Elliot noted when the mood went from anger to gloom, and his own expression went melted from stern into compassion. “You probably wouldn’t take it quite as personally if someone else was in charge, but since this whole thing is your gig, a mountain of defensiveness is expected.”
There was a reason why medics were advised against treating family members and friends. It was harder to stay impartial, harder to be objective, harder to balance comfort with scolding. When he realized that he was perhaps being a little too hard on Evan, Elliot dropped his gaze to the floor guiltily and nodded. “Of course. I’m working my way there,” he said, by way of apology. “You’ll get through this. I’m sure you’ve been through rough times like this before. It’ll pass and you’ll be your old self again.”
“I’m not so sure. I mean, yeah, I can’t blame her for wanting to spend time getting to know the girl, but I can’t imagine Leah would want to do it all by herself. Being a single parent would be tough. Rory does it, but then she doesn’t really have much of a choice.” After all Evan went through to get Leah and all he’d done to get her daughter back, it would be a poor way to show her gratitude if she dumped him for this mistake.
He smiled halfheartedly at his friend’s joke. “If you were a complete and total screw-up, you never would’ve gotten all of us out of the city. We wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you.”
A few minutes passed in silence, and then the sound of footsteps could be heard echoing through the quiet ward. Leah appeared around the curtain, panting slightly, with a sleeping Marigold held in her arms.
Elliot glanced from Evan to Leah and back again, before quietly excusing himself.