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“Please. I’m tired,” Jami forced out.
He stood. “I’ll return soon.” He gave her another hard kiss, this one lingering as if he was putting on a show. His eyes didn’t soften as he left.
Dr. Menose closed the door behind him. “You could have allowed him to stay, if you’re dating. I only meant to offer you the choice.”
Any explanation caught in Jami’s throat. They had never dated. Andrew had just begun showing up at that prison of a house, and she’d never said no to him. Not once had she said no. Instead, she had listened to his promise to take care of her, and a part of her had soaked up the words like sunshine while the rest of her went numb. And then time passed, time that seemed like a movie she was watching later, removed from the actions.
“Are you listening, Ms. Reece?” Dr. Menose asked, her brown eyes soft behind the glasses she wore despite the harsh tone of the words.
“I’m sorry,” Jami said, her voice thick with tears. She was surprised to realize she was still crying.
Dr. Menose pulled over a chair, setting her open laptop on her lap. “No need to apologize. I didn’t expect you to be fully aware. You’ve been through quite a trauma, Ms. Reece.” Her brown eyes reminded Jami of someone else, someone who had been kind. “Do you remember the fall?”
Jami started to nod, but her head still hurt too much for the movement.
“It seems you were unconscious for most of a day before someone brought you to the ER. The worst of the damage was to your leg, though it seems like your head is continuing to pain you.” Dr. Menose watched her closely.
“A little,” Jami admitted.
Dr. Menose reached out, her fingers closing around Jami’s wrist. “I have some concerns about your weight. Have you been eating properly?”
Jami wasn’t often hungry. She forced herself to eat a portion of whatever she made for her father, but could never force down much. She looked away from the doctor.
Dr. Menose released her and leaned back. “Well, I recommend you visit your normal practitioner over the next few weeks to make certain there’s been no lasting trauma from the fall and to follow up on the removal of the cast.”
Jami bit her lip. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a routine checkup. Andrew had maintained her father’s insurance through his disability, and with all of his appointments, it had been impossible to find time for one of her own.
“Do you have someone that you’re seeing, Ms. Reece?” the doctor asked.
It was probably the right time to admit again that she had no insurance. Jami’s head pounded, and she raised her hand to it.
“It seems your head is hurting more than a little.” Dr. Menose rose, setting her laptop aside. “Here, look this way.” A light flashed, and Jami managed to follow it. “Reactions seem fine,” the doctor murmured. “The medication we gave you through the IV for your leg should have taken care of any residual pain.”
“How bad was the break?” Jami asked. She still hadn’t been able to so much as shift her right leg under the blankets.
“There was a fracture, but only in one place. We set it, and I recommend that you wear the cast for six weeks to heal fully.” The doctor moved to the end of the bed and flipped the sheet back. “Try to wriggle your toes for me.”
Jami was able to. Some of the weight on her chest lifted.
“A bit of walking can help in the healing process, but listen to your body once the pain medication wears off.” Dr. Menose frowned again. “I can also prescribe you some pills to take if the pain gets worse.”
“No need,” Jami said. She was starting to blame the medication for the constant dripping from her eyes, not the panic that set in each time her mind wandered to the likely path before her.
The doctor lowered the chart again. “Is there an issue you want to tell me about?”
Jami couldn’t quite meet her eyes. “I don’t have insurance.”
“Your job doesn’t…”
At Jami’s wince, the words faded away. “I’ve been taking care of my father full-time,” she explained. “Kevin Reece.” She forced her head up. “Could he have been brought here?” Andrew had indicated the worst, but denial pushed back even though she knew he never lied. No, never that.
“I can check for you. Your father has been unwell?”
“There was a car accident he never recovered from, not really. It was a long time ago.” Over a decade now. Jami had lost track of the years.
“I see.”
Jami doubted the doctor did see. No one had been around to help out. Her mother was dead. Andrew came and went, and interacted with her father, his former employee, as little as he could. And Jami’s sister, Skylar, was a touring rock star now. Jami was happy for her. Skylar had never been one to remain locked down.
