Broken

by Robin Nadler

  “What is it?” She was filling the washer.

  “I need to take my wallet out of my pocket.”

  She smiled and handed it to him. “Done. You look great.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I take it your mentor golf’s?”

  “Yep. He likes traditional golf attire.”

  “I figured.”

  She laughed and walked into the family room. “I was just going over some research. You are welcome to sit and watch TV while you wait.”

  He nodded and followed her. She picked up some papers and books and put them on the table before she walked to the tank.

  “What are you doing?”

  She reached in and pulled each dragon out, placing them on her shoulders. “I’m sitting and reading.”

  “With those on you?”

  “You’re the one standing there, wearing old man golf clothes and dripping wet. I don’t think you are in any position to judge.”

  He sat down on the opposite side of the couch and sighed. “Whatever.”

  Lila picked up a book and began reading.

  “Is that porn?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re looking at naked men.”

  “I’m in urology, David. It’s an anatomy book.” She turned to look at him. “Does it bother you that I deal with men?”

  “Does it bother you that I deal with women?”

  “Do you always answer uncomfortable questions with another question?”

  He shook his head. “Never mind.”

  Lila chuckled and kept reading. She watched as Adam slowly walked down her arm and made his way to David. “You’ve made a friend.”

  He jumped up and moved. “That’s okay.”

  She laughed. “David, they are sweet pets. You don’t have to run away from everything you find different.”

  He met her gaze and sighed. “Fine.” He walked back and sat down. “Hi Adam.”

  The reptile walked closer and licked David’s hand before walking onto his thigh and flattening out in contentment, closing his eyes.

  Lila’s face broke out into a huge grin. “He has never liked anyone. I’m so happy to see him make a friend.”

  David looked at her and then at the creature on his leg. “That’s great. I’m so glad.”

  “Anyone who meets Adam’s approval is worth it in my mind,” she said and went back to reading.

  David felt like he had won the lottery. He looked at the reptile who appeared to smirk at him. “You’re right, I owe you one.”

  “What?” Lila glanced up from her book.

  “Nothing, just a little man to man talk.”

  She nodded and looked back at her book. How long until the dryer was done?

  Chapter Fourteen:

  David was worried. She had been in the bathroom for a long time and after she came out, she was pale and sweaty. He watched her go into her room to change and he wondered what he was doing. He should go home. He shouldn’t be here. He was worried.

  “David?” she called from her room.

  He jumped up from the couch and ran into her room. “I’m here.” She was sitting on her bed, wearing shorts and a tank top and her long hair was piled on her head.

  “You should go home. I feel really weird having you here and it isn’t anything you’ve done, but I don’t like having anyone take care of me. I like you and I don’t want you to take care of me. I need you to go.”

  He crossed his arms. “What if I want to take care of you? Why do you get to make that decision?”

  She sighed. “It kind of is my decision, isn’t it?”

  “You look like shit. I’m worried.”

  She smiled. “Stop being so romantic.”

  “I’m serious Lila. You shouldn’t be alone. Why are you being so stubborn?”

  She stood up and walked past him out to the couch. “I’m not being stubborn. I just hardly know you and the only reason you know me is because I came to your office as a patient, which in itself was ridiculous. You need to go and live your life.” She sat down and exhaled, exhausted and scared.

  He followed her and sat close to her. “What do you want me to say? You’re right; we hardly know each other. You’re also correct in saying that I need to go live my life, but I wonder why you are so content on that not being here?”

  She felt tears come to her eyes. “David, I just don’t understand why? I don’t need a caregiver. It makes me feel helpless and I hate that. I’m also not used to people wanting to be around me, and I don’t know how to react to that. I also feel like shit and I’m scared.” She put her head in her hands and cried. He moved closer to her and pulled her into his arms, holding her and comforting her.

  It was the first time they hugged each other and it was the most profound moment. She resisted at first and then she moved her arms around to hug him. He held her head against his chest and she felt so many things, but the most important, was that she felt better.

  David wondered what was happening to him. He was in this woman’s apartment, holding her, and the only thing he wanted was for her to stop crying and to feel better. He never reacted like this to anyone, and he didn’t understand it. When he felt her move to hug him back, he found himself smiling. He had hugged people before, he had been hugged before, but this was different. This made everything better.

  Lila broke the contact and wiped her face, looking down. “Wow, that wasn’t something I expected.” She tucked the loose hair that fell out of her messy bun behind her ears. “You probably feel taken advantage of and I would never do that.”

  He stiffened at her words. “Don’t say that. I know you wouldn’t do that.”

  She saw him tense up and immediately regretted her words. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

  “No, it’s fine. I think you’re right. I’m going to go.”

  She nodded, “Okay. Thank you for coming by,” she said softly.

  He was running from her and he knew it. He stood up and looked at his clothes.

  “Oh, right. Let me see if your clothes are dry,” she stood up and went to the laundry room.

  “Fuck,” he swore as he paced in the room. He had to tell her everything about himself, but he just couldn’t do it. She would laugh and he would feel ridiculous. He couldn’t bear to see the look of pity on her beautiful face. This was best. He went to help her when something caught his eye.

  “Lila?” He yelled. “Come quick.”

  She ran back to him. “What is it?” What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Eve, look,” he said and she glanced in the tank.

  “Oh my God! We have to get the birthing tank ready before she starts.” She turned to run and grab the materials.

  “What? She is fine right there. Why move her?” David was confused.

  “Get Adam out of there right now,” Lila yelled from the utility room.

  David shrugged and opened the top. He looked in at the reptile and reached in, but Adam ran towards Eve.

  “Whatever you do, don’t let him near her,” she called out.

  David rolled his eyes. “Dude, you are not helping. Come here.” He reached again and the male dragon puffed himself up. “Whoa, what the hell? Did we move to Jurassic Park? If you spit venomous shit at me you are in so much trouble.” He reached in again and Adam wouldn’t budge. He moved closer to Eve. “Fine, be that way,” he walked over and grabbed a magazine, walking back and opening it, making a barrier between Adam and Eve. “How do you like me now?” David was proud of his ingenuity.

  Lila rushed in and saw what he did and she burst out laughing. “Why didn’t you just pick him up?”

  David blushed. “He looked like he was going to eat me. You didn’t tell me they get all macho when their wives are in labor.”

  “Well you are an obstetrician, haven’t you dealt with nervous fathers before?” She walked in front of him and reached in and picked Adam up. “Now you puff yourself up all you want, but Eve needs some alone time. You sit with your new friend while I move
your girl.” She handed Adam to David who looked about ready to pass out.

  “Do they spit?”

  Lila was working on getting Eve situated in the tiny birthing tank. “No. They don’t bite or spit or do anything bad. Adam had been taken away from Eve when I rescued them and he was depressed. It took a lot for him to trust people again. He is probably having flashbacks. You should talk to him.”

  David rolled his eyes and Adam glared at him. “Fine. Don’t worry, it will be okay.” He looked at Lila who was smiling at him. “What? What am I supposed to say?”

  “You’re doing fine. I have to get the sand ready. Make sure she doesn’t get near her eggs,” Lila said as she ran back to the utility room.

  David nodded and then looked up. “Wait, how do I keep her away? She is laying the eggs, right?” He looked at Adam again.

  “Yes, but they aren’t maternal. She might eat them or stomp on them,” Lila yelled back.

  “Fabulous.” He walked to the tank and looked at Eve. “Don’t kill your babies.”

  Lila walked back in and put the materials down before she plopped on the floor.

  “Hey, hey, you okay?” David asked her, moving to her side.

  She closed her eyes and took a few breaths, “I’m okay, just got a little dizzy.”

  “Tell me what to do,” he said as he handed Adam to her. “Don’t move, just tell me.”

  She wiped her forehead and motioned to the bag of sand. “Pour the sand in the small tank and clip the light on the top.”

  He did as she asked and she concentrated on her breathing. “Is that enough sand?”

  “She will probably lay 12 to 20 eggs, so does it seem deep enough?”

  “How do I know?”

  She looked at it and nodded. “It looks fine. Now you have to move her to the tank.”

  “What if I crack the eggs?”

  “Don’t squeeze her, just gently pick her up and place her in the tank.”

  “I don’t know. I might hurt her.”

  “You won’t. You can do it.” Lila said and he took a deep breath and reached in. Eve didn’t move and he gently scooped her up and placed her in the tank.

  “Perfect. You can put him back in the main cage now,” she said and handed him Adam.

  David quickly put Adam back and closed the tank. “Now what?”

  “Now we wait for her to lay the eggs.”

  “Oh. How long will that take?” He asked.

  She smiled. “You’re the baby doctor.”

  “I don’t deliver eggs, and my patients don’t try and eat their young.”

  “Good point. Well it could be an hour or it could be all night. I just have to make sure she doesn’t get egg bound.” She stood up and was glad the room stopped spinning. “You can go home. I’ll be fine now. Thank you.”

  “But you can barely stand up. What if Eve has an emergency? I think you should have an OBGYN on call.”

  She grinned. “I thought you don’t deliver eggs.”

  “Well, I think it’s time I broadened my horizons. Come on, we have labor to watch,” he reached his hand to her.

  She took his hand and they sat by the birthing tank, watching and waiting.

  Chapter Fifteen:

  It had been hours and the noise kept coming. They both looked at each other and nodded. It was time. “We need food,” David smiled. “Our stomachs are screaming.”

  Lila was sitting on the floor, cross-legged, watching Eve in her birthing tank. “I don’t know if I have much, but you’re welcome to look.”

  “I’m going to order a pizza; is that okay?”

  “Sure.” She sighed and looked at him, “Do you think she’s okay?”

  David looked at her. “I don’t know. How many has she had?”

  “Eight. I can still feel more, but she keeps pushing with no production.”

  “Just give her time,” he said as he called and ordered the food.

  Lila sighed again and watched her little beardie struggle. David walked over after ordering and sat down next to her. “Has she laid eggs before?”

  “No, but she was really malnourished; they both were. I’m just concerned maybe this is depleting all of her energy.”

  “What can we do?”

  Lila smiled at him. “You’re the baby doctor; any suggestions?”

  He grinned. “Well, you could have her walk up and down the halls or have Adam rub her back.”

  She grinned back at him. “No epidural?”

  “I don’t have an anesthesiologist on call at the moment.”

  “Good point,” she rubbed her eyes and sighed.

  “If you want to lay down for a bit, I’ll watch her,” forget the lizard; he was concerned about her.

  “No, I’m okay. I need to wait for her to finish so I can put the eggs in the incubator,” she wiped her face. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”

  “No. I’m off. I have a few procedures the day after, but I am ready for some uninterrupted baby free time.”

  She grinned. “Sorry about that.”

  He laughed. “I don’t consider this the same. Eve has been the ideal patient; not one scream.”

  “You’re right. I can imagine your patients are quite vocal,” she stood up and walked to the couch.

  “There may be some screaming involved,” he ran his hand through his hair and stood up as well. “So can I ask you why you chose Urology?” He sat on the chair next to the couch.

  “Well, I guess I wanted to help men who deserved to have a better quality of life. I think sex should be enjoyable and having a happy and fulfilled reproductive life is important for both men and women. I thought I could make a difference for some,” she said honestly. “Everyone figured I would go for Obstetrics, but men were always more interesting to me. When I diagnosed with MS, there were so many things that ended for me, or so I thought. I wasn’t sure what my future would hold.”

  His stomach was in knots hearing her talk about what he could only image as the worst moment imaginable.

  “But Lila, you know how many advances we’ve made in MS medication and research. You had to know your chances at a normal life were excellent.”

  “I did, but it’s different when it’s your own body, you know? I went through a long bout of depression and I didn’t really want to do anything. When I went into the hospital to clean out my office, I saw an opening at a conference in prostate cancer research and it made me think that maybe my career wasn’t over.”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”

  She blushed. “No I’m not. I’m just dealing with the hand I was dealt. I did a lot of things the wrong way David, but I guess I’ve learned that feeling sorry for myself serves no purpose. My future might be uncertain, but I can still make a difference for others.”

  He was quiet and she felt like he was trying to tell her something, but he stopped.

  “I’m a pretty good listener, if you’re interested,” she looked at him.

  He went to say something when the doorbell rang, startling them both.

  “I’ll get it,” he smiled and she walked into the kitchen to get some plates and something to drink. She walked back in and he had set the pizza on the table. She put everything down and smiled.

  “It smells amazing. I don’t think I realized how hungry I was.”

  He put a piece on a plate and handed it to her before taking one for himself. “Me too.”

  They ate and talked about nothing in particular and after they were finished, Lila cleaned up and went back to the tank. “I’m going to try putting her in a warm bath.”

  “Okay. What can I do?”

  “Just sit with her and I’ll be right back.”

  He nodded and sat down, “So, Eve, what can I do to move this along?”

  The reptile ignored him and he nodded. “That’s what they all say.” He looked at Adam who stared at him from the tank. “You did this, you know. You should be a little more supportive,” he shook his head
as Adam walked away.