Chapter 17
A range of emotions flashed across his face.[]
“Do you not want me to come back?” she asked, wondering if he was implying that he was not comfortable with having her around. He was giving himself an out to not look bad.]
He revealed a sad smile. “I would be saddened to lose you as a patient just like any other patient here.“[]
Pandora nodded, sensing there was more to his words than met the eye. Still, she ignored it. “I would like to continue coming here. And I am sorry for my inappropriate behavior earlier.” She bowed.]
Dr. Parks let out a light chuckle. “You have been wonderful, don’t worry. Today will be enough to keep Miss Smith from stepping foot in the clinic again. I will see you next week. Be sure to call if you continue feeling sick.“]
Pandora agreed and watched her turn and go back to his office. For some reason, she felt as if her embarrassment from earlier had been lifted slightly because of that interaction.[]
-0
She arrived home and found an unknown car parked in the driveway. She pulled out her phone, prepared to call the police if anything happened. Slowly, she got out of the car, her eyes trained on the unknown car the entire time. Just as she reached the front, the door to the other car opened and Milton stepped out.[]
“Milton,” she sighed, relieved.]
He smiled. “I have been given direct orders from your father to come and check your home.“]
Pandora shook her head and let out a sigh as she unlocked the front door. “I’m sorry. My dad sometimes forgets that he isn’t a prosecutor any longer.“]
“Once a prosecutor, always a prosecutor. I have it in good faith that your father is a great man and was an even better prosecutor fighting for people in need,” he said as he walked into her house.
“He still is,” she stated, feeling proud of her father’s reputation within the ranks of the judiciary. “Would you like some coffee or tea? I plan on having some tea,” she said.[]
“Sounds good to me. I’ll have whatever you are having. I’ll just take a look around if you don’t mind.” He didn’t wait for her to respond
and started to inspect each corner. Pandora walked into the kitchen and started making a pot of tea and some snacks. It had been forty five minutes since her injection and she knew to try and eat.[]
“Everything looks good, but I noticed that you don’t have a security system installed. I have a friend who owns a local security system company. He can install one at a much lower price than any other company will charge you.“]]
“Really?” she asked, placing down the tea and snacks in front of him.]
“Yes, really,” he chuckled. “You don’t have to feed me, but this looks tasty.“[]
“I just pray my stomach feels the same way and keeps it down,” Pandora willed the words to be true.[]
“I hope so, too. So, tell me, Pandora. Did you enjoy your trip to Vegas?“]
She swallowed the tea harshly. “Yes. I learned some things I can use at my job and the seminars were enlightening… if I listened closely. How about you, did you enjoy your two weeks with your wife and family?“]
Milton grinned. “I am still enjoying the aftermath of it. Did you ever go to the club as I said?“[]
She shook her head because she was drawing a blank on what happened that night. Just in case, she lied rather than him finding out that she had done something embarrassing.[]
Vicod! This remains between the two of us,” he said conspiratorially. “Alexis and I have been there an hour at most one of the nights, enjoying ourselves as we waited for her brother and sister to join us. Her sister joined us but the brother simply called and said some gibberish. He was so sloshed that none of what he said made sense. My wife just put him on speaker.“]
Pandora kept staring at him in confusing, unable to figure out what was so amusing about his brother–in–law being drunk as a skunk.]
“Anyway. He kept picking up the phone, blabbering and then hanging up. We tried to put our minds together and finally realized he said he got married!“]
Pandora gasped and Milton nodded with a huge grin.]
“Didn’t you say that Alexis‘ brother was dead against your marriage in Vegas? You didn’t even know each other long before that.”
“So, you can imagine how shocked we all were. We couldn’t believe it but when we ran to check, there were just so many places to look around… we split up. Our other sister found them but he had already gotten married to some girl who looked like she was in her late teens.” He snorted. “Anyway, they were too drunk to talk and she took them to the hotel room. The girl refused to go, but it turned out she was staying at the same hotel. So, my wife’s sister left them in the room to sleep it off. The next morning, we went to his room and the bride was missing. She didn’t leave a trace of herself.”
“Holy hell. You have to be kidding me!” Pandora was horrified, whereas Milton looked like he was enjoying the story a little too much.
“It turns out, he met some girl at a bar and decided on a whim that he would marry her. He took her to a chapel and since then, I have taken great pleasure in asking my brother–in–law how his wife is doing.“]
Pandora slapped his arm but he just shrugged.]
“You don’t understand, my brother–in–law, B-“]
As he started to utter the name, Pandora covered his mouth, silencing him. “I don’t want to know his name or what he does. All of us live in a big city but the world is small. I don’t want to run into him and have this story playing on my mind on repeat.”
