Possessive Doctor

Lora snorts and laughs a little, heedless of the reaction around her.

“I was busy, just so you know,” Aunt Louise says.

“I’m sorry about that, but thanks for coming.” I clear my throat. “I’m sure you’re all aware of the situation with Amber.”

“You mean the Facebook ads?” Collin asks.

“Those,” I say.

“They’re garish,” Hannah says. “I mean, really. Posting that in public? For anyone to see? Just garish.”

Aunt Louise nods in agreement with her daughter. “And they used our name, you know.”

“I know,” I say.

“We don’t like that,” Uncle Ronald says. He’s breathing heavy and glaring at me.

“I know that, too. There’s a reason I called you here. I want to discuss the claims that man made.”

“They’re serious, you know,” Hannah says. “And they aren’t flattering.”

“Did you really run from your practice for that girl?” Aunt Louise asks as if Amber weren’t sitting in the same room. “I mean, really, Brent. Didn’t you stop to think about how this would affect the family?”

“Honestly, not at all,” I say.

Lora laughs again. I glare at her and she just shrugs. “Sorry. It’s funny.”

“It’s not funny, dear,” Aunt Louise says.

Lora ignores her.

“Look, you all need to understand that what Amber’s father said in that ad isn’t true.”

“So you two didn’t run away?” Hannah asks. “You didn’t take her away?”

“No,” I say. “Not exactly.”

“That leaves some doubt, Brent.” Hannah narrows her eyes. “Why don’t you tell us?”

“I’m trying to.” I take a breath and slowly let it out. “Amber’s father isn’t a kind man, to put it mildly. She was in a bad situation back in Texas. I can’t go into details because she asked me not to, but please trust me when I say, it was bad.”

“Trust you?” Uncle Ron snorts. “I don’t think so, boy. I think you’ll tell us why this girl is here and why that garish man is making those ads online. Using our name like that. It’s horrible.”

I glance at my parents. My dad is frowning and nodding, but my mother is looking at Amber intently. I can’t read her expression, so I move on.

“You’re going to have to, Uncle Ron. That man is garish, you’re right. He’s also abusive, manipulative, and rich. He has the resources to reach out here. He got his fingers into Hamish.”

“Is that why poor Hamish is all beat up?” Aunt Louise says.

“I saw him come in with a broken nose. Security’s got him.” Collin looks at his mother, excitement in his eye.

“I did that to Hamish,” I say. “Because Hamish tried to take Amber.”

The room stills. Collin’s mouth hangs open, shocked. Uncle Ron starts saying something then stops himself.

“He grabbed her while she was out walking,” I say, my voice barely controlled. “Mother and Father know more about it. But safe to say, I did what I had to do, and I’d do it again if I had to.”

“You did that to Hamish?” Collin sounds almost impressed.

I level a stare at him. “Yes, cousin. And don’t forget that.”

He looks indignant. “What are you implying?”

“Yes, boy, what are you implying?” his father asks.

“Listen to me.” I hold up my hands. “Amber isn’t safe outside of this place. She’s barely safe here. One of our own employees tried to take her. Imagine what her life would be like out there, where anyone might recognize her and try to get that money.”

“It would be chaos,” Hannah says.

“It would be horrible,” Lora adds.

“That’s why I’m here asking that you all accept her. I understand that our name has been brought into this, but that wasn’t her doing. That was her father. Her awful, fucking piece of shit father.”

Aunt Louise winces at the curses like I was physically hitting her. “Please,” she says, putting a hand on her chest.

I glare at all of them. “This isn’t a game. Her life is at stake. If we send her back all because we don’t like the publicity… we’re complicit in whatever her father does to her.”

“That’s absurd,” Uncle Ron says. “That’s far too much blame. How could you possibly lay that all on us?”

“We have the chance to keep her safe. If we don’t take it, it’s just as bad as handing her over to her father.”

I look at the room before my eyes fall on my parents. My father’s frowning, his martini untouched. My mother sips her drink, her eyes narrowed in thought.

“Father,” I say, “you wouldn’t kick her out, would you? Send this girl packing when we could protect her?”

“Protect her?” Uncle Ron snorts. “We don’t know this girl. She’s nothing to us.”

“She was my patient.”

“And you broke all your ethical oaths to take her away,” Hannah points out.

I ignore my cousin and look at my father. “You wouldn’t turn someone away, would you?”

He opens his mouth then shuts it again. He shakes his head and looks at my mother.