Page 33 of Crashing Into Me
“That’s ridiculous!”
Lana felt the blood drain from her face. Surely she wasn’t serious—no reasonable person would think that accusation could survive a courtroom.
“Is it?” Maureen asked, leaning forward across the coffee table like a predator closing in. “You see, one could argue that you were practicing outside your scope of medicine, and in providing those services, you contributed to the embolism that claimed poor Rachel’s life. You’re not licensed in the state of Georgia, are you? So, providing any medical service under the title of Nurse makes you liable to any outcome therein.”
Maureen’s eyes flashed with excitement as she said this, never taking them off Lana. Instantaneously, the room felt like it was devoid of oxygen, and Lana couldn’t breathe.How could this be happening? Why?Why was this woman hell-bent on ruining not only her son’s life but now hers?!
“I’m an ER Nurse, so of course trauma is within my scope of practice,” Lana said, weaker than she intended.
“True, but that’s in the state of Florida. See here in little oldGeorgia, your Florida license means shit.”
It was like a wave of evil crossed her face when she said it, and Lana knew she was right. The state could press charges, she could go to jail, and with a powerful enemy like Maureen, she wouldn’t stand a chance in a courtroom.
“I told you to walk away, bitch,” Kim chimed, winking at her.
Lana just rolled her eyes; she didn’t have the energy to deal with her just then.
“Why are you doing this?” Lana asked, the tears welling in her eyes.
“Because I know my son. He would fight tooth and nail for you and spend every last dime he had making sure you had the best legal team, and trust me, honey, he would need every penny to come up against me.”
Lana could only listen as the tears fell down her face. In this moment, she had never felt more hopeless and defeated in her entire life.
“After all of his money is gone, of which he will eventually lose his company, the properties he owns, and the house he’s building—what will he have then?”
She stood up now and looked down at Lana. From this angle, Maureen looked like the sea witch in the mermaid fairy tale, towering over her. She had never felt so small.
“He will resort to his old behavior again and probably end up doing something foolish because of it. And for what? You?” she asked, pointing at her.
“Forget your nursing career because you’d never practice in that field again, either,” Kim chimed in.
“At least I went to school and got a degree in something important.” Lana managed to say.
“So did I, honey.”
“I didn’t know they gave degrees for fellatio,” Lana retorted matter-of-factly.
Kim’s mouth dropped open, but she didn’t say anything.
“Let’s be a little more respectful here, ladies,” Maureen interjected. Lana just smiled at her, her face full of tears.
“So this is your ultimatum to me, otherwise I’d be in handcuffs already?”
“Yes, and it's simple. Leave Hamby and go home. Don’t leave him a note or an explanation—nothing. Just disappear into the night the way you arrived and move on with your life.” Maureen deadpanned.
“You’re truly a monster,” Lana said and stood from the couch.
She turned her back, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing more of her tears, but mostly she wanted to run outside to the man she loved and tell him everything that had just happened. But she knew she couldn’t.
“You have three days. The plow trucks will be arriving just in time for you to be able to get back on the road,” Maureen said, “If you contact him after the fact in any way, you’ll live to regret it.”
“That’s a promise,” Kim finished.
Lana’s shoulders heaved as the pain she was feeling was too great. It was just all too much, but she turned and faced them anyway.
“How am I supposed to get home? My car is ruined.” Lana managed to say evenly, as she took slow, even breaths.
“I’ll make the arrangements, don’t worry about it. You call me and I’ll have the Captain collect you and your things.” Maureen replied.
