As she got out of her car, Violet took a deep breath and smiled inwardly. For once, she felt like life was smiling at her. It had been a month now since she opened her own practice with the help and support of her mother. And it must be said that it was going very well. Layla, her childhood friend, had decided to follow her and be her assistant. She also had a secretary and three other employees under her care and that was more than enough for her.
- Hello my dear! So how did the family meeting go yesterday? Is your mother okay?
Violet smiled and wondered how her friend could be so happy on a Monday when others would be exasperated to already have another week of work to do.
- Everyone is fine. We talked about our jobs, we had fun as a family, we played, in the meantime I slipped away to answer a few emails from patients...
- It doesn't even surprise me from you anymore. Since we opened our office, you've been working 24/7.
- My mother also asked about you and I told her you're doing well and that you're still on dating sites.
- Are you serious?! Is that all you could say about me?
- No, I'm joking. She planned to come see us on Thursday. Those are her smoothest days.
- Oh great! Then I'll make a great takeaway lunch for the three of us.
- Don't bother so much.
- No, it makes me happy. I love your mother very much and you know it. She knew how to bring my little sister back to life.
- Yes, I know. Come on, let's go, send the first patient.
She sat down at her desk and brought in the first child who had waited with his mother.
- Hello Mrs. Kell. Hello my little one, so what's happening to you?
- I have diarrhea and a little fever.
- What did you eat last night?
- Last night, my lover cooked. He made a great zucchini gratin. It was super delicious and super cute of him.
- That's a lot of great for one sentence. Layla mumbled, giving her friend a furtive glance as she filled out the child's file.
- Well, not so great since your child now has diarrhea and I guess that's no coincidence.
- Oh...uh...yeah, Theo is allergic to zucchini but he didn't know it.
- But he's your lover, right? You didn't tell him about your son and his allergies before he made the meal?
- Well...we had just recovered from a moment of passion and I took a shower while he was making dinner so I didn't have time to tell him.
- Oh lord... Violet sighed; it was his first patient of the day and here she was starting to tell him her life story when she only had ten minutes for each patient.
Layla decided to take over, knowing the limits of her friend's patience.
- So if I understood correctly, because you had made love...
- Layla!
- What? I'm only telling the truth. So I was saying, and you wanted to take a shower, your partner couldn't have known about Théo's allergies and made him sick. And it was only after the meal that you realized it.
- That's it. Théo's mother affirmed as if the situation that Layla had just summarized was completely normal.
Violet stood up, wrote a prescription and handed it to the mother.
- In the future, before you bring your companion home again, I advise you to send Theo to his father. Advice from a pediatrician, then you are free to follow it.
- Yes... that's a good idea. I will follow your advice.
Layla knelt down in front of little Theo.
- And you, my dear, take care of yourself. And as soon as you feel in danger, call the office.
- Let's see why he would feel in danger? Asked her mother with a nervous smile.
The two friends looked at each other with a serious look.
- Are you really asking that question? Asked Violet, giving her an almost angry look.
- Al... Come on, let's go, my darling.
After they left, Violet sat back down with a sigh.
- Good God, this is our first patient and she's already taken me fifteen minutes.
- Poor little boy, he didn't ask to have a mother like that.
- And you're talking about someone who makes love in front of a four-year-old child. Do you think that's normal?
- Well, what? He had the right to know what kind of mother he has, right? It's okay, I've registered his file. Second patient, Trevor... Quincy, she finished, looking up at her friend. She had recognized the patient's last name and suspected that she did too.
Violet turned her gaze to her friend and stood up in annoyance before snatching her notebook from her hands.
- Violet...
- Can you let him in.
- Are you sure?
- Yes, go ahead.
It had been ten years since she had heard from this family. And it was exactly ten years ago that she broke off a four-year relationship with
their eldest. A breakup that had destroyed her, so to speak, both physically and psychologically. It was the first and last time she had fallen so madly in love with a man. And this man had destroyed her. And here was her little brother in her office while she was doing everything to forget this family.
- Go on in.
- Thank you. Hello Violet, nice to see you again after so many years.
She stared at him, torn between the desire to get rid of him and to quickly end it with him.
- What are you doing here Trevor? I can easily guess that you are not here for a consultation. So I'm listening, you have ten minutes.
- Do you want me to leave you? Layla asked as she approached the exit.
- No, you can stay Layla, I know that Violet trusts you completely and doesn't hide anything from you. I want to talk to you.
- Oh yeah, and about what?
- About my big brother, Cameron.
- And why do you think I'd want to talk about him?
- Because I'm pretty sure you don't know he's back here.
His blood boiled.