Courageous Love

by KC Richardson

  Frank filled two glasses and carried them over to the table. Alex realized that Frank hadn’t actually invited her to stay and eat with her, and was mortified that she just assumed they would eat together. This wasn’t going at all like she imagined. She thought they could enjoy some soup and bread, fall into an easy conversation, but that wasn’t the case at all. Maybe she should go. She shifted from one foot to the other as Frank tended to the meal. “I think I’m going to go. I hope you enjoy the soup.”

  Frank turned around with a questioning look. “Wait! What? You’re not going to have lunch with me?”

  Alex looked at her with apprehension. “I wasn’t sure you wanted me to stay. You don’t exactly look happy to see me, and I won’t stay where I’m not welcome.”

  Frank scrubbed her face with her hands and forcefully exhaled. “Look, Alex, I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to come by. Hell, I wasn’t expecting to see you at all except maybe at the hospital. When I asked you for your number at Jordan’s and you said you didn’t think it would be a good idea to see each other…well, you can imagine how confused I am that you showed up out of the blue to my home and brought me homemade soup. I guess I’m just wondering why you’re really here.”

  Alex looked down, unable to meet Frank’s inquisitive gaze, and shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’m sorry, Frank. Honestly, I’m confused too. I was worried about you yesterday and I wanted to check on you. Last night, while I was making the soup, I kept thinking about you, and I thought you would like some too.”

  Frank furrowed her brow. “How did you know where I lived?”

  Alex mumbled, still unable to meet Frank’s eyes, “I got your address when I was charting on you yesterday.”

  Frank cupped Alex’s chin gently, forcing her to finally look into Frank’s eyes. “And you did this because you were worried about me?”

  The barest hint of a smile on Frank’s handsome face made her relax and answer honestly. “Yes.” For the first time today, Alex saw the pain dissipate in Frank’s eyes.

  “Well then, would you like to join me for lunch?”

  Alex was flooded with relief, and for the first time since she stepped onto Frank’s front porch, she felt like she was finally able to fully breathe. “I would love to.”

  *

  Frank’s shoulders loosened as she poured the soup into two bowls and carried them over to the kitchen table where Alex was sitting. To say she was surprised Alex showed up unannounced with homemade chicken soup would be putting it mildly. She felt cautiously optimistic that they could actually end up being friends, although Frank wouldn’t mind having more. Alex still hadn’t revealed why she didn’t want to give Frank her number, and while she was curious, she respected Alex’s privacy. She took her seat across from Alex and winced from the pain in her rib. She decided this morning after she woke up feeling hung over from the pain medication that she was just going to take ibuprofen. The pain wasn’t excruciating, and she didn’t like the way the narcotics made her feel.

  Alex looked at her across the table with a look of concern on her face. “Did you want me to get you a pain pill?”

  Frank shook her head and smiled. “No, I’m not taking them. So far, the pain is manageable with the anti-inflammatories.”

  Alex raised an eyebrow and looked at Frank suspiciously. “Uh-huh. You’re just a regular tough girl, aren’t ya?”

  Frank chuckled. “Hardly. I just don’t like the way they make me feel all groggy.”

  Alex nodded her understanding. “Okay, but take one if the pain gets too bad. Promise?”

  Frank felt her heartbeat quicken as she caught and held Alex’s gaze. She cleared her throat and held up her right hand. “I promise.”

  Alex laughed and pointed to Frank’s bowl. “Eat.”

  Frank didn’t have to be told twice. The smell wafting under her nose made her stomach rumble. She lifted the spoon and blew on the hot liquid to cool it down. When the flavors exploded on her tongue, she let out an appreciative moan. This was honestly the best chicken soup she’d ever had. The variety of vegetables, the juicy chunks of chicken, and the right amount of spices made it nirvana. Frank found herself unable to stop eating long enough to compliment Alex on her cooking prowess. When she clanked the spoon in the empty bowl and finally met Alex’s amused gaze, she shrugged and looked chagrined. “That was the best chicken soup I ever had. Seriously. The. Best.” The look of pleasure on Alex’s face made Frank feel warm all over.

  “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It has special healing powers, you know.”

  Frank laughed. “Is that right? Well, I better get a refill.” She returned with her second helping and took her time with the second bowl. She split her time between the soup and tearing off small bites of bread. When she finished, she leaned back in her chair and placed her hands over her stomach in satisfaction. She looked across the table at Alex, who was just finishing her first bowl. “Would you like another bowl? There’s some left in the pot.”

  Alex smiled and shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ll leave the leftovers for you. I guess you liked it?”

  Frank grinned sheepishly. “I did. Thank you so much. It was very thoughtful of you.” She took the dishes into the kitchen and heard her cell phone alert her to a text message, but she didn’t want to be rude and check it in the presence of Alex.

  “I think you have a text.”

  “Yeah, I’ll check it later.”

  “Don’t be silly. You can check it now.”

  Frank grabbed her phone off the counter and read the text.

  Now you can have my number.

  Frank didn’t recognize the number, but the smile on Alex’s face made Frank realize whose number it was. “Are you sure?”

  Alex walked into the kitchen and stood close to Frank. She leaned in and kissed Frank on the cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t give it to you before, but now I want you to have it.”

  Frank barely prevented her hand from touching the spot where Alex kissed her. “Why now?”

  Alex sighed and grabbed Frank’s hand. “Let’s go sit in the living room and I’ll tell you.”

  Frank’s hand remained in Alex’s as they retreated into the living room and sat next to each other on the couch. She really liked the way Alex’s hand fit perfectly in hers like two interlocking pieces of a puzzle.

  Alex turned to face her and tucked her leg under her body. “The day we met, I felt so many conflicting emotions. I was super pissed at you for pulling me over, but I was also wildly attracted to you. You looked so hot in your uniform, so confident.”

  Frank felt her ears get warm and knew she was blushing.

  “I thought you were the biggest jerk.” Alex laughed when Frank frowned. “But then I met you at Jordan’s, and the gentleness you showed Aiden and the gentlemanly attention you lavished on me made me feel so confused. I didn’t know what to think. Then you asked me for my number, which totally took me by surprise. I didn’t give it to you then because I didn’t know you well enough to trust myself. I felt my instincts were off that day, but I trust them now. I like you, Frank. I hope we can hang out, maybe be friends.” Alex looked down into her lap. “Maybe go on a date?”

  Frank squeezed Alex’s hand and she looked back to Frank. “You want to go on a date with me?”

  Alex nodded shyly and it took all of Frank’s will to not lean over and kiss her.

  “Then I’ll definitely give you a call.”

  Chapter Five

  “Well, that went better than I thought.” Alex felt like she floated down the pathway back to her car. She had just gotten behind the wheel when her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket to see she had a text from Frank that simply asked, When? She looked up to see Frank standing in her living room looking at her through the big picture window.

  Alex laughed and texted back. When, what?

  When do you want to go on our date?

  Alex shook her head and laughed. Anxious much? I’m working the next three days on swing then I hav
e four days off. How’s Thursday?

  Perfect. Drive carefully.

  Alex looked back at Frank and waved to her before starting her car and driving away. She had a couple of hours before she had to be at the hospital. She enjoyed her time with Frank, and she seemed grateful for the soup. The wariness in her eyes seemed to have disappeared by the time Alex left her house.

  She had already experienced so many different emotions in the short time she’d known Frank, and she had a strong suspicion she would go through a lot more. One thing she knew for certain was her attraction toward Frank. Alex found Frank extremely good-looking in a rugged sort of way that made Alex want to explore every inch of Frank’s body.

  Once she got home, she got ready for work. When she arrived at the ER, she shifted her focus off Frank and onto medicine. Although she was fairly new to County, she had already made some friends with the staff, and they had gone out of their way to make her feel welcome. She spotted Judy at the nurses’ station. She was an older woman who had been in this department for the past fifteen years. “Hey, Judy. How’re things?”

  “Not too bad. Actually, it’s been a little slow today.”

  “Shush! Don’t jinx it!”

  Judy laughed. “Sorry. After all this time, you’d think I’d know better. I’m about to clock out anyway, so it’s not my problem.”

  The diabolical laugh Judy let out as she headed to the locker room made Alex chuckle and shake her head. The voice coming over the radio gave her the answer she didn’t want to hear.

  “County, EMS twenty-four.”

  Alex sighed and rolled her eyes before responding, “Twenty-four, go ahead.”

  “County, EMS twenty-four en route to your facility. On board I have an unresponsive male in his twenties, auto versus pedestrian. How do you copy?”

  Alex grabbed a pen and paper and began jotting down notes. “Loud and clear.”

  “Patient was struck by sedan traveling approximately thirty miles per hour and was thrown fifteen feet. Patient found unresponsive with obvious open skull fracture, no gray matter present, open femur fracture left side, and multiple abrasions. Patient in spinal precautions, bilateral IVs started, high flow O2, and attempting intubation. Vitals ninety over sixty, heart rate one twenty, weak radial, breathing at eight per minute. If you have no further questions or orders, we’ll see you in five.”

  “Copy, twenty-four. We’ll be waiting.” Alex quickly scribbled down the information she received and vowed she was going to make Judy pay for jinxing them. She quickly checked the board to see what room was open and assembled the necessary staff. The paramedics burst through the door, and Alex noted one straddling the patient administering chest compressions.

  “We lost his pulse as we were pulling in, and I was unable to tube him.”

  Dr. Neale joined the group as they hurried down the hall. “Okay, people, let’s get to work.” He positioned himself at the patient’s head and inserted the endotracheal tube, then attached the Ambu bag. Alex placed her stethoscope over the man’s stomach then lungs.

  “Absent gastric sounds, clear equal bilateral lung sounds.” She slung the scope around her neck while another nurse applied the defibrillation pads.

  Another nurse shouted, “Clear!” Everyone stepped away, and the nurse shocked the patient. The shock made the body rise a few inches off the table and back down. Alex looked at the monitor that showed the patient was in v-fib.

  Dr. Neale barked his orders. “Push an amp of epi and let’s try it again.”

  The nurse yelled, “Clear!” The shock was stronger, but still didn’t have any effect on the patient’s heart. Another nurse stepped up and resumed chest compressions.

  The doctors and nurses worked valiantly for what felt like hours, but in actuality was more like thirty to forty minutes. Despite their efforts, the patient’s heart never regained its rhythm and flatlined. “I’m calling it.” The doctor stepped back and looked at the clock as all activity ceased. “Time of death, seventeen twenty. Thank you, everyone.”

  Alex watched as the staff disposed of their gowns and gloves in the appropriate receptacle. She replaced her bloody gloves with clean ones and went to work on cleaning up the patient. It wasn’t uncommon to lose patients in the ER, but it really tugged at Alex’s heartstrings. Even though she didn’t know her patients personally, she felt the least she could do was take her time to clean them up and help them look semi-presentable when their loved ones came in to say their good-byes. She had to leave everything in place for the coroner to document that all of the treatments were actually done, but she could clean them up as best as she could.

  She filled another basin with warm water and grabbed a towel. She placed the water on a table near the patient and began to wash the dried blood off his face. He was just a kid, someone’s son, maybe someone’s brother or boyfriend. She didn’t know him, but she had a feeling he had been well loved. Her heart ached for what his family would go through, having to see his lifeless body lying on the gurney. She continued to wash his face, and once the blood had been removed, she moved on to his hands. There were bits of gravel embedded in his palms that she gently brushed away.

  She dumped the water down the sink when she was finished. She went to take one final look at him before she left the room. She tried to pat down his hair as she spoke softly to him. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t do anything more for you, my friend. I hope you didn’t suffer too much. Peaceful journey.” She left him with the sheet pulled up to just under his chin. He looked at peace, like he was sleeping, and she left him to his eternal slumber.

  By the time she finished her shift, Alex was more than ready to go home. It was after midnight, and all she could think about was getting home, drawing a hot bath, and having a glass of wine. She normally felt keyed up after a shift, but after losing the young man at the start of her day, she felt as if all her energy had been drained. She would have loved to call Jordan to talk it out with her, but she knew she would be asleep. She then thought about texting Frank to see if she was still awake, but she didn’t feel they knew each other well enough for a heart-to-heart talk, not when it came to losing a patient. She pulled into the driveway and couldn’t get into her condo quick enough. She retrieved her wine while the tub filled with water and let out a pleasurable sigh as she sank below the bubbles.

  Normally, her best remedy for cheering up after a shift like that was to think about Aiden. Just the thought of him brought a smile to her face and peace to her heart. But tonight, visions and thoughts of Frank flooded her mind. Even though their relationship was in the infant stage, Alex couldn’t help imagining Frank’s solid arms holding her after a shift like she just had. She pictured Frank greeting her with arms wide open, wrapping her up in a safe cocoon, taking her to bed, and comforting her through the night. That seemed just like something Frank would do. Alex looked forward to seeing how this thing between her and Frank would work out. The image of Frank’s handsome face helped Alex drift off to her dreams.

  Chapter Six

  Frank looked at the alarm clock on her nightstand through sleepy eyes as the insistent vibration moved her cell phone across the wood surface. The clock read a little after nine in the morning, and she wondered when she had fallen back to sleep. Ever since she broke her rib, sleep was continuously interrupted every time she changed positions, and it had taken a while to get back to sleep once the pain had subsided. Since she was off work with nothing to do and nowhere to be, her sleep schedule was all screwed up. She picked up her phone, saw Alex’s name on the screen, and swiped to answer. “’Lo.”

  “Frank? It’s Alex. Did I wake you?”

  “Yeah, but it’s okay. I need to get up anyways. How’re you doing?”

  “I’m good. I just wanted to call and confirm dinner for tonight.”

  Frank wiped her eyes and smiled. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it, but would you mind if we had dinner at my place? My ribs are still sore, and I’m not sure if I could handle sitting in a restaurant for a
couple of hours.”

  “That’s fine. You want me to pick up something?”

  Frank threw back the covers and gasped from the discomfort as she sat on the side of the bed. “No, I’ll fix something. Maybe grill some steaks?”

  “Don’t even think about it. Let me bring the food so we can relax. How’s Thai?”

  “That sounds great. I really appreciate it, Alex.”

  “No problem. I’ll see you around six tonight.”

  Once they hung up, Frank shuffled to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was sticking up at odd angles, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She turned on the shower in hopes it would help wake her up. The hot water helped ease her sore muscles, and she felt a lot better when she stepped out and dried herself off. She was feeling halfway human again. She got dressed in a white tank top and bright green board shorts before heading to the kitchen. The sight of Bella lying in front of the back door, looking at her with sad puppy dog eyes, made her heart melt.

  “I’m sorry, girl. Mama’s not feeling too good, but Julie’s coming over later to take you for some exercise.”

  Bella’s tail wagged at the sound of her dog walker’s name. Julie had been referred to her by the rescue Frank got Bella from when she had told them she sometimes worked long hours. On the days Frank worked, Julie would come get Bella and take her for runs or to the dog park to play with her doggy friends. Julie and Frank became friends, and she was grateful that Bella could get some exercise since she physically wasn’t up to it. Frank unlocked the dog door for Bella to go outside, then went to start the coffeepot and get Bella’s breakfast together.

  The knock on the front door sent Bella scrambling across the wood floors and she slid into the door with a thump. Frank laughed and shook her head as she reached the frantic canine. “Bella, sit.” Once Bella obeyed, Frank opened the door to find Julie standing there holding a bag of bagels. “Hey, perfect timing. Coffee’s ready.”