Page 47 of Hidden Desire

Stassi cleared her throat, the silence deafening. She opened her mouth, but Ariel was already speaking.

“I have to go. I’ll chat with you later.” She disconnected the call, leaving Stassi staring at the phone. She groaned and fell back against the couch. She shouldn’t have to favor one over the other. Ariel and Sage were both important to her. And she had to believe that Ariel would eventually accept that Sage wasn’t trying to replace her. She would make sure Ariel believed that.

She got up from the couch and went to the kitchen to look up something good for supper. She was perusing through her phone for a recipe when her phone rang. She was a tad apprehensive about answering it until she saw Sage’s name.

“Hey, Babe. This is a pleasant surprise. How does chicken mozzarella sound for tonight? I just saw a great recipe, and I believe you have all the ingredients. I can whip it up in no time.”

“Sure.” Sage was quiet, and she stated her response. Stassi leaned back against the counter.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just found out two more nurses were laid off in the ER and another one in Peds. That means Marcus and Lena are the only ones in that department. I don’t know how much longer this can go on. This weekend, I’m going to have to spend time with Lena finishing up the paperwork. There’s so little time, and I’m exhausted, but it has to be done.”

“Babe, I’m sorry to hear that.” Stassi’s heart cried out for her. It was hard to see everyone suffering, especially Sage. She wanted to do something but felt her hands were tied, and it was frustrating.

“I just really needed to hear your voice. I can’t wait to get home to see you.” Stassi smiled at those warm words from Sage. They were moving in the right direction, and Stassi only saw them going forward from there. “I have to get to a patient. I’ll see you soon. Love you.”

The call disconnected as Stassi’s jaw dropped. Was that out of habit, something a person just said to disconnect the line? It came out so easily for Sage, but Stassi wasn’t sure Sage even meant the words like that. The words tugged at her heart, though. They felt nice, as if she was wrapped into a nice warm towel when she was a child.

She pulled up her father’s number and let it ring. After three rings went by, the call was answered.

“I was just thinking about you,” he said.

“You were?” Maybe this was his redeeming grace, and he was going to assure her that all would be alright.

“I was flipping through channels and a movie came on that you used to watch all the time when you were a kid. Don’t remember the title.” He snickered on the end of the line. “Guess it doesn’t really matter. Just a fleeting thought.”

He had his chance to redeem himself and help her figure everything out, but he only had a fleeting thought of who she was when she was little. Maybe it was too far gone for redemption.

“Why are unions so bad?”

“Huh?”

“The other day when we talked, and I mentioned a union. You got all huffy, but the way I see it, it might be the only way the hospital is saved. At this rate, more people are losing their jobs and frankly I can’t stomach it. So maybe a union is exactly what they should form.”

“It’s not that simple,” he argued.

“Well, it never is, is it? The employees left are exhausted, and my hours were cut.”

“That shouldn’t have happened. I’ll go to them and demand that you get your full-time hours reinstated. You’re my daughter, after all, and if I can’t do that much then there’s no hope.”

“No!” The words came out loud, and she clamped down on her tongue. “I don’t want you doing anything that will show favoritism to me. That wouldn’t help anyone, and certainly not me.”

From the other end, he snickered. “Stassi, I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” she retorted. Her stomach clenched, and she shook her head. “I can’t talk with you right now.” Without even saying goodbye, she hung up the call, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks. He didn’t get it, and that alone crushed her.

“Stassi, are you awake?” She felt Sage softly move her shoulder, seeing if she would make a sound. Stassi opened her eyes, and Sage looked down upon her. “You should get to bed. This looks like you tried to wait up for me.”

Sage stretched out and shifted on the couch, before pulling herself up. “What time is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Midnight.”

“I thought,” Stassi began. Sage quieted her by placing her finger along Stassi’s lips. Stassi sighed. “Should have known. I have supper and can warm it up for you.”

“You don’t need to do that, Stassi. You’re exhausted. Go to bed, and I’ll eat and then join you.”

“I'm not even tired now.” Stassi shrugged and reached for Sage’s hand. They walked to the kitchen, and she grabbed the plate from the fridge, then covered it and put it in the microwave. She turned to Sage, and Sage looked even more tired than Stassi expected. “You should go get in bed, and I’ll bring supper to you.”

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