The Loveable Resident Chapter 13

All rights reserved
(c) Copyright Mary Faderan 2017, 2018, 2019



"Chapter Thirteen
THE STREET WAS EERILY empty. Darkness billowed around a lone figure walking toward the corner. No streetlamps were on. Slowly the figure reached the parked Camaro and opened the driver-side door. The lights came on inside the car, momentarily illuminating the figure. It was of a woman, dressed in a dark overcoat. The door closed with a snap, and moments later, the engine came to life. The woman glanced around as she put the car in gear. Quietly the car moved to the intersection and then turned toward the outskirts of New Haven. A light flickered from a lit cigarette some yards away. A man stood silently watching as the car left. After taking a drag from the cigarette, he turned back to walk toward the nightclub. The man took out the cell phone and spoke quietly into it. “Not sure, Mr. Moore. Seems like we have an interested party.” He fell silent. Then he rapped out. “Fine.” “Oh god!” the woman cried into her hands once she entered her apartment. Her chest heaved with sobs. It was intolerable. Her rising jealousy gave incoherence to her thoughts. It gave her even more reason to make her resolve. It was important to call him before the end of the night. But her first attempt got her his voice mail. She left a message demanding he call her back, that it was crucial for them to talk. She took off her overcoat and slumped into a chair. She didn’t turn on the other lamp next to it. Only the faint light in the hallway fell on her disheveled figure. After sitting for a long while, a small sob escaped her throat once again. She stared unseeingly at the blank wall before her. Slowly, her breathing
The Loveable Resident
75
became even. Her face was dry at that point. There was a firmness to the set of her jaw. Her cell phone rang. “Hello!” She spoke instantly into it. “It’s Mark. You left a message. What is it, Missy?” “Thank you for calling me back.” She sighed in relief. “I need to ask you for a favor.” “Name it.” “You remember I told you about my boyfriend?” “You told me a lot about your boyfriend, Missy. What about him?” “I need you to help me get him back.” There was a pause. Then “Wait, so he and you split? How do you propose that I get him back for you?” “He dumped me. He is quitting the hospital.” Fresh tears ran down her face. “Mark, I love him desperately. I want him to stay with me.” “Sweetheart, I can’t be a matchmaker for you.” “Couldn’t you do something about him staying?” “So what is his name again?” “Mike Oates. Dr. Mike Oates.” “Why is he leaving the hospital?” “Well, I don’t know exactly. He told me that it wasn’t the life for him. I don’t understand that at all.” “Maybe he was just saying that in the heat of the moment. Some people think they’re quitting, but—” “No! He gave his notice today.” After a pause, Mark asked, “Where is this Mike Oates from anyway?” “He’s from Ohio. Columbus. Why do you ask?” Henderson made a short snort. “Uh, Missy. I need to check on this. Tell me again where Oates lives.” Missy told him. Her sagging hopes lifted at the tone of his voice. “I’ll let you know sometime.” Missy’s face became almost entranced at the words she heard. “Oh, Mark!” she uttered gratefully."