Perfect Tragedy by Jennifer Miller

10

Seven Years Later

“I’m so sorry that happened Ms. Campbell, but it’s definitely a risk of treatment. That’s why it’s listed in the consent form you signed. It should clear up in a day or two, but if it gets worse give us a call, right away, okay?”

“Thank you, I’m just really concerned about this, dear. I’ll keep an eye on it.”

“Alright, you take care now,” I wave as she walks out the door then turn to my business assistant. “Let’s follow up with her in a couple days and make sure she’s okay, alright?”

“No problem,” Tracie nods.

“It’s literally the size of the point of a pen,” I shake my head. “I had to almost squint to see it,” I shake my head at the patient worried about a small burn she received on her gums from the teeth bleaching she received.

“I feel really bad, I took all the necessary precautions,” my hygienist Kerry worries.

“I know you did, it’s ok. That can happen, it’s why its in the consent form. We’ll follow up like I said and I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. Don’t worry about it.”

Returning to my office I pull up my email and take a look at all the emails that managed to come in while I was speaking to the patient and observing patient care around the office.

Saying my life hasn’t exactly gone the way I expected is an understatement. There are times when that makes me sad, but other times I know that doors had to close for others to open. My job being one of them.

A couple years into my college education we lost my mom to a sudden heart attack. It was heart-wrenching and her loss will never be something I recuperate totally from. When she passed, Jack could only take a short leave. He arrived only a day ahead of her services. He helped with final preparations and then assisted with chores and taking care of some things at the house that dad had clearly not had time to manage. Moreover, it was clear that dad needed… someone.

I knew it needed to be me.

Against his wishes, I dropped out of college and moved back home for a little while to help him manage the house, the animals and the field. He just needed someone to get him through and help make some difficult decisions.

A couple years after that it was past time for me to get my own place and my own job. My dad paid me for my help, but I was way past needing to be on my own.

Our local dental office, Mason Creek Dental, was looking for an assistant and I applied. The manager at the time, Theresa, hired me during our interview and thus began a new and unexpected career in dentistry. It was slow going and at times I wondered what I was thinking and if I was in over my head, but each week and month it became easier and easier. Before I knew it, five years later I was promoted to Practice Manager when Theresa was promoted herself.

My career may have been unexpected, but I love it and at times felt like it was made for me. Customer service and managing our team comes easy to me, maybe it’s because I feel like I’m genuinely helping - that I have something to offer in helping people whether it’s in ensuring they receive the best possible service and care or assisting and encouraging others in reaching their optimal potential. It’s rewarding and challenging in the best way.

The practice is successful, I have a great team and it’s an honor and privilege to work there each day. I still help my dad as needed, but he’s doing great and has his own help with anything he needs; he doesn’t really need me as much as before. He still misses my mom a lot, but he’s done well for himself over the years. He’s even dating again.

Speaking of which, I look at my watch and see it’s about time for me to leave for the day. I’m meeting my dad and his girlfriend, Meghan for an early dinner.

“Sienna?”

“Yes?” I ask turning to find one of my new dental assistants Shari standing in the doorway of my office.

“Can you show me where I need to go to sign up for that training you were telling me about?”

“Sure,” I smile and gesture for Shari to come stand at my computer while I explain how to manage our training platform.

My leaving is delayed by a few more questions from other team members, and I’m racing to meet my dad. On the way, my phone rings and my car phone shows a call coming in from Vanessa which makes me smile.

“Hello?”

There’s garbled noise when I answer and then I hear, “No, Sam! Stop putting the dog’s tail in your mouth. It’s not a chew toy.”

I can’t help but laugh, “V?” I call wondering if she meant to call me or if it was an accident.

“Yeah, hey, sorry. As soon as you picked up, your godson put Murphy’s tail in his mouth again.”

“Well they do say that babies will put anything in their mouth at that age.”

“Drives me crazy.”

“How are you? Do you need a break? Where’s Scott?” I ask referring to Vanessa’s husband. They met in college and had a whirlwind romance. They were married soon after graduating and Sam was already a one year old. He was the happiest baby I’ve ever seen - he started walking early – at about ten and a half months - and he’s into everything. Scott’s an accountant and given that it’s tax season he’s working a lot of hours. Vanessa worked as a teacher for a little while, but once Sam was born, she decided she wanted to stay at home with him full time.

“Oh, I’m fine. He’ll be home soon. It’s just amazing how fast that kid can move for being so small. And he’s into everything.”

“I’ll come spend some time with him this weekend and you can go get a pedicure or something.”

“A pedicure? Forget that. My toes be damned. I’ll take a nap instead.”

“Sounds like a deal,” I laugh.

“Hey, I remember you’re having dinner with your dad tonight, but I heard something and wanted to give you a heads up.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I was at the market earlier. Alana was working and checked me out because one of the other cashier’s was on break. Anyway, she told me that when she was at Sal’s Meats getting some stock that she ran into Bess, our town’s dispatcher and-”

“Oh my gosh, Vanessa. I know who Bess is and I don’t need the whole entire low down on where the gossip you’re about to tell me came from. Just spit it out.”

She hesitates, “Okay…”

My stomach turns a little at the hesitation in her voice, “What?”

“Virginia Walker passed away,” she says so quickly I’m not sure I heard her correctly.

“What?”

“Mrs. Walker, Blake’s mom, passed away.”

“Oh no…” my mind begins to spin. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her. She may still live next door to my dad, but she kept to herself and honestly the stories I heard about her various drinking escapades were the only news I ever really heard.

“Yeah, so Bess said that she heard that the medical examiner-”

“Vanessa,” I say her name impatiently knowing she was about to go through the whole list again of how the news traveled. One of the annoyances of living in a small town.

“Oh, sorry. I guess she was dead for a little while before someone found her. She didn’t show up to a doctor appointment and word traveled when there was another appointment she didn’t make either and anyway they went to check on her and found she’d passed. No doubt she finally managed to drink herself to death.”

“No doubt,” I murmur. The antics of her drinking never faded over the years. Sadly I think people just became used to hearing about it. She’d lived alone for years now. Mandy long since left Mason Creek and I lost track of her and Blake… well Blake has never come home that I’ve heard.

“I just wanted to tell you because your dad may mention it and well because-”

“Because?” I ask when she stops mid-sentence.

“Well, do you think Blake will come home?”

My hands tighten on the steering wheel at the thought, “I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. I certainly hope he gets to pay his respects. It would be the right thing, but who knows.”

I hear her sliding glass door open and she says something to Sam about building a sand castle in his sand box before she asks, “How does that make you feel?”

“I have no idea,” I admit. “I want to say it has no impact but in truth, I need time to process.”

“That’s understandable. I still can’t believe he didn’t come back when your mom passed.”

“Yeah well, it’s not always easy to just take leave when you want, you know that. He did send a beautiful floral arrangement which was nice.”

“I remember, but I stand by what I said.”

I chuckle at my loyal friend, “I appreciate the heads up. Now when my dad or someone else mentions it I’ll be prepared.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Sam! No! What did mommy tell you about eating grass?” I hear the phone fumble around and maybe hit the ground and her voice rings out, “I’ll call you later! Sorry! Sam!”

I laugh and hang up the phone.

Pulling into the parking lot to a restaurant that my dad loves in the town next to ours, I hurriedly make my way to the entrance. When I walk inside I’m instantly greeted, “Hello, love.”

“Jesse, hi. How was your day?”

Jesse, yes that Jesse, and I have been dating for a year. We ran into each other at the market and got to talking. Next thing I know he asked me to dinner and I accepted. I was nervous after what happened between us years before, as some memories linger longer than others, but once I got past that, we actually had a good time together. He’s been asking me for months to move in with him and I keep finding a reason as to why it’s just not the right time yet. I haven’t really taken the time to explore why I’m so hesitant but he’s been patient, even if persistent.

“It was good,” he smiles before putting his arm around me and leading me through the restaurant. “They’re already seated, I said I wanted to wait for you to arrive.”

“Thank you, that was kind of you.”

He pulls me close and kisses me on the head, “Of course.”

When we arrive at the table, my dad stands and hugs me. “Hi honey.”

“Hi, dad. Hi Meghan.”

“Hello, dear. How are you?”

I smile and nod. I usually meet my dad for dinner or lunch or something every couple of weeks as I can. Work keeps me pretty busy but we meet and I go by the house periodically.

We’ve barely ordered and already the news Vanessa warned me about gets brought up by Meghan.

“It’s just so sad. I really hope that I don’t die alone. That’s awful. Just awful.”

“You should probably call and let Jack know, dad,” I tell him.

“Why would he want to know?” Jesse asks curiously.

“Because Blake is his best friend and his mother just died,” my dad replies.

“Oh that’s right. I guess I didn’t realize Jack and Blake still talk, let alone are still best friends.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” I ask.

“No reason,” Jesse smiles and shrugs.

“I already sent him a text,” my dad says with a grin.

“Look at you!” I praise knowing he’s the least tech savvy person I know.

Our food arrives before long and I’m in the middle of listening to my dad tell me about the mare that’s expecting her baby any time and how he’s excited for its arrival.

Suddenly, Jesse turns to me and says, “So, I have an announcement to make.”

“You do?” I ask turning to him with surprise having no idea what he’s referring to.

“Yes. I was offered a job position in Oregon, one I can’t possibly turn down, and I want you to come with me, Sienna.”

I choke on the bite I’ve just placed in my mouth, “Excuse me?”

“I love you,” holy hell, he chooses dinner with my father and his girlfriend to tell me this: To ask me to move away? “And I want a future with you. Say you’ll come with me.”

I don’t think this could get more awkward until I look at my dad and see his mouth is wide open in shock with surprise consuming his face.

“Jesse, I uh don’t know what to say,” I respond, but the truth is I do know what to say. My insides are screaming no, but I don’t want to say that in front of everyone.

“Say yes. Say you want a future with me too.”

“I, um,-”

I’m saved from answering when my dad’s phone suddenly beeps.

I can’t help but smile a little when he composes himself, and places his glasses at the tip of his nose so he can peer at the screen.

He clears his throat and looks at me, “ “It’s Jack,” he says.

“Yeah? Tell him he owes me a text,” I instruct him yet very aware of Jesse’s agitation at his moment being interrupted. And that he is still waiting for my answer.

“He says that he’s coming home,” he smiles.

“He is?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, that’s great, but back to my moving, Sienna, and you coming with me,” Jesse interjects and I sort of want to punch him.

“Jesse, I need some time to think about that, okay?”

“Oh. Yes. Sure. Of course. Okay,” he seems crestfallen and I seriously wonder at his common sense. Was he really expecting me to jump up in excitement and scream yes? My job is here, my dad, Vanessa. How did I not know he’s insane? “I guess I did spring that on you, huh?” He laughs but it sounds hollow.

“We’ll talk later,” I tell him. I quickly see our conversation from a different perspective. Perhaps I’ve been a bit naïve, and certainly not fully attuned to the extent of Jesse’s feelings for me. Why else would he have risked this here and now?

“Yeah,” my dad clears his throat and I’m thankful he’s steering the conversation away from this train wreck. “Jack’s due some time off and is coming home for Virginia’s funeral so he can be with Blake.”

I nod and smile but it feels frozen on my face. I knew Blake would likely come home after I heard the news, I mean, I have no idea what kind of relationship he’s kept up with his mom over the years if at all, but I imagine there’s some things he needs to handle.

I just never expected that one of those things would be me.