Zoey

I climbed out of bed and got dressed before heading to the kitchen for some coffee.

“Good morning, Sadie,” I spoke.

“Good morning, Zoey. What happened to your finger?”

“It’s just a cut. I was slicing an apple last night and missed.”

“It’s more than just a cut. Don’t let her fool you. It looked like a murder scene in here last night.” Carter grinned as he walked in.

Two days, two smiles. It was in my best interest not to get too used to him doing that.

“You two go sit down and I’ll pour you some coffee,” Sadie spoke.

I took a seat at the island next to Carter and he glanced over at me.

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

“Not too bad. How about you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t ask you so you could ask about me,” he rudely spoke.

And he’s back.

“I’m heading over to the hospital before the office. Are you coming or not?”

“I have a couple things to do before heading over there. I’ll just take a cab,” I replied.

“Suit yourself.” He drank his coffee and got up from the stool. “Have a good day, Sadie. I’ll see you when I get home,” he spoke.

“You too, Mr. Grayson.” She glanced over at me.

As soon as he walked out of the kitchen, I did the unthinkable. I held up my middle finger in his direction. Sadie laughed.

“He’s such an asshole,” I spoke as I brought my cup up to my lips.

“Yes I am. I’m surprised it took you this long to realize that.” He popped his head around the wall of the kitchen and glared at me.

I gulped because I didn’t think he could hear me.

“Oh my god,” I mouthed silently to Sadie.

She smiled and made me some eggs before I headed out the door.

Before going to the hospital, I stopped by the florist. As I stood in front of the cooler and stared at the vast variety of colorful flowers, I smiled as a memory that would never be forgotten filled my head.

“Is there something I can help you with?” a nice young girl spoke as she approached me.

“Could you make me up a colorful bouquet of flowers?”

“Of course. Any specific flowers you would like me to use?”

“Just ones that are colorful and bright.” I smiled.

“Would you like them in a vase?”

“Yes, please. I’m taking them over to the hospital.”

As soon as the arrangement was ready and paid for, I hailed a cab and headed to the hospital. When I walked into Nora’s room, I was surprised that Carter was still there.

“Zoey.” Nora smiled. “Oh my gosh, what beautiful flowers.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked as I set them down on the table next to her.

“Tired.”

“Hello, Zoey,” Carter spoke in a low voice.

“Ah. I’m good enough to say hello to but not goodbye?” I cocked my head at him.

His eye narrowed at me for a moment with a look of disapproval. But I didn’t care. I was no longer going to let him disrespect and treat me the way he had been.

“I need to go.” He leaned over and kissed Nora’s forehead. “I’ll stop by later, on my way home.”

“Okay.” She smiled.

As he began to walk out the door, I spoke, “Goodbye, Mr. Grayson.”

He turned and looked at me for a brief moment and then continued out the door. Silence never left his lips.

“What the hell is going on between the two of you?” Nora asked.

“Your brother is a rude, pompous ass,” I spoke as I took the seat Carter sat in.

“I know he is and I told you why he’s like that. What happened to your finger?”

“I cut it last night slicing an apple. Actually, your brother walked in right after it happened and took control. He cleaned it up and put this butterfly over it.”

“Really? He did that?”

“Yes. I thought maybe I had witnessed a breakthrough, but he was back to his normal self this morning.”

“The way he is, Zoey, isn’t his normal self. Carter used to be an amazing loving person and he was so full of life. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body. This change I’ve witnessed for the past five years is so incomprehensible to me and it breaks my heart. He became a victim of circumstance.” She began to close her eyes.

Gently placing my hand on hers, I spoke, “Get some rest and I’ll see you later.”

As I was leaving the hospital, my phone rang and it was Holly.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hey there, bestie. I’m in the city today. Any chance we can meet up somewhere for a bit?”

“Actually, I can meet you now. Nora is in the hospital. She had a seizure last night.”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s doing better today, but they want to keep her overnight again just to monitor her and do a couple more scans. How about Starbucks on Fifth Avenue?”

“Sounds good. I can be there in about ten minutes.”

“Great. I’ll see you soon.”

Just as I climbed out of the cab, I saw Holly walking down the street. We hugged and headed inside. After ordering our coffee, we took a seat at a small table for two by the window.

“So, how are you? How are things going with Mr. Mean?”

“He’s unbearable. He’s miserable. He’s a rude, pompous ass. Need I go on?” I smiled.

“Umm. No. I think you just covered it.” She laughed. “Want to know what I think about the situation?”

“What?”

“I think you like him.” She smiled.

Laughter escaped my lips.

“No, I don’t. How could you even say that after what I just said about him?”

“Because I’ve known you my whole life, Zoey, and you never let anyone get to you. You always defended the mean girls in school. So your reaction, this out-of-character reaction to Carter Grayson, is telling me you’re into him.”

Damn her.

I ended up telling Holly what I knew about Carter’s past, all the death he experienced, and how he didn’t believe in God or Heaven.

“Wow. Now I have a better understanding why he’s the way he is. How sad.”

“I know, but he can’t take it out on people. The anger that consumes him is frightening,” I spoke.

“Then make him see there is a Heaven and a God. You of all people can do that.”

“I can’t force someone to believe something they aren’t ready for or don’t want to accept.”

“I suppose.” She shrugged.

After a couple hours of talking, it was time to head back to the hospital to check on Nora. When I arrived, I saw Carter heading to the elevator.

“Shit,” I mumbled.

He stepped inside and the doors began to shut. I could either wait for the elevator to come back down or I could yell for him to hold them. Knowing him, he’d probably push the close button just to prevent me from getting on.

“Hold on,” I shouted as I walked quickly to the elevator.

He put his hand in between and stopped the doors from closing.

“Thank you,” I spoke as I stepped inside.

“You’re welcome.” He glanced over at me.

When the doors opened, I stepped out first and walked ahead of him. When I got to Nora’s room, she wasn’t in there, so I went to look for her nurse.

“Do you know where Nora Grayson is?” I asked.

“She’s having an MRI. She should be done in a few minutes.”

“Ah, okay. Thanks.”

I walked back to the room and found Carter sitting in the chair.

“Well, where is she?” he asked.

“Having an MRI. She should be done in a few minutes.”

He didn’t respond as he pulled out his phone and started looking at it.

Okay then, jerk.

I stared out the window and felt a twinge in my finger. When I looked down, the bandage came loose, the cut opened, and blood started to drip down my hand.

“Shit,” I spoke as I went over to the sink and wrapped a piece of paper towel around my finger.

“What’s wrong?” Carter asked. “Is it your finger again?”

“When Nora gets here, tell her I’ll be right back. I need to go to the ER.”

I took the elevator down to the ER and approached the receptionist at the desk.

“Please sign in and have a seat,” she spoke.

“This is a little bit of an emergency.” I held up my blood-soaked finger.

“Oh dear. Let’s get you back into a room.”

I followed her to room three and took a seat on the bed. After giving her my name, a nurse walked in and examined my finger.

“Ouch. Did this just happen?” she asked.

“I did it last night. I butterflied it, but it just came loose.”

She opened the drawer and took out a piece of thick gauze and wrapped it around my finger.

“The doctor will be in shortly.” She smiled.

I knew too well what that meant in an ER. I would bleed to death before I saw a doctor. I sat there and looked around the room. I slowly closed my eyes and the memories came flooding back as if it happened just yesterday.

“Pumpkin, what happened?” my dad John spoke as he entered the room.

“Dad? What are you doing here?” I asked in confusion.

“They were short staffed today, so Ed called and asked if I could fill in. It just so happened I was off from St. Francis today. I was going to call you later and see if you could join me for dinner. Now what happened?” he asked as he removed the gauze.

“I cut it last night while I was slicing an apple.”

“You’re a nurse, Zoey. You knew this needed to be stitched.” He cocked his head at me.

“I was hoping the butterfly would close it up. I really didn’t think it was that bad. Nora is here. The ambulance brought her in last night.”

“Why?” he asked as he numbed my finger.

“She had a seizure.”

As he began stitching my finger, I heard Carter’s loud voice down the hallway.