Chapter 13
1097 Words
•Penelope•
The building was a lot bigger than I expected, only slightly smaller than the city hospital and it confused me why he needed my help.
It was pretty much fully staffed from the look of things and with the right facilities in place too..
“Uhm…?” I managed to let out but refrained from questioning him.
Miguel walked ahead, an easy smile in place and waved to the nurses who unsurprisingly flirted shamelessly with him.
“It’s so nice to have you back here in Oakridge.” One of them, a pretty blonde purre.
Yes, that was the only explanation for the syrupy-soft tone of her voice as she spoke with him.
I stood watching the interaction in front of me unfold.
“I couldn’t stay away from my favourite for too long, you know that Ashley.” He winked at her, like it was an inside joke and it felt unsettling.
Miguel had managed to ignore me after the conversation in the kitchen. If it had nothing to do with the hospital then there was something more important.
The entire drive has me reeling with discomfort, I didn’t quite enjoy the fact I wanted his attention.
And now, with Ashley’s palm on his arm, laughing too loudly at whatever he'd just said, all I wanted was to drag her by the hair and throw her out of the building.
I cleared my throat, but it came out more like a scoff.
Finally, Miguel seemed to realize I existed. His mouth parted guilty when it hit him he hadn’t introduced us.
“My apologies, Ashley, this is Sister Penelope from St. Judes Parish in New York. She's here to assist with the kids.”
Two things were amiss.
One, he called me sister.
Two, he freaking called me Sister!
The blonde barely batted her lash to my direction before making up an excuse to leave.
Miguel scratched his head before turning to face me. “Sorry about that.”
“Oh, it is fine.”
No it wasn't, it could never be alright. Nearly 48 hours and I was losing my sanity.
This man was eating deep into my being without even trying.
“I didn't expect the building to be this big.” I admitted, finally giving voice to one out of the hundred thoughts crowding my mind.
His lips curled into a smile as he asked in a mocking tone.
“Why? Too good for you, sister?”
Sister again? Lord, why did it matter if he called me Penelope or sister? Why?
I mustered all the courage in me feigning indifference at his sudden mode of addressing me.
I looked everywhere but him, I could feel his hot gaze burning through my skin.
“You’d mentioned it being a local hospital and I imagined a more rundown building but this is modern. You even have a working elevator.”
His brow shot in understanding. “The building was in fact rundown a couple of years ago but after the flood I decided it’d be much better to build a hospital that could accommodate almost everyone.”
He led me down a dark hallway and my heart thundered. This man had just admitted to being more than a philanthropist for the title and he was casual about it too.
“Admirable” I murmured and if he heard me he didn’t respond.
Miguel was too much. Plain perfection. Too good, even. A great chef, absurdly handsome, built like he belonged in a magazine, caring, brilliant and a doctor. How was he still single? Why did he settle for lovers in every city instead of something real?
We stepped into the paediatric lobby and my heart stopped.
At least twenty children sat in scattered clusters. Bruised, bandaged hollow eyed.
Before I’d arrived at Oakridge, I’d spent my time reading about the disaster that had wiped through the rural parts of town. I saw the numbers, the headline but this, this made it more real.
I glanced at Miguel whose expression has turned absolutely cold, and I know in that moment if he could punch God he would.
I understood his anger, I experienced it when I first started taking care of kids. I watched them all have different fates and destiny, some would get adopted and the others, returned back like bad eggs.
There weren’t. They weren’t toys.
He walked over to the nurse in charge and I followed suit.
“What’s going on here? Why aren't they being treated?”
“Most of the kids refused treatments until their parents came and the others followed the bandwagon. And you know we can't force kids.”
Miguel sighed, his face laced with worry and frustration.
“Don’t worry. I'll handle it.”
I glanced around the room searching for the most socially active one there and I spotted a boy, barely ten with a split lip and a bump on his head.
“Hey kiddo.” I asked sweetly, crouching next to him.
“Hi.” He glanced up shyly and I couldn't help but smile.
“I'm Penelope, what's your name?”
“Daniel.”
“That's a lovely name, can I call you Niel.”
He paused, squinted at me then flicked my forehead. “If you think it is a lovely name, why would you want to shorten it?”
I gasped dramatically, clutching my head. “Because that's what friends do.”
“Are we friends?”
He pretended to think about the answer before eventually nodding his head, yes.
“So tell me, Daniel why haven't you cleaned your bruise yet?”
His eyes saddened a bit but he answered. “My mummy isn't here.”
“I doubt your mummy wants to see you or your friends in pain. And if you leave the injuries it will get worse. Do you want that?”
He shook his head, “no.”
“Good. Now the kind lady over there will come take care of you and your friends okay? I'm here too.”
I signaled the nurse over and she ran immediately, surprised that the kids suddenly wanted treatment.
“Youre a natural.” My skin nearly jumped out when Miguel’s voice rang through.
I'd long forgotten that we'd come here together to begin with.
“I took care of my little cousins.” I answered, straightening to my full height which unfortunately still made me look small beside him.
He nodded. “Let’s take you to your office.”
“I get an office?”
- Writer
