Page 4 of Shattered By Grace

The woman nodded, her eyes softening as she studied Victoria for a moment. “Oh, sure, hon. You’re gonna head down this hallway here.” She pointed down what seemed to be the longest corridor Victoria had ever seen. “Her office is about the sixth or eighth door on the right. If ya’ hit the cafeteria, you’ve gone too far.”

“Thank you,” Victoria forced a smile and turned on her heel, making her way down the hallway. The click of her heels echoed against the walls, a solitary, almost eerie sound that seemed to grow louder with every step.

She resisted the urge to glance over shoulder, convinced everyone’s eyes were on her.The hallway stretched on endlessly, and unease prickled at her skin.Relax, just breathe.

She counted the doors, forcing her nerves down. This was supposed to be her fresh start, her chance to blend in, but suddenly, the walls felt too tight, the lights too harsh.

Sixth door… or was it the eighth?She squinted at the numbers, but they blurred together. Had she passed it already? Her heels clicked louder, the sound echoing in the empty space. She could feel her heart rate picking up, her palms growing clammy again.

Just focus.She inhaled deeply, counting her breaths.One step at a time. You're here for a reason. Just one step at a time.

Standing outside her boss’s door, Victoria’s pulse hammered. Sweat gathered at the nape of her neck. She took one breath, then another.

You’re a world champion fighter, a badass midwife. This should be nothing.

Yet, it felt like everything.

She smoothed her hands over her skirt, trying to brush away her nerves along with the wrinkles in the fabric. Her hand hovered in the air, poised to knock, but she hesitated, suddenly feeling like a kid on her first day of school.

Finally, summoning her courage, she knocked three quick raps on the wooden door. The sound seemed to reverberate down the long hallway behind her. For a split second, she fought the urge to turn and run.

“Come in,” came a voice from inside, sweet and unexpectedly high-pitched, almost melodic.

Victoria swallowed hard and reached for the doorknob. The metal felt cool against her palm as she turned it slowly, pushing the door open. She took a tentative step inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimmer lighting.

Whitney Connors was already looking at her from behind a large oak desk, piled high with folders and papers. The woman was younger than Victoria had imagined, with a bright smile and sparkling green eyes framed by thin glasses that seemed too large for her face. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and she wore a colorful floral blouse which seemed at odds with the sterility of the hospital surroundings.

She cleared it and continued, “I’m the new midwife, Grace Scarlett. We spoke on the phone last week.” Even after ten years, saying it still felt foreign, the name catching like sandpaper in her throat.

Whitney’s smile grew even wider, and she waved a hand, gesturing for Victoria to come in and take a seat. “Yes, of course! So nice to meet you in person!” she chirped, her voice even higher and sweeter than before. Victoria couldn’t helpbut feel a little off-balance. The woman’s energy was almost overwhelming.

Victoria crossed the room, each step deliberate, trying to project confidence despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. She slid into the chair opposite Whitney’s desk, clasping her hands together tightly in her lap.

“So, Grace,” Whitney continued, leaning forward with a friendly curiosity. “Tell me, what brought you to our little corner of the city?”

Victoria took another deep breath.Just be yourself. But which self?"Well, I grew up here,” Victoria began, her voice wavering. For a moment, she felt the urge to keep talking, to let everything out.When I was fifteen, I was forced to leave because my father was murdered by the Locke family...She caught herself, her breath hitching in her throat.Get a grip.

She forced a smile. “Ms. Connors, I’m looking for a fresh start," she continued, her tone more controlled now. "I haven’t lived in the city for a long time. My old place of employment... well, it just wasn’t the right fit.”

Whitney Connors tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity, but her smile remained warm. “I understand,” she replied, nodding. “This city has a way of calling people back. What was it like where you worked before?”

Victoria felt the knot in her stomach tighten. She hadn’t expected to be questioned so soon, but she supposed it was only natural. “It was... different,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “A smaller town, slower pace. Not quite as exciting as here.” She let out a soft, nervous laugh. "I’ve missed the energy of New York."

Whitney seemed satisfied with her answer, leaning back in her chair with a nod. “I can see that. We’re definitely not a sleepy little town,” she chuckled. “But I’m glad you chose us for yourfresh start, Grace. I think you’ll find the team here welcoming and… well, a little quirky, but in a good way.”

Victoria nodded, her fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve under the desk where Whitney couldn't see. "I'm looking forward to it," she said, hoping the woman couldn’t see the nervous energy she was trying so hard to suppress.

"Okay, if you don’t have any more questions for me, I’ll take you up to the Labor and Delivery floor so you can meet your team," Connors said, standing up and grabbing her keys, phone, and iPad. "We’ll get you set up with a work iPad to manage your patients' care."

Victoria nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She followed Connors down the hallway, the click of their shoes echoing off the tiled floors. As they reached the elevators, the silence between them grew heavy.

Inside the elevator, Victoria glanced at the glowing numbers, wishing they would climb faster. She could feel Connors’ eyes on her, and she fought the urge to fidget. She bit the inside of her cheek, willing herself to stay calm.

When the doors opened the floor was immaculate, everything was the most up to date tech. They had massive TVs that showed the patient’s stats for each room. Victoria was very impressed. Following Ms. Connors around the nurses’ station she stopped and immediately called for attention.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Connors began, her voice bright. “This is our new midwife, Grace Scarlett. I hope you all make her feel welcome on our lovely team.”

A chorus of “welcomes” and “hellos” filled the room. Victoria smiled politely, scanning the faces of her new colleagues.

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