by Berinn Rae
A hollow realization grew in her stomach. While she was on maternity leave he couldn’t fire her, but the minute she returned she’d find her name tag removed from the office door. You’re not meeting the company’s needs. Hiltorn’s standard termination lingo. In fact, he’d have his new human resources person say it, just as she’d said those exact words to many.
Drops of rain streaked her windshield as the tall buildings of downtown grew smaller in her rearview mirror. Soon, the droplets changed to frozen pellets that clonked against her car. She turned the wipers and the defroster to the max, and shivered as the cold infiltrated the interior of the car.
What would her mother do in her situation? Get her normal life back, of course. Meaning, Olivia must discover her purpose in this life, fulfill it and she’d return to her world. At least that was how it always worked in those books she’d devoured.
The frozen pellets changed to thick snowflakes. The wiper blades swished across the windshield at full speed, clearing her view of the road. The brass sign of a tall building she pulled in front of read Dr. M. K. Law, MD. She had promised Tom she’d see a doctor.
Would the old doctor see her? Of course. He wasn’t only their family physician but an old friend and distant relation to her mother. Last time she’d seen him, she was twelve and Mother had finally brought her in when “a touch of flu” turned into a bad case of pneumonia. Maybe this other Olivia had been blessed with a better mother. Hopefully they wouldn’t meet. If she were a nurturing mother, she’d expect a hug and maybe a kiss on the cheek. Olivia would freeze not knowing what to do. Though she gave up hope for a loving mother years ago, a hint of jealousy squeezed her heart. It must be nice to have someone in life who would care.
She got out of the car and stepped to the front door. In the building’s dark glass, her tense expression reflected back on her, all the panic she was barely repressing showed in the set of her mouth and tension around her eyes.
The thick glass door opened at her push. She proceeded to the reception desk.
The receptionist’s gray hair came loose from her clip when she snapped her head toward Olivia then tilted her chin at the phone receiver pressed to her ear. “I’ll have to call you back.” She lowered her glance at the stack of mail on the desk. “Can I help you?”
“I need to see Dr. Law.” Olivia tapped the reception desk. A thought crossed her mind — what if the doctor had retired? But if he had, his name wouldn’t be on the door. No. This secretary must have replaced his ancient one. Or she was a temp. “Do you have an appointment?”
Olivia’s fingers ceased and she faced the woman. Her name tag read Doris. “No, I don’t.”
Doris pulled her glasses off, letting them dangle on the chain around her neck. She puffed. “Well, he’s busy and won’t see you without an appointment.”
“Tell him Olivia … ” What last name should she use? Since everyone seemed to call her Medar, she opted for Tom’s last name. “Olivia Medar is here and it’s urgent.”
The receptionist swiveled her chair and typed on the keyboard. She tapped her chest, feeling for her glasses, put them on and peered at the screen. “Medar, Olivia, nee Owen.” With a sharp twist of her chair, she faced Olivia, a questioning frown on her face. At Olivia’s nod, the receptionist lowered her glasses again. “I doubt he’ll see you. We’re booking for February, Mrs. Medar. If you’d kindly make an appointment, he’ll — ”
“It’s only November, Doris, and your waiting room is empty.” Olivia stepped to the nearest seat in the waiting room. With narrowed eyes, she lowered into the first leather chair and scrutinized the secretary.
Her practiced stare worked, because the woman averted her gaze and rummaged through the papers on her desk. “He’s with a patient now. I’ll see what I can do.”
Releasing a breath, Olivia glanced at a stack of folded morning papers on the low table. She picked up the section with the headline: Medar Maintains the Innocence of his Client. Tom’s picture and an article filled the front page. She glanced down to read the bulk of the story.
“Evidence is mounting against Mr. Medar’s client, Maria Stokić. She has no solid alibi or a witness. Yet her attorney maintains the woman’s involvement in the shooting is purely circumstantial. As previously reported, on October 20, a domestic employee of Baldwin estates was found slouched over Mr. Erich Baldwin. CEO and founder of C-Two Media, the filming industry giant is in a coma with a shotgun wound to his chest.”
Olivia’s hands shook and she tried to swallow the lump of fear in her throat. Her missing gun filled her mind. The weapon was to scare her dates who might get any wrong ideas. Thank God she’d never had to use it. It had to be at least a year since she’d checked on it and last night the gun was gone from its hidey hole. But she was in a different life. Olivia from this world might not possess a weapon. She bit her lip to stop from yelping. Maybe her alternate wasn’t strong enough to help Tom defend his client and win the case, and some unknown entity switched their places. This could be Olivia’s purpose here.
“Dr. Law will see you. Please, come this way.” The receptionist’s stern voice jolted her back to the moment.
“I knew he would.” She tossed the paper onto the table and followed the thin woman down the hallway.
Doris ushered her into a small examination room. “He’ll be right with you.”
Olivia sat on a chair and tucked her still shaky hands between her thighs. Two knocks sounded on the door.
She assumed a casual pose. Her foot tapped nervously of its own accord. “Come in.”
The door swung open and Dr. Law entered. His graying hair confirmed she hadn’t seen him in quite a long time, but maybe the other Olivia had.
“Olivia,” he said, taking the seat on a round stool. “What’s wrong? It’s not like you to come in without an appointment.”
“You’ve known me since I was a child.” She sniffed, hoping the good old doctor would see how disturbed she was.
His thick moustache twitched with his frown. “Yes, I have.”
“Have I ever behaved irrationally?”
“Many times, in fact, but you were set in your ways.” His keen gaze settled on her. “Is this about Tadem’s surgery? It will be a long road to recovery and she’s lucky to have the best sister in the world.”
The best sister? She turned to look behind her, only to see the wall. He means me.
Her hopes died with his words. Every person she came in contact with knew Olivia from this world, not her. On this rare occasion, she was at a loss for words.
“With a mother like yours, it is no wonder you two are so close. Tadem hasn’t been my patient since she was a year old, so I can ask. Does your mother even know her daughter had a surgery?” When Olivia didn’t respond, the doctor shifted in his seat and quickly changed the subject. “Is your mother on a Caribbean cruise?”
Well, alternate life or not, Mother stayed the same. Olivia of this world had not been lucky either. She mustered the courage to speak, but dared not disclose her theory. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m here. I seem to have amnesia, or something. You see, I don’t have any memory of visiting my sister nor of Tom or the kids. What I remember is a different life.”
Dr. Law leaned backward, his bushy eyebrows furrowed. “Did you suffer a head trauma?”
Him too! She shook her head. “I’m positive I didn’t lose my memory, as I’m positive I never visited my sister, or married Tom or even had his kids. None of this is my life. The life I know and remember is different.”
A solitary life, devoted to a corporation. In which she’d watched in disgust when people rushed from work to see their families while she’d gone home at the end of every long day to an empty house.
Dr. Law’s silent stare raised the hairs on her nape. He straightened, rolled his stool closer to her and cupped her chin. Pulling down her lower lid of one eye he pointed at the ceiling. “Look up.”
The low ceiling revealed the brush strokes of recent painting. He flashed
a light in her eye. “Looks good. Now the other,” he said and repeated the action.
Grimacing, she rubbed her eyes while he replaced the light in its spot on the wall rack. He reached for a blood pressure cuff. The sharp rip of Velcro release filled the silence. “Let’s see how your pressure is.”
He wrapped and secured the black strap around her bicep. Air hissed as he squeezed the pump, filling the band. “My wife and I attended your wedding. It was such a lovely event. You don’t remember the Butchart Gardens?”
Tears stung her eyes and she blinked fast. Her dream was to have her wedding ceremony in the Butchart Gardens, if she ever did tie the knot. “Why would we hold our wedding all the way in Victoria?”
“You discovered the hard way how much Tadem is terrified of flying and isn’t comfortable out of her surroundings. You didn’t want to put any stress on her and opted for sunny British Columbia instead of rainy Ontario. I never saw her so happy. She beamed. So did you.” After placing the stethoscope ends into his ears, he lowered his gaze to the dial. The tightness around her arm loosened and air seeped out. “You blood pressure is slightly elevated, but it’s still within normal. This is nothing to worry about. Do you experience any dizziness?”
“Once, last night. I fainted when I saw the stroller in the garage.” She averted her glance to her fumbling fingers. So powerful were the bonds of Tom’s family that she hated letting them down, even if they weren’t hers. The doctor knew more about her sister, the kids, and her husband than she did. She should call the facility where their mother had disposed of her “daughter who would never amount to anything” and inquire about her only sibling. Perhaps even visit before her quest in this life was fulfilled and she returned to her ordinary world. Remorse raked her. If Tandem had the surgery in this life, the poor thing must be scared and so alone.
Dr. Law brought a form up on the screen of his computer. “An MRI would tell us more. I should order one, to rule out any internal bleeding or tumor or damage to your brain.” He glanced at her and stopped filling in the form, his finger poised over the mouse key. “I can see from your expression you don’t think this is necessary.”
He pulled the sheet from the printer tray and handed it to her. “Do it, Olivia. It’s for your own good.”
She nodded, taking the form. This world’s Olivia seemed equally stubborn. “If everyone will stop pestering me about banging my head, I will.”
Her vision went black. She slumped over the exam table, trying to grab onto the consciousness slipping from her, even as the room spun. Dr. Law’s voice and his hand on her shoulder were the last things she remembered.
• • •
Tom stirred the mixture of cubed beef, potatoes, and mushrooms in the slow cooker. He closed his eyes, as he breathed in the spicy scent. His stomach rumbled, but he replaced the lid. The stew needed to simmer for a few more hours on low for the spices to blend. Last night’s attempt at a romantic dinner had gone to waste, but tonight he would wow his wife with his savory creation.
Rosie kicked her feet and pounded the sippy cup on the tray. Her loud protests and wiggles meant she disapproved of sitting strapped in the highchair.
“Okay girl. Your turn.” He put down the stirring spoon, crossed the kitchen, wiped biscuit crumbs of his daughter’s face and fingers and took her out. Rocking her in his arms, he paced around the table. He should be preparing for court trial on Monday, but he couldn’t concentrate. His law firm allowing him to work from home was his saving grace. Pausing next to Milo, he peered over his son’s shoulder to check his homework.
“Son, try to write a bit neater. Your teacher needs to read this, you know.” He remembered the long hours he’d spent as a child, writing letters neatly, line after line. Schools didn’t practice letters anymore, but as a parent he wanted his child’s penmanship be at least legible. Tom switched Rosie to his other arm. Her babbling made him chuckle.
His little cherub must’ve grown in the past week because his bicep ached under her weight.
“Try again, Milo.” He ruffled his son’s brown hair and went to his study to check the van’s GPS on the computer. It had been parked at Dr. Law’s building for the past hour. Maybe he should call the medical office, but he had to let Olivia find the answers on her own. She wouldn’t accept his explanations. Not that he had any.
His phone rang and Dr. Law’s number flashed on the call display. Tom’s guts twisted. He wrapped one hand around Rosie perched on his knee and yanked the receiver to his ear. “Olivia?”
“Mr. Medar.” Urgency edged the woman’s voice. “I’m calling from Dr. Law’s office. He needs you to come here right away. Olivia collapsed.”
CHAPTER 5
Sharp beeps pierced the darkness, jolting Olivia awake. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was dimming vision, trembling legs, Dr. Law ordering her to lie down despite her protests, the black curtain closing in.
Thin paper crinkled under her as she wiggled to loosen her stiff back. The blaring noise that woke her had ceased. Good. Her mind and body wanted to go back to sleep.
Through her lashes, she caught Dr. Law’s hand waving in front of her face. “Was I out for long?” Shivers set her spine on tingle with her barely audible whisper.
“A few minutes.” He pressed a stethoscope to her chest. “Take a deep breath.”
She obeyed. Her ribcage expanded with air intake and burning pain shot through her.
“Let it out slowly. Good.” He glided the round disk on her skin. “Another deep breath in and slowly out. Good.” He removed the stethoscope earpieces. “Are you experiencing any discomfort?”
Pain stabbed her neck when she shook her head. She winced and squeezed her eyes.
“If you are still lightheaded, don’t make any fast moves.”
She nodded, lifting her brows to force her eyes to open but they refused to cooperate. God, she was trapped in her own body, barely able to relay anything.
“I have to step out for a moment.” Dr. Law’s voice sounded far away, as if he were speaking in the other direction, then the click of the door handle confirmed he was gone.
“Olivia, honey, I’m here,” Tom said, worry lacing his voice.
She pressed her hand to her aching head and moaned. Had that deep and throaty sound come from her?
With great effort she peeled her eyelids apart and blinked at the light on the ceiling. “Good,” she whispered.
His fingers brushed her face. “Dr. Law’s calling an ambulance. They’ll be here any minute. A specialist will see you at the hospital.”
Hospital? Her stomach knotted at the mere mention of the word. She certainly didn’t need this. Tom’s hand pressing on her shoulder stopped her attempt at getting up. “No need, really. I’ll be fine. Just let me rest.”
“Take it easy. It’s is not like you to faint. You didn’t pass out that time I cut my thumb and bled all over the kitchen, why now? It’s better to find what is causing this.” He smoothed a lose strand of hair from her forehead. “I notified Gregory and he’ll see us right away.”
Tom stroked her hair, and she tried to relax. She drew in another long breath. “Gregory?”
“Susan’s husband, the neurologist.” Tom cupped her cheek. His baritone calmed her frail nerves. It took a few seconds before his words sunk in.
Her eyes popped open. “Susan? My ex-best friend? She hates my guts because I — ”
Surprise flashed in Tom’s narrowed eyes. “No, she doesn’t. Besides that quarrel is ancient history.”
The questions on his scowling face squeezed her chest. The door opened and Tom turned his head. Her double had patched it up with her only friend. If only she could do the same in her old world.
“The ambulance is here,” Dr. Law announced, closing the door while Tom helped her to a sitting position.
Two paramedics waited in the hallway next to the gurney. She shuddered and exhaled a shaky breath. “Is this really necessary? The fuzziness in my head is clearing. I’m fine.”
<
br /> Dr. Law’s hard stare tied her stomach in knots. She’d remembered his stern look when she wouldn’t cooperate as a child. “If you don’t mind spending the night on a hard seat in the waiting room.”
Tom wrapped his arm around her waist, his biceps bunched. “No more complaints. I’ll help you to the gurney.”
She leaned against him and inhaled the faint scent of his piney aftershave. God, he smells good. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and replaced the initial tightness. With his arm holding tight and each slow step he took toward the stretcher, he created another wave of tingles in her core. The paramedic’s hand around her arm shattered her short moment of euphoria, even if she had not showed it.
“We’ve got her from here.” The man in the navy blue uniform held her by her shoulders while his partner brought the gurney closer.
“Easy.” The man helped her up and proceeded to snap the straps. Pulling a rough woolen blanket over her after he strapped her down, he glanced at her as if reading her baffled expression. “It’s a procedure, every patient must be strapped.”
The paramedics rolled her through the waiting room, now filled with patients. Embarrassment seared her cheeks. She wanted to disappear under the covers, but the restraints kept her exposed.
The ambulance parked in front of the main entrance, lights flashing red, deepened her humiliation.
“Can we ride without the sirens? This is embarrassing enough.” She clutched the gurney’s railing while the two paramedics glided the stretcher into the back of the emergency vehicle.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital. Don’t give the paramedics a hard time.” Tom leaned over her and placed a soft kiss on her lips, sending her heart racing all over again.
The woman paramedic leaped in the back with her while the man closed the rear door. Thank God, the ambulance took off without blaring sirens. Olivia’s relief was short lived. A whining sound pierced the air. Damn. They must’ve simply been waiting until they turned onto a main road.
