⠀ 〝 with his mother. he’s got the flu, we’re trying to keep him away from tommy for the time-being, 〞explains Tara. now that her sons care is sorted, she’s gathering her things in a hurry.⠀ 〝 if wendy wants you to see abel, she’ll let you——once i pick up tommy. 〞 ⠀

⠀ that’s what i 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 you meant. ⠀

⠀ 〝 something like that, 〞yawns the doctor, rubbing sleep from her eyes. there’s palpable exhaustion on her face; she’d worked a sixteen at the hospital the day before. and now she’s headed back in for another twelve. 〝 i don’t suppose there’s any coffee made yet .ᐣ 〞 ⠀

⠀ 〝 i’m known to be something of a poet. 〞 ⠀

⠀ i thought we already owned an air fryer .ᐣ did she not take it with her when she went to jersey .ᐣ . . . who has our damn air fryer .ᐣ.ᐟ ⠀

⠀ of course, she did. i’ll buy her a new one, because of course, i will. by the way: air-fried pickles .ᐣ honey, who did you get pregnant .ᐣ ⠀

⠀ 〝 well, if it makes you feel better, i’m my Wendy’s first 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 .ᐣ 〞 ⠀

😌✨

⠀ 〝 what do the kids say these days .ᐣ um. . . 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚. you were 𝘮𝘺 first husband. my first ex-husband, too. so consolidation prize, maybe .ᐣ 〞 ⠀

⠀ how are you ‘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙖’ a virgin? actually, on second thought. 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 tell me. stay innocent a day longer. ⠀

⠀ aww, your 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦.ᐣ flattery will get you 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, mrs. case. ⠀

⠀ 〝 i don’t know what to tell you, hon. life’s a bitch ﹠ then we die, you know .ᐣ don’t cry because you weren’t first place, smile because you placed at all. 〞 ⠀

⠀ 〝 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.ᐣ i believe we’re a 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 of milestones ahead of that, hon. 〞 ⠀

⠀ 〝 well, if St. Thomas 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 paid me what i was worth, mrs. wendy knowles would 𝘣𝘦 rich. but alas; small towns, small economies, and small paychecks. 〞 ⠀