Chapter 12
In the following days, Scarlett remained in the hospital for observation, and Cedric stayed by her side. Even though he found the situation grating, he didn’t dare voice his frustration.
That afternoon, he returned with a massive fried snack combo from a fast-food restaurant. “Lettie, come try these! Mark, in school, you used to love this stuff,” he said, grinning as he held the meal out to her.
Scarlett barely glanced at the food before she turned pale, her stomach churning. “Get that away from me!” she said, her voice weak.
Cedric frowned, visibly confused. “What’s wrong? Weren’t these your favorite before?”
At that moment, the nurse walked in to change Scarlett’s IV. She paused, giving Cedric a pointed side-eye. “Wow, you’re a real genius.”
Cedric shot her a cold glare. “What’s that supposed to—”
The nurse didn’t back down, her lips curling into a sneer. “The patient’s stomach is in bad shape. She needs light, bland food to recover, but do you think it’s a good idea to bring her greasy, fried junk? How’s she supposed to eat that? You’re a grown man, yet you don’t even know the basics of taking care of someone.”
Scarlett stayed silent, but a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. If this had been before, Leroy would have whipped up a spread of her favorite light dishes and placed them lovingly by her bedside. The difference between then and now was as stark as night and day.
Cedric quickly leaned in, taking her hand in his. His expression turned pitiful, almost desperate. “I’m sorry, Lettie. I’ve let you down all these years, and we’ve lost so much between us. But I promise, if you just give me some time, I’ll make it right!”
“Men,” Scarlett murmured, but the warmth that once shone in her eyes was no longer there.
Meanwhile, whether out of guilt or something deeper, Leroy made a point of avoiding Scarlett’s room during his rounds. Still, every time he passed by, his eyes would dart toward her door as if drawn by an invisible force. The second someone walked by, he’d snap his gaze forward, pretending nothing was wrong.
He let out a deep sigh. If this kept up, he felt like he was going to lose his mind. Suddenly, a firm hand clapped him on the back.
“Mr. Olson!” The voice startled Leroy so badly that he nearly jumped out of his skin. It was Zoe.
“I can start acting all proper and reserved.”
His face darkened. “Can you stop yelling like that, kid? Can’t you try being a little more calm and collected for once?” Zoe playfully stuck out her tongue. “What’s the deal? Do you like calm and quiet girls? If that’s what you’re into—”
Leroy rubbed his forehead, clearly exasperated. “You, kid, seriously—”
Zoe’s tone suddenly shifted. “If you want to go in and see her, just do it. What’s the big deal? Why are you sneaking around like this?” Leroy’s breath quickened as his thoughts were exposed.
“What are you even talking about? Who said I want to go in there?” he stammered, his voice defensive.
Zoe smirked knowingly, like she had him all figured out. “Alright, Mr. Olson, no need to put on a show in front of me. Don’t forget, I’m a psychology expert!” “Then why don’t you stick to playing your little expert games,” Leroy muttered as he turned on his heel to walk away, unwilling to play along.
“Mr. Olson! Hey! Wait up, Mr. Olson!”
Even after he brushed her off, the tight knot in Leroy’s chest refused to loosen. When he heard Scarlett hadn’t been eating properly the past few days, his concern overwhelmed him. He rushed home, rolling up his sleeves to prepare a light meal.
Standing at the hospital room door, he noticed Cedric wasn’t inside; just Scarlett resting quietly on the bed. Hesitating for what felt like forever, he still couldn’t bring himself to step inside. In the end, he placed the meal by the door and walked away.
Later, Cedric appeared, striding toward the room with a sour look etched across his face. His eyes landed on the food, and his expression hardened. “Still not giving up, I see. You wait, one of these days, I’ll deal with you for good,” he muttered under his breath. With a sharp motion, Cedric scooped up the food and tossed it into the trash without a second glance.
For two days straight, Leroy’s carefully prepared meals met the same fate—dumped in the garbage, untouched.
On this day, a doctor entered Scarlett’s room, a chart tucked under her arm. She gave a quick check of Scarlett’s vitals and nodded with satisfaction. “Looking good. You’ll be ready to check out tomorrow.”