Harriet plopped down on her swivel chair, burying her face against the desk. She'd just wrapped up back-to-back surgeries, ten hours on her feet, and the exhaustion was beginning to sink in. She sighed, shutting her eyes as she tried to block out the emptiness that seemed to follow her everywhere lately. Her penthouse didn't feel like home anymore, so she'd been staying in the hospital's sleeping quarters, finding a strange solace in the quiet, sterile rooms. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to escape.
It had only been two days since Zoey left, but every corner seemed to echo her absence. Harriet couldn't shake the urge to look for her, though she resisted the impulse to show up at her office. With a sigh, she glanced at her watch. It was time for lunch, and usually, Zoey would have barged in by now with some sarcastic remark about Harriet's terrible eating habits. "Looks like no Zoey today either," she muttered to herself, pushing back from her desk.
Her phone chimed, and she saw her mom's name flash on the screen. "Mom?" she answered, trying to sound cheerful.
"I was just about to grab lunch," she lied; eating had become an afterthought unless she needed the energy to operate. "Alright, I'll bring you coffee." Ending the call, she forced a small smile, the thought of their usual coffee routine offering a bit of comfort. "Another coffee delivery from Dr. Pierce," she mumbled, heading out.
After picking up the coffee, she walked toward her mom's office. She paused for a moment, her eyes instinctively drifting toward Zoey's office down the hall, but she held back, clamping down on the longing that rose within her. She knocked and entered her mother's office, only to stop short as her eyes met Zoey's. Both froze in place, surprise flickering between them.
"Good timing," Maggie said, smiling as Harriet set the coffee on the center table.
Clearing her throat, Harriet attempted to keep her composure. "Actually, I just remembered I have another patient coming in. I should head back to my office." She grabbed her coffee cup, throwing a quick glance at her mom. "Thanks for the coffee, as always." She nodded, already edging toward the door.
Without another word, Harriet hurried out, releasing a shaky sigh as she ran a hand through her hair. Inside, Zoey followed her movements with her gaze, noticing the tiredness etched across Harriet's face. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing Harriet had been waiting outside her subdivision each night, just to watch her safely get home before driving off.
"What's with Harriet?" Maggie asked, chuckling as she resumed their meeting, oblivious to the tension that had filled the room. Zoey forced herself to focus on the discussion, though her thoughts continued to wander back to Harriet's weary face.
She couldn't deny itâshe missed Harriet terribly. But she needed time. Just a little longer, until she could sort through her own feelings and finally be ready to talk. I'm sorry, Harriet. Just a little more time, please, she thought, hoping Harriet would understand.
Zoey was on the escalator with Riley, heading down in the hospital wing. Her breath hitched as she spotted Harriet approaching from below, moving toward the escalator. She silently willed Riley not to notice her sister, hoping to avoid a tense encounterâbut, of course, Riley was quick to spot her.
"Harriet!" Riley called out, raising her hand and waving with enthusiasm. Zoey lowered her gaze, feigning obliviousness.
"What's up?" Harriet's voice reached her, calm and direct. Zoey clenched her jaw, her heart pounding as Harriet's familiar presence grew nearer. She could see Harriet's clogs as she stopped right in front of them.
"Mom said you didn't come home last night. I couldn't make it either, so I just wanted to check in on you," Riley said, concern coloring her tone.
"Oh," Harriet replied, her tone casual. "I've been slammed with patients, so I've just been crashing in the sleeping quarters," she added, chuckling softly.
Zoey held her breath, feeling the weight of Harriet's gaze but unable to look up. "Alright, I have to get going, Riley. See you around," she heard Harriet say, her voice cool and distant as she walked away.
Zoey finally glanced up, her eyes following Harriet's retreating form. Riley turned to Zoey, looking thoughtful. "What's up with Harriet these days?" she asked, watching Zoey closely.
"Huh?" Zoey raised an eyebrow, pretending she hadn't heard. "What do you mean?"
Riley shrugged. "She hasn't been by your office at all this week. Did something happen? And she's sleeping in the hospital quarters now?"
Zoey forced a light chuckle. "You heard herâshe's buried in work. You know how grueling hospital shifts can get," she said, laughing a bit too brightly.
"I just hope she's okay," Riley murmured, a hint of worry in her voice. "Have you seen her arms and wrists lately? They're covered in patches."
Zoey's stomach twisted. Is Harriet working herself to exhaustion? The thought gnawed at her, but she tried to push it aside. She reminded herself that she needed timeâtime to process, time to heal, to figure things out.
Zoey continued walking alongside Riley, but then slowed to a stop. "Riley..." she mumbled, hesitating.
Riley turned, eyebrows raised. "Hmm?"
Zoey swallowed. "Could I take some time off? Just a couple of weeks. I need to run some errands back in Zurich."
Riley chuckled, nodding. "You already submitted the request, didn't you? Why remind me again? Take all the time you need; you deserve a break."
Zoey managed a small smile, feeling a mix of relief and unease. She'd use this time to settle her father's affairs and work through his will. She wanted everything resolved before she confronted her feelings about Harriet. I know you'll wait, she thought to herself, but I'm sorry if it feels like I'm pushing you away. Let me take care of this one thing... and then we'll talk.
Zoey smacked her forehead. "Riley, I need to head back to my officeâI left my phone," she called, rushing toward the elevator without waiting for a response. But as she hurried down the hallway, she collided with someone.
"Ow," Zoey murmured, rubbing her forehead.
"Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked. Zoey froze, glancing up to meet Harriet's hazel eyes. She gulped, instinctively stepping back.
She nodded in response, and Harriet gave a faint smile, stepping aside.
"Don't run in the hallway... just walk," Harriet advised softly before turning to leave.
"Harriet," Zoey called after her, her gaze dropping to Harriet's arms. She noticed the small patches scattered across her skin.
Harriet looked back, waiting for her to speak. "I hope you're not... doing any funny business?" Zoey ventured, eyeing the patches. Harriet's smile falteredâa sad, resigned smile that Zoey could feel tugging at her heart.
"No funny business. Just a bit of fatigue," Harriet replied. "I'll be on my way," she added, excusing herself.
As Harriet walked away, she swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull Zoey into a hug right then and there. But she knew she needed to respect Zoey's boundaries and her need for space. She'll come back, just be patient, she reminded herself, holding on to the promise Zoey had made.