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“They can bring you in a cot,” he said.
“No, I don’t want to fall too deeply asleep, and I prefer being right beside him, in case he needs me. It’s fine.”
“I understand. How’s he doing?” I looked back over my shoulder at my son.
“As good as can be expected for a three-year-old in kidney failure.”
“I hate to pester you, but have you heard from Alex?”
I flinched at the words. “No, I tried calling him and left a message, but nothing yet.”
“I’m sure he’s just working up the nerve.”
“Or he doesn’t give a shit about me. And if he doesn’t care about me, why do you think he’d care about a son he doesn’t even know?”
Duncan sighed. “I swear the old Alex is still in there, Grace.”
“Then why did he just disappear?”
“He had his reasons… he’s got some issues, Grace. He always has,” Duncan said softly. He shrugged. “And I’m not a psychologist, so I can’t tell you, but I’m sure Alex can explain everything when you the two of you talk.”
“If we ever talk,” I muttered.
“You’ll talk. Even if I have to get involved and drag him over here, you’ll talk.”
“Thanks, Duncan,” I said with a heavy sigh. “You know, if it wasn’t for Ollie needing him, I wouldn’t even care. He could just disappear forever and never talk to me again if that’s what he wants, but—”
“I know.”
I think Duncan also knew that I was lying to both of us when I said I’d be fine never hearing from Alex again. Even if Ollie didn’t need him, I missed my old friend. Even if we couldn’t be together romantically, I loved him in more ways than just that. He meant the world to me, and I thought I had meant the world to him as well, but here we were.
“Hey, off topic, but quick question,” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket. “Did you know that Doc Rogers is looking for another nurse?”
I held up the job alert that I had gotten that day. I had alerts set up in case a better opportunity popped up, but I never expected to see a posting from my place of employment, for my exact job, while I thought I was still working there.
Not that I blamed my boss. He had been so understanding and let me take as much unpaid time as needed, but I knew they were short-staffed.
Duncan read the posting and shook his head. “Sadly, no. I just work there, so I don’t get to make any business choices about hiring and firing like Stu does. But he never mentioned firing you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Yeah, I am. I just don’t know what I’d do if I lost this job. I need the pay, and I also need the insurance to pay for all of this… But I don’t know if I can leave Ollie to go to work. He needs me, Duncan.”
Tears stung at my eyes and Duncan hugged me.
“Shh, I know, and it’ll be okay. I can always help you.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“I know, and I hope I don't have to. We’ll talk to Alex.”
He was right. Alex was some super successful CEO now. He could take care of his son, but to do that, he’d need to answer his damn phone. My fists balled up at my sides.
“I was on my way to work, just wanted to stop by and see you,” Duncan said, his voice soft as if he didn’t want to leave me.
“Thanks for stopping by Duncan. I’ll call the office and see what they say. Hopefully I still have a job.”
“I’m sure you do,” Duncan said. “And I’ll talk to him when I get in. Try Alex again, please?”
“I will.”
