Chapter 13 – Things happen for a reason.
At the admin desk the nurses are sadly waving their last goodbyes to the special guests sneaking a last hug, or a last kiss on the cheek, everyone exchanges well wishes, emails, numbers and promises for a near visit. Doug picks up Tess in his arms and takes Carol, who is holding Kate's hand, by the waste, they wave for the last time and they walk off. Audrey stood there and watched the couple walk away, she couldn't stop thinking of what Doug had told her, she couldn't believe she got Carter into taking her advice but she couldn't get herself to take it, although it sorta had been the story of her life. She leans on the admin desk deep inside her bubble, she watches as Ray finishes off his shift, she cannot help but gets shivers when he passes near her.
"DR PARKER!" She is snapped out so brutally by frank voice that she cannot help but snap back at him with her French accent, which was more apparent whe she got mad.
"WHAT IS IT FRANK! What is so goddamn important!"
"Phone for you. It's Catherine your niece, she says it's important. Something about your apartment…" She walks to the phone, feeling slightly embarrassed by her sudden burst of useless anger, but she figures Frank has seen worse through the years. She talks on the phone for a few minutes, her face seems to show more and more discouragement. She finally hangs up and just let's her head collapse on the desk.
"Everything okay Audrey?" Ah the voice of John Carter, for some reason the last one she'd want to hear right now. Dr Carter who had all the funds necessary, who probably never had to hear from his niece or any family member that his apartment building had been shut down for a few days for a plumbing problem, and the John Carter that had the perfect relationship, based on Audrey's pushy advice, with the perfect girl. Audrey liked John very much, they were great friends, but now was a slim moment where she was annoyed by anyone slightly fortunate or happy. She mumbles back to him
"Ill live. Apartment building's shut down for a few days, Catherine is gonna stay with her friend and I'll just sleep in the lounge or…" Neela interrupts her
"You can stay with me if you'd like, nothing fancy but my couch is better than the one in the lounge"
It wasn't very typical for Audrey to accept offers like this one but Neela was right it was better than the lounge. Audrey got to know Neela a bit through the late shifts conversations in the lounge along with Abby, but had no clue about her living with Ray. Audrey was mad about her apartment but tried to take it lightly by whispering to herself that things do happen for a reason, this might be her chance of knowing Neela better, maybe they'd become good friends, you never knew.