Kyle tilted his head.It was starting to seem like Doug really did have a deeper interest in that quarter beyond simply wanting to help the grieving widow of a teammate.
“And yeah.Pray for her.Thanks,” Doug mumbled.
“Okay, will do.”
There was another round of prayer requests—Frankie’s cough, Hannah’s new sportscaster role—and then Zac spoke up.“Okay, Ainsley finally said I could say something, so here goes.We’re expecting a little Parotti in the winter.”
“What?”
“Congratulations!”
“This will be the most genetically blessed baby in eternity,” Tom murmured, which scored a round of laughs.
But yes, it was true.Zac Parotti, who women had literally thrown themselves at, had married television’s sweetheart Ainsley Beckett, who herself was no stranger to the extreme actions of fans, and both had graced the cover of a magazine or two in their Most Beautiful editions.
“Congrats, Zac.That’s awesome news,” Kyle said sincerely.
It was only later, after the video call had finished, that he felt a heart pinch, as he wondered what it would’ve been like to have people congratulate him on being an expectant father.Of course, there was a world of difference between being a teen dad with a surprise baby versus one that was much wanted in a secure stable marriage.
But it would be nice to one day have that secure, stable marriage that would enable a child’s anticipated arrival to be filled with joy and hearty congratulations.
“Hey God, I’m just saying that if You do have someone out there for me, I’m okay with that.And if You don’t, then help me be okay with that.”And if her name is Gen, then help her be okay with that.
Then he smiled at himself.As if God didn’t already know what was in his heart.Whether he prayed out loud or in his head it made no difference.
“Okay, fine, Lord.I’m praying this out loud because I feel like my ears need to tell my brain that this is true.I still care for Gen.I… I feel like my heart has been bruised by what she did, but I still care for her.And if this is not what You want, then please take all attraction away.Help me to not think about her.But Jesus, I’d really like to see her come to You as her Lord and Savior.The same for Bella too.And Mom and Dad.They all really need to know You.So please help me to be a light that points to You.Amen.”
Amen.
* * *
“So,what do you think, Bella?Do you want to meet Kyle’s mom and dad, or not?”
Please say no.Please say no.Gen had no desire to see the woman who would no doubt not shy away from calling Gen a gold digger to her face.Mr.Tinker, she was not so sure.
But after last week’s conversation with Kyle, it only felt fair to ask Bella what she wanted.To give her the chance to make a choice, especially when—for both of them—so many other things felt like they were spinning out of control.
Like Gen’s situation at the hospital regarding Lily’s death.Someone had made an anonymous complaint about her, so now there was going to be a peer review of the case.There was even the likelihood of an inquiry, as Gen’s name had been linked to questions over whether enough had been done to secure the safety of a ward of the state.Nancy had been indignant, and the other nursing staff had been too.But it didn’t change the fact that the peer review would happen, or so Dr.Singh had said.
“Are you serious?”
He’d nodded, then gone on to explain that there had been other allegations that she was arrogant, didn’t communicate, and that she wasn’t a team player.
She’d been so stunned that she’d barely known what to think.
Dr.Singh had assured her she had his full support, and encouraged her to speak to Dr.Rialto, her program director, but she felt as crushed as the motorcyclist she’d attended earlier that day, who had been scooped off the freeway after colliding with a truck.Who hated her so much they would go to all this trouble to report her—yet do it anonymously?
And of course she couldn’t talk about it, couldn’t find out about just who might hate her that much.She had her suspicions, of course, but speaking those aloud would only backfire on her, or so she’d been warned.Anonymous allegations could be made but she had no way to defend herself.Not yet, anyway.And it might not be a problem if the person she suspected soon graduated from residency.Although she didn’t think he was competent enough to pass without further extending.But she was only the junior, so what would she know?
“You may find that if this escalates you’ll need to take time off from work,” Dr.Singh had warned.“And I hope you’ve charted well and kept good records because seeing Lily was in the foster system, CPS is involved, so there are legal ramifications now too.”
Legal ramifications?Oh no.“You know I’ve always tried to do the right thing.This won’t delay me from graduating, will it?”
“Let’s hope not.”
This all only added more pressure.Here she was, soon to start her third year of residency, with so many unknowns.
Pressure seemed to be coming from all angles, at work, home, family, even her health.She wasn’t sleeping well, as questions and second-guessing and self-recrimination boiled away in a cesspool of pain.
