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She's been good at avoiding Robby ever since he proposed to Janey. If he wanted to do something after work, she used having plans with Benji as an excuse to not do it.
At work she made sure they were around a patient or other doctors and nurses. Never alone. That tactic had worked until they got into this elevator, and would have continued to do so had it not broken down.
And the twenty second journey has already turned into five minutes. Robby’s like a child hitting a wasp nest with a stick, not able to stop until he's stung.
“So are you going to tell me what's wrong?” Robby asked after failing to get more than one word answers from her since the elevator broke down.
“Nothing.” The thing is Dana's a good liar. She lies to patients all the time that they will be okay when they don't have a chance in hell. Every day she lied to Benji about how much she smoked. To her children about little things to protect them. And on the occasion she steps foot in church to her priest. The only person who can see right through her is Robby.
“Okay, when you can say that and actually look at me while you're doing it I'll believe you,” Robby challenged, nothing more than half an inch separating their bodies. She is all too aware of that more than she had been seconds ago. “Ever since I got engaged you've shut me out. I thought you'd be happy for me.”
“I am happy for you. Janey is wonderful. Jake, he's a lovely kid and I am sure in a year or two, you and Janey will give him a brother or sister who is just as wonderful,” Dana began, still refusing to look at him. She prayed to a God she didn't believe in to get this elevator working again.
She meant it. Janey was wonderful. She could be good for Robby. Give him a life outside the hospital and he needed one. But the thought of Robby spending the rest of his life with her made her stomach hurt. The thought of having to watch them raise a family together made her want to scratch at skin to get whatever bad was feeling inside out.
“Janey doesn't want anymore kids,” Robby replied, fingers ghosting over Dana's, he could easily take her hand but doesn't. Dana could easily be selfish and tell him not to marry her, but doesn't. “She said it wouldn't be fair to Jake and she's right.”
Dana hated the way that a part of her feels slightly soothed by this information. That she wouldn't have to see a child with Robby’s eyes and Janey's smile running around.