Page 94 of My Heart's Doctor

“Can you come get me? Please,” I said, making a great effort.

“Where are you? What's happening to you?” he asked, with desperation in his voice.

I made an even greater effort because I didn't want to worry him any more.

“I don't know exactly where I am. I just left William's house and drove several blocks, but I have no idea where I am. I can't drive, Orson. My body won't stop shaking,” I said, sobbing.

“What did that son of a bitch do to you? I'm going to beat the crap out of him!” he exclaimed, furiously.

“He didn't do anything to me. It's just that...” I couldn't continue. “Can you come get me?”

“I'm leaving now. If you don't know the street names, send me your real-time location on WhatsApp. Are you in your car?”

“Yes.”

“Don't get out of the car. I'm calling a taxi right now to come get you. We'll go to my place and you'll stay with me.”

“Thank you, Orson,” I said, while sending him my location.

“Wait for me a few minutes. I have your location; you're not that far.”

A few minutes later, Orson was with me. He didn't say anything, he helped me out of the car and gave me a tight, firm hug. It was a hug not only given with heart, but it was a compassionate hug, the kind of hug that gives hope. After a few minutes, he had me switch to the passenger seat so he could sit in the driver's seat.

“We're going to my place,” he stated, as he put the car in motion.

“That's fine. Thank you for everything you do for me.”

“You don't have to thank me. You're like my sister; there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. And when we get home, you'regoing to tell me what happened. If that guy hurt you, he won't have a single bone left intact.”

“He didn't do anything to me, really.”

We made the rest of the trip in silence. We weren't far from where Orson lived, so the journey was short. At his house, he took out two small bottles of beer, brought me one, and we sat in the backyard by the pool.

“Tell me what happened.”

I exhaled and began my story, giving him a summary of what had happened that night. Orson didn't interrupt me at any point, he just listened with silent attention without his face revealing anything, disguising his reactions to comments that I knew he wouldn't like.

Telling him helped me put my thoughts in order a bit and calm down.

“You see that William isn't to blame for anything. On the contrary, he proposed the kind of relationship that you all wanted. I'm the one who can't give him what he needs.”

“Leaving aside the stupid things you're saying, which we'll talk about later, I want to know what he did when you told him you couldn't give him what he wanted.”

“He didn't do anything. What was he going to do?” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Follow you?”

“He didn't follow me, but that was appropriate. Why would he follow me?”

“To tell you he was in love with you,” he stated, without a hint of humor.

“He doesn't love me, I'm sure of that. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I believe he proposed that relationship because he likes my relationship with his daughter. I think he thought thatif we got along, I could become the female figure that Aurora needs. I don't deny that he likes being with me, but he's not in love.”

“And you?” he asked, maintaining his seriousness.

“I love him,” I affirmed, without any doubt.

“I thought as much,” he said, shaking his head. “Now, back to Cavaller. I don't deny that what you're saying isn't far-fetched, but I suspect he also feels something for you, although it pisses me off that he didn't follow you to prevent you from leaving.”