24. Leo
The look on Veronica’s face as I shut the door has burned into my memory. She was terrified. Knowing her for as long as I have, Veronica has never shown fear—not to me, not to the other patients, not even to the other doctors or nurses.
She always held her own—a strong, independent woman who could handle herself.
But that face. Those eyes pleaded with me to get her out of this. It made my heart sink.
It’s not like I didn’t want to help her, but this punishment was completely out of my hands. I’m not going over my boss” head to convince him otherwise. I was planning to punish her differently, one that she would have enjoyed.
I’m a nervous wreck knowing she is suffering down there, and that feels wrong. I shouldn’t be anxious about her being down there for the week. She told me I didn’t know what it was like, and she was right.
I was down there briefly, hearing those women yelling and begging to be released. It’s enough to make my skin crawl and make me realize Veronica has to listen to them. Fuck that.
I’ve been back in my room for an hour, pacing back and forth, wondering how she’s doing there. I need to take my mind off it because I won’t get anything done if I don”t. Deciding I need to talk to someone, I pick up my phone.
Myles is out of the question because he’s going to wanna know all the sexual details between me and Veronica. He’s going to be pissed that I haven’t updated him in a while, and I really don’t want to talk about it right now.
My mother comes to mind, but then I remember she told me to call my sister. It’s been a while since we’ve talked since I am busy with my job, and she is busy raising a child. I found her name on my phone, so don’t hesitate to click it.
After a couple of rings, she picks up. “Hey, big brother.”
“Hey, Chloe.” Hearing her voice brings an instant smile to my face.
“It’s been a while. I thought maybe you fell off the face of the Ear... Carter Elliot! Put that down!”
I laugh as I hear the pitter-patter of little feet running away from Chloe. Child laughter follows the footsteps as Carter giggles about whatever it is he is doing wrong.
“What’s he getting into now?”
She sighs. “I’m attempting to decorate for Easter. Do you know how difficult it is when you have a six-year-old who thinks everything is a toy? It’s hard,” she answers before I can. “I have this very fragile, tiny rabbit that I set on the coffee table for literally a second. I turned around to grab the matching one, and when I turned back, it was gone, and your nephew was racing down the hall waving it in the air like a lunatic.”
“Sounds like he’s in the stage of pushing buttons.”
“He’s been in this stage since he turned two.” She sighs. “He misses you and talks about you a lot.”
Well, that’s enough to shatter my heart. “I’m sorry, Chlo. Things have been busy.”
“No, I get it. Work was hectic in the city, and now, with this new job.” She doesn’t mean for the words to come out rude, but it does. I brush it off.
“Mom told you about it.”
“I mean, you didn’t.” The bite in her voice was fierce. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to snap at you; it’s just that we used to be super close. Best friends. Now, we rarely talk.”
“I know, and I take full responsibility for us drifting apart. I guess I buried myself so deep in work that I never made time for family.”
“I hope you can make some time. We all miss you so much,” she states. “Will you be coming home for Thanksgiving?”
“Chloe, that”s eight months away. I haven’t even thought about what I’m doing this weekend.”
“Right,” she says. “Are you at least going to come home for Mom”s birthday? That would be a great present.”
Our mother”s birthday is at the end of the month, April 26th, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot. “I’m going to try. If I can get someone to take over my patients when I’m gone, I don’t see how it would be an issue.”
“Good! That’s progress!” She beams with excitement. “Hold on... Carter! Guess who is on the phone? Uncle Leo!”
“Uncle Leo!!!!” I hear him scream my name, and the heart in my chest that has shattered pieces is put back together. The phone is no longer in Chloe’s hand because I can hear him clearly. “Hi, Uncle Leo!”
“Hey bud! You give your mom trouble?”
“No.”
“Hmm, that’s not what I heard.” I grin at the tiny groan that comes from him. “Give momma back the rabbit. If it breaks, it would make her pretty sad.”
“Oh.” His voice drops, and then I hear Chloe say a soft thank you as he hands it back to her.
“Uncle Leo, are you coming over soon? Mommy got me some new toys for being a good listener at school, and I want to show you them!”
“I’m gonna come over soon.”
“Today?” he asks eagerly.
“No, bud, not today.” I breathe in deeply. “Have you kept up with drawing?”
“Yup! I’m really good. Can I draw you another picture for your arm?”
There might not be a spot for a new tattoo on my arms, but I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to put it. “I would love that!”
“Yay!” He cheers, but his voice gets distant. “Mommy, I have to go draw something for Uncle Leo!”
Chloe laughs. “You know he’s going to draw you more than one thing?”
“Maybe I’ll get them all then.”
“He’s improved… a little.” I can hear the smirk in her voice.
God, I miss them. I have to make sure I can go home for Mom”s birthday. “I look forward to seeing his skills at the end of the month.”
“He’ll be happy to see you.” Then she adds quietly, “We all will be.”
There is silence between us. I’m not sure why I’m not saying I’ll be happy to see them, too. I will be, but the words won’t leave my mouth for some reason.
Am I getting choked up since I feel guilty for the time between our visits? Or maybe it’s because I don’t want to give her false hope of me showing up.
A knock sounds in the distance, coming from her front door. Chloe lets out a sigh of annoyance and curses under her breath.
“Jeremy is here. He is taking Carter for the night.”
Her ex. Carter”s father.
I hate him.
Jeremy was a dick to Chloe. Hence, they are no longer together. They never were married; thank God because he treated her like shit. He called her names and constantly yelled at her.
She stopped me multiple times from beating his ass.She’s my little sister. I’ll always want to protect her.
“I’ll let you go then,” I finally speak. “Tell the douche I said I hate him.”
“Oh, he knows.” She giggles. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks, Leo. Love you.”
“Love you too, Chlo.”
She hangs up the phone before I can, and then I’m left alone with silence in my room.
The phone call was a nice distraction, but now, with the quiet eating at my skin, I can’t help but let my mind wander to Veronica.