Myconsultation room.
I’d never had much that was trulymine. Growing up, my older sister devoured the spotlight, testing my parents’ limits and breaking all the rules while I drifted unnoticed in her shadow. Later came medical school, then shared houses, and a string of failed relationships…
Until Chris.
But our terrace on the harbour had never been mine. Right down to the eggshell-coloured walls I’d mistakenly calledwhiteonly once, that prison had only ever been his. He’d taken so much pleasure in reminding me I had nowhere else to go. I belonged to him.
But not anymore.
Decorating my room at the clinic had been a labour of love. A symbol of my fresh start. Of me.
With my sleeves pushed up and masking tape stuck to nearly every finger, I’d painted one wall a soft powder blue. Cheerful prints hung in a neat line, and I’d set up a children’s nook in the corner—a tiny table, matching chairs, and boxes spilling with toys and picture books I’d bargain-hunted from the local buy-and-sell group.
The seller had dropped everything off at the clinic for me, and I’d offered extra for the delivery with a tray of freshly iced cupcakes as a thank you. I couldn’t afford more.
Pride bloomed in my chest each time I opened my purse and glimpsed the bank card tucked inside—the first I’d touched in years—but my account was empty.
Money disappeared fast on the run. A month hiding in cheap motels down the Australian coast, an airfare, rent, and one last basket of groceries had swallowed nearly every cent I’d stashed away. My escape fund was gone. The only thing left in the bottom of the faded pink pillowcase was the engagement ring from a proposal I wished I’d never accepted.
But I could survive. Iwould.
My freedom from Chris was worth eating peanut butter sandwiches for another week.
I didn’t shuffle to my desk straight away. I stayed standing, letting the quiet of the room hold me for a moment. Even if I hadn’t earned my patient’s trust just yet, I’d earned the right to pause and take a breath, at least.
A knock rattled the door before it creaked open.
Brooke poked her head in. “Got a sec?” Without waiting for an answer, she stepped inside.
My fingers twisted the faded pleats of my black skirt. “I’m sorry I let you down—”
“What are you going on about, Doc? You haven’t let anyone down!”
“But the patients…” I bit my lip.
“Are acting as difficult as they do foranynew face in town. I’ve been here a year, and people still joke about me being a blow-in.”
“Really?”
“Cross my heart. Look, I know this morning has been a hot bag of garbage juice, but your afternoon will be busy.Believeme.”
I flicked a look at the computer. “There aren’t many appointments scheduled in…”
“Yet. I’ve got about ten sticky notes I’m still juggling! The phone started ringing off the hook for women’s health checkups since word got out you’re here. Wait.” Brooke’s mouth dropped open as some realisation hit her. “Does this mean you’ll end up seeing everyone’s vag in town?” A faint line settled between her brows. “Is that weird?”
“It is now you said it.” I laughed. “It may shock you to know I’ve seen one or two before.”
She grinned. “How many crusty old dicks have you seen?”
“If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, thanks to the biggest dick on this side of Tasmania, you have a twenty-minute break before your next appointment. Make the most of it.”
“I suppose I could get started on those blood results—”
“What? No!” She barricaded me from getting closer to the computer. “Forget those! Grab a tea or coffee.” She shooed me to the door. “I’ll have you know I splurged on the expensive coffee pods this week, and I even managed not to scoff all the fancy biscuits the ladies from the church dropped off for you.”
“For…me?” Biting back a smile, my eyes danced around the scuffed toes of my ballet flats, but my heart floated somewhere in the clouds. “That’s very kind of them.”
