Page 36 of Medical Malpractice

As he concentrated on the pavement ahead, my focus remained on him.

My boy was beautiful, intelligent and caring. I had to meet up with him again. There was no alternative I could accept.

As we came into view of the parking lot, Alexis vaulted out of her car, rushing over to us.

“Shit, Leo. Are you okay?”

“More than okay.”

She took in my chuffed smile and the stable posture, managing to clock my game plan in two seconds flat.

“He’s okay, Austin. Let him go.”

“You sure?”

I finally relented. “Yes, bud. I’m okay.”

He held on a few more moments before releasing me. Now, with nothing left to do, he turned red, fidgeting and averting his gaze.

I took the opportunity to address Alexis. “You’ve done a phenomenal job in raising Austin. I would love to visit again, if that’s okay with you?” I finished, directing the question to both.

Austin lit up, giving a vigorous nod. “I’d like that.”

With a brief and slightly awkward farewell, I reluctantly followed through with one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do, and turned my back on my very own heart.

Once I was in my car, I lowered the windows and mindlessly played around with the console. I was biding time, wanting to savour every last second of his presence, waiting for them to drive away from me.

However, that soon became a rookie error, as I could hear their conversation carrying over the carpark as they prepared to leave.

“How are you, baby boy? Did you enjoy meeting Leo?” Alexis asked.

“Yeah, it was cool… But Mum, you didn’t tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“He’s old.”

I slumped back in the driver’s seat, equally amused and humiliated. Alexis definitely exuded the former as she broke out into carefree laughter, quickly followed by an irritated grunt from Austin. “Hey, what was that for?”

“Don’t be rude, Austin.”

“I’m not trying to be mean, Mum. But… he nearly died. Twice! He said he was a doctor,” he finished, rather accusingly.

“He is.”

“Well, he must be lying because what doctor doesn’t know left from right?”

“Huh?”

“His limp kept changing foots, Mum!”

The soft chime of her amusement was the last thing I heard as they drove away, my raucous chortle following close behind, chasing them into the night.

Chapter 21

GABRIELLA

It didn’t take a genius to know Leonardo was hiding something. Subtle was not a word associated with my husband, and the past two weeks had proven it with his obtuse lies and blatant segways in conversation. Not to mention his latest side quest into bumfuck nowhere the day before. He had been weird ever since—well, more so than usual.