Struggle For Control
I Knew You Looked Familiar
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The damage to Mort’s vehicle wasn’t bad at all.
broken taillight, but other than that it was fine and, more importantly,
drivable. The woman who hit him,
however, had a vehicle beyond repair.
Mort had begun to drive home, but couldn’t get the woman’s face out of
his mind. He turned around and drove to
the hospital. Once there, he had to
track her down. He approached the first
desk he found in the emergency room.
“Um, excuse me?”
“Yes?” the nurse answered.
“Uh, there was a car accident about forty-five
minutes ago. I believe a young woman
was brought here.”
“Name?”
“Well, you see, I didn’t exactly get it, but she
rear ended me and was pretty hurt. I
just, um…” Mort felt himself
blush. Huh…isn’t that interesting?
The nurse studied Mort for a moment, then looked
through some papers. “I think you might
find her behind curtain twelve.”
A smile crossed his lips. “Thank you.” He walked
through the bustling ER until he came upon what he thought was the right
place. Luckily, the curtain was open,
so he didn’t have to awkwardly peek in.
His actions were almost sheepish as he weakly waved to the woman in
bed. “How’re you feeling?”
Genuinely surprised, Alexandra’s eyes widened.
“No.”
“How come you’re here then?” she asked, confused.
Mort shuffled his feet a bit.
right.”
“Wow.”
“Wow?”
“Yeah, I didn’t expect to see you again.”
A half smile appeared on Mort’s face. &s]> Alexandra smiled back at him. “Maybe…I like that answer.” “Oh yeah? “Sure.” “What’s your name?” Mort frowned a bit. Alexandra froze for a moment, then smiled. “You…what?” “Your books, I read them in bed.” “Put you to sleep, do they?” She smiled. “Ah ah – you said one question.” “Actually I asked you to answer ‘something’ a Mort smiled again. style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Um, Alex,” she added, her voice a bit more “So, Alexandrady…”dy…” “Alex,” she insisted. “Alex. Are She laughed. “You have a way out of here? Alex played with her I.D. tag. Obviously embarrassed, Mort said. “Widowed,” she added. Another vanishing thought. Like you. “I’m so Alex laughed at him. “It’s O.K., it’s been a year and a half; I’ll get around to “You…you have a daughter?” And off he runs… “Uh huh…my little angel,” Alex said, her voice sounding almost “How old is she?” “Nine months.” “Just a baby…”
veins that were alien to him – he knew that he must have felt them before, but
it had been so long. He didn’t even
know her name and yet, she enchanted him.
Well, how about you answer something for me then?”
Maybe she doesn’t read… “Mort, er, Morton. Morton
Rainey.”
softly. “I’ve taken you to bed with me
quite a few times.” Yes, she meant for
it to sound that way.
“Hardly. Wow, of all the people
to wreck into…” She furrowed her brow a
bit. “What on earth are you doing here
of all places?”
something can be more than one thing…right?”
I like her. “Perhaps, but
it’s only fair that I know your name now, isn’t it?”
unsure of itself.
they going to let you out of here?”
“As soon as they find a reason to run more tests and charge more money,
I’m sure they will.”
uncomfortable.
sorry. I’d stick my foot in my mouth,
but it’s muddy and…”
taking these off eventually. Anyway, as
for a way home, my sister is watching my daughter, I can call her.”
wounded. She knew all too well that as
soon as a man hears a woman is a single mother, they bolt.
precise reason.
Wonder if he thinks I’m some sort of slut now…may
as well get this out in the open. Wait
a minute, why? Oh, right, he’s gorgeous
and seems interested in me – or at least did.
Crap, he’s looking at me – I’m not talking…
only a month pregnant when my husband died.”
Mort looked down.
“I’m sorry, none of this is my business. Um, there’s really no need to disturb your daughter…How ‘bout I
give you a lift?”
“Th>“Thanks for the offer, but you don’t have to.”
“I know, but I’d really like to.”