Page 64 of Nowhere to Run
Forty-Six
Jo
My legs trembled asI stepped out of the van and walked around it to where Dr.Easton was standing.Her eyes widened with disbelief as she stared at me, a million questions flashing in her eyes.
“I remember you,” she said softly, nodding her head.“I remember that night.”
I rubbed my hands down the front of my pants and then folded my arms over my chest as I tried to smile.Everyone else had stayed inside the van at my request because I didn’t want Dr.Easton to think we'd come to cause trouble.
I nodded, trying to look away from her as tears filled my eyes.
She pressed her hands together and held them in front of her mouth as her eyes watered as well.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
My head pulled back in response, shame immediately flooding through me.I looked away from her and to the van, ready to run and never look back.
“No,” she rushed out, gently putting her hand on my arm to get my attention.“I’m glad that you’re here.You’re very welcome here.Why don’t you and your friends come inside where it’s warm?We can talk and maybe have some tea?”
“Okay.Thank you.I would love that.”I blew out a breath, hoping to send my anxiety with it.“Let me tell them real quick.”
She smiled and then went back to talk to the other women lingering at the door while I went to Dom’s window.
“Are you okay?”he asked gently.
“Yeah,” I said, sniffling because it was absolutely impossible to keep myself together.“She wants us to go inside and have tea while we talk.”
“All of us?”Keith asked as he leaned forward to see around Dom.
I nodded and stepped back as Dom turned off the engine, and they all got out and joined me on the sidewalk.Dr.Easton smiled and welcomed all of them as she held the door and ushered us inside.
The clinic was just how I remembered it, minus a few upgrades.The floors were still the same worn-out linoleum tiles I remembered counting when I considered the gravity of my choice to leave Kaitlyn.New light fixtures had been installed, replacing the fluorescent lights that had made everything look yellow.But overall, the clinic felt the same as when I had been there before, only this time I wasn’t a teenager facing a life-changing decision.
“This is Edna and Florence,” Dr.Easton said as she led us to the breakroom.“They make the best lavender tea.There’s also a fresh batch of cookies that were brought in this morning if you guys would like to have some.”
“Thank you, this is very kind of you,” I said as I sat down at one of the tables with Dom sitting beside me.
Keith and Ashley made themselves busy helping Edna and Florence, giving me some privacy to talk with Dr.Easton.
