Chapter 3: Italus?-1
450 Words
Chapter 3: Italus?
Angela appeared ready to burst as she approached the table, tray in hand. Nash took a quick peek around to verify nobody was within earshot, because the expression on her face was a familiar one. It was her “you won’t believe what I heard” look, and generally it meant a juicy tidbit was about to be divulged at some poor bastard’s expense.
“Spill,” he said as soon as she placed her tray on the table.
She started talking as she slid into her chair. “This is good stuff. Nothing totally new, but some great, lurid details to an existing rumor. Oh, heck, it’s not really a rumor at this point. Everybody already knows Dr. Burlingham is going through a divorce.”
“Yeah, that’s old news. What’ve you got?”
“Brandi overheard Dr. Wilson and Dr. B talking this morning when they were drinking coffees or something after morning rounds. They didn’t appear to notice her slinking into the breakroom and—”
“Jesus, Angela. I don’t care about the source. Spill it already.”
Which was a stupid thing to say. Would he never learn not to interrupt Angela when she was building up to her reveal?
She sat back in her chair and took a slow sip from her water bottle, then carefully twirled around a piece of fruit from her salad on her fork, giving it a thorough inspection.
He caved. “I’m sorry. Please continue and tell it your way.”
She jabbed another piece of fruit. “Damned right I’ll tell it my way.”
Nash caught himself before he could reflexively roll his eyes. He’d made that mistake before. It hadn’t ended well.
Finally, she continued her narrative. “Brandi got the lowdown on the infidelity issue. It was the wife, not him. Not only that, she’s pregnant, and Dr. B’s not the father.”
“How do they know? Did they actually have amniotic fluid drawn for paternity testing?”
“All I know is what Brandi overheard in that convo. She didn’t say how they confirmed it, but get this…the divorce was final two days ago. So come to think of it, they probably would’ve had to do DNA testing for legal purposes. Or would they? I don’t know. Does it matter?”
Christ. “No, it was just a simple question.”
“Anyway, she’s getting married later this week.”
“Brandi’s getting married?”
Angela rolled her eyes. Which wasn’t quite fair that she was allowed to do that in their relationship without repercussions, but he wasn’t.
“No, you i***t. The ex-Mrs. B. Apparently she’s getting remarried later this week.”
“That fast? No wonder Dr. Burlingham has been in such a foul mood lately.”
“So Brandi says. Makes sense, I guess, if she’s marrying the baby-daddy.” Angela glanced up and hissed, “Can it. Not another word on this subject.”
He nodded, not dimwitted enough to do something asinine like turn around to make it obvious about whom they’d been talking. In his peripheral vision, he saw a couple figures sit across the aisle from them.
Angela’s volume rose up to normal levels. “So, any leads on the roommate search?”
- Writer
