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She’d given him her heart, told him how she felt, and he’d run. Run from her arms, her home, her life. She suspected that if he could run from the clinic, he would.
Her eyes closed and images entered her mind of him kissing her, holding her, connecting deeply on a level that went far beyond physical, and she couldn’t buy it. Couldn’t believe he didn’t care.
“Chelsea?”
Think of the devil…
Finally, he’d come to her. She turned, smiled at Jared, her heart soaring. Only he didn’t meet her gaze, and she cursed her stupidity for getting her hopes up at his slightest attention.
“Georgia Donaldson is here and has asked to speak with you after I finish seeing her.” He said the words so matter-of-factly that his tone left no room for soaring hearts or hope of any kind.
She gave a tight smile. “Did she say why she’d like to speak with me?”
“I assume it has to do with Lacey and Caden, but I didn’t ask.”
“Because you don’t want anything to do with me?” She hadn’t meant to say anything. Hadn’t meant to confront him. Now that she had, she realized just how hurt she was that he was ignoring what had happened. She wanted a reaction. Even if his reaction wasn’t the one she longed for. Anything was an improvement over his avoidance.
Although it hadn’t been easy, she’d faced her demons, willingly shared her secret affliction, her heart. And despite the fact he cared for her, he didn’t care enough to fight for her.
Which put her right back to where she’d been her whole life. Craving the love of someone who wasn’t willing to give it.
“Chelsea,” he began, still not meeting her eyes.
The coward.
“Don’t bother.” She held up her hand to stop his excuses. “Just don’t bother because I’m not in the mood for more excuses on why you can’t care for me. Not right now.”
“Hello, Mrs Donaldson.” Checking her frustration at the doorway, Chelsea greeted the tired woman waiting in Jared’s exam room. “Dr Jared mentioned that you’d like to speak with me.”
Dr Jared who’d looked guilty in those seconds before she’d spun and walked away.
“Yes.” The woman nodded. “And do call me Georgia, please. You were so kind to Lacey when she came in a while back, I wanted to thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Georgia. How is Lacey?”
“Much better than when she was here.” A huge smile split the woman’s face. “Caden recovered consciousness last week.”
Although she’d have thought it impossible moments before, joy filled Chelsea’s heart. “Oh, Georgia, that’s wonderful news.”
“Yes, Dr Westland advised us not to get our hopes up, but he’s changed his tune in the last couple of days. Caden’s responding to questions by blinking his eyes. They’re weaning him off the ventilator and his oxygen saturations are holding.”
Chelsea’s eyes watered. “A miracle.”
“Yes, we think so.” Georgia glanced around the exam room. “I think you made a real difference for my daughter.”
“Thank you, but I was just doing my job.”
“Lacey knows you were the one to arrange for the social worker to come and see her.”
“I hope she was helpful.”
“Extremely. She helped sort through a lot of paperwork we didn’t understand and to fill out forms so Lacey wouldn’t lose her jobs. We’ll forever be grateful for all you’ve done.”
They spoke for a few more minutes.
“Well,” Georgia said, “I don’t mean to keep you from your patients, but I wanted to thank you for what you did for my daughter. Dr Jared, too. His visits to Caden at the hospital really meant a lot to Lacey and I.”
“Jared came to the hospital?”
