Lives Collide (Collide #1)

by Kristina Beck

  I rest my head on the side of the bed. “You’re right, but with this situation, I’m not sure how to handle it. It’s me being nervous Nelly again. I’m afraid the bubble will burst. He makes me happier than I ever thought possible. He brings out the best in me and helps me be more open about my inner battles. He doesn’t judge me or seem to care that I can’t have children. It’s so refreshing to relax and not worry about what he’ll think. I’m not embarrassed anymore. I wake up happy and go to bed smiling.”

  “Please focus on the positive things then. You have such a connected history. It’s so romantic in its own way.” She squeezes her hands together while fluttering her eyelashes. “It would be a pity if you didn’t stay together. I hope what Beth shared with us will help you if things get rough.”

  “I need to hear those three words from him. He needs to show me he’s able to move on and love again. We’re having such a good time right now. I don’t want to rock the boat.” I stop talking as I pick food from my teeth.

  “Real attractive.” She squishes her face in disgust as she laughs. “Do you pick your teeth in front of James?”

  “No, I pick his teeth.” I stick my tongue out at her.

  “I love you, Lisa. If anyone deserves true love, it’s you.”

  My heart squeezes, hearing her say that. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. Maybe your knight in shining armor will show up, unexpectedly, when you need him the most.” I rub her knee. “I miss our talks. Time is so limited. I look forward to when I have more time on my hands.”

  “Yeah, in three or four years when your residency is over. One way or the other, we’ll find the time,” Tina adds.

  “Hello up there. Come on, girls,” Beth yells from the bottom of the stairs. “The turkey is ready to be carved, so I need help putting the side dishes on the table.”

  We both stand up. “We didn’t realize we’ve been up here for so long. Sorry! We’ll be right down.”

  Tina turns to me with a devilish smile on her face. “The last one to the kitchen has to do the dishes.” We both bolt out of the room and bang into the doorframe. I’m able to get ahead and run into the kitchen, yelling, “I’m first. I won.”

  “Shit!” Beth shrieks as something clatters on the kitchen floor tiles. I spin in her direction to see her bending over in pain as she wraps her hand in a towel. It’s turning bright red.

  “Shit, I cut myself with the carving knife. You scared me when you ran into the kitchen. It fell out of my hands. I went to catch it. I think I need to go to the hospital!”

  Chapter 39

  James

  “That’s how you do it! Another touchdown for the Giants,” Mike shouts as we high-five.

  My back stiffens. “What was that?” I say as I look up at the ceiling. “Was that a scream?”

  The basement door blasts open, and Lisa shouts, “James, Beth needs you. She’s cut herself badly. Come quick!”

  I jump from the sofa without even thinking. “Hurry, I’m right behind you.” Mike motions for me to go before him. I take the stairs two at a time.

  I dash straight to Beth. She bends over the sink, running water over her hand.

  “What happened?”

  “Beth cut her hand with the carving knife on the counter,” Lisa says with a shaky voice.

  I gently take her hand to examine it. “Let me see. This will hurt, but I need to check how deep the cut is.”

  She flinches from my touch.

  “It looks like you cut in between your thumb and pointer finger.” I gently wrap a clean towel around her hand and put light pressure on it. “It’s pretty deep. Please put your hand where mine is. Put pressure on it so I can take my hand away and elevate it.” I face Mike and Lisa. “Do you have any rubbing alcohol and bandages in the house?”

  Beth chimes in before anyone else. “No. We’re bad at keeping stuff like that in the house. We may have a couple of Band-Aids somewhere.”

  Lisa jumps from her spot in nervous excitement. “Wait. James, you have your first responder medical kit in the trunk of your car. I saw it when we took our bags out when we arrived.”

  The light bulb goes on in my head. I snap my fingers. “That’s right. I forgot it was there. Let me run outside to get it. Keep your hand elevated and keep pressure on it.” I dart toward the door, but Lisa stops me.

  “Wait with her. Give me your keys so I can get it.”

  I pat down my jeans pockets hoping they are there. They are. I pull them out and throw them to her. I can’t believe I still have that medical kit in my trunk. Or was I aware of it but just pretended it wasn’t there? I bought it when I finished my residency, and I immediately put it in the trunk. It would be irresponsible for an ER doctor to not have one in his car and/or house. I’m shaken from my thoughts as Lisa runs through the door.

  She hands me the bag, and I snatch the items I need without even thinking. My body and mind are on autopilot. It’s been over a year since I’ve worked in the ER, but everything I’ve learned and experienced is still imprinted in my brain. With supplies in hand, I line them up in the order of when I will need them.

  “Beth, I need you to sit in a comfortable chair at the table. The light is brightest there. Can I please have a few old, clean rags you don’t mind getting blood on?”

  “We have some in the laundry room. I’ll go get a few,” Tina replies.

  “I have what I need to give you stitches. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to numb the area around the cut. You need to breathe in and out to help alleviate the pain. Bite on your hand or on a towel. Or better yet, Mike, come over here so she can squeeze your hand.”

  He moves over to her side and holds his hand out so she can take hold of it.

  “Squeeze my hand as hard as you want,” Mike says as he rubs her back.

  “Lisa, I’ll need you to hand me particular supplies when I ask for them. Please put on some rubber gloves.”

  She nods and proceeds to do so.

  Tina comes back and freezes. “Here are some rags.” She tosses them to me. “I can’t watch this—I’m already queasy.” She cringes and turns her back on us. “I’ll stand over here.” A nervous chuckle slips from her lips. “This is why I’m not a doctor.”

  “Thanks, Tina. Lisa can help me from here. It won’t take long.”

  I pull on a pair of rubber gloves. “I’m going to start now. Again, make as much noise as you want and squeeze his hand until it’s blue. He’s a big guy. I’m sure he can handle it.” I wink at Beth. “But you need to stay as still as possible.”

  She cracks a smile, a few tears trickling down her face.

  From then on, I’m in a zone. There’s complete silence other than occasional whimpers from Beth or me asking Lisa for something. My hands have their own language and grace while mending her. I’m back in my element, with adrenaline coursing through my veins. This type of rush is unforgettable, even though it’s only from stitches. I’ve missed it.

  “I’m almost done. You’re doing better than I thought. Four stitches were all you needed. It was deep but not wide, and didn’t hit the nerve.” I look at the rest of the supplies on the counter.

  “Lisa, can you please hand me the bandages so I can wrap her hand securely?” I remove them from her hand and look up at her. “Thanks.”

  Her cheeks are red, and her eyes shimmer. She glances to Beth and then back to me.

  “Finished. The bandage is secure for now. You will need to change it once or twice a day. I’ll leave some extra bandages for you. It’s not good if it gets wet or is on for a long time. In a week, you will need to go to your general practitioner to have the stitches removed. Put some ice on it now and keep your hand elevated for a little while longer. That also means no more cooking for you.”

  I face Mike and say, “Mr. Safety, you need to go to the pharmacy or grocery store tomorrow to load up on some things. I’ll create a list of basic items you should have in your medicine cabinet at all times.”

  He gives me a salute. “I will, Dr
. Kramer. Thank you for your time and expertise. One more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.” He pats me on the back with a smirk. “Good job, son.”

  Beth sits in her chair, with her hand elevated above her head. “My hand stings and pounds like my heartbeat. I’ve never had stitches before.”

  “You should take some ibuprofen for the pain. Do you have any?”

  “Yes. That’s something we do have. Mike, can you please go get me two pills? The bottle is in the cabinet in our bathroom.”

  He smiles and walks out of the kitchen.

  She touches my arm while I pack everything back into the medical bag. “Thank you so much. You are a true natural, performing that with such ease. You can be my doctor anytime. It would’ve ruined our Thanksgiving if I’d gone to the hospital. From now on I’ll make sure our house is stocked with the things on your list. It’s ironic. Mike is overly protective, but we don’t have something as simple as bandages here.”

  “It was my pleasure to help you. Now go sit in the living room. Doctor’s orders.” How can I joke around about this? I haven’t been a doctor for over a year, but it still feels natural.

  Mike returns with her medicine.

  “Mike, you need to cut the turkey now and place it on the platter,” Beth says, waving her good hand. “I hope it isn’t dried out and cold. Lisa and Tina, you need to put the rest of the side dishes on the table. I don’t want anything to get cold. Or maybe while he cuts the turkey, heat up the oven and put some of the dishes in there to keep warm. The table is set and ready to go. Call me when it’s time to eat.”

  Beth walks into the living room. Lisa wraps her arms around my waist. She kisses my neck and whispers, “They are right. You are a natural. You were amazing.”

  I’m walking on cloud nine, but I won’t admit it. Not even to myself.

  Chapter 40

  Lisa

  I lie awake in the luxurious new bed in my old room. It’s been a long time since I have been here. My life has changed so much since then. I know it’s only November, but it feels like James and I have been together for much longer. He made a good impression with me yesterday, as well as my family.

  I’ve never seen him in doctor mode before. He took charge and mended Beth’s hand with such confidence and compassion. Right then and there, I knew my entire heart belonged to his. Toward the end of the procedure, our eyes locked for an instant. If my eyes could have screamed I love you, I think the windows would have shattered.

  After he finished with Beth, he cleaned up and acted like it never happened. But it did, and we can’t pretend it didn’t. When we gave him an abundance of praise, he shrugged it off and said, “It was only stitches.” It might have only been stitches, but medicine is his domain, his calling. Did this open his eyes to reality? I should have asked him last night, but I didn’t want to ruin his good mood.

  I turn on my side and watch him sleep peacefully. He was antsy during the night. I was too exhausted to ask him what was wrong. Sleep finally took him under. I wish I knew what he thinks about. He stares off into space once in a while. Does he have other internal battles I’m not aware of? If so, why doesn’t he confide in me? I hope being with me isn’t his excuse to avoid facing his problems. I love it that I comfort him, but is that all I am? My gut says no, but I know there’s still a little wall between us.

  His eyes flutter open. Two glossy peridots pierce mine. “How long have you been watching me?” he grumbles. He rolls over onto his back and drapes his arm over his face.

  “Forever. I like watching you sleep. I could stare at you all day. Especially when you sleep without a shirt.”

  He turns his head toward me and yawns. “Are you only with me for my looks? I’m offended.” He tries to act serious but a smile cracks through.

  “Do you know you purr like a cat when you sleep? It’s so sweet. The first time I heard it was when you slept on my sofa.”

  “I have never heard that before. Do I do anything else while I’m asleep?” he asks as he pulls his pillow over his head.

  “No worries. You look cute no matter what.”

  He grunts in response. Someone is cranky this morning.

  “I smell breakfast cooking downstairs, and it makes my stomach growl. Not that I want to eat after the food we ingested yesterday. I won’t fit into my scrubs when I go to work tomorrow. What time did you say we need to be at your parents’ today?” I sit up and stretch my arms over my head.

  “We can take our time. Mom told us to arrive between twelve and one p.m. Why don’t you give me a tour of your town? I want to know where you played with your friends, where your schools are, and all the little things you can remember. I’m only familiar with the area by the gas station where I worked.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll think about where to go while I take a shower. Go back to sleep if you want, Dr. Kramer. You had a busy day yesterday. You were quite enticing to watch when you turned into a doctor.” I kiss his bare shoulder and jump up from the bed. I turn around and see his face is contorted and his jaw clenched. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m fine. Just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night,” he mumbles as he rolls onto his stomach and hugs his pillow.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have called him Dr. Kramer. I don’t care at this point. It’s not fair I walk on pins and needles when it comes to his battles. We have a fun day ahead. To keep the air cheery, I chirp, “I can’t wait to see your parents and Alexa.” I walk out of the bedroom with a pep in my step.

  “Sorry we have to go. We had a great time yesterday. It was nice to be home. I promise to be back soon.” I squeeze Dad tightly. I walk over to Beth and hug her as well. I buzz softly into her ear, “Thank you for our long talk. It was really helpful. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “What’s with the whispering?” Dad interrupts playfully.

  “I thanked her, among other things. Girlie things, to be exact. Nothing you need to know.”

  “If it’s girlie talk, then you are correct.” He takes a step back with his arms up.

  “Beth, thank you so much for all of the delicious food. I hope your hand feels better soon. Call me if you have any questions or problems.” James kisses her on the cheek. Her face turns a quick shade of red.

  He walks to Dad and shakes his hand and pretends to whisper. “Thank you for our talk yesterday. It was very helpful.” He looks over his shoulder with a devilish smile. “Sorry. Guy talk.”

  Dad looks at him and says, “Anytime. Please come back soon. I enjoyed having another man to watch the football game with.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that. Enjoy your man cave this weekend.”

  “It would have been nice to say good-bye to Tina. Why did she leave so early today? Oh. It’s Black Friday. How could I forget? She loves battling those crowds.” I shake my head. “She’s nuts. I wouldn’t be caught dead near a shopping mall today.” Beth and I laugh.

  “Anyway, I’m not sure when I can visit next. I’m scheduled to work both Christmas and New Year’s. I’ll let you know, or maybe you can come visit us. Thanks again, and I’ll call you soon.”

  “We’ll think about it. Have fun and tell your parents happy Thanksgiving, James.”

  We walk to his car holding hands as the wind kicks up behind us. “No sun today. Hopefully, it won’t rain,” I add.

  He puts our stuff in the trunk.

  “Now I’ll show you some places in my town. Drive slowly though. Especially if it starts to rain,” I warn as I point my finger at him.

  He grabs my finger and pretends to bite it.

  “Don’t bite my finger,” I squeal.

  “No more pointing your finger at me. I know I need to drive carefully. You have nothing to worry about. Sit back and enjoy.”

  For the next thirty minutes, I show him my high school, where I used to run, where my high school friends used to live, a tree I climbed and fell out of, where we went sled riding, and my favorite pizza parlor. Anything I could remember that was worth showing.


  We’re now at one of my favorite places when I was a child. I relax into my seat. “This is my elementary school. Behind the school building was a small field full of giant blackberry bushes. Maybe the bushes are still there.” I look in the distance, as if I’ll see Tina and me as little girls. “It looks like the field is gone. That’s a shame.” I sigh. “Anyway, during late summer, Mom would ask us to pick a few bowls of blackberries so we could make jam. She made us wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants even when it was ninety degrees.”

  “Why would you wear such warm clothing?” James asks.

  “The first time we went to pick some berries, we had scratches all over our arms and legs when we returned home. Some scratches were deep enough they bled.”

  “What was out there that scratched you?”

  “Blackberries have thorns on the branches. Hence the long clothes.” I can almost feel the sting from the scratches. I rub my arms. “By the time we’d return home, our clothes would be covered with hitchhikers. Do you know what hitchhikers are?”

  “Someone who tries to get a ride from a stranger.” He gives a goofy grin.

  “You’re a real comedian. I’m feeling nostalgic, so pretend to enjoy my story.” I smack his thigh. He grabs my hand and kisses my fingertips.

  “Sorry. I was just playing with you. I like to hear your stories. Go on.”

  I’m putty in his hands. He makes me melt when he says things like that to me. “Hundreds of these little brown parts or seeds of a plant would stick to our clothes like Velcro. We had to pick every single one off.” I sigh and bring James’s hand to my heart. My body tingles with warmth as I think of those summers when Mom was alive.

  He puts the car signal on. I notice it’s to turn right. “James, you need to turn left instead of right to drive to your parents’.”