Redemption of a Soul

Chapter 4

Claire sat in her office for at least an hour after Eli Weston's scheduled appointment time. The thought had already crossed her mind earlier in the week that he may not show up after the events of their last meeting. Nonetheless, Claire was worried about Eli. For all she knew he could be dead of an overdose, or murdered by some drug dealer. Claire had no clue to what Eli's hideous reality was.
Policy requires doctors at Pinevale Medical Group to contact their high-risk patients when they do not attend regular sessions. Claire inhaled deeply before picking up her office phone and tucking it between her ear and her shoulder. She had already pulled up Eli's contact information on her computer screen. She tapped the buttons on the phones base that matched the first recent phone number listed in Eli's file. The phone line beeped and the automated voice told her the number was disconnected. Claire attempted calling the last number in his file and when it went to voicemail she left him a message. After putting the phone down she sighed and hoped to herself that he would contact her soon.
After Eli let the phone call go to voicemail and he tidied himself up he felt like finally going outside. He hadn't been outside in seven days, and he really needed some fresh air. The second he walks out the door the crisp, fresh air envelopes him. The comfort of nature has always been a safe haven for Eli. He can smell the pine trees and the fresh cut grass from next door as he treads to the sidewalk and walks into town.
Soon after leaving his home Eli finds himself standing at the entrance to the Broken Pines. Before he knows what he is doing his hand is on the handle pulling the heavy door open. Eli stalks inside and slides into the stool in the middle of the bar counter. It's the middle of the afternoon and there is no one inside the bar except for Eli himself and the bartender. Eli knows him by the name, Ollie. For as long as Eli can remember this short, burly man has been serving drinks here.
Ollie's time is being preoccupied with cleaning, stocking and other chores so much that he hasn't addressed Eli since he walked inside. Eli thinks to himself about the classic shitty customer service in this shithole town. Eli's agitation is close to surfacing when he calms himself by taking a few deep breaths. Then Eli pipes up as relaxed as possible, "Excuse me, Can I get a drink please?"
Ollie turns from his work in a huff and walks behind the bar to stand directly in front of Eli. The bartender goes to town making a drink that wasn't ordered and then slides it right to Eli. Eli sees that it is what he typically orders, bottoms shelf whiskey and coke with ice, but it is not what Eli wants today. Just today is day seven of Eli's sobriety, and he does not want to jeopardize his success so far. Eli thinks of all the reckless moments he's spent getting drunk, which inevitably led to him using different illegal substances.
Eli's thoughts are interrupted when Ollie finally speaks, "Is that not the drink that you usually order, man? I have shit to get back to." Eli replies, "I just want a ginger ale, bro. Thanks." Ollie dumps the drink he just made into the stainless steel sink and grabs another clean glass. The glass is filled with ice and ginger ale and is sat on the bartop in front of Eli by the bartender.
Ollie has quickly and quietly returned to his side work in the bar. Eli pulls his phone from his back pocket and taps on the screen to check his notifications while sipping his soda. There is nothing new on his phone besides the red encircled number one above his green phone app. The little red dot reminded Eli of Dr. Turners phone call earlier in the day. He tapped his way through his contacts to his voicemail sections and pressed the play button.
Dr. Turners concerned and timid words vibrate through the speakers of Eli's phone, " Hey, Mr.Weston. It's Cl-Dr. Turner, I'm sorry. I was just calling to let you know you missed our session today, and I'm worried about you. I, uh, I realize our session last week was not ideal, but that's no reason to not show up today. Actually, that's even more of a reason to show up. Anyways, I hope you are well. You need to contact me as soon as you can, because if you don't I will be required to call the authorities for a wellness check up. Talk to you soon, Eli."
The voice message ends with a click and Eli smiles softly. Dr. Turner tries so hard to be authoritative, but her voice doesn't carry the tone very well. Eli slides his phone in his pocket as he gulps the last sips of his ginger ale. He rises from his stool and lays some money on the bar for the drink. On his way out the door he listens to the voicemail from Dr. Turner one more time. She rarely ever calls him Eli, but it strikes his heart a little harder every time she does. Also, she almost said her name in the message. Dr. Turner must be getting more comfortable with Eli. Eli walks down the sidewalk and decides to head towards his therapists office without calling ahead. In the back of his mind he is wondering what her first name is...Clara, Clarice, Claudia , Clementine, Cloe, or Clarissa. Eli decides that Cloe fits her personality the best.
Dr.Turner was writing down some notes when her door swung open, and Eli hurried over and sat in his usual black leather "Dr.Turner I have some good news." Eli gleamed confidently. "What news is it
Mr. Westen?" Dr.Turner asked. She is not surprised in the slightest as she sits opposite of Eli with her notepad on her lap ready to jot down notes.
"I have decide to get sober after our last session. I was in the back of broken pines where I laid a line of coke out and I was about to sniff it,but something or someone stopped me from doing it." Eli clapped his hands together. Eli is proud and smiling with his pearly teeth. "That's wonderful Mr.Westen. Is that why you haven't been to our sessions? I was beginning to worry and feared I would have to call the authorities to check on you.," Dr.Turner questioned back at Eli. Relief was clear on her face, because worry and curiosity had been replaced with happiness and joy for Eli. Instead of him being out in the world doped up and fearing for his life he was resisting the temptation for drugs. Dr. Turner thinks to herself how hard it must have been for Eli, and she wishes she could have been there with him through it all.
"It's been a week. I'm still working hard to not do or take anything.," Eli's legs began to shake nervously. Dr.Turner notices it and pushed from her chair toward her desk. She motioned for him to come with her so Eli got up and followed her. He was directly behind her when she stopped suddenly and Dr.Turner turned to find Eli's chest pressed against hers. "Uhh h-here take these.," She stuttered and handed him seven multi colored paper clips. Eli stayed still looking at her in the eyes. He always thought her eyes were brown, but he found out that her eyes are actually hazel when the light hits them right.
Dr.Turner cleared her throat and Eli was instantly pulled from her eyes. "What are these for?" He asks curiously. Eli grabs the paper clips to examine them and walks back to his chair. "They are for the week where you were going through detox. I'm so proud that you are finally on the path to becoming sober." Dr. Turner smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Thank you, Dr.Turner. Just...Thank you for always being there for me." Eli says admiring the paperclips in his hand. He looks at Dr.Turner and notices things he wouldn't pay attention to. For example, he observes the way her lips curl at the edge like she is always smiling, and the smell of her freshly sprayed perfume when he enters her office. "Mr.Westen I'm always here for you. As your doctor, you can always contact me with the card I gave you." Dr.Turner started to blush as she tapped her pen on her legs.
Eli gets up to go but Dr.Turner hurries and grabs his forearm. "I'm sorry but we still have some time left....Is there anything you would want to talk about?" Dr.Turner slowly let go of his forearm and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "No, Dr.Turner,not today anyway. I thought maybe I shouldn't let you worry about me. You shouldn't worry about me." Eli walks out the door and leaves Dr.Turner in her office by herself.
Later that night Claire left her office and decided to stop and grab a bite to eat at the Evergreen. Claire asked Edith to come with her but she was busy working a case with her new partner. Claire entered the restaurant and the smell of steak and burning wood invaded her nostrils. "Gladice, How are you?" She asked as she took a seat in her usual booth by the fishbowl. " What can I get the good doctor?" Gladice asked chewing her gum.
"I'll have the enchiladas and French fries with a water, Please.," Claire stayed and handed the menu back to Gladice. Gladice walked away swiftly to place the order. Claire looked around the restaurant while twirling her thumbs. The anxiety was already creeping its way up Claire's spine the more she glanced at couples and friends sharing meals and conversation in the restaurant. The Evergreen was abnormally busy today. Claire texted Edith again, but gave up after Edith didn't answer her back.
Miraculously, Out the corner of Claire's eye a familiar blond head grabbed her attention. Eli was dining by himself; stirring his drink with his straw. She was debating whether or not to invite him over because they both were eating alone, but how would that look a doctor having dinner with her patient. After debating for a while Claire hesitantly moved from her booth and walked over to where Eli was sitting. "Umm Mr.Westen," Claire said while leaning on the back of the chair opposite of him smiling. "Dr.Turner, funny seeing you here.," Eli smiled back rolling his straw paper between his fingers. "Please you can call me Claire when we are outside the office.," Claire suggested. "Alright then...Claire." Eli laughed with a handsome smirk stretched on his lips. "So are you waiting for a friend to join you or...?" Claire trailed off biting her bottom lip.
"No it's just me" Eli pointed towards himself. Eli liked the way she bit her lip; it was the look she made when she was thinking about something really hard or when she was just being shy. He had come to learn these small details about her and her face throughout the past year of being her patient. "Well, maybe if you want you could join me for dinner. I don't have anyone to eat with either" Claire lightly laughed. Eli thought to himself about the idea, because it would give him a chance to understand why a man was outside her apartment the week before. "Yeah I'll join you.," he answered quickly.
Eli follows Claire to where she was sitting and slides in the booth. They both sit in comfortable silence for a little while waiting on their food. Claire clears her throat breaking the silence "So Mr.Wes- umm Eli what did you order?" Eli leans forward "Medium rare Steak with Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Peaches with Burrata and Basil. What did you order Claire?" Eli locks his lips and leans back in the booth "I order the enchiladas with nachos" Claire sipped her drink.
Finally their food arrived to their table, Eli started cutting his steak with a knife while Claire cut a piece of her enchilada with her fork. "Mind if I try some?" Eli says grabbing a few of her nachos and shoving them in his mouth "You have umm something on your chin" Claire laughed handing him a napkin "Thanks" Eli took the napkin and wiped his chin, that stayed quiet while eating. Eli wanted ask her questions, but he didn't know how to approach the situuation. When Claire laid her fork on her plate and asked for the check. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Eli blurted out, Claire choked her water and shook her head. "I don't think that's appropriate Eli" Claire wiped her mouth "Claire we aren't in the office it's a valid question." He opened the check and put the money in it, paying for both him and Claire. "I could have paid for myself" Claire suggested but Eli waved her away
They both slid out of the booth and exited, Eli followed her close behind. Eli sped up to walk side by side with her " you don't have to walk me home" Claire said . "No I insist. Creeps walk the streets and you are my favorite doctor" Eli smirked "I'm your only doctor. Mr.Wes-"
"Eli remember we are out of the office" Eli cut her off, they continued walking until they arrived at her apartment door. "Thank you for walking me home" Claire dig for her keys and
unlocked her door. "Claire, we should do this again.... you know as friends" She turned and nodded as she entered her home.
Eli walked down the stairs and on the street he looked around, when he noticed a figure standing at the end of the street. The figure turned and started to walk away but Eli started after them. "Hey, stop" Eli yelled for the figure. The figure began to run and Eli tried to catch up with it but lost him after he turned the corner in an ally. Eli cursed himself kicking a dent in a dumpster, and he walked home hoping the more he hung out with Claire the less that figure would be around