by Alex Dafney
“Oh. My. Gosh.” I grimace as I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. There’s not enough makeup on this planet to fix my red, blotchy face from the previous day’s tears. With a sigh I begin to do what I can to make myself presentable for the day. Doting more makeup than I’ve worn since high school, but it doesn’t do much use. Now I just look like I’m trying to hide my face.
I quickly remove the majority of the makeup and pull my hair into a ponytail before walking to my dresser and pulling out a pair of scrubs. My phone begins to ring on my bedside table just as I pull my top over my head. I walk toward it, picking it up and groaning as I see it’s my coworker, Amy. “Hey Amy.” I place my thumb and forefinger to the bridge of my nose, pinching my eyes shut because I know what’s coming.
“Hey, Abigail! Something came up and I need you to check in with three of my clients.” I let out a low sigh, knowing this will put me working well into the late evening. “Yeah, sure. Which ones?” She rattles off the three names of her patients and hangs up quickly. I walk out of my bedroom toward the kitchen to throw a few protein bars and apples in my purse. Knowing I’ll need them because there’s no way I’ll be able to take a break with this workload. I mentally jot out my day as I walk to my car in the dark. Backing out of my driveway I make my way toward the first of Amy’s clients, hoping it will be a quick one.
The day is anything, but easy. I pull into the Russell’s driveway just after seven in the evening, utterly exhausted. Thankfully, this is my last stop, then I can go home and fall into bed. I step out of my car, making my way up the steps as the door pulls open. Jase smiles warmly at me. “Late night?” I let out a small sigh as my shoulders drop, nodding my head in response.
He steps to the side, allowing me to step in the house. He reaches forward, gingerly taking my purse straps from my shoulder and sliding it down my arm. “Let me take this for you. Pops should be an easy one for you tonight. I’ve already managed to help him bathe, he’s eaten, and probably nodding off to the blaring sounds of political talk.” I manage a soft chuckle as I start to move down the hallway.
I notice Agnus in a chair in the living room, nodding off as her crocheting sits in her lap. As I reach Mr. Russell’s door, I hear Jase from the living room. “Come on, Nan. Let’s get you to bed.” I push open the door, peering inside to find Mr. Russell watching the TV intently. He glances over at me and sighs. “I thought you’d quit.”
I roll my eyes at him as I stride toward him. “Don’t you be rolling them eyes.” I raise an eyebrow at him, placing my hands on my hips. “And don’t you be thinking I quit on you. I have every intention of getting you back out there to deal with those donkeys.” He let’s out a barking laugh before silencing the TV and looking up at me. “Alright. Check me out and get your tail home. It’s far too late for you to still be working.”
I step into the bathroom that adjoins the room, washing my hands and drying them before crossing the small room to stand at his bedside. “What are you doing here so late?” I pop my glove on and flip his bed sheet up to look at the incision on his hip. “My coworker asked me to take a few of her patients today.” He grunts with disapproval. “Shoulda told her to take care of her own.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my lip as I change his dressing. I stand, slipping the gloves off and tossing them in the waste bin. “Is there anything else you need tonight? Can I help you to the bathroom before bed?” He scoffs, waving a hand toward me. “I done told you I don’t need you seeing my willy.” I smother a chuckle.
“Pops. Please don’t say willy again.” I glance over my shoulder to find Jase leaning against the doorframe to the room. His arms folded across his broad chest. He gives me a wink, causing my cheeks to heat. “Well, that seems to be the only reason she’s here.” Mr. Russell’s brows knit together in a scowl. I cock out one hip, placing a hand to it as I give him a pointed look. “That’s my job, Mr. Russell. To assist you so you don’t hurt yourself by overdoing it.”
He waves a hand at me, grunting again. “Hockey. Your job right now should be going home and taking care of yourself.” My previous sass quickly leaves me as I run a hand to my hair, trying to smooth out what I’m sure is less than appealing. I suddenly find myself rather self conscious if this man is telling me I need to take care of myself. He looks around me toward the door. “Go and heat her up some of supper. I know there’s leftovers. Your Nan ain’t never cooked a meal that wouldn’t feed ten.”
My eyes widen. Turning I find Jase pushing off the doorframe with his large shoulder, a charming smile on his face. “You know she did.” His eyes find mine before he turns to walk out of the room. I start forward to stop him but turn back to Mr. Russell. “You sure you don’t need anything?” He shakes his head, turning the volume of the TV back to full blast.
I step into the hallway, closing the bedroom door behind me and quickly making my way to the kitchen to find Jase pulling out containers from the refrigerator. “Jase, that won’t be necessary.” He glances over at me as he places them next to the stove, his brows drawing together slightly. “Have you eaten today?” My mouth opens, but I can’t find what I want to say. He gives me a pointed look before turning his attention back to the containers.
“That’s what I thought. Sit down and I’ll warm this up. Hope you like spaghetti.” My shoulders slump forward as my head drops, making my way toward the small kitchen table. I sit down in a chair, suddenly feeling very defeated by my day. I fold my arms, placing them on the table and dropping my head to them, closing my eyes.
Within a second I can feel myself wanting to fall asleep right here. The fifteen-hour workday, fitful night of sleep and my horrible evening yesterday all weighing down on me. “Abbi?” I raise my head slightly as Jase says my name quietly. He stands holding a plate in one hand and two glasses of white wine in the other, giving me a tentative smile.
I move my hands as he places the plate of spaghetti in front of me and sits in the chair at the head of the table so he’s at my side. He sits the wine glasses down. “If you don’t like wine, I’ll be more than happy to drink both.” I reach my hand across the table, watching the playful glint in his eyes as he slides it into my hand. “Thanks.”
I pick up the fork and twist a bite of spaghetti before bringing it to my mouth. I close my eyes as the flavors dance along my tongue. I could almost cry it tastes so damn good, and I’m so damn hungry. Jase lets out a low chuckle, causing me to open my eyes and look over at him. The grin on his face highlights that oh so cute dimple. I scrunch my brow at him as I sip my wine. “What?”
He shakes his head slightly, running a hand through his dark hair as he sits back in the chair. “I’ve never seen someone as appreciative of food as you. I know Nan’s a damn good cook, but you eat everything like it’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted.” I give a simple shrug before taking another bite. “It really is delicious.” I say after swallowing and wiping my mouth with the napkin.
“Why are you working so late tonight? Another patient of yours as troublesome as Pops?” I chuckle before taking another bite of food as I shake my head. “No. My coworker asked if I could take on three of her patients today.” I roll my eyes as I reach for my wine glass, taking a sip. “Why do I have the feeling that happens more than it should?”
I start in on a tangent about my lazy coworker as I finish off my dinner. Suddenly I realize I’ve been complaining about Amy to a perfect stranger for an unreasonable amount of time. Not only a perfect stranger, a client’s grandson. I stop mid sentence, giving him an impish smile before dropping my gaze to my empty wine glass. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
I glance over at him under my lashes, finding him wearing a small smile as he twirls his empty wine glass on the table. “No need to be sorry. We all need to blow off some steam every now and then.” He stands, gripping his wine glass in one hand and taking mine. “Another glass?” He asks without looking back at me as he strides across the kitchen. I know I shouldn’t, and I intend
to say as much as the word ‘yes’ bubbles from my mouth.
As I watch him pour wine into the glasses, I can’t believe how comfortable I am sitting in this kitchen, sharing a glass of wine with him. He turns, walking toward me with both glasses in hand and a warm smile. As he takes his seat, he pushes the glass toward me, our fingertips brushing as I reach for mine.
“So, tell me about you. You must be married with kids by now.” I let out a humorless laugh before lifting the wine glass to my mouth. Trying to avoid the bitterness that fills me at the years I wasted waiting for Remington to come around. “No kids, and not married. I, uh, actually broke up with my boyfriend, well, not boyfriend, last night.”
I feel my cheeks turning red as I stare at the wine glass in my hand. Why the hell did I just tell him that? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” I glance over at him, his eyes and mouth tilted down with a look of concern. I wave a hand toward him, focusing my gaze back on the wine glass in front of me. “Don’t be. It should’ve happened years ago. I was still holding out hope that Remington would commit to me.”
“Remington Combs? You two were together in high school, right?” I look up to him with a look of surprise. “Uh, yeah.” He gives a low whistle before pulling his glass to his mouth and draining the remaining wine. As he sits the empty glass on the table, he gives me a sympathetic half smile. “I’m sorry. I know it must be hard to go through a breakup with someone that you’ve spent so much time with.”
I scoff as I shake my head lightly, finishing off my glass of wine. “We haven’t been together since high school. I foolishly hung around waiting for him to make a commitment while he sampled all of the local woman.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I could take them back. I just made myself look like a complete idiot.
I smack a hand to my forehead, pinching my eyes shut. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about my problems with my patient’s grandson.” I feel a large, warm hand on my shoulder. I slowly pull my eyes open, looking over as he stares at me. “Don’t be sorry. I’m enjoying spending time with you, and if you want to talk about this, that’s what we’ll talk about.”
I stare into his eyes for a moment too long. His dark blue eyes hold nothing but kindness and sincerity. “Your eyes are gorgeous.” I hear myself whispering. My cheeks heat instantly at the spoken words I didn’t mean to say aloud. I look away, pushing my chair back from the table and standing quickly. “I should be going.” I avoid looking at him as I grab my purse from the table. “I’ll walk you out.”
I shake my head as I stride from the kitchen toward the front door. “No need. I’ll be by tomorrow.” Just as I place my hand on the doorknob, his closes over mine. I pull my hand from under his and glance over my shoulder at him. He stands so close to me. His muscular chest and arms highlighted in his plain T-shirt. And he smells so good I want to close my eyes and inhale him.
He pulls the door open, placing his hand on my lower back to guide me out the door and I feel like I could spontaneously combust from the contact. I force myself to focus on walking to the car and not landing face first on the gravel. As we reach my car, he drops his hand from my back, and I turn to face him. “Thanks for dinner, and for walking me out.” He gives me a bright smile, showing off that dimple that should be illegal.
As he leans toward me my heart almost stops. Oh my God, he’s going to kiss me. In the second it takes for his face to be level with mine I realize that I want him to kiss me. I haven’t wanted another man to kiss me ever. I close my eyes, waiting for the feel of his lips on mine. Somehow our mouths miss each other, and I kiss his cheek.
I open my eyes to find his eyes wide as he stares down at me, just as I hear the click of my car door opening. Oh my God! He wasn’t trying to kiss me! He was just opening my car door for me. My face feels as though it will burn off and I know I must be the shade of a tomato. I wait for God to spare me from the embarrassment and strike me down, but it doesn’t happen.
Turning, I sit in the driver’s seat, avoiding looking at him as I fumble to get my keys in the ignition. “Good night, Abbi.” I throw my hand up in an attempt at a nonchalant wave as he closes my door. As I pull down the driveway, I mentally kick myself for being so stupid. Not only was he not trying to kiss me, now I have to face him every day for as long as he’s staying with his grandparents. Placing one hand to my forehead I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m such an idiot.”
The next day I plan my schedule to arrive at the Russell’s between lunch and dinner. That way I won’t be talked into eating with them and having to sit beside Jase and have an awkward, forced conversation. I pull into the driveway just after two in the afternoon, hoping to get in and out as quickly as possible.
Standing in front of the door I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I raise my hand, knocking on the door and waiting for it to open. After a minute, I knock again. Agnus pulls the door open shortly after the second knock. “I’m sorry, honey. It takes me a minute to get across the house nowadays.” She steps aside as I walk in the house. “No worries. I’ve only been here a moment.”
I glance into the kitchen nervously, expecting to find Jase. When I don’t see him, I stride over to the kitchen table, dropping my purse in one of the chairs. I turn around to Agnus shuffling into the kitchen. “Jase had to run into town. He should be back shortly.” I give her a tight smile as I make my way toward Mr. Russell’s room, hoping to avoid seeing Jase at all. I hadn’t noticed his car wasn’t in the driveway.
I knock lightly on the door before pushing it open and peeking inside. “Good afternoon, Mr. Russell.” I push the door open wider as he glances over at me before letting out a sigh and focusing his attention back on the TV. “Let’s get this over with. You’re interrupting the show.” My thoughts exactly, I think to myself as I move toward the bathroom to wash my hands.
As I snap on the gloves that sit next to the bed on the side table, Mr. Russell turns the volume down on the TV, looking over to me. “Have you had lunch? Agnus made a soup.” I shake my head quickly as I pull the sheet back to change the dressing on his hip. “I had lunch earlier. Thanks though.” It’s not entirely a lie. I did have a banana and a protein bar on the side of the road while I avoided coming here.
I quickly redress his incisions and flip the sheet down before pulling my gloves off and tossing them into the waste bin. “Do you need anything else while I’m here?” He shakes his head, focusing back on the TV as he turns the volume back to ear splitting. I give a wave that he ignores before stepping out of the room into the hallway, closing the door behind me.
I hastily make my way to the kitchen to retrieve my purse, not believing that the universe is going to allow me the fortune of not having to face Jase today. “I’m heading out. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.” I call to Agnus as I stride out of the kitchen, not waiting for her reply. Quickly I pull open the front door, only to find a sleek sedan coming down the driveway. “Shit.” I mutter as I jog down the steps.
If I can make it to my car before he’s out of his I can avoid any encounter. His car pulls into the spot next to mine just as I put mine in reverse. He gets out of the car, holding up his hand. The look on his face says he wants to speak to me, but I wave at him instead and start down the driveway. Once I’m far enough down the driveway to be out of sight I drop my head back on the seat, letting out a relived sigh.
If I can somehow make it through my visit tomorrow, I’ll have Saturday and Sunday to try to overcome my embarrassment. I know I can’t avoid him forever, but a few days will let the sting of the situation die down a bit. I grab my phone from the passenger seat, calling Blake. If anyone can talk me out of dying from embarrassment, it’s the Abbi whisperer.
“Hey, Abbi.” My lips pull into a smile as I hear him answer. “Hey. What’s your plans for the evening?” He gives me an eh. “I was hoping to have dinner with my favorite blonde headed nurse, but she’s been standing me up all week.” I chuckle as I roll my eyes. “How about tonight? I’ll be done in about a
n hour. Meet me at the tavern?”
“I may be late, but that sounds great.” We hang up after saying goodbye and I already feel a little better.
After my last patient of the day I drive over to the tavern on Main Street. I scan the parking lot for Blake’s truck, or company car, but he doesn’t seem to be here yet. Instead of waiting for him in my car I walk into the bar and grill. The place is relatively quiet at this time of day, so I take a seat at the bar. Cindy walks over to me with a smile. “Hey, Abigail! I haven’t seen you in a while.” I smile back at her. We were never close in school, but since she’s been working here, she’s always been friendly toward me. She’s even joined Blake and a few other friends when we get together. “I’ve been busy with work.”
She flips her hand toward me as she bobs her head around. “All work and no play makes Abigail a dull girl!” I scoff at her as she giggles. “Can I have a glass of Pinot?” She walks over to the refrigerator unit behind the bar, pulling out a chilled bottle of wine before grabbing a glass under the counter.
As she places the glass in front of me, she glances over my head, her eyes widening. “Holy shit.” I turn my head, glancing over my shoulder, instantly regretting it when I see Jase walking in the door. I snap my head back forward, wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole. “That is the best looking man I’ve seen in ages!” Cindy whisper shrieks at me. I shush her, holding a finger up to my mouth so she doesn’t draw attention to us.
She gives me a puzzled look to which I simply shake my head. I hear the door open behind me and chance another glance over my shoulder. Blake holds his hand up, a warm smile on his face as he walks toward me. I let out a relieved sigh as I turn back toward the bar. He slides in the stool next to me, leaning over and kissing my cheek. “What’s up, doll face? You look stressed.”