chimed in right before she ditched me to toodle-oo up to the receptionist's desk and sign in.
Still frowning, I found two empty seats and sat down, setting my jacket down to save her one.
Since when does she want Barry to take her? She's always had me do it...
"All set," Ruthie said a few minutes later as she handed me my jacket and sat down.
She pulled her purse into her lap and hummed along to the horrendously mind numbing elevator music they had pumping out of some mysteriously hidden speaker somewhere, her floral print dress tucked neatly around her, hair done up in some kind of puffy 'do'.
"Relax, my dear heart," Ruthie tried to soothe, patting my hand reassuringly.
I tried to laugh it off, going for casual, but it came out sounding more like a weird nervous giggle, so I shut up.
"I'm fine, Aunt Ruthie, really. No idea what you mean," I insisted.
She put her hand on my knee to still it as it did a fine imitation of a jack hammer and gave it a squeeze.
I gave up any pretense of pretending then.
"Even if you weren't jittering around like a sugared up bunny, your cheek ticking away, you should know better than to try and pretend anything with me, missy," she harrumphed, "Known you all your life, practically raised you. You can't pull one over on me."
Busted.
I looked over at her, laughing when she gave me a look that suggested she'd just sucked on a lemon.
"Uhmm, it's the thought that counts?" I tried, grinning when she just gave me ‘the look'.
I felt a little triumphant when she eventually gave in, rolled her eyes at me and smiled back.
"Ruthie Ferguson?" a nurse called, interrupting us.
And we're up!
I got up to go with her, but she put her hand up to stay me.
"Don't you fret, hun, no need to go in. I'll be out before you know it."
Before I could say anything, she hurried off after the nurse.
"But... I thought you wanted me to go with you?" I trailed off, pretty much talking to myself.
I stood there like an idiot for a minute, a nugget of hope settling into my psyche when she turned around at the door.
I really thought she was going to pop up and say something like 'Just kidding!' or 'What the hell are you waiting for? Come on!', but she didn't.
"Just needed ya for the ride here, dear heart," she said cheekily instead from over her shoulder, giving me a backwards hand wave.
I winced.
Ouch.
I think I just got burned by an old lady.
Not too sure I deserved it though.
The male nurse that called her back grinned at her saucy attitude, chuckling when he got a glimpse of my completely put out expression.
He winked at me and ushered my aunt towards the back, closing the door shut firmly behind him.
Hey! Don't wink at me, you… you, overgrown, man-gorilla nurse person! I ranted inwardly, offended that he found my plight so entertaining.
"Oookkkaaaayyy," I muttered quietly under my breath and sat down, "I just got dissed by my aunt and I'm not entirely sure why..."
The cute little blonde boy sitting next to me glanced over at me, frowned and offered me a piece of candy.
"Oh, no thanks," I said, smiling at him, "I just ate a big breakfast."
He shrugged and opened it, popping it into his mouth.
It was just then that he turned and I got a good look at the other side of his profile.
My eyes widened slightly, but I quickly schooled my features, not wanting him see the shock of my initial reaction.
He had horrible burn scars all over one side of his body. Really bad.
That poor baby! I thought, fighting the urge to hug some stranger's child.
At first, I'd thought he was here waiting for a parent to come out from their own appointment, having quickly glimpsed him only moments earlier, but now I'm thinking he's probably here for him.
This is the surgeon peoples’ area, so the consult is more than likely for him, poor guy.
"Old people are kinda funny sometimes," he imparted sagely, and I nodded my head in acknowledgment.
Yes, yes, they are.
Can’t argue with you there, kid.
"I think it’s all
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