“I…I want to spend the day with you,” I let out in a rush.
Yoss didn’t say anything. I felt like I was hanging out in the wind, fluttering wildly, hoping I didn’t blow away. He left me in limbo with his silence and unspoken words.
“I don’t want you to see it, Imi,” he finally said.
“See what?” I was confused.
“Where I was living.” Yoss kept his eyes focused on the sink.
“I lived with you in a place like that, Yoss. You don’t need to be ashamed—”
“I am ashamed, Imogen!” he shouted, slamming his hands on the counter. I jumped at his tone.
He took a deep breath and seemed to calm himself down. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’d love it if you came with me. If it’s okay for you to take the time off work,” Yoss said, not quite looking at me.
“Okay, well let me shower and get dressed. Um, you can watch TV or whatever. I’ll only be a few minutes.” I grabbed my phone and hurried back to my room. I quickly called Jason, telling him I was sick and wouldn’t be coming in.
“You’re sick? Since when? You’re the healthiest person I know,” Jason remarked suspiciously.
I coughed delicately and made sure to put a rasp in my voice. “I woke up feeling horrible. I don’t want to spread my germs around to everyone.”
“We work in a hospital, Imogen. We’re surrounded by germs every day.” Jason clearly wasn’t buying my excuse so I dropped the sick act.
“Okay, well how about this, Jason, I have over three weeks of paid time off that I haven’t taken. Not to count the more than eighty hours of overtime I’ve put in in the last three months that need to be used. So excuse me if I want to take a day off for the first time in years,” I snapped.
“Whoa, Imogen, I wasn’t saying you can’t have the day off. Just don’t insult my intelligence with the lame I’m sick with a fake incurable illness excuse. I know you could use the time off. I’ve been telling you to take a break for a while now, if you remember,” Jason pointed out and I felt bad for jumping down his throat.
“Sorry, Jason. You’re right. I need a day to myself. I’ve been a little stressed.” He had no idea.
“Does this have anything to do with your client that you helped to discharge from the hospital last night?” Jason asked.
“What do you mean? Why would it have anything to do with that?” I demanded.
“I just wondered if there were any problems with getting him settled. Where did you end up taking him? Did he agree to go to the shelter?” Jason asked, sounding perplexed by my attitude.
“Uh. Yeah. Okay, well if it’s fine for me to take the day, I’ll just see you tomorrow,” I said quickly.
“That’s fine. See you tomorrow,” Jason replied, still sounding perturbed.
I rushed through my shower and hurriedly dressed in a pair of jeans and soft green sweater that was one of my favorites. When I went back out to the living room I found Yoss standing by my open front door talking to a small woman with very blond hair and a very loud voice.
My mother.
What was with all of the visitors this morning?
“There she is!” my mother cried, holding her arms out for a hug.
“Mom. What are you doing here?” I asked, letting her hug me. Just for a minute.
“I told you I was going to come by. Breakfast. Gossip. Love advice. Remember?” She looked put out by my bad memory.
“Oh, I must have forgotten.” I glanced at Yoss who had yet to close the door.
“I figured. You never answer your phone,” Mom scolded. She looked at Yoss and frowned. “I wasn’t expecting you to have company.”
“Mom, this is Yoss. Yoss, this is my mother, Sylvie Conner,” I introduced them.
My mom gave Yoss a strange look. “You seem really familiar, Yoss. Have we met before?”
Yoss opened his mouth but I cut him off before he could speak. “I don’t know how that’s possible, Mom.” I turned her to face the open door. “I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to rain check. Yoss and I were just on our way out.”
“But we have plans,” my mother whined.
“I know. I’m really sorry. We’ll pig out on ice cream and commiserate over the horrors of men another time, okay? We really need to go.” I beckoned for Yoss to follow me as I ushered my mom outside. I quickly closed the door behind us so she couldn’t weasel her way back in.
If I let her, my mom would plant herself on the couch and never leave.
My mom looked back at Yoss. “I swear I’ve seen you somewhere,” she pondered.
I quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later this week, Mom.”
My mother sighed deeply. “You’re really letting me down, Imi,” she complained. “What am I going to do now? I even put on my fancy red heels.” She stuck out her foot to show off her ridiculously high stilettos.
“You didn’t need to get all dressed up for breakfast, Mom,” I laughed and she quickly struck a pose.
“A woman’s gotta look good. You never know who might see you.”
I gave a Yoss an exasperated look and he winked, clearly enjoying the exchange.