Running Away

Chapter 4

A week or so had gone by since the whole ordeal with Elias. Sera couldn't get his face out of her head. She hated that he barged in to shake the table that she spent so much time building. She hated that he had the audacity to just come into her home like that, she hated that she felt like he would be back. Most of all, Sera hated that a piece of her wanted him to come back.

It was a Tuesday evening and Sera had cleaned up the entire flat. She laid Emilia on the couch for a nap and began cooking just as Bryan came home from work. He greeted her with a kiss. "How was work?"

He flashed his straight, white teeth at her. "It was great, darling. How was your day?"

"It was hectic. Emilia was so fussy a–"

"Anyways, I had some consultations with some of the surgery candidates. You wouldn't have believed it, I've never seen a patient so far out in my entire practice. Patient's a 49 year old male, uncontrolled diabetes, unstageable wounds, severe nephropathy, and comes into my office trying to say I should give him a year to think about his leg amputation. Like hello? That leg is going to kill you, you have sepsis. Oh and one of the nurses, Kimberly, just got back from vacation to Italy. What do you think about getting married there? We haven't started planning yet but I think we need to start taking it seriously, you know? Friends and family could fly out, we can rent out a villa for everyone, you know? Or maybe even, Greece. I heard a lot of good things about Greece from some of the guys I work with. One of the residents is Greek, so maybe I'll ask him about some places he might recommend. Sera, are you even listening? You're not saying anything."

Sera went straight for the fridge to get red wine. "Mhm, I'm listening."

"It's your big day, darling. You need to contribute, I can't be the only person trying here."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't talking because I was listening. It's hard to listen and speak at the same time."

"Well." Bryan took off his shoes and tossed his white coat onto the couch, right next to Emilia.

"Can you not do that? You're around sick people all day, why would you put it next to her like that?"

"Where do you expect me to put it then?" Bryan asked, he felt annoyed that she was changing the conversation.

"Uh, you should probably just leave it at your office in the hospital," Sera answered flatly. "But I guess the hallway closet is fine too, just not near Emi."

"I just finished working for 10 hours, so give me a break. You don't have to lift your finger for a penny, so maybe you should be happy that all you did today was vacuum."

"I don't mind getting a job if that is what you're pointing towards, you're the one who told me not to work."

"Let's just say, sometimes I can't tell if you are here for me or for other reasons."

"Okay, Bryan." Sera went back to cooking.

"Don't okay me." He threw his hands up, "It feels like you are using me, darling! You say you love me and want to be with me, but if that's true...why haven't we been intimate yet?"

"So this is not about money, it's about sex."

"It's about it all, Sera! You slept with your ex, but now you want to wait until marriage?! But you have me raising his kid?"

"Excuse you! On the first date you knew I was pregnant. You were told that I'm waiting until marriage this time around. Please don't spin the narrative as if you were tricked. I put it all on the table." Sera snapped, "You're not going to keep making me feel bad for this, just break up with me, seriously."

Sera resumed cooking dinner, her face was hot from anger and she felt slightly embarrassed that he was yet again through her past in her face. As she chopped down a bell pepper, Bryan walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "You know...things have been crazy at the hospital with this nursing labor shortage, I've been on edge."

"That's no excuse. You always come home to fight me."

"I know, darling, I'm sorry. Forgive me." Bryan pleaded. Whenever he thought about Sera with her ex-boyfriend it drove him over the edge. Though he always told others that Emilia was his daughter, there was no hiding that she was visibly of mixed race. "Darling, I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you, please."

Sera placed the knife down on the cutting board and turned around to face him. His deep brown eyes looked apologetic. He smoothed some of her fly-aways down. Sera's shoulders softened as she let out a breath.

"Let's take a vacation. We can take that time to destress and after we will be more clear minded for wedding planning. Think of it as a pre-honey moon."

A smile spread on Sera's face. "Really?"

"Of course, anything to keep you happy, darling. Let's go this weekend."

"What? What about Emilia? She doesn't have a passport yet."

"Don't worry, her grandma can watch her." He kissed her forehead, "How about Italy?"