Chapter 171
SOPHIA’S POV
I threw myself into work.
My first patient came in at nine. I sat with her for forty minutes, listening properly, asking the questions that were necessary. When I sent her out with a treatment plan, she paused at the door and said, “Thank you, Doctor. You actually listened p>
It was such a simple thing to say but it affected me in a way I couldn’t explain.
My next patient came in. It was a complicated consultation mid-morning that required me to call in a colleague for a second opinion. We stood in the corridor afterward, talking through the case, and my colleague said something that made me laugh. It was a real laugh.
She looked at me with raised eyebrows. “You’re in a good mood today p>
“Am I?” I said.
“You are.” She tilted her head “You seem lighter, like something got resolved p>
“Something did,” I said simply.
It happened twice more before lunch. A nurse commented that I seemed well today. Even a junior doctor asked if I’d had good news.
I hadn’t announced anything. I hadn’t changed my routine or my manner in any way I could identify. But apparently people could tell something had changed in me.
My wolf felt it too. She sat quietly in my chest all morning. She felt easy.
I was writing notes at my desk, when my phone rang.
It was George.
I answered immediately “Hello”
“Sophia.” His voice was quieter than usual “I heard that Damien gave you the papers this morning p>
I paused for a moment. That was why he called.
I took in a deep breath.
“He did,” I said gently. “They’re signed. I’ll file them soon p>
“I had hoped things would turn out differently for the two of you. That he would-. Well, It doesn’t matter now what I hoped. What matters is that you are well p>
“I’m well,” I said. “Truly, I’m better than I’ve been in a long time p>
“Yes, I think you are. You deserve good things p>
My throat tightened. Of all the people tangled in this marriage, George had never once been anything but kind to me.
“I’ll visit you,” I said. “That doesn’t change. You and I – that’s not part of what’s ending p>
“You promise p>
“I promise p>
” Good. That’s enough then.” He paused again. “Take care of yourself, my dear. And how’s your arm p>
“It’s healing p>
“See that it does. Goodbye for now, Sophia p>
“Goodbye, George p>
I set the phone down and sat for a moment in the silence of my office.
Then I picked up the next patient file and kept going.
Lance appeared at my office door at twelve-thirty.
He knocked once before coming in.
“Let’s head to the cafeteria,” he said. “You’ve been in here since nine and I know for a fact you only had half of what I brought this morning p>
“I had a full portion p>
“You ate while reviewing a case. That doesn’t count.” He pushed off the doorframe. “Come on. Twenty minutes p>
I saved my notes and stood. “Twenty minutes p>
“Thirty,” he said, already walking.
When we got to the cafeteria, we found a table near the window and sat.
The food was…bland. I didn’t expect much. It was hospital cafeteria food but Lance didn’t seem to mind.
“George called,” I said as we ate.
Lance looked up. “How was he p>
“Sad.” I paused. “He told me to live well p>
“Good advice p>
“From a good man.” I looked at my bowl. “I told him I’d still visit”
Lance nodded slowly. “That’s generous of you given everything p>
“It’s not generosity.” I shook my head. “He was kind to me. You don’t end kindness just because other things end p>
“Hmm… you’re right”
We ate in silence for a while. Then, I broke it.
“Thank you, Lance,” I said.
“Try the soup,” he said immediately. “It’s good today p>
The afternoon passed quickly after that. At four-thirty, my phone buzzed.
Bianca.
I stepped into the corridor to answer. “How are you p>
“Better. Much better.” Her voice was bright “Sophia, Marco called. The interview is tomorrow morning p>
I gasped “That was fast p>
“I know.” I could hear her moving “Sophia, I’m nervous. I haven’t interviewed for anything in years. Everything I’ve done recently has been self-directed, on my own terms, and tomorrow I have to sit in front of someone and p>
“Bianca.” I cut through it gently. “You built forty-seven thousand followers in six weeks. You’ve had three partnership offers. You know food the way some people know medicine”
“Will you come with me p>
I smiled “I was going to offer before you asked p>
She laughed “Thank you. I mean it. I’ll pick you up at eight p>
“I’ll be ready.” I paused. “Eat something tonight. You’re going to be brilliant p>
“Thanks love”
She laughed again and we said goodbye.
Lance drove me home at six.
I sat in the passenger seat with my bag on my lap as we spoke.
We talked about the future.
We didn’t talk about it in grand or abstract terms. We spoke practically, naturally.
We talked about my doctoral application, the research proposal. He talked about where he saw the field moving in the next five years, and I talked about the kind of surgeon I wanted to be by the time I was thirty-five.
I felt optimistic. I actually had something to look forward to.
I stopped talking for a moment.
Lance glanced at me. “You went quiet p>
“I was just-” I paused. “I think I actually believe it. What I was just saying.” I looked at him. “I haven’t believed things about my own future in a long time. I’ve said them, but I haven’t believed them p>
He looked at the road, but something in his expression turned soft.
“Good,” he said softly. “Hold onto that p>
“I intend to p>
Sky Manor appeared ahead. Lance pulled up to the gate and stopped the engine.
“Your arm-” Lance started.
I rolled my eyes playfully “Lance p>
“Keep it dry tonight p>
“Lance, I know. I will. Thank you for today p>
He met my eyes briefly and nodded once “Goodnight, Sophia p>
I got out of the car and walked through the gate. I was halfway up the front path when the door burst open.
Klara came through it at speed. She was holding a piece of paper in both hands, pushing it toward me before she had even reached me. She looked so proud.
“Look,” she said, holding the paper up. “I got first place at the inter-school academic competition, out of forty-three students p>
I took the certificate from her hands. It was signed, stamped with her name written across the center in formal print. First Place. Academic Excellence.
Something broke open in my chest. I felt all warm inside.
I looked up at her face. She looked so happy.
I pulled her into a proper hug, holding her tightly.
“I’m so proud of you,” I said into her hair. “Do you hear me? So proud. Congratulations p>
She hugged me back tightly as well.
We stood there for a moment in the front path of Sky Manor, holding each other.
Today had really been a good day.