Montana Nights

Chapter 5 : Mila's Day Off

Mila

I watched shadows thrown by the gently swaying limbs of the big oak tree in my front yard dance across the worn, white-washed planks of my front porch. A gentle gust of wind swayed the rickety swing upon which I lounged.

My nostrils detected the first hint of winter chill on the wind, and I smiled. I enjoyed the weather's fresh, brisk flavor.

My gaze remained fixed on the phone in my hand. It was my day off. I had plenty of time to try and call my sister again. Trepidation kept my thumb hanging over the green phone icon on the screen instead of pressing it.

With a final surge of courage, I pushed the call button.

She won't actually answer. She never answers.

Lorraine picking up on the first ring shocked me so thoroughly, my mouth dropped open but no words came out. Irritation crept into Lorraine's voice.

“Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?"

I blurted out my reply at last, my brain no longer spinning its wheels.

“Hi. How are you?"

Lorraine hesitated before replying. “I'm fine…"

My lungs refused to breathe. My mind blanked and I failed to produce a single thought. After the silence grew awkward, Lorraine's voice softened. “How's life?"

“Pretty good. Busy, but good."

The awkward silence slid back into place between us as I waited for Lorraine to say more. I drew in a deep breath and took my turn at carrying the conversation.

“Yeah, I've been busy, too."

We listened to the call's background noises for at least a minute before she spoke again.

“Raising three kids is hard work."

“Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude and disturb your peace or anything."

Lorraine snorted. “When did I say you were disturbing me?"

I sighed. “I just…you know…I moved up here to be close to you after…after Mom and Dad…passed, right?"

Lorraine's sharp intake of breath sounded in my ear. “Yeah. I know."

“It's good to have you back in my life again, after so long." Lorraine grunted, a non committal sound.

What do I even make of that? How does one respond? The grunt, absent of any empathy, hurts. Do I let that out? Start a fight? Dive her further away? Let it slide even though it hurts? I miss her so much....

I closed my eyes.

“Ah, how's the family?"

I wish I could close my ears against my own awkwardness.

“They're fine-Jacob, I can hear the Nintendo Switch buttons. You're supposed to be resting."

“What's Jacob doing home from school at this time of day?"

“Sick." Lorraine let out a derisive snort. “Or, more likely, faking it. That's why I don't let them play video games or watch television when they're home sick."

I chuckled. “Like we didn't watch a ton of television when faking being sick at the same age."

The silence snuck back in. Frustration and conflicting emotions gnawed at my gut. I have a hard time carrying both ends of this conversation. Lorraine, I wish you would open up to me.

“Look, Mila. I'm not saying it's not good to hear your voice…I just got a lot to catch up on around the house, and if I don't do it while two thirds of my kids are at school-"

“Sorry, I'll try to keep it brief. I know you have a hectic schedule."

“And I know you don't get many days off from the clinic."

I heard Lorraine sigh through the phone. Fear of the silence between us returning tried to crawl up my stomach, but Lorraine's voice saved me from the next awkward thing I could come up with to say. “It's fine, I can talk for a little bit."

It doesn't sound fine. You sound mildly annoyed at having to talk to me at all.

“So, ah, did you get my message?"

“Yeah."

The wind picked up and fluttered the sound, but I still heard the rest of the reply.

“I got it. I wanted to call you back, but life kept getting in the way. Sorry."

“It's fine.".

Right then, I got a 911 text from Dr. Wilma.

“What was that?"

“It's the clinic…"

“Of course it is. It's okay, we got our weekly allotment of trying to pretend to be loving sisters out of the way, didn't we?"

I checked the message as it appeared on the screen.

Daniel got stepped on by a horse. He's in the ER and…

I didn't have to read the rest. With Daniel gone, they would be short a vet tech.

“I'm getting called in to work."

“Well, you'd better go, then."

“Yeah, I guess so. I'll talk to you later, okay? Love you."

She paused for a moment before replying. “Later."

I sighed as the call ended. I entered the house and put on a pair of clean blue jeans and the least blood-stained scrubs top I could find. Collecting my essentials, I drove to work thinking how much my wardrobe made me look like a tv serial killer.

The second I walked in the clinic door, an afghan hound gleefully romped around the waiting room with joyous abandon. Its owner called out repeatedly for it to stop.

“Jazzy, stop that right now." The owner, a middle aged woman, pleaded with the dog the way one could imagine pleading with a serial killer with a gun.

Ugh, I've got serial killers on the brain, today…

Jazzy ignored the woman's pleas and bounded in an entirely new direction, magnificent hair flying everywhere.

And after that woman obviously spent hours brushing that coat! Time to save the day…

“Jazzy, heel!" Jazzy screeched to a halt and gave me an embarrassed look. “That's a good girl."

Petting Jazzy's head until her owner snapped the leash to her collar. “Thank you."

“Don't mention it."

“Is that Mila's voice I hear?" Ashley stuck her head out of the back, arms full of struggling Shih Tzu. “With Daniel out, we're a mess. I'm supposed to be assisting Dr. Wilma with a spay in surgery, but Noah got called out to assist with the large animals and I got saddled with taking this mess to a kennel. Ah, can you…?"

She offered the squirming mass of fur and slobber. I took the burry ball of cute, unable to fend off a deluge of wet, doggy-breath-laden licks. Once I got the dog into a kennel, I turned around and slammed my shin into a mop handle which had fallen across my path.

I rubbed the sore spot on my shin and grimaced.

I'm not even supposed to BE here today…

That set the tone for the rest of my day. I sat down for maybe ten minutes to eat lunch. Otherwise it was just go, go, go until the clinic closed and beyond.

I tried to brainstorm about how to make Lorraine and I close again any time I had a spare moment to think, which wasn't often. When I finally walked out the door about nine past seven, I still had no good ideas.

“So, any big plans tonight?" I turned to Harper and snickered.

“Yeah, my big plans involve stripping out of these smelly work clothes, eating cold leftovers, and plopping down on the couch for some crap show I'll probably sleep through more than watch."

She laughed, and I made my way home. Only, my plans were thwarted by an empty fridge. Pulling on clothes from a clean-smelling pile, I drove to Snowy Grove's only grocery store within city limits.

The parking lot at Sid's Grocery seemed rather full. Selecting a basket, I made my way through the foyer into the store. My eyes widened as they fell on Dr. Ethan's broad back.

He still wore his scrubs and, after working with him at the clinic, I knew it was him just by the way he moved. Dr. Ethan held some bok choy up like it was some kind of alien from another planet.

I really am too tired for a conversation, yet, I haven't really had a chance to talk to Dr. Ethan much since he started.

I decided to go and say hello.

It would be rude to do otherwise.

I eased up beside him. Captain Oblivious stared back and forth between the bok choy in his hand and the signage.

“It's called bok choy."

Dr. Ethan jumped like he was in a scary movie, then turned to look. Confusion reigned in his eyes before a wide, delighted smile spread over his face. Taken aback by his reaction, I almost missed what he said.

“Oh, it's you, Mila…Is that what this is? I've heard of it but I've never cooked it before."

“It's pretty easy. Cut it in half, right down the middle, then put it in an oven-safe dish or roasting pan with a tablespoon of water or so. I'd salt and pepper it before putting it in, though, and then add lots of butter when it's done."

“Thanks. I'll give it a try. I'm trying to get more vegetables in my diet."

He stared at the bundle in his hands, his voice winding down as if he ran out of things to say. Part of me longed to escape the awkward moment.

Yeah but he is pretty to look at…

“You should try the greens."

“Greens? A lot of stuff in here is green."

I c****d an eyebrow.

“No, I mean the stuff actually labeled as greens. You know, the collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens…kale's pretty good, too."

“I've had kale before, I think. I do recall it being decent…um, how do you cook it?"

I felt a little bit tickled.

He's asking me for advice, but… The awkwardness is strong with this one.

“I'd saute it with some butter, but throw some chopped onions in the pot first. Maybe some garlic, too, if you have it. Other than that, season it to taste."

“Thanks."

He looked at the bok choy, and then put it in the small shopping basket hanging from one arm before looking up at me again.

“So…it was pretty busy at the clinic today, huh?"

I knew he was trying to keep the conversation going, but there wasn't much I could say to that.

“Ah, yeah, it usually is busy. That's why Dr. Wilma hired you, right?'

“Yeah, right."

His cheeks flushed red, but a captivating smile spread across his face.

With dimples. I hadn't noticed the dimples before.

Good god, does he have any idea of how hot he is?

My gaze roamed around his form appreciatively.

His tush looks fantastic in scrubs. Oh, Dr. Ethan, I think you have the cure for what ails me…

I silently admonished myself for having such thoughts. He was a co-worker. I couldn't help but think dating him would be a mistake.

Or would it? God, Dr. Ethan is one tree I'd love to climb…stop it!

Oh my god, what's with this man-thirst? He's not that hot.

I probably should have known I lied to myself then and there.