New Winslow S8E60
It was busy at the clinic today. No emergencies (as of yet), but between the scheduled physicals, unwell visits, and last minute appointments being squeezed into every moment of the day, Dr. Degas had barely had a chance to sip water since she’d arrived. The idea of even eating lunch hadn’t occurred to her until a miraculous fifteen minutes opened up and Bonnie told her to skedaddle.
That exact wording too. So now she was sitting outside the clinic, in the back at a picnic table rarely used by anyone except the staff, with her sandwich and diet soda. It was quiet back here, peaceful, with only the sound of the wind and some bird calls above her as she took some deep breaths and tried not to think about her afternoon work load just yet.
There would be time for that in a few minutes. For now, three minutes of deep breathing, just to reset.
“Dr. Degas! There you are!”
Dr. Degas turned to see Jean McNamara of the New Winslow town council moving across the grass toward her. It was like the birdsong faded as Jean approached, and the countdown to the end of her break ticked louder. “What can I do for you, Jean?” she asked, hoping the dull sound of resentment in her voice wasn’t as obvious to the other woman.
Jean gave a little titter as she saw the lunch in front of her. “Oooh, a doctor drinking Diet Coke,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper. “Naughty, naughty.”
“Jean…”
“I wanted to tell you about a proposal I’m bringing before the council at the next meeting,” Jean said, as Dr. Degas was terrified she was about to sit down next to her at the table. “I think it is time – past time – to increase the funding to the clinic. And we’re going to start planning exactly how to fit that money into next year’s budget.”
She gave Dr. Degas a wide, pleased smile as Dr. Degas took a long, slow breath that wasn’t going to reset anything. Not that more funding wouldn’t be good, of course it would. She’d been fighting for that for years. When it had been a matter of life and death. Which it wasn’t anymore, because the curse had been broken.
“Charles wanted it moved up the priority list,” Jean continued, that same proud look on her face. “He resigned, of course – poor dear – but it was something he was strongly supportive of.”
Sure was. Which was why he had rejected the conversation for years of Dr. Degas’s life that she’d wasted in that meeting hall.
Apparently she was being too quiet for too long, because Jean looked at her expectantly. “Well?”
She was supposed to cry in gratitude, wasn’t she? Praise the council – and Baxter in particular – for granting her this miracle. Anger would get her nowhere. Dr. Degas forced a smile, and her anger was obvious underneath it because Jean’s smile faded just a little.
“I’ll get you the numbers,” she said. “But I’m going to finish my lunch break now.”
“Right, of course. I- yes, just let me know.”
Jean scurried away – skedaddled, in fact – and Dr. Degas watched her go. How generous of them. Now that ambulances could come and go freely over the line, and patients could leave with them, now she was going to be funded. And she didn’t fool herself, it still wouldn’t be enough.
She wasn’t going to turn down necessary money. But she wasn’t going to let them think she’d forgotten.
Dr. Degas polished off her sandwich, then stood up. Next appointment was Mia Walker. Poor thing had always been in and out with ear infections. She had a few more ideas for Olivia to try, and apparently some new, not at all funny, but maybe a little bit funny, news to share.
And she was going to finish her goddamn Diet Coke on her way back inside.
———-
What was the point of Jamie even moving back home if he was just going to be working at the Countess? He thought it made perfect sense for him to stay here on the weekends if he was going to just come back in the mornings to work, but Mom and Dad disagreed. Obviously he had to go to school, he wasn’t going to argue with them about that. It was senior year, he didn’t want to miss it anyway. But the weekends? He was going to be working at the Countess on Saturdays and Sundays for a while. So really, it would save time and gas money if he just stayed there.
His first day was tomorrow, just two days after the school year started. It was going to be weird to be back after spending all summer living there. He’d been home way less time than he’d spent staying at the Countess with his family. But this was his first real job outside of babysitting the kids and occasionally working the register at Mom and Dad’s shop. He was so ready for it. Especially now that he was getting this power – that Mom called energy manipulation – under control.
He hadn’t told any of his friends about it yet, but he’d tell Robby and Dan soon. None of the guys on the hockey team would understand, though. Or maybe they would. Stranger things had happened, as Dad always said.
But it was senior year, he had new abilities, and he was applying for college. And now he had a job at a haunted inn full of magic. Exactly what he wanted for his life.
Jamie was so excited that he thought there’d be no way he could possibly sleep. But eventually he was blinking awake to his alarm clock, reaching for his phone to shut off the noise that was waking him up way too early on a Saturday. But before his hand had reached the screen, Jamie remembered what he was doing. And then he was up and getting ready, music on low to avoid waking the babies.
He didn’t have his license yet, but he’d be going for his permit test in a week. Another big deal, not that he had a car of his own yet. Mom got up with him to drive over to the Countess before she went to work herself. From what he’d overheard her and Dad talking about, they’d gotten approved for a loan they’d been waiting on. So she was getting the House of Pizza back in shape. They were offering takeout and delivery while they fixed things, but soon they could open the shop completely again. Jamie obviously didn’t say anything to his parents about it, but he could see the relief that came over them with the news.
“Remember,” Mom said as they made their way down the wooded roads toward his new place of employment. “You listen to Missy and Anna. They’re your bosses now. Don’t just sneak off to take a break, tell them. No, better, ask when your break is. But make sure you take your breaks, they’re legally yours. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”
“I know,” Jamie said, hoping he didn’t sound too much like a kid.
“I know you know,” she said. “You’re going to do great.”
They were quiet for a little while, both still waking up. The morning air was cool as it streamed in the windows and the road was so familiar, but something about it today was new and exciting. As they pulled into the Countess’s parking lot, Jamie was looking at it all through entirely new eyes.
“I’ll be back at three to get you,” Mom said, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “And I’ll drop you off at hockey after. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
He closed the door behind him and Mom drove away. Jamie turned and started up the steps toward his new job.
———
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