Chapter 22 - Cat
Cat
“Can you tell me what you see, Doctor Ramos?”
We stand in front of the screen and stare at the image in front of us.
The seven vertebrae of the neck show up as stacked little ghosts, almost see-through on the screenshot.
Nonetheless, the abnormality is instantly clear to me.
Isa doesn’t rush, though. Her eyes calmly scan the image before she nods once and turns to me.
“There is a minor fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra, which should heal with proper care and physical therapy.”
She pauses, almost as if she is waiting for me. I hold my tongue. It is clear she has something else to say, but she can do that without receiving my approval.
“The fracture seems too minute for the symptoms described.”
I nod.
“Very well, Doctor. Have another look.”
Isa peers at the image again, her eyes squinting, but after a full minute, she shakes her head. I don’t smile or nod. I simply raise my finger to point between the sixth and seventh disc, where a tiny dent shows, pressing lightly against the spinal cord.
“A hernia,” she says with a gust of air, and she shakes her head. “I should’ve caught that.”
“Hm, maybe,” I reply and shrug. “The imaging is not optimal for detecting herniation. You noticed the symptoms didn’t correspond to the visible trauma. What would’ve been your next step if I weren’t standing next to you?”
The doctor wavers for a moment, but then rolls her shoulders back and lifts her chin.
“I would have treated the fracture and waited for the swelling to reduce.” She pauses for a beat. “And I would have brought it to the attending to get their opinion.”
I nod.
“That last part, make sure to lead with it from now on.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
When I turn around, I see Carmen throwing a glance in our direction, her cheeks burning. When her eyes meet mine, she casts them down instantly, and she pretends to be busy with paperwork. It takes all my willpower not to smirk. Can’t be caught smiling twice in one day, Katherina.
***
By the time that I enter my apartment, my back is hurting and my legs are burning. I drop my keys in the ceramic bowl near the entrance and take off my heels. I let out a long sigh when the soft fibers of the carpet wrap around my feet like a warm blanket.
I walk the few steps into my living room and collapse on the couch.
My body sinks into the pillows, and I let out an elongated sigh.
Every limb feels heavy, burned to the edge of exhaustion.
I should close my eyes and get some sleep.
My body has been running on empty, and I am not unfamiliar with the strain it puts on me, but my mind keeps drifting to her. To Maria.
I grunt at myself. Why are you like this?
My hand slides to my phone, and I unlock the screen.
There is no use in fighting this. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, my brain won’t rest until I’ve spoken with her.
It rings once, twice. The sound pierces through the air, into my skull. I flinch and lower the volume.
“Cat? Are you alright?”
Something in my chest unwinds instantly.
“Sí, just wanted to hear your voice.”
“You… what?”
Her voice is dripping with confusion. I blink. Does she not want this?
“If this is a bad time—”
“No, no! Not at all. It’s just…” She pauses for a moment, and I lift the phone from my ear to see if she’s still there. “This is the first time that you’ve called me.”
“Oh.” I frown.
“Sorry, I’m just being weird. Tell me about your day.”
“No. You are being observant. That is a skill, not something to scoff at.”
I hear her take in a breath, but she stays quiet. Good. She deserves to treat herself better.
“My day was long, but fortunately nothing out of the ordinary.” I pause for a beat and think of how Carmen’s eyes kept looking for Doctor Ramos. “Not much, anyway,” I add under my breath.
“Oh?” Of course she heard that. “Sounds like there is a story there, doctora.”
My skin prickles instantly at that. There is a shiver that runs all the way from the base of my spine to my neck, and I shiver involuntarily.
“Maria…” I warn her in a low tone, and she has the audacity to giggle.
“Sí?” she taunts, and my belly swoops. “Something wrong?”
“You are pushing it, querida,” I murmur into her ear, but my lips are ticking up.
She laughs some more, and I sink further into the cushions, my whole body unwinding from the day. My muscles let go, and I feel like I take my first full breath of the day.
“Tell me about your day, please.”
I hear some soft rustling on the other side, almost as if she is getting comfortable, too. I hope she is.
“It was beautiful, really. After my walk this morning—”
“Did you check your glucose before you left?”
“Mm-hmm,” she hums, and my unease settles instantly. “So, after my walk, I went into Stonewall Shelf for a cup of coffee—”
“And breakfast?”
“Just coffee. Anyway, I—”
“You should eat after your walk.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. She knows this.
“Say, can I tell you the story, or will you school me every other sentence?”
Her words come out sharp, but there is no real bite to them. It’s more amusement. Regardless, she is right. I interrupted her three times in under a minute. And you are not her mother.
“Yes, sorry. I am tired, and my boundaries are a bit blurry. Please, tell me the story.” She lets out a soft huff, and I smile. “I’ll be quiet.” Now she really laughs.
“You don’t have to be quiet, you know that.”
“Mm.”
“Anyway, I was in there, and I saw that Devina Black is coming in for a signing on Saturday. Tessa got me two free tickets if you want to join me.”
Her voice ticks up at the end, hopeful. My brain rakes over my schedule. What day is it even? Three days on, two off, and then two on again. I roll my eyes at my schedule, but before I can open my mouth to say no, she is already talking again.
“I mean, you don’t have to. I know you are busy. You probably have to work. And this sapphic romance thing might not even be your taste. Wait, do you even like to read fiction?”
I ignore the little sting when she mentions my schedule and instead let out a surprised laugh. I’m not sure if I’m more amused by her rattling or stunned by her questioning my love for books.
“Yes, I do. I have three of her books, actually.”
“Huh, interesting.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” she trails off hesitantly, and I chuckle softly.
“What? You thought I only read The Lancet?”
“Sorta, maybe?”
I scoff, almost offended at her instant reply.
“I do romance.”
There is a long pause, and then her words come out soft.
“I know.”
I can hear the smile in her voice. Before Mary, I thought it was nonsense when people claimed they could hear facial expressions. That’s not how non-verbal communication works. Yet, here I am.
“I’ll be there.”
“Huh?”
“The book signing.”
“Really?”
I hear the rustling again, and I grin. She must have sat straight up in her enthusiasm. And how are you going to do that, Katherina? I close my eyes as I try to push the thought away. This will mean I’ll have quite the sacrifice to make.
“Yes, really. Tell me what time to pick you up.”
No going back now. If I can’t make this work, she’ll be thoroughly disappointed, and that is not an option. I run my hand over my face.
“And maybe we can visit that Lebanese restaurant after?”
Mary gasps and then goes off about how that would be just perfect.
I nod, even if she can’t hear it, and get up from my comfortable spot.
By the time I reach my car, we’ve agreed on a time and on her making the reservations.
I wish her a beautiful evening and instantly dial the next number after she hangs up.
“Durand?”
“James, I need a favor.”
“Must be serious if you are calling me James.”
“Hm.” I roll my eyes.
“What is it?”
“I need Saturday off.”
“Ha, good luck with that. I can’t, Cat. My family…”
“Isn’t it your daughter’s first dance recital tonight?”
“You mean…”
“I need Saturday.”
“You just came off a twelve-hour shift and are due in eleven hours for another twelve.”
“What’s ten more…”
“You do mean it, don’t you?”
“Have I ever said something I didn’t mean, Doctor Honda?”
It stays quiet on the other side, and then I hear his sneakers squeak on the floor.
“Better get here fast, then. She starts in an hour, and if I miss it, you’ll be working on Saturday.”
I end the call without another word, start my car, and jet out of the garage. I will not let her down.