It almost killed me from lack of sleep, but I couldn’t let Daisy down. Somehow I’d persevered and I was thoroughly enjoying my job at the Steadman Hawkins clinic helping elite athletes return to their full potential after suffering from injuries. My job kept me sane, gave me purpose outside of being a mother and even provided me with a little bit of a social life. Most importantly, it gave me and Maddy the stability that I’d craved so much growing up.
After I’d gotten the job we moved to the Greenwood Village neighborhood so I could be closer to work and Maddy could go to some of the best schools in the state, even if they came with little bullies like Sara. The house was the smallest one in the neighborhood, and came with an outrageous price tag which took up most of my salary, but it was worth it. I didn’t mind the sacrifice. I was determined to give Maddy a better life than I ever had. I owed that to her…
And I owed it to Daisy.
So far, so good.
I threw on my scrubs, put our breakfast dishes away and slid into my car, saying a little prayer that it didn’t give me any trouble today. My old Honda was on its last leg and I couldn’t afford to buy a new one just yet. With the rent and Maddy’s doctor bills, my budget was stretched thinner than ever, and I was praying the car lasted just a little bit longer. Luckily, it started right up, and as I made my way to the clinic I took a deep breath, breathing in the clean mountain air that I loved so much. I had a long day to get through. They’d scheduled appointments with two new patients and I still had three other sessions as well. I just hoped I could finish up in time to meet Maddy after school.
I was in my office looking over patient files and getting prepared for the day when my boss, Larry Steadman, walked in.
“Good morning, Larry,” I said. He sat across from me and smiled, staring deeply into my eyes for a second before speaking. His brown suit was meticulous, his black loafers polished and shiny. He’d lost all his hair long ago and he was twenty years older than me, but that didn’t stop his daily attempt at a mating ritual. Larry had been trying to get me to go out with him for six months now, and I always refused by telling him it wasn’t appropriate to date people from work. The truth was, he just wasn’t my type, whatever my type was. I didn’t really know, because I’d had no time for a social life while going to school and raising Maddy. Now that I was out of school and settled into my normal work hours, I had a little more time… But I still hadn’t dated much. I spent all my time with Maddy, sprinkled with occasional visits from my best friend Eddie.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t interested in dating. I longed for adult conversation, adult outings…sex. But I felt like such a fish out of water in those situations, and nothing much ever came from the few dates I had gone on. To say I was discouraged with the whole thing would be an understatement. If there was a good man left in Denver, I hadn’t found him yet, and I damn sure wasn’t going to find him in this office.
“How was your weekend?” Larry asked. “Do anything fun?”
“No, not really. Took Maddy to the aquarium downtown, did a little shopping. Nothing too exciting.”
“You know, Maisie, I’d love to take you and Maddy to the zoo or something sometime,” Larry said.
He was persistent, I had to give him that. Lately he seemed to think the key to my heart was through my daughter.
“Larry, I’ve already told you that I don’t mix business with pleasure,” I replied, forcing myself to smile through my irritation.
“Yes, I know,” he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “I just keep hoping you’ll change your mind.”
“I won’t,” I said. I hated saying no to people, but the last thing I needed was to create drama at work and lose my job. “You know how much I value this job, Larry.”
“I know, I know,” he replied. “I won’t ask again.”
He’d said that before and I knew he would break that promise again next week. It seemed like every Monday he was in my office trying to make small talk and wear me down. He’d been doing this for six months, but since he was co-owner of the clinic, there wasn’t really anyone I could complain to.
Not that I would. I wasn’t one to rock the boat like that.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling again, hoping that I’d found that balance between firmly turning him down and keeping my job.
“So,” he said, with an exaggerated sigh. “It’s going to be a busy week. All the usual suspects will be back for their regular therapy but I hear we’ve got a special guest coming in today. Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of him. Somebody really did a number on his leg.”