Page 48 of The Beat of her Heart

“Look at you two,” Madeline said, eyes darting back and forth between Giselle and Addie, clearly amused. “Am I interrupting something? Maybe a lover’s quarrel?”

Giselle shot Madeline a sharp look. “It’s rude to dig into other people’s business.”

Madeline held up her hands, a playful smile on her face. “Alright, alright. Just making observations here.” She glanced at Addie with a smirk. “Anyway, just saying. You two take things too seriously.”

Addie let out a small, exasperated sigh. “Madeline, not everything’s a joke.”

“Fine. I get it. I’m backing off,” Madeline replied with a shrug, her tone light, though her gaze still sparkled with interest.

Giselle turned back to her locker, trying to keep her mind on the task, yet her thoughts drifted. She knew Addie was just a few steps away, and despite the distraction Madeline provided, Giselle’s focus kept straying toward her.

There was something magnetic about Addie’s quiet presence, a pull that Giselle couldn’t ignore, no matter how much she tried.

They finished changing, and after a quick review of the case, they moved out together toward the OR. The surgery went smoothly. They coordinated seamlessly, with Madeline assisting on a few key parts.

The patient, a complicated heart case, made it through with no issues, and Giselle felt a familiar sense of accomplishment as they finished and began to clean up.

Afterward, as they walked back down the hall, Giselle kept pace beside Addie. She glanced over, studying her profile, noting theconcentration still etched on her face. She wanted to say something, to acknowledge the ease they shared in the OR.

The quiet rhythm of their work together felt natural, even comforting.

Addie caught her look. “Good job in there.”

Giselle nodded, clearing her throat. “Same to you. It’s...easy, working together.”

They fell into silence again, the muffled sounds of the hospital around them, the occasional beeping echoing in the distance. Giselle’s heart beat a little faster, and on impulse, she turned to Addie.

“Would you like to have coffee later?” The words were out of her mouth before she had time to second-guess herself.

Addie paused and glanced at her, surprise flickering in her eyes. “Giselle...no, I don’t think so.”

Giselle stiffened, nodding. “Of course. Forget I asked.” She forced a neutral expression, though inwardly, a wave of frustration rose. What was she doing? She knew better than to let her guard down. Coffee...as if a simple invitation could bridge the distance that lay between them.

They parted ways, and as Giselle walked back to her office, she berated herself for even suggesting it. She kept her gaze fixed forward.

Why had she let herself care?

Turning the corner, she almost collided with a resident, barely dodging him at the last second. He stepped back, surprised, and mumbled a quick apology.

“Watch where you’re going,” she replied automatically, her words sharper than she’d intended.

The resident hurried off, leaving Giselle alone in the corridor. She straightened, took a deep breath, and headed toward her office. The second she stepped inside, her phone screen lit up with a new message notification. Her mother’s name glared back at her.

CALL ME.

She let out a low sigh, feeling a familiar knot settle in her stomach. Without thinking, she picked up the phone, her thumb hovering over the call button.

Her mother had been reaching out more often lately, though every call always led to the same questions, the same unwantedreminders of the past she was trying to leave behind. She wasn’t sure she was ready for another one of those conversations.

Instead, she opened the message screen and quickly typed,I’m fine, but paused before hitting send. A part of her wanted to believe that simple assurance would be enough to satisfy her mother’s concerns, but she knew better.

She deleted the message, then tossed the phone onto her desk and sank into her chair.

Leaning back, she exhaled and stared up at the ceiling. She hated the sense of avoidance creeping in, yet she knew it was easier to ignore than to confront the flood of emotions these calls always unleashed.

Her mother’s probing, the reminders of her last relationship—all of it only brought memories she wanted buried. What her parents had said and done had driven a wedge into her life that she was still struggling to repair.

Giselle crossed her arms, feeling a sudden pang of bitterness. Her last love hadn’t survived that wedge. She hadn’t survived her parents’ disapproval.

---