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"A true friend stabs you in the front." - Oscar Wilde
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Chapter 20
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Viv stood at the window and watched Jack as he shuffled papers around his desk while blowing out frustrated breaths. She shook her head knowing she was going to miss working with that S.O.B. She knocked on the door, leaned into his office and asked, "Jack, do you have a minute?"
He shoved the papers back and said, "For you, Viv, I got five." He gave her a grin and waved her in. "What's up?"
She moved into the room, sat down on the leather chair in front of Jack's desk. She ran her fingers along his nameplate and took a deep breath. "It's time for me to start taking disability leave."
Jack stared at her for a moment before turning his focus to the wall behind her. He was silent for a few beats before stammering out reasons she should stay. "Um….. You know, Viv, we can adjust your hours, maybe do part-time if you need to take it easier."
"No, Jack, it's time." Viv tilted her head and gently added, "But thank you for offering, it means a lot."
Jack rubbed his hand on his chin. "What are you going to do?"
"Oh, you know, enjoy being a woman of leisure: eat Bon Bon's, watch soap operas, order stuff on the home shopping network," Viv kidded.
"Right, maybe take up knitting?" he said with a small smile. He leaned forward on his desk and absentmindedly played with his wedding ring. He looked at her like he was trying to figure out some way to fix her, some way to negotiate her way to wellness. But they both knew that it was out of their hands. He lowered his eyes, speaking in a gentle but controlled voice. "I know we haven't been right since…since I came back." His voice cracked and he swallowed. "I just want you to know how sorry I am that I did what I did. That I took the job back after it was yours. I was desperate and I didn't know of any other way to try and get custody of my daughters."
Viv sat up straighter and cleared her throat. "I won't lie and tell you that I'm not still a little pissed off at you, Jack." He shifted in his seat like a schoolboy who was about to get his hands smacked with a ruler. An image of herself dressed as a mother superior flashed through her mind but she resisted the urge to smile. "However, considering the hand that I've been dealt it seems God had a divine plan after all. I never could have done the job once I got sick and we would have ended up with someone else running the unit. If it had to be someone else I am glad that it was you."
Jack's expression softened and with a shaky voice asked, "Who's going to keep me in line, Viv? Remind me when I'm being an ass?"
She gave a slow smile and answered, "If you ever need a reminding feel free to call me. I'd be more than happy to oblige."