Nowhere Near Goodbye by Barbara Conrey

Author:Barbara Conrey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: women's fiction, abortion, love, family, half brother, half sister, pregnancy
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Published: 2020-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

“What are you doing here?” Gail, my secretary, looked surprised when I walked through the door to the reception area of my office.

“Nice to see you too.” I hung my jacket up and provided an altered version of my morning, leaving out all the parts that hurt. “Ali and Tim already had plans today, so I’ve postponed my day off. Is the meeting still going on? I’m hoping to slip in and catch the tail end of it.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Dr. Bennett rescheduled it for first thing this morning. It just broke up. If I’d known you were coming in today, I would have called you.”

I bent over to pick an imaginary piece of lint off the cuff of my slacks. I’d counted on attending that meeting once I realized I wasn’t going to spend the day with Ali. I’d counted on hearing the findings and pressing forward with my research.

“No problem. I didn’t know myself I was coming in until just a little while ago.” My smile was weak, but it was the best I could offer. “Can you bring me the patient files that need to be updated? Might as well get some paperwork done since I’m here.” I headed toward my office and shut the door behind me. When did Ned decide to reschedule? How long will it take his secretary to distribute the minutes? How long until I know the findings?

Soon I had a cup of hot tea and a piece of pound cake on my desk. And more files than I cared to see, every last one requiring updates. It was probably just as well I came in today.

“What’s with the cake?”

I already knew the answer. Gail had a lifelong struggle with her weight. At four foot nine—“and a half,” as she was always quick to add—not only was she several inches shorter than me, but she was also about thirty pounds heavier. Whenever she felt the urge to go off her diet, she baked something delicious then gave it all away. According to Gail, she felt fulfilled when everyone else enjoyed her goodies.

“Just you never mind about that cake. Enjoy it. I was in one of my moods.”

I laughed because Gail’s moods were always to my benefit.

Gail handed me the last stack of files. “So how is sweet little Ali?” Effectively changing the subject, Gail’s question pulled me back from thoughts of that damn meeting and which patients in the trial had received conventional radiotherapy and which had received temozolomide. Even the doctors didn’t know, not until it was over. Now everyone knew—except me.

I mentally pulled out a fresh Ali story. “She’s wonderful. She turns four in two weeks. Can you believe it? Tim’s busy planning her birthday party. I just stay out of his way and do what I’m told.”

I sounded like I was laughing at myself. I was good at that. “The weather’s so nice,” I continued. “Ali’s still riding her little tricycle. They go searching for treasure. That’s what she tells me.

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