It was a long drive to get to Newport Beach.

They were about an hour into the drive and they had said nothing to each other for almost an hour.

"How are things at the bakery? Do you know?"
"It's going great. Speaking of, remember my friend from med school? Amber?"
"Yeah."
"She is getting married."
Nicole's eyes widened and she clapped her hands.
"Ooh. Well, congratulations to her! Are you making the cake?"
"She is not having cake. Rather, she settled on cupcakes. A little unconventional, but that's Amber."
"Well, I am glad your business is doing well."
"Me too."

"When's the wedding?"
"In a few weeks."
"Are you going alone?"
"Um... No." Elena said, trying to hide her smile.
Nicole nods.
"Ahh. You are going to be seeing Dr. Melendez very soon, then. I mean, Neil."
Elena tries to hide her smile.
She clears her throat and keeps quiet.

"Anyways, how are you feeling about being at work?" asked Elena.
"Okay, I guess. Kind of wish I could stay longer in San Jose."
"Let me guess. So that you and Grams can continue gossiping about myself and Neil."
She laughs. "Maybe. Just a little."
Elena shakes her head.
Elena turns up the radio and they listen to the songs.

After an hour or more, Nicole starts up a conversation.

"How long are you planning on staying in Newport Beach?"
"I think I will leave early on Sunday morning. I got to get back to work too."
"You're your own boss, so you don't have to get to back to work that soon."
"I miss baking a bit. I think I am glad to go back."
"Okay. If you say so."
Nicole yawns.
"I think I need to take a nap."
Elena nods.
"Okay."
Nicole eventually falls asleep.

About two hours later, Elena's phone rings. Fortunately, it's not loud and it is connected to the car's Bluetooth system.

"Hey." she said, almost whispering.
"Hey. Where are you now?"
"We're passing through..." She explains the rest of the details to him.
"Okay. Why are you whispering?" he asked, laughing just a little.
"My mom's sleeping. I don't want her find out that you're calling. She already said that she wished she'd stayed longer so that she can gossip some more with Grams about us."

She rolled her eyes.
Neil laughs.
"Well, I hope she doesn't wake up soon. Or else, she might ask me questions."
She laughs.
"Anyways, I got to go. Surgery in 10."
"Okay. I hope it goes well."
"Bye."
"Bye." she said, ending the call.

A few minutes later, Elena decided to get some food through the drive-through. When she visits Newport Beach, she usually passes by this place along the way. She gets her usual and she takes a guess at what her mom would want.

Her mom wakes up after smelling the food.
"Smells delicious!" her mom said.
"I wasn't sure what you wanted so I got you this."
"Ooh. It tastes amazing. Not surprised though. They have some of the best food."
Elena nods to that and they continue eating.

They finish up. and get back on the road.

Two hours later, they arrive in Newport Beach.
"Home. At last!" exclaimed Nicole.
"Well, to be exact, we still have a bit to go until we get to the house."
Nicole looks annoyed.
"Way to kill the mood."
"It's true though."

They were quiet until they pulled up the driveway.
Nicole opened the car door, reached for her keys and ran to the front door and opened it.
Elena laughs as she takes their bags out of the car trunk.

She walks inside.
"Wow. Love what you've done with the lounge, Mom."
"Right. You haven't been here since we did the place. Quite a few things changed around here. Including your room."
Elena becomes worried.
She puts her mom's bags in her bedroom.
She heads back to the lounge and then fetchs her bags and walks to her room.

She takes a deep breath and opens the door.
She sees that her room has a nook near the window. Turning her head to the side, she sees a lot of fabric, mannequins and a sewing machine.
"Mom, are you learning how to make clothes?" she says, still in the room.
"Yeah. Surprise!"
Elena was in awe of the colours in the room.
She heads to the lounge.
"What made you decide to make clothes?"
"I just thought I should try a new hobby."
"The one dress inside... It looks beautiful."
Nicole runs to the room and grabs the dress.
"Well, I am glad you like it. It is all yours."

Elena was surprised.
"I made it for you."
"Thanks, Mom."
It was elbow-length. It was just above the ankles and in Elena's favourite colour: light blue. She went to try it on.

"Look at you. It's gorgeous!" her mom exclaimed.
Elena looks in the mirror. She is surprised at how pretty it looks on her. She then smiles, remembering how Neil liked seeing her in a blue dress. Well, anything blue.
"I see you smiling."
Elena stops.
"I guess you're not mad at me for turning the room into something else."
She shook her head.
"Besides, I don't live here anymore. So I can just take the guest room."
"Okay, then."
Elena hugs her mom, thanking her once again for the dress. She changes back into what she wore earlier and takes her bags into the guest room.

She sits down on the bed and decides to call Neil.
She listens as the phone just rings for a bit.
"Maybe he has another surgery? He'll be really tired though." she thought.
"Hello?" said a voice. It was a female.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"It's Dr. Lim. I assume you're a friend of Neil's?"
"I... Yeah. I am. Is he around?"
"He is not here at the moment. I can..."
Just then, Dr. Melendez entered Chief Lim's office.
"Hey, Chief Lim. Sorry to barge in like this. I was wondering if you hadn't seen..."
"Your phone?" Dr. Lim said, raising the phone.
He sighs.
"Thanks."
"There is someone on the line."
Dr. Melendez is surprised.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier, Audrey?" He rushes towards her.
"Sorry." she said, with her hands up in defense.
Neil shakes his head, takes the phone, reading the name.
He mouths: "Thank you."
He leaves her office, closing the door and walking towards his own office.

"Hey. Sorry. I had no idea anyone was on the line."
"It is okay. Why was your phone in Chief Lim's office?"
"Myself, her and Dr. Murphy met up earlier, before the surgery. To discuss the procedure."
"Right. How did it go?"

"It was good. The patient needed two surgeries."
"Wait. What? Did you do something wrong?"
Neil scoffs.
"Wow. You just assume it was my fault? Such little trust."
She laughs. "Sorry. I meant did something go wrong?"
"Just stop. You're digging yourself into a bigger grave." he said, in a very serious tone.
Elena gasps and is silent.
He laughs.
"No, I did nothing wrong." he said, putting her out of her misery.
She sighs of relief.
He continues.
"First we had to do the cardiac surgery and then when I finished, Dr. Lim stepped in and did the surgery on the brain?"
"Brain and heart? That is insane!"
He smiles.
"I know. I did that insane thing."
She laughs.
"Well, um... What are you planning on doing after work?"
"Nothing much. I am not on call, but I might stay and finish some work. You?"
"I am probably just going to take a walk to the bookstore nearby."
"You're such a nerd."
She laughs.
"Look who's talking. You're the one reading medical journals, Dr. Melendez."
He laughs.
"Fair point, Miss Castillo. Anyways, I will speak to you some other time."
"Some other time? Are you that busy?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Right. Paperwork."
"Yeah. I have some work to get to now though so I got to get to it. Then hopefully I can get home earlier and when I do get home, I am going to be having a long phone call, talking to my girlfriend." he said that abruptly and so quick. He then ended the call purposefully.