Page 24 of Revived

“I got word that the hospital would be officially dropping the lawsuit against me because…” She paused in her explanation, clearly listening to whatever was being said on the other end of the line. A few moments of silence on her end was followed by a quiet sigh and then, “I understand. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.” She was even polite when being rejected.

“Mel?” I asked while moving further into the den where she had been sitting.

“Oh, am I in your way here? I’m sorry, just give me a second,” she babbled as she stood up and started gathering her things.

“Mel, stop.” She turned back to me, no longer frantically attempting to pick up her things. “I want to talk to you about something. Her shoulders visibly slumped, as if I’d just added more weight to them.

“I already know,” she told me. “I’ve been looking for another job. My stuff can be moved out by this weekend, if you’d like. Chevy’s doing so well now. I’m so proud of him.” She was rambling, but her words rang with truth and pride for all that my son had accomplished. Whether she wanted to admit it out loud or not, she cared a great deal for my son.

“I’m certainly not kicking you out or firing you,” I explained quickly, so that I might alleviate some of the strain she was feeling.

“But Chevy’s better now. There’s no need for me here.”

“Mel,” I called her name out with authority that time because it felt as though she was about to spiral into a whole panic attack, which was very unlike the headstrong nurse we’d come to know and love.

“Tell me what’s really going on here first, and then we’ll discuss what I have for you.”

Mel slumped into the seat behind her. “Have you ever had one of those days? You know. The ones where everything seems to go completely wrong? That has been my day today. First, the hospital’s lawyer sent in an offer to dismiss the lawsuit against me, but I’d be held under a gag order, unable to talk about it.” She threw her hands up in a ‘what the fuck’ gesture.

“How do I explain a very public lawsuit’s resolution with prospective employers if I’m not allowed to talk about it?”

“I can see where that’s an issue. Have your lawyer kick that clause out.”

She laughed, but it was a quick, ugly noise rather than the ones that made me smile right along with her. “What lawyer? I couldn’t afford to keep paying them, so I am currently without a lawyer as of today as well.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I just did.” She sniped the words out with far too much attitude for my liking, but her bad day – and my being the root cause of it – were in my mind as I remained quiet and allowed her to continue to vent. “But then, as if I hadn’t been kicked hard enough yet today, I got an email from my mother with a picture of my sister’s wedding to my ex-husband and she’s pregnant again. This will be their third child together. They seem blissfully happy.” Fat, juicy tears started to fall down Mel’s beautiful face. “I didn’t want to look at those pictures, but I couldn’t look away either. That was supposed to be our family. We always talked about having three kids. Now, here I am heading down the wrong side of my thirties and single still. I’ll be lucky if I’m able to have one child before my body gives out.” Her words blended right into a hiccup that made her pause momentarily.

“And now, I can’t even find gainful employment either. That was my third phone interview this week. I can’t seem to get past that stage because of the stupid lawsuit that won’t go away unless I keep quiet about it. Then I’m back to square one.”

Damn it. The issues she was having now were literally my fault. Okay, not the lack of babies or family, but the inability to find work. “I have an offer for you.” I pulled out the contract Deacon, our tour manager, had sent over to have Mel sign. When I handed them to her, she glanced up at me, puzzled, before tipping her head back down and reading.

“What is this?”

“Step one leading to better news?” I posed it as a question and then grinned at her. “We’re going on tour soon to support the new album. We would like you to tag along as our on-hand Nurse Practitioner. I’m sure that Chevy will be along for a good bit of the tour, and you could help him along with his physical therapy, besides taking care of anything that pops up on the road for the crew, bands, and whoever else is along.”

Mel eyed me wearily. “Chevy won’t need much help,” she told me as she waved the contract back and forth.

“Okay, but he could spike a fever, get a splinter, or other shit. Plus, as I said, you wouldn’t just be there for him. You’d be there for anyone who happens to be on tour with us. Besides, we need a person we can trust not to go running to the damn tabloids about what they see on tour.”

“Are you serious?” She asked, voice wavering a bit. “This is a legitimate job offer and not just a pity ploy?”

It was my turn to grin at her. “I could never pity you, Mel. You’re brilliant, beautiful, and an amazing, caring nurse. Anyone who wouldn’t want to snap you up for your skills is an idiot. We could seriously use someone with your skills and integrity. It’s the perfect combo for our world. Besides,” I tipped my head toward the contract, “that was created and printed out long before you told me about your pitiful day,” I explained with a wink.

“Is it possible to add some stipulations from my point of view?”

“Sure,” I agreed.

“No drugs. I won’t help anyone gain access to illegal or abused prescription drugs.”

“Is that it?” I asked, but her shoulders came up stiff as she shook her head.

“I remain off-limits in a personal capacity to everyone. Band members, crew, whoever. They’re all friends at most and nothing more. I won’t be anyone’s convenient sex toy for the tour, and I won’t deal well with being harassed to put out either.”

“I can promise you that if anyone is ever inappropriate, they will be dealt with immediately and tossed off the tour if need be.” I made the promise knowing damn well it was going to help keep all the interested bastards, like my own bandmate, Alex, away from her. As for me, I still didn’t know what I wanted when it came to Melanie. I just knew I couldn’t let her go yet.

“Are you sure about this?” She asked one more time.

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