Page 4 of Everything I Need

Mom looks ashamed as she climbs in her side of the car. She loves to gossip so I can’t imagine what she would be hiding from me.

“Mom, is everything okay?” I’m immediately concerned.

“Oh yes, I just haven’t wanted to tell you, because I don’t want you to be upset, but now, I don’t want you to be blindsided when you get home. Dr. Preston West recently bought the general practice in town from Dr. Kramer.” She says too quickly.

Wow. Not what I expected from her. This adds another layer of complication to my life.

I’d kept up on Preston’s life through social media, but he kind of dropped out of the social world about a year ago. I’d heard rumors he moved to a small town, but I never thought it would be mine.

Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe the safe space I thought I had to figure things out wasn’t going to be quite so safe. Or maybe I need to get over what happened.

Is it possible to get over the betrayal from someone you love?

Chapter Two

Preston

I'mfinallyinmyown practice. I stand in my new waiting room admiring all the work I have in front of me. The practice has been up and running for some time now, so I have a little work to do, but nothing could take away from this feeling of accomplishment.

“This is it, Duke. It's all mine, Dr. Preston West is the name on the door.” I reach down and rub Duke’s ears.

Duke is my six month old chocolate lab, and sidekick in this crazy ride of moving two hours north into the mountains and buying a small general practice in an even smaller town.

One year ago, I was miserable. I hated the ICU. I hated delivering such bad news to patients I barely knew. Don’t get me wrong, there were good times. I love working on those miracle, good news cases, but those were not nearly as often as the bad news cases.

As the years went on, I started to realize what I love and don’t love about medicine, and what I have decided I love is getting to know my patients, spending time with my patients, and growing with them.

One day, after a particularly heart wrenching case, I broke down and spilled all my feelings about the hospital to Dr. Edwards.

He had become not only a mentor, but a friend. Since I couldn't rely on my own father, Dr. Ethan West, for advice, I often turned to Dr. Edwards. I told him how unhappy I was and what I was looking for. He had completely understood and said that he could see it in me as well. A couple weeks later he came to tell me that he had a friend in a small town who was getting ready to retire and was worried about what to do with his patients and his practice. It took me all of thirty seconds to tell him that I was interested. Within a week I was scheduled to go tour the practice. As soon as the tour was over, I knew it was perfect for me.

I started working here a couple days a week getting to know all the patients and to get familiar with the town. Three months ago, I started full-time with Dr. Kramer who was more than happy to reduce his days and spend more time fishing. Fast forward to today, and I am officially the owner of this small town general practice. With patients I have the pleasure of getting to know and seeing out in my community.

By some twist of fate, I have gotten to know Lorelei Harper very well. This practice I've purchased just happens to be in the Harper family’s hometown. While I was happy to know a patient already, I got the added bonus of hearing updates on her daughter’s life in Boston. I’ve wished so many times over the last five years that I could explain things to Scarlett, that she would give me the chance. But she always runs from me, sometimes literally.

When Elizabeth showed up at my apartment that day, I was surprised. I never liked Elizabeth. Our parents are friends, as much as Ethan West can be friends with anyone besides himself. Elizabeth always seemed a little too desperate to find a rich husband, and it was me she set her sights on in college. When I opened the door that day she launched herself at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms tangled around my neck, hands in my hair pulling me in for a kiss. When Scarlett walked in, I knew this was calculated on her part. Elizabeth had been trying to get me to leave Scarlett for a long time, telling me that she wasn’t good enough, and didn't know how to handle herself inourworld. Little did she know I hated our world, and that was the very thing I loved most about Scarlett.

After she ran from my apartment, I tried to find her once I figured out what was going on. I ran all the way to her apartment. Thinking she would go home immediately. But I was wrong.

I am banging frantically on her door. The breaths coming ragged from my run over here.

“Scarlett! Please. Open the door. Please let me explain.” More banging on the door.

Her roommate opens the door, “Preston?” She questions.

“Scarlett. I need Scarlett.” I pant out.

“She’s not here. She left about half an hour ago to go to your house.” She looks at me confused.

“Fuck!” I spin around, frustrated. Trying to think of what to do next.

“She isn’t answering my calls. She saw - not what she thought she saw. Can I have a piece of paper? Will you give this to her please?” I plead.

She hands me a pen and piece of paper.

Scarlett, Please call me back, text me, anything. That wasn’t what it looked like I promise. I love you so much - just give me a chance.

I hand her the note, and walk sullenly around the campus, hoping to find her. But I know in my heart, she’s not coming back to me.

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