Page 53 of Right in Front of You

“I understand.”

“No, there’s no excuse. You’re a good friend, and I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I was mean. Cruel, actually. Please accept my apology.”

“Apology accepted.”

“And I don’t want you to think that I only called you because I need something. Well, I do need something, but even if I didn’t, I wanted to call you first anyway. And if I didn’t, Jo threatened to not let me see Mac again. She might have mentioned something about growing up as well.”

Well, finally someone had been able to smack some sense into him. I held onto the rail of his bed. “What can I do? What can I help with?”

“The doctor said I can leave tomorrow, but I’d either need to return here every couple of days to have my dressings changed and assessed, or have a nurse come to my house, where I know that my mother will treat me like a four-year-old child, or…. well, I was thinking that maybe since you lived nearby, I could find an apartment and you’d help me with the dressings. I’d pay you and all.”

“Me?” I pointed to my chest, half shocked.

“Well, you’re a doctor, aren’t you?”

“Technically, not yet. But I will be in three weeks.” That’s when it would be official. Three weeks from now, I would finally start my career as a family doctor.

“That’s too cool. I don’t think I’ve ever known a real doctor. Weren’t you supposed to be a nurse?”

“Yes, but I changed my mind. Actually, that’s a lie. I always wanted to be a doctor.”

“Why would you tell everyone you wanted to be a nurse, then?” I asked.

I waved my hand in dismissal. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re more qualified than any nurse, in that case. Which may be more expensive for me.”

“Thanks. I’m not saying no, I’m just surprised you’d think of me. And if I agreed to this, there’s no way I’d accept any money from you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re a friend. You really want me?”

“Of course, you. You’re… Molly. I trust you.”

My heart warmed in the most cuddly way it knew.

“Move in with me, then,” I blurted.

“What? No way. I’m hell to live with.”

“You lived with Jo as friends, and we’re friends. I’m sure we’d be fine. I could help with your recovery and make sure you did your physiotherapy. You could go back home much quicker.”

He scrunched his brows. Carter seemed uneasy about the offer, and I wasn’t sure why. “Come on, Carter. Do you have a better idea?”

“Not really. Not unless I want to stay here, eat gross hospital food, and accumulate more debt. Most of the insurance money I’ll get for the house will go toward this bill.”

“You don’t have to tell me about bills. Trust me. My school loans will take forever to pay off.” And they would have been more if I hadn’t gotten a partial scholarship each year.

“Your parents aren’t able to help?” he asked, then recoiled. Carter knew what my parents were like: non-existent. I’d cut myself off from that world, and I didn’t want to go back. Except to see my brother, that is. I missed him.

“I wouldn’t want to be a burden on you, Molly. I mean that. Not a financial one or an emotional one. They’re telling me that my mobility will be limited for a while. That’s a lot to deal with. Are you sure about this?”

“You’re strong, and you wouldn’t be a burden. I promise.”

He reached for my wrist, where the leather strap covered one of my many secrets. Carter was the only one aware of this one, though I’d never explained to him why I used to cut myself. I’d never told him why, at the age of sixteen, I’d wanted to die. I was pretty sure that I’d made up another lie. After I recovered, I promised Doctor Burke that I would do good with my life. Doctor Burke, in fact, was the one who had inspired me and helped me to become a doctor.

“Everything else okay with you, Molly?”

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