Chapter 20

Cassie

The car took me straight to the hospital then next morning, I didn't even have to ask and to make things even better , I hadn't seen Julian once. He seemed to be avoiding me and that was fine by me.

If only we could avoid each other for the rest of our lives.

Walking quickly through the familiar hospital corridors I came to my mothers room. She was on the bed , looking frail and even smaller than she had been when she was in a coma. There were wires and tubes everywhere. Fear gripped me but it easily faded away as the sound of beeping filled my ears. She was alive, and her new heart was beating. The proof of that beeped in my ear.

"Hey mamma." Crossing the room, I took her hand and lifted it to my cheek. "I know you can hear me so I wanted to make sure you knew I was back before work. But I'll come back later ok. And by then you will be awake and we can chat and plan the future." I took a deep breath. "I have so much to tell you and I know you are going to be mad at me but I did it for you, ok?"

Behind me someone cleared their throat. Turning I stared at Mandy.

"What are you doing here?" She looked genuinely confused to see me.

"What do you mean?" Lowering my voice I walked towards her. My mother needed to sleep and heal and I didn't want this to wake her.

"Someone made a call." Mandy swallowed audibly. "I'm sorry but I was under the impression that you would be-" her eyes skirted away again.

"Just tell me."

"We were told to start to find your replacement. That you would be-"

At my side my fists clenched. "Julian." This had my husband all over it. No wonder I hadn't seen him. He had been too busy trying to ruin my career. The one part of my life that I had some control over.

"Am I fired?"

Mandy's eyes went wide. "That's not my decision. I know the phone call came from very high up but I will try and sort it out. We need you here. Why don't you take the day off and I will let you know as soon as I know ok."

"Ok."

Glancing over my shoulder I looked at my mum. I should stay by her side but if she woke up and saw me like this then it would make her worry. I needed to go somewhere and regroup.

If Julian thought he could ruin my career then he had another thing coming. I would fight him on this. I would fight him to the ends of the world.

Not looking back I began to head back towards the exit and walked straight into Forrest's wide chest. His hands came out to steady me. "Hey. What's wrong?"

One look at my face and he knew something had happened. That's what made him such a good friend.

"Nothing, what are you doing here?"

His eyebrows knitted together. "You asked me to come and watch over your mother. Now tell me what's wrong."

My lips pursed. "My husband is trying to ruin my career."

His eyes darkened. "You mean Prince Julian?" His voice was a whisper.

"I mean my asshole husband." I hissed.

"Stop now Cassie." He hushed me. "You can't be heard talking about him like that. Not here. I'm pretty sure the walls have ears. Come on-" he slid my hand into the crook of his arm. "Let's go and get breakfast and you can fill me in."

"I see." Across the small plastic table Forrest blew on his tea even though I knew it was already cool enough to drink. "You really aren't having much luck are you?"

Tearing off the edge of of my croissant I growled before stuffing it into my mouth and chewing. At least there was still pastries. At least Julian couldn't take away the joys of eating from me.

"So the placement with the unit was given to Megan?"

"Yep." I said with my mouthful.

"And now you may have lost your job at the hospital?"

"Uh huh." I swallowed down the sweet buttery pastry and reached for my coffee. "And don't forget Megan's leaving party. I'm pretty sure they arrived together."

Forrest's eyebrows arched upwards. "Did they leave together?"

"No idea." I shrugged. "I left before him. I couldn't stand to sit opposite them a second longer."

"You think they are having an affair?"

"I have no idea and I honestly don't care."

Over the rim of his cup he chuckled. "You look and sound like you care , Cassie."

"That he might be sleeping with her?" My eyes flashed "I really don't."

That was only partly true though. I did care a little bit especially after the telling off he had given me about straying away from our marriage. More than likely he had been doing exactly the same and with my coworker no less.

"I do care that he seems be using Megan to ruin my career prospects. She is not the doctor I am."

"Agreed." Forrest looked thoughtful. "And I do think it may have to do with Megan. I just don't know what yet."

Sipping at my drink I studied him. "She has like a million boyfriends. Why shouldn't my husband be one of them?"

Throwing back his head Forrest laughed. "Now you really do sound jealous, Cassie. It doesn't suit you."

He reached across the table and patted my hand. "This isn't the Cassie I know. The old Cassie would be making a plan right now. Or she would already have one."

"I'm about to lose my job Forrest." I spat.

"What is your plan?" He asked again more firmly.

I took a deep breath. He was right of course. But then again he usually was.

"I'm going to fight." I finally said.

"For your man?" The corner of his mouth twitched.

Squinting at him I shook my head. "Hell no. Megan can have him. They are welcome to each other but I am going to fight for my career. I've worked too hard for him to take it away from me."

"And how are you going to do that?"

I grinned at him because he was right. I was usually the girl with a plan. I didn't wallow in self pity. I made things happen.

"But I am going to go home and start sending resumes. I've been getting emails from hospitals for years offering me positions."

"There's my girl." Forrest squeezed my fingers. "Welcome back Cassie. I thought we had lost you there for a second."

"No. Almost but I'm not lost. I'm a fighter."