Page 40 of Healed Heart
I rise, turn, and walk through the hospital doors.
ChapterFifteen
Angie
At home, I cuddle with Tillie.
I cut my afternoon class.
That’s not like me.I’m the good girl.I never cut class.Especially not medical school class.
The awesome foursome used to make fun of me all the time.They called me a buzzkill.
Sage and Bree used to cut class regularly.I’m not sure a week went by in college where they attended all of their classes.
Gina was better, but she cut now and then with them.They would pry her with Starbucks.She loves the stuff.
I think I cut maybe two classes during my entire college career.And so far, I haven’t skipped any classes here at med school until today.Granted, I’m only in my second semester, but I even went to class for a few days last semester when I had a nasty cold.
I probably should’ve stayed home, but my snot was clear, so…
Every good medical student knows that means it’s only a virus.
I should feel guilty for missing my class this afternoon.But guilt doesn’t come.Too many other emotions are coiling inside me.
Tillie licks my face, and I pet her soft head.Her coat is starting to get scraggly.She needs to be groomed.I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, but usually bigger dogs.I chose Tillie because I’d be living alone and I only have a small yard.Plus, miniature schnauzers don’t shed.And though I could afford it, I don’t have a live-in housekeeper like we had at home who vacuums every day.
I can’t help a sarcastic chuckle.What would they all say—Tabitha, Eli—if I had a housekeeper in my little townhome?
I’ve never been ostentatious.Everyone knows that about me.I’m probably the least ostentatious person in my family, except for my cousin Ava, who doesn’t even use her trust fund to run her bakery.She and her husband live in a tiny apartment above his bar in downtown Snow Creek.
But damn… They’re two people who are about as happy as I’ve ever seen, and that’s after everything Ava and Brendan have both been through.
I never believed money could make you happy.I mean, look at some of the tragedies our family has been through.Physical, emotional, sexual abuse.Ghosts coming back to haunt us.And the fact that our fortune was perhaps not made in the most ethical manner.
I don’t want to believe that Jason hurt Ralph.
Though I don’t doubt Ralph had it coming to him.He had to be the one who went to HR.No one else knew.
I kind of wanted to smack him around myself, but that’s not how we Steels handle things.
I laugh out loud again.
What a crock.
I know how my brothers would’ve handled it if they knew what Ralph did to me.
Which is why I haven’t told them.
Oh God…
What if they know?
What if they…
Maybe it wasn’t Jason after all.
But no.If my brothers were in town, they would tell me.And David just got married.He wouldn’t leave his new wife just to come to Boulder to beat up some asshole who’s bothering his sister.
