Stupid Roger.
Stupid happy places.
I say goodbye to my family, then head to the elevator and push the down button. Dr. Peters starts walking my direction and little butterflies start having a rock party in my stomach.
“I’m headed home too. I’ll walk you down,” he says, as he stands next to me and waits for the elevator.
“Dr. Peters, it’s nice to see you again,” I say with a smile.
“You can call me Kyle, remember?” he states.
“Ah right! So Kyle, did you have a busy day today?” I ask, holding up my finger remembering, he already told me to call him by his first name.
“Yes, there were several births today. I think it’s a full moon. There are always extra births when there’s a full moon.”
“I knew it. I said the same thing as I was coming here. There were no parking spots; I had to park all the way over in the parking garage.”
“It’s dark outside now. Can I walk you to your car?” he asks with a smile.
“Ah sure, thanks, that would be nice.”
“How’s your hand?” he asks sincerely.
“Oh this, it’s nothing. It’s throbbing a little bit, though. Is that normal?” I ask, and then immediately regret asking because I know he’ll offer to look at it.
“Maybe it’s wrapped too tight. I should probably take a look at it for you,” he says, just like I knew he would.
“No, no you don’t have to do that. I feel like an idiot as it is. I swear I’m the most accident prone person alive,” I confess.
“You’re not an idiot; it was an accident. I don’t mind looking at it for you,” he insists again.
We walk in silence side by side through the sliding glass doors, as I lead the way through the parking structure. We’re almost to my car and I can’t think fast enough for an excuse so he won’t look at my hand. I really don’t want to bother him, but it does hurt like a mother and man, is it throbbing.
“Really you don’t need to look at it, but I would like to repay you for your kindness today. How about we meet for coffee tomorrow morning?” I ask, surprising myself.
Why did I just ask him that? What happened to men are stupid?
“That sounds nice, but I’m paying, I insist. It’ll have to be somewhat early though. I have a shift at nine.”
“Now how’s that repaying you for your kindness, if you pay?” I insist, “I’ll pay and I’m fine with early. I need to get to my office early too,” I finish.
I’m going to have tons of work to do without an assistant for a while and there are still things to do because of the fire drill.
“OK, tomorrow it is then. Say seven? At the coffee house around the corner from the hospital.”
“Sounds like a date. I mean not a date. That sounds wonderful. I mean crap, no I don’t mean crap either. I mean that it sounds like a plan.”
I’m a fumbling, idiot. I can’t even make plans to get together with a man for coffee without sounding like an idiotic dork.
“OK, seven it is. I’ll see you tomorrow, Amelia,” he says and waits for me to get inside my car.
Opening my car, I reach across the driver’s seat and toss my bag on the passenger seat. I attempt to turn gracefully back around to face Kyle to tell him goodbye, when I hit my head on the roof of the car. I exhale slowly trying desperately to wish in some other universe that I’m not an utter klutz with absolutely no coordination. Slowly, I plaster on a fake smile and look at him, hoping just maybe he didn’t see that.
“Amelia, are you alright?” he asks concerned.
Nope. Yet again, the universe is against me.
“Yes. I’m fine. I’m embarrassed, but I’m fine,” I admit.
This day, besides welcoming my beautiful niece into this world, has gone down the crapper. I want to get home, crack open a bottle of Merlot, and sink into a hot bubble bath. We say our final goodbyes and I drive home intending to do just that.
Heading straight to the wine cabinet, I grab a special bottle, it’s my niece’s birthday after all. I crank the hot water in the tub, flip on some music, pour in some bubbles, and head to the kitchen for a wine opener. The only problem is my hand is wrapped in a mound of gauze. How can I open the bottle? Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I have this handy dandy rabbit . . . haha rabbit. I wonder if the makers of this wine opener realize when they named the thing, that a rabbit means something else to the ladies.
I decide this bottle is not going to happen with this much gauze on my hand. I unwrap it all, make an ow face at my hand, then get to work on the prize . . . wine!
I have an opened bottle of wine, a filled glass of yummy, red liquid and a steaming bubble filled tub in view. I strip naked and sink into the stress relieving water. This is exactly what I need. With a smile, I close my eyes and sip my wine.
Pure heaven.
I set the bottle on the side of the tub and fully intend to sit in here until the water gets cold, or this bottle is empty, whichever comes first. I rest my injured, unwrapped hand safely on the side of the tub, so I don’t get it wet, and I finish off the glass. I pour myself another glass and place the bottle back on the side of the tub.
On any other day and with any other person this would have gone smoothly, but then again we’re talking about me. I swear it’s like I’m a walking example of Murphy’s Law. If I can trip over it, walk into it, or in any other way, shape, or form harm myself with it, it’ll happen.
This simple task did not go this way. I completely miss the tub, and the bottle slips into the water with a loud, plopping splash. I don’t think twice about my hand. I’m only thinking about the wine and how long I’ve been saving it, thus reach in the tub with my stitched, unwrapped hand. Instantly, I know this is a mistake. I pull it out of the hot water with my mouth hanging open, no sound, for fear that the entire floor will call the police if I unleash the scream that goes along with the pain.
So now we have a wasted bottle of fine wine. My hand that was already throbbing and raw, is now scalding hot, and forgive me please, but it hurts like a son of a bitch. Shit. I’m an idiot. Bath time is cut short, because now the water is red and I really don’t want to soak in a wine bath. With my luck it would probably dye my skin and I’d turn as red as a lobster. I think it’s time just to say screw it and go to bed.
Kyle
My alarm goes off at five and the first thought in my head is of meeting Amelia for coffee in only a few short hours. I don’t know how good of an idea it is to get involved with someone. Especially with my family drama that’s still going on, but it has been two years. Two long, hellish years. Maybe it’s time to move on. Maybe there’s no hope for Chloe. There’s already no hope for my parents. It’s torn them apart and resulted in them divorcing.
Coffee, I need coffee. Then I need more coffee with Amelia. As I get ready to head out the door, I catch a quick glimpse of a photo of Chloe and me at graduation. Man, that was a fantastic day.
I must be the first one at the coffee shop, because I don’t see Amelia anywhere. I don’t know what she likes, so I can’t order her a coffee. Besides she’d probably be mad if I pay for the coffee. I take a table for two by the window and wait patiently.
Fifteen minutes go by and she’s still not here. Did I seriously get stood up for coffee at seven in the morning? That doesn’t leave much hope for the rest of my day. I get myself a cup of coffee and decide that I can wait another fifteen minutes, and then I need to get to work. As soon as I sit down with my coffee I hear a big crash coming from the entrance of the coffee house. Looking up, I see Amelia with her hands full and she’s knocked over a display of coffee. I shake my head, as I stand up and walk over to help her.
“Kyle, I’m so sorry I’m late. I couldn’t wrap my hand by myself. I tried all morning, but I just ended up making it hurt,” she says, as she tries to help the clerk pick up the coffee bags.
She dropped her purse, a wrapped package of gauze and tape when she collided with the display. I help her to her
feet, grab the medical supplies and lead her to the table.
“You bought your own coffee,” she says with a sad sigh as we get to the table.
“You were late. I thought maybe I got stood up and I was dying for another cup of coffee. Here, sit down. Let’s take care of your hand first. Oh, Amelia, this looks like it’s starting to get infected. How long have you had this unwrapped?” I ask concerned.
“Before or after I dropped a bottle of wine in the bathtub and scalded it with bath water?” she asks meekly.
“You had it in your bathtub, unwrapped? You were supposed to keep this dry for a few days. We’re going to need to get some antibiotic ointment on there before it gets any worse. Let’s head to the hospital, I can do it there.”
“I need coffee first. If I’m going to make it through this day, I need coffee,” she says looking defeated.
She gets a coffee, then we walk to the hospital. Since Spence was her treating physician, I look to see if he’s on duty and if he can take a quick look at her hand. Sure enough, he’s in the doctor’s lounge. He takes one look at her hand and just shakes his head.
“We can get that fixed right up for you,” Spence says.
In no time, she’s bandaged back up with antibiotic ointment and ready to go.
“I’m only here for a few hours, then I’m off for two days. How about we meet for lunch?”
“Deal, but I’m buying. I didn’t get to buy you coffee this morning, and I won’t take no for an answer,” she says with a stern look on her face.
“Alright, no arguments. Did you want to meet somewhere?”
“Shoot, I just remembered I have a meeting until noon. Since Willow is on maternity leave now, I don’t think I can make it happen today. I’m sorry.”
“That’s not a problem, how about I bring lunch to you?” I ask, hopeful that I get to see her again today.
“That’ll work, but again that’s not me treating you. I’ll have my assistant . . . ugh, I mean I’ll order food and have it delivered to my office. I’m in the Wellington building on the fifteenth floor. Let’s say, noon. Do you know where that is?”
“That will work just fine. I know exactly where that is. I’ll see you then. Make sure you keep that hand wrapped all day today, and dry. I’ll check it after lunch and change the dressing.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she says, looking embarrassed.
“Yes, I do. I didn’t argue about you buying lunch, so you don’t get to argue about me taking care of your hand.”
“Oh alright, I need to get going to the office. I’ll see you at noon.”
“I’ll see you then.”
With only a few hours until I meet Amelia, I make my rounds and finalize discharge papers from yesterday’s births. I know it’s crazy, it’s just a lunch date with someone I just met, but I haven’t been this happy in years. All the hard work I’ve put into my education and career somehow has taken on a greater meaning.
Chapter 3
Amelia
Before leaving the hospital, I poke my head in Willow’s room to see how she’s doing, hoping to get another look at my adorable little niece too. Willow puts her finger to her lips, then motions for me to come in. Abbey is even more beautiful than I remember. She’s sleeping peacefully in Willow’s arms, sucking in her bottom lip like she’s nursing, it’s so stinking adorable. Willow and Abbey will be going home today. It seems a little fast to be going home in my opinion, but what do I know? I do know Asher is beside himself with joy. I’m just so happy for the two of them.
On the drive to my office, my thoughts are all over the place. I really don’t know how I’ll get by at work without Willow. I know she’ll be coming back in six weeks, but how will I ever survive? First thing I need to do when I get to the office is order lunch for Kyle and I.
I walk in my office and I’m immediately swamped with messages, emails, and phone calls. I’m about ready to pull out my hair. The next time I look up from my computer, Kyle is standing in the doorway looking relaxed and handsome.
“Oh my God, I totally forgot to order lunch. I got in the office and things got so crazy that it totally slipped my mind. I’m so sorry,” I tell him, feeling like even more of a loser.
“That’s alright. If you’re able to take a break now, we can walk down the street and catch a quick bite at the deli,” he says calmly.
“You know what? I haven’t taken a break at all this morning. Having Asher and Willow gone at the same time has made me a crazy woman. Let me just grab my purse. I really do need to step away for a while.”
“Great, let’s go then,” he says with a smile.
It’s late summer in Seattle and I just love this time of year. Kyle walks close to my side, every once in a while he puts his arm around my waist pulling me close to avoid others on the sidewalk. This is a nice feeling. I really haven’t dated much, especially since Roger.
Stupid Roger.
We get to the deli and he holds the door open for me, like gentlemen should. We stand in line to place our orders and he even sticks to the agreement and lets me pay. The bright sunshine streams through the window, warming my already heated face as we take our seats with the food we ordered.
“You seem to know a lot more about me than I know about you. Tell me a little about yourself,” I say, as I take a bite of my sandwich.
I hope that I don’t embarrass myself by wearing my lunch, which happens more often than I care to think about.
“Well, there’s not too much to tell. After I graduated from high school, I went to college for four years. Then I went to medical school for another four years. I entered a two year internship, then a two year residency at the hospital. I just recently finished my residency and passed my boards. I’m now officially board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and I’ve been hired on at the same hospital I did all my training,” he says, and then takes a bite of his sandwich.
“That’s a lot of school. Was it all worth it?” I ask, getting a little more comfortable in our conversation.
“I’ll be honest, it was hard and it was a lot of long, grueling hours. In the beginning, when I first started my internship, I questioned myself and my career path and wanted to quit.”
“You had come so far, was there something specific besides the long hours that made you want to give it all up?” I ask.
We’ve both finished our sandwiches and I should really be getting back to the office. I just want to know more about him, though.
“That is another story for another time. What about you? Tell me about you.”
I get the impression there’s a big story here. I wonder what could have made him want to give it all up. Every time I get a little information out of him he deflects the conversation back to me. He shared a little more, so I guess I can let it slide.
“OK, well, after I got my bachelor’s degree in marketing, I came to work for Asher. And I told you about my brothers and sister already. That’s pretty much it. I lead a very boring life. You said you have a sister. What does she do?” I ask, hoping to get a little more information.
I watch as his face falls. I could swear his eyes got teary. I instantly feel guilty for prying. I knew he was turning the conversation back to me and I pushed him too far.
“Look, I’m sorry. You don’t need to answer that. I’m just nosy. Let’s talk about something else,” I say, trying to save the conversation.
There’s obviously something very deep going on in his life. I wonder if that has anything to do with why he almost gave up being a doctor.
“Amelia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin lunch. I want to tell you. I really do. Maybe someday I will, but I’d really rather just not talk about it. I’m sorry,” he says, as he opens his bag of chips.
“Don’t be sorry, really. Willow is being sent home today. I’m going to stop by their house later to check on them. Willow’s mom and step-dad are in town and will be staying with them for a week,” I say, needing to change the subject if there’s any hope of
turning this lunch date around.
“Willow and the baby will probably already be discharged by the time I get back to my office. She really is a beautiful baby.”
We talk the rest of lunch about me growing up in a big family and how I was teased by my brothers. There was no more talk about his family or his sister at all. He talked about his college days and his friends. He talked about his best friend, Spence, and how happy he is that they are working at the same hospital. His mood improved and I was glad, but curiosity about his sister and not knowing about his parents sent red flags waving in my head. I know his parents are divorced, but that’s all I know.
“I need to be getting back to the office. It’s just crazy there right now. Thank you for getting me away for a little while. I needed the break.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for treating me to lunch. Can I check your hand really quick?” he asks.
“Sure, but it feels so much better than it did this morning,” I tell him.
I don’t really want to bother him with it.
“Don’t be silly, I insist,” he says, as he holds his hand out for mine.
I place my hand in his, then he slowly unwraps the gauze bandage and inspects the cut. He must be pleased with it, because he gives a little nod and wraps it back up.
“It looks good, just keep it wrapped and dry for the next few days. If it’s alright, I’d like to check it again tonight, just to be on the safe side.”
Hmmm, I think he’s trying to get another date. I like it.
“Really, it’ll be fine, and you don’t need to keep looking at it, but I am free tonight if you want to go out.”
“Alright, it’s a date, but I’m paying. I don’t think my ego could take another round of being treated.”
“Deal. Where would you like to meet?” I ask.
“If it’s alright, I’d like to pick you up and take you to this great Mexican place,” he replies.
Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set Page 18