Page 32 of Doctor Knows Best


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“Are you sure you don’t want me to come and get you? Your car is in the garage.”

“Jason, I mean this home. My folks’ home. I can’t leave my mother tonight.”

“No, of course not. I should be there with you, Lily.”

“No, I’m fine. I just need to be alone right now. I feel so much guilt. I know rationally that it’s not my fault, but he never let up on blaming me. Right until the end, he said the stress from me moving out made him ill. I have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my life.”

Jason knew how unkind that was of a father to heap so much guilt onto his child, but it wasn’t Jason’s place to try to reason with her. Not yet anyway.

“Give my love to your mother, and if you change your mind about me coming to you, just text me. I can stay there with you.”

“Thank you, Jason. Goodbye.”

With that, she hung up. He looked at the phone, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. She was devastated over losing her father, and guilt ridden that he’d blamed her for his heart attack. Looking at the empty side of the bed, he was struck again by that lingering sadness that she wasn’t coming back.

He took the teacup back to the kitchen. It was almost six. He’d run to Gus’s and get something for dinner, since he hadn’t eaten in more than twenty-four hours. Then he thought of his parents and quickly texted them the news about Herbert Fairchild, promising to call later.

It was so cold outside, ice crystals were almost visible in the air as he ran to Gus’s Greek Grocery. The bells rang when he opened the door, a group of familiar people sitting around the table with aperitif glasses.

“Giasou!” they called out, Greek for hello.

Jason waved, heading to the counter to order. Gus’s nephew Andy was behind the counter.

“What can I get you tonight?” he asked.

“What’s on the menu?” Jason asked.

“All I have left is oregano chicken with roasted potatoes or pilaf,” he said. “Or I can make you a sandwich.”

“I’ll take the chicken and pilaf,” Jason said.

He remembered the roast beef at the Fairchilds’ on Christmas night and thought there was a good possibility that he might not eat beef again for long time.

The food was packed and ready, and Jason handed over cash.

“Merry Christmas,” Andy said, handing the bag over.

Walking back to the apartment, Jason realized how much he missed Lily already. As soon as he was inside, he called her.

“I just walked to Gus’s for dinner.”

“I was starving,” she said. “We got two huge garbage bags and basically threw everything that was on the dining table and in the kitchen away, including pots and pans and serving dishes. My mother didn’t care if it was Limoges. She wasn’t washing it. The upside is that I lost my appetite.”

“Let me bring you dinner. I can bring your car back,” he said, trying not to plead and failing.

“No, Jason, not tonight. I can’t see you. I’m so sorry. I just want to be alone tonight. Can you understand?”

“Not really. I want to comfort you. I can be the runner for you and your mom.”

“Jason, that’s very sweet, and just like you. But I have to refuse. I’m getting upset. Can I say goodbye now?”

“Of course,” he said, but hesitantly.

He might have been a nice guy, but he was also getting scary vibes from her. Was she breaking up with him? Forcing himself not to say anything about it, he said goodbye, but she’d already hung up.

Chapter 8

Match Day Monday in early March had arrived. Jason stood at the back of the crowd of senior medical students, waiting for the results to be posted. The harried secretary came out, fluttering yellow paper at the crowd.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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