Second Chance Stethoscope

Chapter 1

A month had passed. A gruesome 30 days filled with nothing but poring over new and old cases and finding mundane ways to pass the time. Until today, I got an email from Lincoln Hospital, our firm is their primary for all things malpractice and financial services. In the email, it outlined that there was a threat of malpractice hanging over them regarding a loose-lipped doctor/ nurse and an eavesdropping parent.

"Not good," I muttered to myself moving over to jot down a few important notes about the basics. When I heard a knock on my door. "Lydia, if that's lunch it'll have to wait. I just got an email from the Lincoln Memorial." But there was no response which was very uncharacteristic for my prompt and polite assistant. Then another knock sounded. "Yeah, come in." The words slipped from my mouth but I stayed turned away from the door, skimming the email again cataloging details than when I didn't immediately hear anything I turned slowly to face my door and my gaze narrowed.

"Apples?" I heard the whisper and every fiber of my being froze as I looked up at him. Daren stood there, sharply dressed in navy blue pants and a crisp white shirt. My brows pulled together in distaste. "Get out." My tone was a slow-moving glacier, preparing to make contact with this passing ship.

"You're still angry, I understand that. But you need to hear me out, hear my side." He moved like the lying snake he was. Shutting the door and taking a short step into my office. The office that had once been full of pictures of him and me. Chock-full of memories that only served to remind me of his willing betrayal even after all of it was said and done.

I ignored him. Reaching over to press the intercom button on my phone. "Lydia, cancel my lunch, I'm busy with a new case and will need to be in a meeting for the next hour. Oh and also, if you could call up the janitor, my trash needs taking out." The jab came out and I made eye contact with Daren. The very clear, 'I do not want to talk to you, look' on my face.

He blanched like he'd been struck and shook his head. "Apples." His voice was still a whisper. One that used to work, that would have worked a few weeks ago, one that usually was followed with carefully crafted apologies and promises to be better. "Get. Out. Or I will have you removed. Mr.Williams." I opted for formality because the rapid beating of my heart threatened to expose the fact that for whatever reason I still loved him.

Although love or no love my choice would not change. Cheating is cheating and I wouldn't ever forgive him for it. His presence was crowding. The memories of him tangled with his mistress threatened to claw back into my mind and make me do something foolish. So much so I stood from my desk, ripped open the bottom drawer at the edge of my desk and pulled out the black leggings and matching sports bra and gray shirt, and running shoes, and brushed past him.

"Where are you going? Lorelei answer me. Why are you walking away from me? We need to talk about this. Apples, please I'm sorry!" His voice followed me out of my office. It carried through the office as I told Lydia I was taking my lunch after all and she didn't need to worry about ordering me anything. But, his tone caused our coworkers to peek out of their offices, or peer around cubicle walls to watch this gross spectacle he was showing to all these people.

He continued his wailing even after I went into the bathroom to change. Rapping on the door as if someone owed him something, calling weak apologies through the door as I dressed and folded my work clothes.

When I opened the door he was breathing heavily. "Jesus Darren. Fine, you apologized. Congratulations. I do not forgive you. Now leave me alone, god you're like a fly I can't get rid of. Buzzing around, annoying as hell, get out of my face. Go back to grace, go back to work, I do not care. But for god's sake, leave me alone we have nothing to say to one another." I huffed and shoved passed him toward the stairs.

I took them two at a time, huffing as air tried and failed to make its way into my lungs. Hot, frustrated tears rolled down my cheeks and I unlocked my car and dumped the clothes in my back seat before taking off out of the parking garage and starting to run down toward the park.

It was like my life was playing in front of my eyes, all the choices I'd made to get me to this point. All the late nights and even darker days seemed to follow me everywhere I went as of late. Nothing that came across my brain seemed to be able to justify why something like this would be in my cards. It made me angry that at this point in my life, I was reduced to nothing but a blubbering, cheated-on, angry woman with outburst issues.

My feet pounded the ground in the park. Everyone was looking at me when I yelled at Daren. They'd all surely be asking him what that was about. We used to be the one couple people thought would last at the office. It was annoying how often people would bring it up and tell us how excited they were for the wedding. To me, it was no one's damn business but my own why we weren't together anymore, but Daren had never been able to keep his mouth shut about anything where he would be the center of attention. My lungs were burning now, the air that I didn't seem to have to try to flush out of my body and suffocate me. I wouldn't let this break me, I refused to be the girl that could never get over her shitty ex that cheated the day before their wedding and then wouldn't leave her alone afterward. It wasn't going to happen.

I stopped at a bench in the middle of the small park. Sitting heavily trying to pull myself together. My anger was bigger than my sadness. Anger and frustration at Daren for embarrassing me, at myself for not seeing the signs. But who could've? When was it thrown in my face that the man I thought was my other half was screwing someone else right under my nose? How many times had I been close to catching them before that day? How many times had he been on his way to her, giving me the excuse that he was hanging out with his friends that I hadn't ever met before? It made me sick to think about it. It pained me to my core to have to think about it, but the bottom line was that I'd rather be angry than sad, broken, and confused.