Page 38 of Mafia and Scars

“No.”

“Have you been feeling fatigued lately?”

I lean closer to the door despite myself and wonder if everything isreally over between her and Geliy—or if maybe he’s still waiting in the wings for another chance with her. And then I find myself wondering if Geliydeservesher sunshine smiles and gentle touch…and the very thought makes my jaw clench harder than it should. Why the hell do I even care if there’s someone else?”

“Um, a little. My daughter and I just got back from Russia.”

“What were you doing in Russia?”

“I was part of a three-week coaching program for figure skaters.”

“Figure skating? That sounds quite intense. Are you sleeping well?”

There’s a long pause, and I lean a little closer to the door to hear more. “Not lately. A few hours here and there.”

“I see. So, it’s safe to say you feel stressed perhaps?”

I can almost picture her nodding. I remind myself this is a private conversation. But I can’t make myself leave. Not yet anyway. My feet are rooted in place.

“It’s just...been hard. I’m a single parent, really. My ex isn’t the most reliable when it comes to child support, and he’s gone a lot without contact. And then I lost my job.”

“And have you been feeling lightheaded or with low energy? Has there been anything out of the ordinary?”

“I was fine. Well, sort of. Some shortness of breath, but I thought that was just a lingering effect from the pneumonia I had about six weeks ago.”

Pneumonia?

“I see. Well, you’ve got a bit of a fever right now, and the fainting tells me that your body is a little rundown. Your blood sugar is fine, and your blood pressure looks good, but the best thing you can do is rest.”

“But—”

“Your body needs time to recuperate fully. You didn’t quite let it recover before jumping back into it with that coaching job. And I’m sure you’d rather not end up back here. You can go home, but you must have complete rest for at least a week.”

“Okay...”

“I’m serious. You’re risking a relapse or ending up in here with further complications.”

My body fills the threshold once more. “She’ll be staying with me. I’ll make sure she rests for the next week and fully recuperates.”Why on earth am I doing these things—interrupting private conversations, suggesting an unknown woman moves into my home, and saying I’ll make sure she rests?

The doctor nods. “Well, alright. I’m going to have Nurse Harris get started on your discharge papers.”

Avelina waits until we’re alone to clear her throat. “You don’t...”

I shake my head to cut her off. I don’t have to do this. In fact, I shouldn’t. So why does the idea of her not taking the doctor’s orders seriously concern me? And why does the thought of those kids living with someone else downright bother me? My brow furrows because none of this makes sense.

“And here we are,” a gentle voice says from the doorway.

A blur of a little girl moves past me, and I suddenly stagger backward so that she doesn’t accidentally brush against me.

Sofia hugs her mom fiercely as the nurse bounces Leon in her arms.

The nurse offers me Leon. I shake my head, and her brow crinkles.

“I’ll take him.” Avelina smiles, and the nurse settles Leon into Avelina’s waiting arms.

“I’ll be outside waiting, okay?” I murmur.

“Sure. And, uh, Viktor?”