The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 02

The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 02

“Mrs. Sterling, Dr. Sterling isn’t in the outpatient clinic today.”

The nurse checked the schedule without looking up.

I held my mom’s chart to my chest.

“He told me last night he’d review my mom’s pre-op plan himself this morning.”

The nurse glanced at me, then back at the screen.

“There was a last-minute change. A patient named Ms. Hayes had an emergency, and Dr. Sterling was pulled into a psych consult.”

Psych. He’d gone to psych.

I stood at the nurse’s station. Behind me, two interns whispered.

“Was it Clara again?”

“Who else? He’s always with her. Apparently, her husband was a patient he lost a few years ago. He’s been carrying the guilt ever since.”

“Guilty enough to miss his own anniversary?”

“Shh. Keep it down.”

I tightened my arms around the chart.

The edges of the folder dug into my skin.

The nurse coughed awkwardly.

“Mrs. Sterling, why don’t you wait in the waiting room? I’ll let you know when Dr. Sterling gets back.”

I nodded.

My mom was already sitting in the waiting area. She looked pale.

She saw me come back without Arthur and forced a smile.

“Is Arthur busy?”

“Yeah. He got pulled into a consult.”

“Doctors are always busy, sweetheart. Don’t be too hard on him.”

I didn’t say anything. I just handed her a cup of warm water.

She took a sip, then asked softly,

“How was your anniversary last night?”

My fingers stilled.

“It was fine.”

She looked at me and didn’t push.

She’d always been like this.

Ever since I was little, she could always read me.

But this time, she just touched the back of my hand.

“Eleanor, I’ll be fine. Don’t fight with Arthur over me.”

I lowered my eyes.

“I won’t.”

Arthur finally showed up mid-morning.

Clara was right behind him.

Her eyes were swollen. She was clutching a brown paper bag, the white roses from last night sticking out of the top.

She spotted me and froze for a second.

“Oh. Eleanor. I didn’t know you were here.”

I looked at Arthur.

“The consent form for my mom’s surgery had to be signed this morning.”

Arthur checked his watch. For once, he looked guilty.

“Sorry. Clara had a panic attack. I couldn’t just leave her.”

Clara tugged at his sleeve.

“It’s my fault, Eleanor. Please don’t blame him. I saw the white walls and it just brought back everything about my husband.”

Arthur touched the back of her hand.

Gentle. Almost tender.

I looked at his hand.

The same hands that saved lives in the OR knew exactly how to be soft for another woman.

“Just sign it.”

I handed the document over.

Arthur took it, flipping to the last page. His pen barely touched the paper before Clara doubled over, clutching her chest.

“Arthur, I can’t breathe.”

The pen slipped from the paper.

Arthur was at her side in a second.

“Sit down. Slow breaths. You’re okay.”

My mom stood up too.

“Oh, dear. Are you all right?”

Clara started to cry.

“Mrs. Vance, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just… the consent form. My husband signed one just like it right before he passed.”

Arthur closed the document and looked at me.

“Eleanor, sign it yourself. You’re her next of kin, so it still counts. I need to get Clara to a bed.”

I looked at him.

“You promised you’d be here for my mom today. All day.”

“The surgery is still happening. The hospital doesn’t stop because I step out for five minutes.”

His voice dropped.

“Don’t make a scene, Eleanor. Not here.”

He put his arm around Clara and walked her down the hall.

As Clara passed me, she leaned in close.

“At least your mom still has you, Eleanor. I have no one.”

I didn’t turn my head.

My mom was beside me. Her fingers curled into my sleeve.

All at once, I was so tired I could barely stand.

I picked up the pen and signed my name where his should’ve been.

The last stroke pressed so hard it tore right through the paper.