my entire world became just about that. If she is better—strong, healthy, and fit—then what do I do now?
I stare at her; she is facing away from me. The room is heavily silent, but perhaps I am the only one who can feel this tension. Perhaps the tension is actually coming from me.
Her long blonde hair is pinned up in a messy bun and I trace my eyes along the curve of her slender neck, across her shoulder, the sculpted shoulder blades, how the sleeve of her top falls and reveals just enough skin to cause tainted thoughts to drift through my mind.
She turns to look directly at me. For a moment our eyes lock and the tension in the room increases tenfold. I clamp my jaw tightly, waiting for the doctor to leave.
“I don’t need to make another follow-up appointment, but if you need anything at all you know where to find me,” the doctor says, picking up his bag and walking towards the door. “I hope you have a wonderful evening.” He nods towards Jennifer and smiles at me.
“Thank you, doc,” I say. “We appreciate all of your help. Thanks for taking such good care of her.”
“It was my pleasure. Goodbye.”
