Chapter VII
A few days after Leia came to the clinic, Dana still can't get it out of her mind. She has convinced herself that the right the thing to do is to alert CPS. However, just as she is sitting down to make the call, she gets a quite unexpected call from Leia.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Leia Parker, I came to see you a few days ago. I didn't get to actually get around to seeing you though."
"Oh hello, Leia! I'm so glad to hear from you! I was a bit worried from the way you were just whisked away!"
"Well one of the reasons I'm calling was to appologize for that. I feel horrible about it," Leia says contritely.
"Oh, please don't worry about it- things happen," Dana says kindly.
"I would really like to schedule another appointment, though."
"Well I'm sure Lana could set you up with something," Dana says brightly. When Leia doesn't say anything, she asks in an anxious tone," Is there a problem?"
"No, no, I'll set up a time with Lana. I just want to be sure that I can make it this time!" Leia answers in a superficially bright voice.
"Leia, is there a problem with your father not wanting you to come?" Dana asks seriously.
"My wh- oh, no, it's fine."
"Are you sure?" Dana wants to question her, but Leia is on her guard, and Dana wants the girl to trust her.
"Yes," Leia says firmly. "I'll make an appointment with Lana. Thanks Dr. Stowe!" And before Dana can say anything else, the dial tone has replaced Leia's voice.
Dana sighs and reluctantly hangs up the phone. She gets up slowly and walks into the lobby.
"Lana, can you let me know as soon as Leia Parker calls please?"
"Will do, Dr. Stowe."
Dana sniffs the air for a minute.
"Lana! What is that stench?"
"Why don't you go ask loverboy yourself?" Lana lowers her voice.
What?!" Dana exclims with a look of mingled fury and confusion.
Lana lowers her voice,"He's lurking behind those file cabinets watching you."
Dana sweeps around to where Lana is looking. And indeed, there is Nick. On the ground, nonethless. He looks up at her, then backdown at the floor. Dana puts her hands on her hips. She looks as if she's about to say something, but then she just turns right back around and stomps back into her office. But the look on her face when she looked at Nick was enough to make a grown man cry.
Nick quickly gets to his feet, and addresses the dozen or so people who witnessed the whole thing. "Hurumph...I just.." he clears his throat for what seems the millionth time that day. "Dropped my pen cap." When everyone keeps staring, he sighs, looks at the ground, and walks away, his face as red as a tomato.