Page 77 of Doctor One Night

I smile to myself remembering to myself what happened on that very sofa just a few hours ago. And then the floor below it… And then the bed I just peeled myself out of… I digress.

I take a sip of the warm amazingness in a cup, savoring it as it travels through my body. “Not bad. Just tired.”

“Poor baby, who calls her own hours and works from home,” Carly says, smiling like the smart-ass she can be. “I had another overnight shift. It was pretty quiet, though, thank God. Grace is still the same—no real status change. The docs are trying to figure out a long-term solution for her. She's really sick, Frankie. It's so hard to see her like that.”

I nod, a pang of concern for Grace forms as a lump in my throat, but I decide not to mention the possibility of the pacemaker. It’s too soon to get anyone’s hopes up, and we don’t even know if it’s feasible yet.

“How are you doing, really?” Carly asks, her tone shifting to something softer, more concerned. “I was giving you a hard time, but seriously, are you okay?”

I sigh and sink into the armchair across from her. “Yeah, life's been busy and full, for sure.”

“Talk to me,” she says, leaning forward. “What’s going on? Now that you have a boy toy, I don’t get to see you as much.”

I take a deep breath, trying to figure out where to start. “I had a really intense conversation with my dad yesterday.”

Carly raises an eyebrow. “Bill? That dad?”

“Yes, Carly. That dad. Only got one.”

“What happened?”

I tell her everything—about the history with my dad, the truth he revealed about why he wasn’t in my life, and how he’s been trying to make amends now that he’s sick. As I speak, I can see the sympathy in Carly’s eyes, the way she listens without judgment.

“Wow, Frankie… that’s a lot to process,” she says when I finish. “How are you doing with all of it?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, running a finger over the rim of the plastic cup top. “Part of me is relieved to finally understand what happened, but another part of me is just… exhausted. I'm sad we lost all that time.”

Carly nods, her expression thoughtful. “It’s going to take time. But I’m glad you’re talking to him. It sounds like you’re starting to heal.”

“I guess the bright side is, we have the future. In some good news, his treatment seems to be working for his cancer.”

“Yes, I like that perspective.”

“Hmm,” I think to myself softly. “And then, on top of that, Hunter’s mom passed away yesterday.”

Carly’s eyes widen. “Oh my God, Frankie. You did have a busy day!”

“Yeah,” I say with a wry smile. “It’s been overwhelming. Hunter was really vulnerable last night and opened up to me about everything. In a weird way, it brought us closer, I think.”

Carly’s expression softens, and she reaches over to squeeze my hand. “I’m really happy for you, Frankie. I know this is a lot you have on your plate, but it sounds like you’re handling it really well. Like always, a badass bitch.”

I laugh at that notion. I'm a lot of things, but a badass bitch is not one that comes to top of mind. “You're a nerd. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d probably sleep a lot more,” she says with a grin, making me laugh despite everything.

“True,” I admit. “But then who would bring me lattes and listen to my life’s drama?”

“Exactly,” Carly says, leaning back into the couch. “So, what’s next? How are you going to deal with everything?”

I shrug, taking another sip of my coffee. “One step at a time, I guess. I’ve got the trial to focus on, and… well, Hunter and I will see where things go, I suppose. Still keeping my expectations low, don't worry.”

Carly gives me a knowing look. “Sounds like a plan. Just remember, I’m here if you need anything. Even if it’s just to vent. Or, drink coffee.”

I nod, grateful for her as a sounding board. She gives me pause. “I know. And I appreciate it.”

“Alright, enough heavy stuff,” Carly says, suddenly brightening. “What’s for breakfast? I’m starving.”

I laugh, as the tension slides off my shoulders. “What does this look like, Waffle House?”

---