Echos of Montgomery

Chapter 2 - 10 Years Later

Chapter 2: Ten Years Later

Ella's hands moved with practiced efficiency as she tied off the last suture on her patient's arm. "All done, Mr. Sanchez. The nurse will be in shortly with your discharge papers."

The man nodded gratefully, cradling his newly bandaged arm. Ella stripped off her gloves and stepped out into the corridor, immediately enveloped by the controlled chaos of the ER. Gurneys rushed past, machines beeped urgently, and the air crackled with terse commands from doctors and nurses.

She weaved through the melee, ducking under an IV pole and sidestepping a harried intern. Just another chilly November Tuesday night in the Seattle General ER. The early evening had settled in quickly, with the damp cold seeping into the hospital corridors every time the doors opened, bringing with it the distinct scent of autumn and the crispness of a changing season. As she approached the nurse's station, Ella caught sight of Maria's familiar curls bent over a stack of charts.

"Please tell me there's coffee left," Ella said, collapsing onto a nearby stool.

Maria looked up with a grin. "Just made a fresh pot. You look like you need it. And you should warm up—it’s freezing out there tonight."

"You're a lifesaver." Ella gratefully accepted the steaming mug Maria handed her. As she took a sip, she noticed the glossy bridal magazine peeking out from under Maria's paperwork. "How's the wedding planning coming along?"

Maria's eyes lit up. "Oh my god, I found the most amazing venue yesterday! It's this gorgeous vineyard just outside the city. The wedding is only six weeks away, and we were lucky to get a last-minute spot that could fit us in, so we're finishing up the final details. Jason and I are going to tour it this weekend."

As Maria gushed about floral arrangements and cake tastings, Ella felt a familiar pang in her chest. She smiled and nodded along, but her mind drifted. When was the last time she'd done anything remotely resembling wedding planning? Or dating at all, for that matter?

"Earth to Ella," Maria said, waving a hand in front of her face. "Where'd you go just now?"

Ella shook her head, forcing a smile. "Sorry, just zoned out for a second. Tell me more about the vineyard—it sounds beautiful."

As Maria launched back into her excited chatter, Ella sipped her coffee and pushed away the loneliness threatening to creep in. She had her work, her patients. That was enough. It had to be.

Maria's excitement about her wedding plans was palpable, her voice animated as she talked about her dress and the upcoming ceremony. She glanced at Ella, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "So, Ella, any chance you'll be bringing a plus one to the wedding?"

Ella chuckled, shaking her head. "A plus one? You know me better than that, Maria."

Maria leaned in, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "Oh, come on, Ella. When was the last time you even went on a date? It's been, what, two years since...?"

"Three," Ella corrected automatically, then winced at her own admission. She hadn't meant to reveal she’d been counting. The memory of Arthur's betrayal and the engagement ring she'd returned flashed briefly in her mind, and she shook her head, as if to dislodge it. "I appreciate the concern, Maria, but I'm really not interested in dating right now. My work keeps me busy enough."

Maria wasn't convinced, her eyes softening as she looked at her friend. "I get that, but you can't keep throwing yourself into work forever. Life's about more than just the ER, you know. What about having someone to share it with?"

Ella forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "I'm in a committed relationship with my career, Maria. Trust me, it’s enough for now." She paused, her smile faltering for just a moment. "I mean it. The ER gives me everything I need—the adrenaline, the purpose, the challenge. It's where I belong."

Maria sighed, giving her a knowing look. "You say that, but I think there's more you're not letting yourself want. Listen, my girlfriend knows this great doctor—he's smart, funny, and very much single. What do you say? One date, just to see."

Ella shook her head, a smile still on her lips but with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Thanks, Maria, but I think I'll pass. I'm just not ready for that. Not yet."

Maria gave her a gentle nudge. "One of these days, Ella, you're going to realize that there's more out there than just work. And when that day comes, I'll be ready with a whole list of eligible bachelors. Just you wait."

They both laughed, and for a moment the tension lifted. But as Ella sat down at the doctor's computer to type up her notes, the weight of the conversation lingered in the back of her mind. The rhythmic clacking of the keys offered her a brief reprieve from the thoughts she couldn't quite shake.

Back at her computer, Ella began typing up patient notes, her fingers flying over the keyboard with practiced efficiency. As she documented vitals and treatment plans, her mind wandered.

She'd achieved so much in her career—becoming an ER attending at just 28. Her training as a Critical Care Paramedic had opened something in her that made her want to be the doctor she was today, even being considered for a department head position. Yet as she stared at the screen, listing her accomplishments in black and white, she felt a hollowness in her chest.

Ella's gaze drifted to the photo of her parents on her desk. How long had it been since she'd visited home? That’s right—eight years ago.

Or since she'd had a real conversation with her mother that wasn't just a rushed check-in call? She thought of Maria's excited wedding plans, of the families she saw in the ER every day—people with connections, with roots.

Her fingers paused over the keys. For all her professional success, Ella couldn't shake the feeling that something vital was missing from her life. But the thought of opening herself up again, of risking the pain she'd experienced when things had ended with Arthur... It was easier to throw herself into her work, to keep everyone at arm's length.

Ella sighed, refocusing on her patient notes. The light from the window cast a faint reflection of her on the screen, highlighting the dark circles under her eyes—a testament to the long hours and the onset of the winter season. The thought of upcoming holidays—Thanksgiving and then Christmas—crossed her mind, and she pushed it away, feeling a pang of homesickness. She had chosen this path. It was too late now for regrets or what-ifs. Wasn't it?

The shrill ring of Ella's phone cut through her reverie, startling her back to the present. She glanced at the caller ID—"Mom"—and felt a twinge of guilt. Pushing away from her desk, she stepped into a quiet corner of the bustling ER.

"Hi, Mom," Ella answered, trying to inject some warmth into her voice. "Everything okay?"

Her mother's hesitation on the other end of the line was palpable. "Ella, sweetheart, are you going to come home for Thanksgiving this year?" It was the same question her mother had asked for eight years, and Ella already knew her own response. "Why don't you come here, Mom? We can have dinner at mine again," she replied, trying to keep her voice light. But this time, her mother didn't respond with her usual reluctance.

Instead, her mother's voice cracked, trembling with an emotion Ella hadn't heard before. "Ella, sweetheart, I really wish you could come back to Montgomery for Thanksgiving this year. There's going to be a festival—the Harvest Lights Festival. Everyone in town is excited about it, and it would mean so much to have you here for it." Her mother paused, her voice catching. "Ella..."

A chill ran down Ella's spine. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"It's your father," her mother's voice cracked. "We just got the test results back. It's... it's cancer, Ella."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Ella gripped the wall for support, her knees suddenly weak. "Cancer?" she whispered, her medical training warring with her emotions. "How bad? What stage?"

Her mother's sobs echoed through the phone. "Stage 3. The doctors say... they say we need to start treatment right away."

Ella's mind raced, calculating survival rates and treatment options even as her heart constricted with fear. Her father—strong, stubborn, larger than life—how could this be happening?

"Ella," her mother pleaded, "we need you. Your father needs you. Can you come home this Thanksgiving and maybe stay for a while?"

The weight of those words hit Ella like a physical blow. Home. Montgomery. The life she'd left behind, the memories she'd tried to bury. Jacob's face flashed unbidden in her mind—her childhood sweetheart. Her first real broken heart.

"I... I don't know if I can just leave, Mom," Ella stammered, even as guilt gnawed at her. "The hospital, my patients..."

"Please, Ella," her mother's voice was small, desperate. "We've never asked you for anything. But we're asking now. We could really use your help in the family pharmacy—just over the holidays and New Year while he undergoes treatment."

Ella closed her eyes, feeling tears threatening to spill over. The bustling sounds of the ER faded away, replaced by the echo of her mother's plea and the sudden, stark realization of how far she'd drifted from her family.

"Okay," Ella heard herself say, her voice thick with emotion. "Okay, Mom. I'll come home." Her mother gasped, her voice filled with surprise. "Really? You will come home?" Ella smiled, though her eyes stung with tears. "Yes, Mom, but I'll need to get approval from the hospital. And Maria—my best friend—she's getting married in December, so I will have to return for that. But I will come home." Her mother let out a relieved sigh. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll call you later to confirm the details, alright?"

As she ended the call, Ella leaned against the wall, her carefully constructed world crumbling around her. She had built her life in Seattle brick by brick, a fortress against the pain of her past. Now, with a single phone call, those walls were coming down. She was going back to Montgomery, back to face everything—and everyone—she'd left behind. The thought of arriving in Montgomery in November, with the chill of autumn giving way to winter, filled her with both dread and nostalgia. She remembered the crackle of fireplaces, the scent of spiced cider, and the way the town always seemed to come alive in the colder months.

Ella took a deep breath, steadying herself. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her chest as she made her way back to the nurse's station. Her fingers hovered over her phone, Dr. Collins' number ready to be dialed. She hesitated, her thumb trembling slightly.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself, hitting the call button before she could change her mind.

As the phone rang, Ella's thoughts raced. What if Dr. Collins refused? What if this cost her the career she'd worked so hard to build? The image of her father, frail and sick, flashed in her mind, steeling her resolve.

"Dr. Collins speaking," came the crisp voice on the other end.

"Dr. Collins, it's Ella," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "I... I need to request a leave of absence. It's my father. He's been diagnosed with cancer, and I need to go home to Montgomery."

There was a pause, and Ella's heart pounded in her ears. She could almost see Dr. Collins' furrowed brow, feel the weight of her consideration.

"Ella," Dr. Collins said finally, her tone softening, "I'm so sorry to hear about your father. Of course, you must go. How long do you think you'll need?"

Relief flooded through Ella, nearly buckling her knees. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "Maybe three months? I know it's a lot to ask..."

"Take the time you need," Dr. Collins interrupted gently. "You've been with us for six years, and you've never asked for time off. You're the best student I've ever had, Ella. Your position will be here when you return. Family comes first, Ella. Always."

Ella blinked back tears, overwhelmed by the unexpected support. "Thank you," she managed. "I don't know what to say."

As she ended the call, Ella felt a mix of gratitude and apprehension wash over her. The decision was made, but it hurt more than she could have anticipated. She was going home. To Montgomery. To her family. To face the ghosts of her past, including the memory of Jacob's piercing blue eyes and the life they'd almost shared that she could no longer have—he had a family now—a daughter. The thought pierced her heart, a reminder of the path not taken, of the love she once believed would be her forever. She had spent years building her life in Seattle, trying to forget, but now she was being pulled back to everything she'd left behind. The ache of knowing what could never be twisted inside her, making the weight of her decision almost unbearable.

Ella took another deep breath, steeling herself for the journey ahead. It was time to pack, time to face the emptiness of her apartment and the life she was temporarily leaving behind. But more than that, it was time to confront the part of herself she'd left in Montgomery all those years ago.