Chapter 11 Good News! I’m not the PT
CHAPTER 11: GOOD NEWS! I’M NOT THE PT
LACEY
The Tortured Therapists Department
Wren: How are you holding up after tonight, Lace?
Lacey: I think I’m still in shock.
Gray: I’m really sorry. I wasn’t thinking and honestly didn’t know Jace didn’t know about Tanner.
Lacey: It’s not your fault. It would have all come out eventually. I just wasn’t expecting him to deny what he did.
Poppy: Logan and I are on our way home!
Chloe: Well, we believe you and that’s what matters.
Wren: Exactly. He can deny it all he wants, but we got your back.
Gray: Hell yeah we do!
Lacey: Thanks everyone. Poppy, y’all don’t have to come here. I think I’m going to take a bath and read the new book I just downloaded.
Poppy: Too late and we’re bringing you a surprise!
I set my phone down and turn on the tub. I pour some lavender bubble bath into the water and mindlessly watch as the bubbles begin to form.
I walk out into my bedroom and grab my e-reader. I carefully place it on the bamboo tray sitting on top of the tub and grab my “smells like him calling you a good girl” candle. It was a total impulse buy, but the woodsy scent is my favorite. I undress and check the water. Most people would complain it’s too hot, but that’s just how I like it—the hotter, the better.
The minute I climb into the bath, my muscles instantly relax. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of lavender and wood fill my nostrils. Then, I pick up my e-reader and begin to read.
I get stuck on the three little words on the top of the first page.
I hate him.
I read a lot and exclusively romance. I know where this is headed and for the first time it annoys me and I’m not sure why. The main character of my book is beautiful and smart and of course the man she hates is incredibly handsome and swoony. I usually eat this shit up, but tonight I’m rolling my eyes.
I fully intended on having an adult conversation with Jace when I got back from Orlando, but then he got angry about me sleeping with Tanner. It’s not like I did it behind his back when he and I were still together. He has no right getting upset. I’m not his. He made sure of ruining that a decade ago.
The minute I outed him for cheating on me I regretted how I did it, but it was too late. I was on my third drink of the night and acted impulsively. I don’t know why I was so surprised he denied it. It’s like deep down I wanted him to prove me wrong. Prove that he had changed.
I massage my temples where a headache is beginning to form. While the events of the night sobered me up, I’m still feeling slightly woozy from all the drinks I consumed. I close my eyes, letting my head rest on the back of the tub.
A knock on my bathroom door startles me. “Pop?”
“Yeah, can I come in?”
“Sure.”
Poppy walks in with a sad look on her face. She’s holding chocolate ice cream and fries. “Logan thought you might need some cheering up. Want me to put it in the kitchen for after your bath?”
“Would you judge me if I ate it now?” I laugh.
“Not at all.” She hands me my comfort snack and then heads toward the door. “I’m sorry about tonight,” she says, pausing with her hand on the door frame and looking over her shoulder. “I know you wanted it to be so much better than it was. I’m sorry I pressured you to talk. I was really hoping he had changed.”
I dip a fry into the chocolatey goodness and pop it into my mouth. The salty, sweet mixture dances on my tongue and I instantly start to feel a little better. “It’s not your fault. Maybe next time we do something with just the girls.”
She nods her head in agreement and walks out, shutting the door behind her.
My alarm blares the next morning and despite my bath and my attempts to relax, I barely slept. I quickly throw on scrubs, make my London Fog, and head out the door towards my black Mini Cooper. Traffic is worse than usual and my head is pounding. By the time I walk through the doors of Dogwood Manor, I feel on edge.
“Good morning,” Margaret, my boss, sings as I walk into the therapy gym. “Do you have a minute to chat before your first patient?”
I look down at my watch. “Um, sure, let me clock in real quick.”
“No need to have this eating into your productivity. It’ll only be a minute.”
“Okay.” I grit my teeth and try not to come completely unglued at her statement. “What’s up?”
“I spoke with Janet and you’re all set to leave for the conference tomorrow. Unfortunately, she said we can cover your hotel and the conference fees, but they can’t reimburse you for the plane ticket or food.”
“But I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I emailed her about it weeks ago and she just got back to me. I’m honestly surprised she approved the hotel. You know how corporate can be,” she laughs off her statement like it’s no big deal.
I nod and try to reign myself in. “Thanks for trying.” I offer her a forced smile. Not only did I not get paid for our little chat, but this trip will cost me more than I had hoped. I take a deep breath and walk towards a computer to start my day.
After I clock in, I make my way through the building to my favorite patient.
“Hi, Ms. Clara, it’s Lacey,” I say as I knock and open the door.
“Good morning, hun.” Her voice is a little groggy. “Can we do this later? I’m not quite ready to do physical therapy this morning.”
I take a deep breath and force a smile. “Good news. I’m the occupational therapist, so no PT will be happening now.”
She grumbles something under her breath I can’t make out.
I walk over to where she lays in her bed. A pink, knitted blanket is pulled up to her chin.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Oh, yes. I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep and need to rest a little longer.”
“Ms. Clara, you know we need to do therapy today. How about we get it over with? I’m tired, too, so I’ll make it an easy day.”
A knock on the door echoes through the small space.
“Come in,” she calls.
Gray walks through the door with a huge smile on her face.
“Not another one of you,” Ms. Clara huffs out.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here. My seven thirty canceled. I thought I’d stop by and see if Ms. Clara wanted to do PT a little early.”
Ms. Clara lets out a groan. “I was just telling your friend here I’m not in the mood for PT.”
“That’s a bummer. I had a fun session planned,” Gray chimes.
“Girls, when you’re as old as I am, you need your beauty rest. Now, please let me sleep. We can do this nonsense later.” She tries to dismiss us with a wave.
Gray clears her throat, trying to stifle a laugh, and throws me a look. “I’ll let you finish OT and I’ll see you later?”
“If you must,” Ms. Clara groans. Gray turns and walks out the door.
I move around the room, grabbing Ms. Clara’s brush and her favorite pink bedazzled shoes from the closet. “Do you want to change?” I ask, eyeing her hot pink mumu covered with embroidered cats.
“There is not a soul in this building I care to impress.”
I giggle. I hand her the brush and watch as she slowly brushes through her white curls. I place her shoes on the floor next to her feet. “Here you go. Let’s get these on and then we’ll be on our way.”
She rolls her eyes and reluctantly slips both of her feet inside. I grab her walker and help her stand.
The two of us begin to move toward the door. “So, why do you think you didn’t get a good night’s sleep, any pain?”
“Oh no, honey, I’m fine. My book was just too good. I couldn’t put it down.”
“Ms. Clara,” I laugh. “You had me worried something was wrong.”
“If you ever want to borrow it, you’re more than welcome. My granddaughter brought it to me last week, A Court of Something and Something ,” she snickers. “Goodness, this old brain of mine can’t remember, but it surprised me. I didn’t think fantasy would do it for me, but don’t knock it until you try it. The Tamlin character truly is the bee’s knees.”
I giggle to myself knowing how it all ends, but not wanting to ruin it for her.
“Wren suggested I read those too. Just wait until the second book. It was my favorite.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.”
We round the corner of the hallway and are met by boxes stacked up high outside an open apartment. “Looks like you’re getting a new neighbor,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “Probably, some old bird like me. The last thing this place needs is another old lady. Where are all the young men? Did you tell that Wren girl what I suggested about the?—”
“Good morning,” a distinctly southern voice says from the door, interrupting our conversation. We all look up to see a gray-haired man standing in the doorway. He seems to be around eighty and is dressed impeccably in slacks, a short-sleeve buttoned-down shirt, and loafers. His wrinkled skin is a deep tan. Ms. Clara comes to a sudden stop.
“Good morning,” I say with a big smile. “Welcome to Dogwood Manor. I’m Lacey and this is Clara.”
His eyes rake up and down Ms. Clara. Her cheeks turn the same shade as her mumu.
“It’s nice to meet you, Clara. I’m Eugene.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Before I can process what just happened, she begins to move toward the therapy gym. “Come on, girl,” she snaps.
“Hope to see you around, Clara,” I hear him shout behind us.
We walk the long hall in silence until we make it to the gym. We enter the space filled with therapy equipment and she stops walking.
“The next time I tell you I want to wear this blasted mumu around the building, get the nurse to have my head checked. I bet he thinks I’m a hundred years old.” Her face flushes with another wave of embarrassment. “How mortifying to run into a man who looks like that, when I look like this.”
“You look fabulous,” I assure her.
“Don’t lie honey. It’s not very becoming.”
The Tortured Therapists Department
Lacey: New guy in 330 had 307 BLUSHING during her session!
Lacey: I got scolded for not making her change out of her cat mumu.
Wren: Her cat mumu is my favorite!
Gray: Damn! I knew we should have co-treated.
Lacey: Ha! I don’t need Margaret on my ass about billing today. I have enough to worry about.
Gray:
Chloe: Glad to know the residents are seeing more action than me.
Lacey: Ugh, right?
Poppy: Can’t wait to start! These residents seem like so much fun.
Chloe: This caseload is killing me. Any news on your license?
Poppy: No I’ll try to call again today.