Page 69 of The Wrong Promise

Hi Gretchen. If any staff member is sick, they should be tested for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. You, especially, need to be careful. Perhaps work from home until this passes. How many weeks are remaining until you’re on maternity leave?

Hi, Jobe. I have been worried about this. Thank you. I will remain at home. Marcus has been in touch. I’ll send out an email tonight and refer to a new stay-at-home work policy. I have three weeks remaining.

Please speak to your doctor and ask for their advice. Could you please get me Lydia’s number?

She sends it through. I’ll call her later and ask her to be checked and to remain at home to work.

No one is going to lose their jobs.

The doctor writes a script and leaves it on the table. “If Zara’s condition worsens or she has chest pain, you may need to take her to the hospital.”

“I’ll keep a close eye on her.”

There is no way I’ll be leaving her side.

Zara has slept mostof the day.

Between Zoom meetings, I refill her water and offer more medication, ensuring she is receiving plenty of vitamin C and zinc. Last night, she slept in her room, which I do not like. I checked on her several times and spent part of the night on the lounge chair in her room. Her condition hasn’t worsened, nor has she improved. At least the staff has been informed, and measures are in place to prevent thisfrom happening again. Coughs and colds are part of winter, but it should never have gotten this bad.

Trent delivers a bag of groceries, and I fire up the stove to cook her chicken and vegetable soup. It’s what Lola did for us when we were sick.

After preparing the vegetables, I check my emails. There is an invite from Sir James to attend dinner this weekend.

I send him a reply.

Unfortunately, Zara is sick, but we are excited for the gala.

Two weeks…

Two weeks, and then we don’t need to fake it.

Will she want to continue the charade? Is the sex simply a fun thing for her because she is lonely?

While back in LA, I had time to consider what I want moving forward in my life. If there was a slight chance Zara and I could try as a couple, as weird as it sounds, a long-distance relationship would not work. So our situation is further complicated.

The chicken bones are boiling, and I add the vegetables to the broth and stir. Will she be able to eat bread with her sore throat? All I fed her today were smoothies full of immunity-building nutrients.

I care for her more than I want to admit. Think about her more than I should.

How do I explain that I don’t wantwhatever we haveto end? Especially when there is no clear path to beginning a relationship.

The following day,Zara is having soup for lunch.

She received a positive pathology report and commenced the antibiotics.

“I’m already feeling a bit better,” she says. “It must be all the care from you and this amazing soup.” She gives me an awkward smile before it fades. “It still doesn’t make up for what went down before you left.”

“Zara.” I kneel on the floor beside her. “I should have trusted you.” She cocks one eyebrow. “While I made excuses that my hands were tied, I was scared that you had the power to influence my decision.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you have a good heart and see things differently to me.” I reach out and rest a hand on her knee. “You’re a refreshing influence. I see that now.” She gives me a subtle nod as though she knows it. “Is there something you want me to cook for dinner?”

She smiles appreciatively. “You’ve done enough, Jobe. Thank you. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff not receiving the same care from the Board director.”

It’s a dig, yet it also makes me smile. “At least there are now measures for people to stay home if they’re sick.”

“Thank you for rolling that out.”

---