Protect Me Not

Chapter 28

Mary hung onto the door handle to suite 704 for what felt like an eternity. She knew what she had come to do but finding the to do it was another story in itself. The door handle was well tattered and worn; used by so many people, indicative to the many people who passed through that very same doorway. She turned the knob to enter the office space remembering her purpose for her arrival. Inside was surprisingly bright with large floor to ceiling windows that spanned the entire east side of the open room. The air felt fresh and crisp with a faint aroma of cinnamon spice lingering through the space. The waiting area was lined with plush black leather chairs accompanied by stacks of previously read magazines. Small jack-o-lanterns were strategically placed around the room offering a festive look. The smell of fresh brewed coffee emanated from the open doorway to the left of the entrance. Mary walked in further to discover a large dark mahogany reception desk sporting a rather large pumpkin on the outer corner. Victor's love for Halloween rang into her thoughts the moment she saw the carved pumpkin. His love of the holiday was charming and equally foolish, especially when he insisted they dress in outlandish costumes. As she approached the desk, she stared at the woman who sat behind it.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist questioned in a quivering tone. It was apparent the receptionist was startled by Mary's entrance into the office. The reception was deeply preoccupied with her work; she never took notice to Mary's initial arrival. It was an honest oversight as there were no scheduled appointments to attend to that day. Gwen was playing catch up at the office while Doctor Copeland attended to an important matter of his own behind the closed door of his private office.

"Don't I know you? I mean you look familiar to me," Mary responded not really answering the receptionist's question.

"I don't think so," she quickly replied. "I have one of those familiar faces. I get that question all the time."

"I'm here to see Doctor Copeland," Mary tells her.

Sounding nervous and unsure how to proceed, Gwen shuffled some paperwork around on her desk keeping her face out of Mary's direct sight.

"What did you say your name was?" Gwen asked trying hard to come up with a reasonable but believable reason to get Mary to leave.

"Mary. Mary Templemead," she answered.

Gwen could feel herself start to sweat. She thought about lying by telling Mary that Doctor Copeland wasn't in the office but that escape plan deflated the minute the Doctor let out a loud sneeze from inside his office. She then thought about coming up with a story of how multiple doctors' share their office space in order to keep fixed cost to a minimum but then Gwen realized Doctor Copeland's name was clearly the only one boldly marked on the door. Gwen's final lie came out of her mouth with great ease, which turned out not to be a lie at all.

"Do you have an appointment? I can't seem to find your name on my list of appointments," Gwen revealed without a stutter of pause.

Just before Mary could answer and respectfully start explaining her reason for the unscheduled visit, the door to the doctor's office opened. Gwen and Mary wore the same facial expression that consisted of confusion and panic, both for very different reasons.

Gwen jumped up from behind her desk and moved toward Doctor Copeland as if to create a human barrier of sorts. Gwen possessed a naturally ability to be creative. She was resourceful and intellectually quick giving her the upper hand in the most challenging situations. Planning to have Mary standing in her office was not a situation she thought would happen.

Mary's confusion radiated through her eyes, a look Doctor Copeland had witnessed before. She looked so troubled and so worried, a feeling the doctor painfully knew himself. No one said a word. They had no choice but to absorb the overwhelming streams of strong feelings floating within the four walls that surrounded them.