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.

to relax a little beneath her

with another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft

touch is unfamiliar to

is a little elevated,” she murmurs, -more to herself than to me. “But that’s to be

with some medication changes,” she says, before launching into a casual story about how her

ill from

13

217

Ava: Doctor’s Care

horrifying all the shifter parents at daycare. Turns out, she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying epidemic

tension slowly ebbing from my body as she

raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through my

back to

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

none of the revulsion I would expect at the

Doctor’s

cleaned it up well. We’ll need to keep them clean and change the dressings regularly, but

silence for a few

me an appraising look that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated on more

sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the right help, you’ll come

mouth to respond, but she

head. “Just rest and heal, Miss Grey. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. I’m going to reduce the frequency of

Ava: Doctor’s

them through the

pauses as though she’s waiting

licensing of the government. I’m not sure how it was in your old

my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization of my care.

need anything, your call

Beaumont takes a moment to

it up from

on the floor. “Here. Nurses

aware. If you have any more questions, let them know, and I or my colleagues. can come