Chapter 14

Playing doctor didn’t turn out quite like I’d expected because Lizzie asked me to mimic symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy and various other female ailments, as it was an obstetrics and gynecology exam. I did my best to play my part, and quizzed Lizzie on a number of facts and unique case studies from her notes.

Mrs. Reynolds texted Lizzie around 11:00 p.m. to ask if she was okay. She assured her mother she was fine and staying with a friend. Her mother didn’t ask the name of the friend, and I wondered if she suspected Lizzie was with me. If so, I hoped Mrs. Reynolds wouldn’t mention that to her husband or he might storm over my place with a SWAT team to rescue his daughter from my evil claws.

We studied until 3:00 a.m., then I insisted that she take my bed while I slept on the sofa.

Around noon, she texted me, telling me she had passed her test. Not with flying colors though. I wasn’t surprised. There was too much in her mind.

Her text ended with the line, “I’m going home to get some clothes.”

I texted back. “Do you need moral support? Backup maybe?” I joked.

“Tempting, but I think I can handle it by myself. Dad is at the hospital. Thanks for being there for me, Nick. You are a true friend.”

“Any time, Lizzie.”

“You know, now that Wendy is gone, I can’t go on pretending to be content with an existence in my father’s house where I’m expected to follow his rules and not think or choose anything for myself.”

“You can stay with me as long as you wish.”

She didn’t text back, so I thought that was the end of it for now.

So, I was surprised when some hours later my doorbell rang and I discovered Lizzie was standing at my door. She had brought a suitcase with her.

I felt a strange, joyful energy that had been a distraction all day long. I was happy that she had come to my place.

“Sorry I didn’t call first,” she said when I finally opened the door. My apartment was in the first floor and it took me some time to walk down the stairs. “I hope it’s okay ... just showing up like this. You’re probably worried I’m going to turn into some freeloader or something but I promise I won’t. I just can’t stay at home. I can’t deal with my father right now.”

I took hold of her elbow and gently pulled her inside.

“Come in. You’re always welcome.”

“Gosh, I’m a mess.”

Five minutes later, we were seated on my leather sofa drinking some tea.

“So the exam didn’t go so well?” I asked her.

She shook my head. “I missed a lot. It’s okay, though. I’m not going to flunk out or anything. They know the circumstances.”

“Are you hungry?”

Her belly growled like a beast. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

We both laughed.

“I’ll make us some grilled cheese sandwiches.”

“That sounds good.”

I made four sandwiches, two for each of us.

We sat facing each other at opposite ends of the sofa. She folded one leg up under her, rested her cheek on a hand.

“I don’t know how I’d be surviving all this without you,” she said.