Tangled

84 Ava: Doctor’s Care

Dr. Ellison never appears before me again. @

My new doctor is an older woman who smells like a mix of raw meat and chocolate chip cookies. Like a bunny–slaughtering, chubby grandma. It’s an odd mix that makes my nose wrinkle a little.

“Good morning, Miss Grey,” she greets me, her voice gentle and sweet, belying her stocky frame. It only adds to the Disney grandma effect, still with a side of vicious killer. “I’m Dr. Annise Beaumont, and I’ll be taking over your care from now on.”

She moves closer, and I flinch without thinking, tensing at her approach.

The rational part of my mind knows she’s here to help,

but after the disastrous encounter with Dr. Ellison, I

can’t shake the sense of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach. I don’t want to be touched by people

who hate me.

Dr. Beaumont seems to notice my apprehension, knitting her brows together as she watches me. “I’ve heard of your issues with Dr. Ellison. He’s well known

C 84 Ava: Doctor’s Care

to be a bit of a problem child. Too big for his britches after heading

ng off to university. No need to worry, dear. I don’t care what pack you’re from. I’m just going to check your vitals and take a look at those wounds, make sure everything is healing properly.”

Of course. All important things a normal doctor would

1. do.

force myself to relax a little beneath her

whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press against my wrist to check for

almost maternal touch

she murmurs, -more to herself than to

my blood pressure. “That should go up with some medication changes,” she says, before launching into a casual story about how her daughter had spent a day in

toddler?-who’d been ill from some sort

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Ava: Doctor’s

she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying

I find myself drawn in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she

first glimpse of the ragged wounds on my abdomen, angry and raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through my mind,

gentle anchor pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on my voice, Ava. You’re

force my eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face as she carefully

is one of calm professionalism, betraying none of the revulsion I would expect

Ava: Doctor’s Care

over the edges of the wounds, just shy of touching them. “They cleaned it up well. We’ll need to keep them clean

silence for a

dressings to my wounds. When she’s finished, she steps back, giving me an

ordeal, haven’t you, dear?” she says at last, her voice laced with sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the right help, you’ll come through this

my mouth to respond, but she holds up a hand, effectively silencing

anything now,” she says with a shake of her head. “Just rest and heal, Miss Grey. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. I’m going to reduce the

Ava: Doctor’s

them through the IV.”

pauses as though she’s waiting for my input.

the government. I’m not sure how it was in your old pack, but here, we work together. We’re going to keep your antibiotics through IV for now, but you’ll be able to go home on the pill

my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization

If you need anything, your call

Hmm.” Dr. Beaumont takes a

picking it up from

floor. “Here.

colleagues. can come chat with you, okay?” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on