Page 61 of My Heart's Doctor

“Nothing to thank me for.”

While I was talking to Alba, I had reached my room and at that moment I was pacing around trying to gather the courage to call her. The reality was that I didn’t have anyone else I could trust with Aurora’s care, and besides, my daughter adored her. There was a lady who took care of Aurora when Alba took days off, but I knew she couldn’t stay overnight.

I sighed, knowing I had no other option.

Chapter 12

"...she thought about him without wanting to, and the more she thought about him the angrier she became, and the angrier she became the more she thought about him."

—Gabriel García Márquez – Love in the Time of Cholera

Devon

The phone rang, but I was deeply asleep and didn’t know if it was a call or my alarm. I fumbled on the nightstand to grab it. I knew that if someone was calling me in the middle of the night, it was probably a medical emergency, and I would end up getting up to go to the clinic, but it was my profession and, although I was exhausted, it never crossed my mind not to answer. I put it to my ear without looking at it.

“Dr. Dulcet,” was all I said, and I was aware that my sleepy voice couldn’t go unnoticed by whoever was on the other end.

“Devon, it’s William Cavaller.”

I was speechless with surprise. For a moment I thought I was still sleeping and dreaming. Fortunately, he couldn’t see me because I was surely pale, with my mouth open and eyes wide as saucers. All my surprise written across my face. I sat up in bed as if propelled by a spring.

“Devon, are you there?” he asked, after my silence.

“Sorry, I’m just sleepy,” I replied, after clearing my throat.

“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour.”

“No problem. Is everything okay?” I asked, just to say something because my mind was racing trying to understand his call at this hour of the morning.

“Actually, I’m calling to ask you for a favor,” he said, and for a few seconds he remained silent, but since I didn’t say anything, he continued, “I’m in New York and Alba called me because her younger son had an accident and she wants to travel to Canada to be with him.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. How is he? Is it serious?”

“It doesn’t seem to be, but they need to operate because he had several fractures. The issue is that if Alba travels, I don’t have anyone to leave Aurora with, and I can’t return for another two days. I know my daughter adores you, and that’s why I’m turning to you. I also know I have no right to bother you, but it’s an emergency situation and I only trust you.”

“You trust me?” I asked, thinking of the times he had treated me as incompetent, though I immediately knew I shouldn’t have asked that question.

“Yes, I trust you, Devon. Alba and you are the only people I would leave Aurora with. I know I’m taking advantage of your generosity and I’m very embarrassed to bother you. If you can’t do it, no problem, I’ll ask Alba to wait until I arrive and I’ll try to travel as soon as possible.”

“Don’t do that, I can stay with Aurora,” I stated, without thinking too much about it, though I would have to request a few days off work.

For a few moments we remained silent.

“Thank you, Devon.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d prefer Aurora to stay at my apartment. I can go get her and bring everything she needs. I don’t feel comfortable staying at your house.”

Silence again.

“No problem. I’ll talk to Alba so she can start preparing everything for Aurora, and I ask that you call me if you need anything at all.”

“Alright.”

“Really, thank you so much for your help,” he said, and he truly sounded moved.

“You know I love Aurora very much; it’s a real pleasure for me to be with her.”

“I don’t doubt that, but I imagine it must also complicate things quite a bit with your work, and yet...” he said, without finishing the sentence.