In The Right Key

Chapter 16: Good News, Bad News

Chapter 16: Good News, Bad News

Hazy. Beautiful. Was waking up supposed to feel this nice? I never thought so before. But I couldn't help it. Waking up felt as good as falling asleep. Why did I feel like this?

Edward, I sighed. He was always invited to my dreams. I would never push him away. But the ache growing in my chest told me that was exactly what I was doing. Protecting him? No. I was reckless. Nothing I did made sense anymore.

My mood was ruined; I turned over in my bed, not feeling quite as comfortable as I did before. My eyes burned when they opened from the dried up tears. I blinked repeatedly and tried to focus on my alarm clock. 10:03 AM. Why did that feel weird? I tried to remember the significance; it was Sunday morning, 10 AM.

My palm flew to my forehead. "Crap." I had a doctor's appointment at 11. My braced hand lay unresponsive on the bed. I moved my fingers, clenched my fist. It felt fine. Maybe I would get it off today, since James broke it almost a month ago. I had to get to the hospital first. I rushed through my morning routine and was pulling out of the driveway by ten-thirty. Driving had been getting easier since my hand started healing. I technically wasn't supposed to be driving with a broken hand, but what else was I going to do?

There were two alternatives, both of which would never happen. Number 1: let Charlie drive me in the police cruiser. No. Number 2: If I were still with Edward, he would have insisted on driving me everywhere, I knew it. But that wasn't possible. Solitary, this was the only thing I could do.

I pulled into the physician building's parking lot, separate from the hospital, where my physician Dr. Gerandy worked. I arrived at exactly the right name and I pulled open the door of the facility. It brought a gush of air that smelled of stagnant tools to me, blowing my long brown hair back. The door made a whooshing sound as it closed slowly behind me. I shivered in the cold room and zipped my jacket up as I approached the receptionist.

"Hello," I said, gaining her attention.

She looked up. "Good morning!" Her white smile was a stark contrast to her dark skin. "How can I help you?"

"Uh, I have an appointment. With Dr. Gerandy," I added. Why was I so shy? I promised myself to work on my social skills later.

Her braids didn't move as she looked down at the sheet in front of her. Her long finger moved down the list. "Yes, Isabella Swan?" The door opened behind me and I shivered again.

"Mm-hmm," I smiled. There was something weird about the new air in the room. It was a feeling of familiarity; but not the good kind. It made me feel self-conscious, like someone was watching me. I turned my head slowly to look behind me at the person that had just walked in. Just an old man looking at his watch.

"I'll be with you in a minute," said the receptionist to the man. He acknowledged her but kept staring at his watch nervously, like he was waiting for something to happen. I'd seen that look before...

"Right this way." I turned my head back to the receptionist that was stepping out from behind her desk. I risked one more glance back at the old man as we walked through the door leading to the hallway that held the examination rooms. I was taken to room 16 and sat down on the crinkly paper.

"Dr. Gerandy will be with you soon." I nodded and she started to walk away when she stopped. She leaned back into the room and said, "I'm sorry, honey, I forgot. Dr. Gerandy isn't here today."Well, that's great. "Dr. Cullen from the main hospital is filling in for him. He should be here—"

"I'm right here," said the smooth voice of Carlisle Cullen, standing in the doorway alongside the receptionist, donning a long white lab coat and what I was sure were designer shoes. The Cullen's and their expensive tastes. The receptionist nodded, smiled, and walked away; Carlisle stepped into the room. "Bella," he acknowledged with a smile.