Chapter 3: Trouble in Twos
1551 Words
The hospital corridors buzzed gently with the rhythm of a new morning nurses shifting rounds, doctors hurrying across wards, and interns walking around with dark circles and coffee cups.
Jane had just dropped off a lab request form when she heard the sound of excited whispers echoing down the hallway. She looked up to see two small Caucasian boys identical from the curls on their heads down to the bright blue sneakers hovering around the hospital's vending area with curious eyes and mischievous grins.
They couldn't have been older than ten.
One was already attempting to jam coins into a clearly broken snack machine, while the other stood back, inspecting the scene like he was supervising a bank heist.
Jane stopped and watched them for a moment, amused.
"You boys need help?" she asked, walking toward them.
They turned in sync, their eyes lighting up like someone had just offered them free ice cream.
"Yes, please!" the more outspoken one said. "This thing won't take our money."
"I'm Jayden," he added quickly, proud.
"And I'm Jordan!" the other chimed in. "We want snacks."
Jane chuckled. "Well, let's go find a better spot before you break hospital property. Come on, I know where the good stuff is."
Ten minutes later, they were seated at a small table in the staff lounge, each with a box of juice and a croissant. Jane leaned against the wall, sipping on another round of her favorite bitter coffee.
"You're a doctor here?" Jayden asked mid-bite.
"That's cool," Jordan added, wiping crumbs from his mouth.
Jane nodded with a smile. "It is. But that also means I gotta leave soon. My patients are waiting."
Jayden looked up with a crooked grin. "Thanks for the snacks. That's nice of you."
"You're both welcome," she said softly. "So what are your names again?"
"I'm Jayden!"
"And I'm Jordan!"
Jane laughed. "I'm sure your teachers and your doctor have a hard time telling you apart."
"They do," Jordan smirked. "But we like confusing people. It's fun."
"I can tell," she teased, glancing between them. "Well, don't make me your next victim."
Jayden leaned forward with a serious face. "What's your name?"
"Dr. Jane Thompson."
Jayden's eyes widened. "You sound important."
"I try," she said, smiling.
Before she could move to leave, a tall, well-dressed young man entered the lounge with an exasperated look. He paused when he saw them.
"There you are," he sighed, clearly relieved. "I told you two not to run off."
"We were hungry," Jordan explained innocently.
"And she helped us," Jayden added, pointing at Jane.
The man turned to her, offering a grateful smile. "Thanks for watching them. I'm Jonathan, their older brother."
Jane gave a polite nod. "No problem at all. They've been... interesting company."
"They usually are," Jonathan muttered under his breath, already rounding them up. "Come on. Jose just woke up."
Jane blinked.
Jose?
She nodded slowly, masking the flicker of realization.
Jose? Could it be…?
But no—Jose could be anybody.
Still, something in her stomach shifted as she watched the trio walk off. Jordan turned and waved one last time.
"Bye, Dr. Jane!"
"Thanks again!" Jayden grinned.
Jane raised her hand in return, lips curved into a half-smile—but her chest? It fluttered.
She didn't know why. Maybe she was just tired.
Maybe the universe was starting to mess with her.
The hall leading to Room 9 felt longer than usual. Jane wasn't sure if it was the lighting… or her nerves.
She'd reviewed Josephine's latest vitals—improving. No signs of infection. Blood pressure stabilizing. Head CT came back clean. She'd probably be drowsy, but conscious.
And Jane had to keep it professional.
She knocked once and pushed the door open gently.
Room 9—VIP suite—was already filled with voices.
"Dr. Jane!" the twins yelled in unison.
Jane blinked, genuinely caught off guard.
They were sprawled on the couch like they owned the place, and beside them stood their older brother—now dressed down, clearly exhausted—and a white woman and a black man who had to be the parents. They looked familiar. Their presence carried the weight of old money and quiet influence.
The entire room turned toward her.
Jayden jumped off the couch and ran to her side. "Mum, Dad! This is the doctor we told you about! She got us snacks!"
Jordan followed quickly. "And juice!"
Jonathan laughed under his breath. "You again."
Jane smiled awkwardly, her mind catching up. Oh... no.
"She's your sister?" Jane asked softly, glancing toward the bed.
And then
Their eyes met.
Josephine.
Awake. Sitting up slightly. IV still in her arm. Wrapped in white sheets like some fallen painting come to life.
And just as stunned as Jane.
For a heartbeat too long, the room disappeared. All Jane could hear was the sudden silence that pressed between them like a secret.
Jose's hazel eyes blinked slowly. Her lips parted, but she said nothing. Just stared—like she was trying to read something behind Jane's eyes.
And Jane?
She swallowed hard.
Say something. Anything.
"Uh… good morning, Ms. Yeboah-Davis," she said, voice a little too calm. "I'm Dr. Jane Thompson. I'll be managing your care."
Jose tilted her head slightly. "We've met."
Jane's throat felt dry. "I don't think so."
Jordan grinned. "She's lying, Jose! She had this look when she entered!"
"Jordan," Jonathan warned, but it was too late.
Jane cleared her throat, eyes flicking to Jose again. "You were unconscious," she said. "But… yes. I've been here. Monitoring your progress."
Jose held her gaze a moment longer. "Well," she said softly, "you have a memorable face, Doctor."
Jane smiled politely. Don't be obvious. Don't be obvious. Don't be
Jayden tugged her coat. "You didn't tell us you were our sister's doctor. That's so cool!"
"Yeah! We should have breakfast with her every morning now!" Jordan added.
Jane laughed nervously. "Maybe after she's discharged."
The room eased into polite conversation, but inside, Jane's mind was chaos.
She had stared at this woman for too long while she slept. Taken her photo. Touched her cheek like she was something sacred.
And now… she had to pretend none of it happened.
Great.
Before she could take another step into the room, Jordan had already jumped to his feet.
"Jose she's pretty isn't she?!" he beamed, pointing at Jane with a wide smile. "Dr. Jane!"
Jane blinked. Oh no.
Jose's head turned slowly toward her brothers, brow slightly raised. The amused smirk tugging at the corner of her lips wasn't helping Jane's focus.
"I see, she sure is," Jose said lightly, her eyes flicking between Jane and her brothers. "So you made quite the impression already."
Jane cleared her throat. "They're… unforgettable."
"That's one way to put it," Jonathan muttered.
Mr. Yeboah-Davis finally stepped forward with a low chuckle. "Well, it's good to see our daughter in such capable hands."
Mrs. Yeboah-Davis joined him, grace in every step. "Dr. Thompson, thank you. We've been on edge all morning, but seeing her awake—and knowing it's you looking after her—puts my heart at ease."
Jane opened her mouth, unsure what to say. This was when she realised who the family was. Mr Yeboah-Davis was the formal president.
"I'm just doing my job." She swallowed hard.
"Not every doctor takes the time to entertain two mischievous boys in a hospital," Mrs. Yeboah-Davis said with a knowing smile.
Jayden grinned. "She bought us croissants too."
Jordan added, "our favourite"
Jane wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
Jose tilted her head on the pillow, eyes locked on her again. "I'm suddenly jealous."
Jane almost choked on air.
She forced a polite smile. "You'll be up and walking in no time. Maybe then I'll take you for snacks too."
Jose raised a brow at the same time her lips curled. "I'll hold you to that, Doctor."
That smile… that look… it wasn't helping.
Jane turned quickly to the chart in her hand, pretending to read something important. "Vitals have improved. If we keep trending this way, we'll be switching to oral meds by tomorrow night."
"I told you she's smart," Jayden whispered to Jordan, clearly thinking no one else could hear.
"Beautiful and smart," Jordan whispered back—louder.
The room broke into laughter. Jane let her hair fall a bit over her face to hide the way her ears burned.
Mr. Yeboah-Davis's phone buzzed, pulling his attention away. "We'll give you space, Doctor. But thank you again."
They moved toward the lounge area at the far end of the suite, leaving Jane and Jose a brief pocket of silence.
Jane stepped closer to the bed, adjusting the IV tube. "Any nausea?"
Jose shook her head slowly. "No. Just… weird dreams."
Jane didn't look at her. She couldn't.
Instead, she nodded, made a quick note in the chart, and turned to leave. "Press the button if you feel anything unusual."
As she reached the door—
"Dr. Thompson," Jose called softly.
Jane paused.
"Thank you… for taking care of my brothers. And for being here."
Their eyes met again, and this time it was longer than before.
"Anytime," Jane said, voice just above a whisper.
Then she left—heartbeat louder than her footsteps.
- Writer
