Page 26 of Margot
I watched the nurse show Sutton where to go then I looked at Sarah and nodded. “It would probably be best. She’s on edge right now. Thank you for rushing her here, Sarah. Did you guys take your car?”
“Yeah. Sutton’s is still at the café,” she told me.
“Okay, thanks again.” I gave her a hug and watched her leave before finding Sutton in the back. She was in a triage room with a doctor looking over her swollen fingers.
“How does it look, Doc?” I asked.
“Are you Mrs. English’s husband?” He quizzed, looking at me over the tops of his glasses.
“Yes, I’m Lennox English.”
“Well, guys I’m gonna be honest with you. The fingers are too swollen to tell if there’s a clean break or not but I’d bet anything that there’s a fracture. I’m going to set you up for an x-ray and then we’ll be able to tell a little more.” He smiled at us both before leaving and drawing the curtain closed.
Sutton stared down at her fingers in shock. Fat teardrops splashed on the back of her hand as her bottom lip trembled.
“I’m sorry, Sutton. Did you see who let the door close on your hand? Were they paying attention? Did they even apologize?”
Sutton’s eyes lifted to mine and I saw something I never see lurking in those brandy orbs. I saw rage.
“It was Ebony,” she spat through clenched teeth. I blinked at her in utter disbelief. Then in a flash, I recalled the way Ebony ran up to me when I was leaving for the hospital and the way she called me. She knew what happened. She was trying to cover her ass before I got to Sutton.
I flexed my jaw and covered my mouth with my hand.
“What the fuck,” I muttered.
“It’s like she did it on purpose. She looked right at me when she let the door close. I know she likes you, Lennox but that was cruel. Even if she didn’t know it would mess my fingers up this bad, it was petty.” Sutton wiped her eyes and I felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do to take away the agony she was going through.
A nurse came to take her for an x-ray and I stuck behind so I could call Ebony. I had a few choice words for her. As I expected, she answered on the first ring. Her voice was full of panic.
“Lennox, I really need to talk to you about what happened with Sutton,” she blurted before I could even say hello.
“You don’t need to talk to me about shit, Ebony. What you did was fucked up and you know it. You didn’t even have the decency to apologize, did you?”
“I didn’t know how bad it was. It was a simple mistake. That’s all.”
“Fuck that. You’re lying through your goddamn teeth. Listen to me…I’m giving you a heads up right now. The second I make sure my wife is at home and resting, I’m coming for your head. I don’t want to work with you anymore and I will see to it that you’re transferred if not fired. I’ll find a reason. Trust me. You can leave voluntarily or I will have you removed.” I ended the call with fury pumping through my veins in place of blood.
I couldn’t believe Ebony would do something so callous and evil.
When my phone buzzed in my hands, I thought she was calling back. Instead, I saw a reminder from Dr. Adler’s office letting me know Sutton and I still had an appointment for this afternoon.
I stared at the text for a while wondering if I should cancel or not. I decided not to. Talking to someone might be the exact thing Sutton needed after the fucked up day she had. I knew damn well she wouldn’t talk to me and now, talking to the piano was out of the question. So, instead of canceling the appointment, I confirmed it and prayed Sutton didn’t curse me out for it.
…
We sat in silence for what seemed like an hour before a doctor came back to the triage room to give us news on Sutton’s hand. He walked in and sighed before rubbing his eyes beneath his wire-rimmed glasses.
“Okay, guys. It looks like Sutton has broken her middle finger and jammed her index finger. Luckily, the break in the middle finger is simple and won’t need surgery. I’m going to set the bone and immobilize it. That means no piano for you, Mrs. English.” He winked at her and I wondered if she told him what she did for a living or if he knew.
“You know me?” Sutton muttered with wide eyes. That just answered my question. I was always in awe at how well knows she was without ever trying. She was always so humble.
“I do. I’ve been to the Meyerhoff to see the orchestra many times and you always stand out. I know this is devastating for you.” The doctor’s lips fell into a frown. “I’m confident that if you rest your fingers they will heal with no real issues though. You may be looking at some stiffness but that’s nothing a few therapy sessions won’t fix.”
“Is there anything I can do for her at home, Doc?” I asked.
“Make sure she keeps a pillow under her elbow and keep her away from the piano. Even after the swelling goes down. Just take this time to rest,” he smiled. “I’ll be right back to put your finger in a splint.”
When he left, Sutton looked at me with worry on her face. “I won’t be able to play with the Philharmonic.”
