Chapter 1 & 2

Lacy had just finished a 12 hour shift as a RN at Montreal Children’s Hospital to say it had been a long day was an understatement. One of her patients didn’t make it which always made for a long day. All she wanted to do was go home and relax but she had to go to a family dinner which was only going to make her day longer.


On the way out her boss stopped her.

“Lacy I was hoping we could talk for a minute.”

“Sure Jan” she was willing to delay her dinner with her family.

“Let’s go into my office.”

Lacy knew that this was serious because Jan hated having to use her office for anything but followed her anyway.

“Lacy, I know you have had a long, hard day…but I can’t put this off anymore.”

“OK..” Lacy was now concerned…she knew it wasn’t just a usual debriefing on her patient but something more serious.

“I don’t know quite how to put this but I have to cut some jobs”

All the color drained from Lacy’s face…she was a young nurse and she knew what was coming next.

On the brink of tears she said “Your firing me…”

“No I have to lay some people off…unfortunately your name is on that list.”

Lacy couldn’t say anything she just sat there staring into space trying to figure out what she was going to do now.

“I know you have great talent and I have faith that you are going to make a great nurse. That is why I have made some calls in your behalf.”

“Ok…I am willing to do anything” was all Lacy could say.

“That is good to hear. My brother is a pediatrician and is looking for a new RN for his practice. There is just one thing…”



“What is it”

“It is in Pittsburgh…not here in Quebec. I know it is a big decision but I need an answer so I can inform him..He is holding the position for you.”

“I’ll take it” Lacy spoke not even having to think…she had always wanted to be a nurse,she even remembered playing doctor with Max when they were younger…

“Are you…”

“Yes…when do I have to be there?”

“You would start in two weeks but I would get down to Pittsburgh as soon as possible to try and learn the city.

“Ok”

“Again I am sorry Lacy but this is a great opportunity for you.”

“I know. Thank You Jan for everything but I really should get going..I need to tell my family and get things situated.”

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About 30 minutes later she pulled into her childhood home and made her way inside.

“Hello Lacy… Just in time. We just sat down.”

Lacy followed her mother back into the dining room and saw that they had started without her.

“Thanks for waiting” she said under her breath but she wanted to save a fight with her family especially with the news she had.

Even though she wasn’t entirely sure her parents would care she had to tell them. They weren’t happy that she had decided on stopping at her RN and not continuing with med school and following her fathers, and two brothers, and her twin sister’s footsteps. Her family was a family of doctors and her being just an RN was a disappointment in her parent’s eyes.

“I have some news for everyone.”

She immediately got her sisters attention…they had always been close. Everyone continued eating and sort of gave their attention.

“I was laid off today at the hospital…”

She had everyone attention now.

“Good now you can start medical school.”

“NO…I was offered a position elsewhere...as a RN. I am going to be working in Dr. Smithe’s office… in Pittsburgh” she said that last part slightly softer that the rest but her sister still heard.

“PITTSBURGH…AS IN PENSYVANIA PITTSBURGH” Lana yelled.

“I Don’t think so…you are going back to school” Her father said

“No dad I’m not I have already accepted the position. I am leaving the day after tomorrow” with that she got up and left her sister hot on her trail.

“Lac…wait”

“What Lana?”

“Are you really leaving…”

“Yes I am. I love being a nurse and if I have to go to Pittsburgh to do that then I’m going.”

“I’ll call you when I get settled and you can come visit.”

“OK.” She hugged her sister goodbye as did her brothers who had come out and heard the last part of the conversation. Even though her parents didn’t approve Lacy and her siblings had stayed close. After that Lacy got back into her car and headed home to start a long night of packing. She was ready to leave as soon as she could.

“Do you we think we should have told her.” Lana asked her brothers when they went back into the house to finish eating.

“No I don’t think so.” Landon her oldest brother said.

“Yea Pittsburgh is a big city…she probably won’t even run into to him…it will be ok.” LJ her other brother said.

“I hope that is the case” Lana said and sat back down knowing her parents wouldn’t want to hear anything about Lacy or Max….

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Chapter 2

The night before she left for Pittsburgh her sister and brothers came over to help with last minute things and to say goodbye. She had said she wanted to go to the airport alone…it was too hard to say goodbye twice. Before they knew it….goodbye was here.

“I am really going to miss you Lac” Lana said as she made her way to the door. She didn’t want to see her little sister cry even if she was only two minutes older she was still older.

“Me too Sis” LJ hugged and kissed her on the cheek. “You call if you need anything.”

“OK I will”

Landon kind of hung back because he wanted to talk to her. He thought about telling her what Max’s mom had told them a while back about him being in Pittsburgh but decided not to because he knew Lacy would change her mind…and he didn’t want her to do that. If he ever saw that asshole again after what he put his baby sister through…o the things he would to him.

“Landon” Lacy was waving her hand in front of his face.

“Sorry just zoned out for a second”

“ Yea better not do that in the OR” she said and they both chuckled a little bit…This was the Lacy he loved.

“Alright smartass lets be serious here for a second.”

“Ok”

“You sure you have everything planned out”

‘Yes Lan. I have a hotel room I can go to if I need it, and I’ll be buying a car tomorrow so I can look for a place to live and then I will have about week to really learn the city.”

“You opened your trust from grampy?”

“Yes I did and I’m only going to use it as backup because it’s not like Mum and Dad would help if I asked. Remember I’m not as good as the rest of you?”

“Lacy I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just asking”

“I know Lan. I just don’t understand why me being a nurse is so bad.”

“It’s not and you are really good at it.”

“Thanks”

“But if you need anything you know you can call me. I’ll be on the next flight down need be. I’ll do anything for my baby sister. Which is why I made a call.”

“What did you do” Lacy looked at her brother trying to read his face.

“I just made a call to a guy I know down there. He owns a dealership so I bought you one. Its one less thing to worry about and it is going to be waiting for you when you arrive tomorrow morning. I also got you this” and he handed her a credit card.

Lacy’s mouth just dropped open she didn’t know what to do or say.

“It’s just in case ok? I am still your big brother I have to take care of you.” Knowing she was going to say something now he continued “even if you are almost 25.”

Lacy just hugged her brother and tried not to cry. This was going to be the first time that they had been apart from each other for longer than a week. After everyone had left she got into her sleeping bag since everything else was already sent to Pittsburgh to await for her arrival and moving day. She couldn’t believe that she was leaving the place that she had pretty much grown up in her whole life.

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The next morning she made her way to the airport really early so she would have more time once she got there to try and find a place to live. Now she would have extra time to do that thanks to her big brother. The storage company had told her that if it was before 2pm that she could have her stuff delivered that afternoon to where she needed it so that was her goal.

A couple of hours later she was finally in Pittsburgh. She made her way towards the doors where she saw a line of people holding up signs…sure enough there was one with her name on it.

“Hi”

“Ms. Blount”

“That’s me”

“Right this way” and the man turned and started toward the parking garage. Lacy couldn’t help but wonder what Landon had gotten her. When they got to where they needed to be her jaw about hit the ground. There was a silver range rover with a huge bow on it.

“Merde” though she spoke mostly English because her parents had wanted their kids to speak it well…because it was important in the medical field especially since they were all going to be doctors. But some French still was spoken just not around them.

“Here are you keys and everything else you’ll need in inside.” He said while taking the bow off the car.

Lacy got in and was amazed at how much the car had…which was pretty much everything…She was never going to be able to say thank you enough for this.

“To the South Side” she said more to herself but laughed a little when the navigation system turned on and started giving her directions. Just like Landon always taking care of me she thought as she began her search for a place to live.