by Nella Tyler
“Don’t worry – I’ve got this. Thanks to Donovan’s breakthrough, I’ve been wading through the problem, and I’ve almost got it figured out. All I need is a little bit of time.”
Both Carly and Donovan remained unconvinced.
“Okay,” Carly exclaimed. “We’ll keep things running on our end. Just let us know as soon as you figure it out.”
“Yeah. If we have any more major epiphanies, we’ll be sure to let you know, too,” Donovan added snidely. I knew that the comment wasn’t directed at me. Hell, I felt the same way but right now, anger and aggravation wouldn’t solve anything. I needed to plow through this and figure it out.
Once the company was a few multi-million dollars richer, fortifying our reputation in the industry even further, it would be a cause for celebration. I refused to think of it any other way.
So, as soon as we ended the call, I ordered another cup of coffee and went to work on the program. Slowly but surely, I saw improvement; but by lunchtime, I was far more jittery and hungry than accomplished. I rubbed my eyes as my attention was returned to the time and instantly annoyed by the noise that was seeping through my headphones.
Looking around, I noticed that the lunch crowd had descended upon the coffee shop and that I probably wouldn’t be able to focus until they were gone. So, I packed up my equipment and got into my car. I knew where I was headed before conscious thought consumed me.
Throughout the entirety of the morning, I noticed that my calm and my focus was rooted in something other than determination. Sure, I had a fire lit under my ass to get this damn program functional before Saturday, but my main motivation wasn’t that fire – it was a passion of a completely different sort.
Even in the deepest caverns of my focus, when I usually shut the rest of the world out, there now remained a singular thought that I found both inspiring and annoying.
Jenna.
I thought about the way she felt, pressed against me. I thought about her sweet caress, her taste, her breasts her lips, her warmth. I thought about her arms encircling me. I thought about her voice, her body, her essence, and all I wanted was to be near her.
Thus, I knew I needed to clear my head, so I drove around, pretending my path was aimless, and ended up at the hospital.
I texted Jenna asking if she could sneak away and received a text back a few minutes later, telling me to meet her in the cafeteria for lunch.
Cafeteria food. Yuck! I thought, but didn’t vocalize my complaint. Instead, I dutifully got out of the car and met her.
When she saw me, she embraced and kissed me briefly before turning to get a tray. I followed her actions, feeling like I was back in grade school, following a crush down the lunch-line. Granted, the choices varied from pizza, slop of the day, and corn, but since I wasn’t exactly sure what was good, I basically stuck with my old-school lunch favorite.
“You know, you can get actual food here, right?” Jenna teased, scoffing at my square pizza and chocolate milk.
“It’s a cafeteria. They’re all the same. If I learned anything from our one-horse grade school, it’s that pizza day is the best.”
She chuckled, but didn’t retort until we got in line to pay. “What? No cookie?”
“Ehh…I figure my lunch date is sweet enough,” I answered smoothly, causing her to blush slightly as I incited a cute noise from the cashier.
“You’re such a dork,” Jenna teased. I felt my jaw drop as flashbacks from school started to hit a little below the belt.
“Excuse me!” I responded. “I am a nerd, not a dork. There is a distinct difference, and I embrace my nerdiness entirely. It has made me a millionaire.”
Jenna laughed and rolled her eyes in a manner that made me think she had something else to say to me, but refrained. I was surprised at how glad I was.
For the first few minutes, we ate in silence. I tried to think of something to say, but simply being close to her was something that pleased me and calmed my aggravation. I usually was uncomfortable with silence, but at the moment, I found it strangely fitting.
Eventually, though, I looked up to see Jenna eyeing me suspiciously. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything is fine, why?” I replied, taking my last bite of pizza.
“You seem…quiet.”
“I’m eating. And thinking.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Work stuff…”
“Anything I can do to help?”
I thought about throwing a cheap shot, telling her that unless she can configure this stupid program faster than I could, then no, but decided against it. Instead, I did something that was foreign to me. I decided to tell her the truth.
“Actually, yeah. Maybe.”
“What’s wrong?” She tilted her head to the side and gazed deeply into my eyes. I was taken with her genuine interest in wanting to help me. It was something that I wasn’t exactly accustomed to, likely because I never let anyone get that close.
“Okay, so…I deal with a lot of high profile clients, right? Well, this one client has moved the deadline up significantly and now I have to figure out an already problematic program by Saturday. Between the lack of internet connection, the loud coffee shop, and the actual problem with the damn thing, I feel like I’m taking on an issue that can’t be fixed.
“To make matters worse, it’s not just a regular deal – this is a multi-million-dollar project. Failure isn’t just a sucker punch to my reputation; it’s a stab in the back that will bleed into other areas of my company and could easily be lethal.”
Jenna didn’t respond right away. Instead, she allowed everything I said to sink in and she thought about it. I had expected some kind of reaction, especially at the words multi-million dollars, but assumed she was using a stoic tactic she had learned from being a doctor.
After a long moment, she finally spoke.
“Tim, from what I know about you, I am sure this is not the greatest challenge you’ve faced. After all, you went against the odds, basically taught yourself what you needed to learn about technology, growing up in a town that practically fears it, and made something of yourself – not only here, but in California, where there are plenty of people with far better resources and technological advantages than you ever had.”
“Sure,” I replied, still not fully understanding her point.
“So, you didn’t give up then, when you didn’t actually know everything.” She chuckled. “Why the hell would you give up now?”
I grinned at her logic. “I’m not giving up. It’s just not often that I am challenged.”
“Challenge is good. It keeps you humble, but it also sharpens your wits. I don’t know a lot about what you do, and I’m sure I could never truly understand it, but what I do know is it’s a fierce business. One slip and you could slide all the way back down the ladder that you fought, tooth and nail to climb.”
“Thanks. That’s inspirational,” I quipped.
“Well, it should be because you’ve worked too damn hard to let this one problem get the best of you!” she retorted almost angrily before she reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Tim, I believe in you. I know you will figure it out. You’ll find the answer and you will do so well before Saturday.”
“Thanks,” I replied, knowing that the response I gave didn’t give justice to the confidence I gained from her advice. After all, the only other person in the world who had ever spoken to me like that had been my mother. She hadn’t understood anything that I was doing either, but her faith in me and my abilities had been unwavering.
Still, as if she knew me far better than I thought anyone did, Jenna seemed to already know all of that. Coming to that conclusion, I was plagued with a now undeniable, terrible realization. I had successfully avoided this confirmation for about two weeks now, but in this moment, I found it was inescapable – especially with the feeling of contentment filling me.
Shit! I thought. I’m falling for this girl!
Chapter 30
Jenna
When I arrived at work the next day, I couldn’t help but notice that Raymond was a lot more talkative than he normally was.
“Good morning, Jenna.” He grinned. “How is your sister holding up?”
“As good as she can,” I answered honestly. “I’m not exactly sure that it has sunk in yet.”
“The rebuild tomorrow will probably bring out a lot of emotions,” he offered. “I would understand if she doesn’t even want to go.”
“No, I think she will want to be there. She’s the kind of person that wants to help…and micromanage,” I offered jokingly, raising a shoulder apologetically, “Sorry.”
Raymond laughed. “That’s fine with me. I have similar goals. I’m looking forward to managing people while I drink beer and tell them to hurry up!”
“You damn Yankee,” I teased. “Y’all are always in such a hurry to get things done.”
He let out a deep, genuine chuckle, and I realized for the first time that we were actually becoming good friends. I had teased him without thinking about it and he had taken it well. That was a good sign.
He was quiet for a moment before starting up a fresh conversation with a new cup of coffee in-hand. “So, what about you?”
“My house is about to explode, but it’s all right.”
“No. Not your house. Your plans. I’ve been meaning to ask you, but there’s been so much going on lately, I feel like I haven’t had five minutes with you.”
“I know. It’s been crazy,” I admitted as I thought about what to say. “Well, to be honest, I’ve always dreamt about becoming a doctor full time here, but I understand how steep the competition is.” I grinned, trying to give him an out so he didn’t have to let me down awkwardly.
To my surprise, however, he grinned widely when I said this and his eyes glistened with sincerity. “I will see what I can do to ensure that happens. I would love to see you get a full-time position here. I think you would be a great asset to the hospital. Plus, I enjoy working with you.”
“Really? You would do that for me?”
“Of course, but don’t get me wrong. You deserve it. I’m not doing you any favors. You work hard and if this is the hospital you want to work at, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms.”
I grinned and felt like hugging him, but knew that was probably pushing the level of comfort we were achieving. “Thank you so much!” I expressed before we both headed off to do our rounds.
Another expression of his sincerity was before the start of the rounds; Dr. Pierce offered me half the charts and explained that he thought it would be a good idea for me to get used to doing some rounds completely by myself.
I must have looked as mortified as I felt because he simply laughed, reassured me that I was fully capable, and told me that if I had any problems, I could always call him. I looked at my list and realized these were all new patients.
“Yes, I know. That’s why I gave you this list. I want you to go in there fresh and assist them as if you weren’t shadowing anyone. If all goes well, I would like for you to continue keeping these patients under your care until they are released.”
“Dr. Pierce—” I began, but he interrupted me.
“You did a wonderful job with Mr. Meck, so much so that Tim thought you were his father’s leading physician. He had no idea who I was. You did a wonderful job.”
“I never meant for that to happen.”
“I know that, Jenna, but I’m glad it did. It showed me that you are more than ready, and besides, if we get finished early, I can get started on that beer. Really, it’s a win, win!”
I went through the list carefully, making sure to take notes and listen to everything, from the symptoms they were complaining of, to any other factors I could pick up on. Each and every patient had something that I recognized easily, even though I double checked. While I was going through the list, for the first time, I felt like a real doctor.
Although I had treated patients before, having my own patients was a whole new experience for me and I loved every minute of it.
I almost didn’t want to break for lunch because I was having so much fun. I finally felt as though all of my hard work was truly paying off and that I had, after a lot of turmoil, gotten to a place where I was happy and balanced with my life.
When I was ready to leave, I walked outside and found Tim leaning against my car, holding a large bouquet of flowers in his hand. I felt my heart swell with excitement as I hastened my pace toward him. “Who are these for?” I teased.
“Oh, just this amazing doctor I know,” Tim replied, leaning down to kiss me.
“You’re so sweet,” I told him, feeling for the first time in a long while that everything truly was going to be all right.
After a long, passionate kiss, the two of us got inside the car and Tim nearly exploded with excitement. Realizing that we both had news, he stopped immediately. “Ladies first.”
“No. Not at all! I don’t want you to lose a bit of your excitement,” I insisted.
He thought for a moment before continuing. “Okay. Well, you were right. I am amazing.”
I chuckled and narrowed my eyes. “I don’t remember making that argument, and I certainly don’t remember you disagreeing.”
“Yes, you did! Remember, you said that you believe in me and that I have done far harder stuff than that stupid program to get where I am?”
“And, that translated to you as me saying you were amazing.”
“It did when you were right and I found the problem!”
“Oh, my God!” I exclaimed excitedly. “You did it? I know you would, but how much do you have left to do?”
“Nothing. I’m done. It’s already sent in.” He beamed.
“That’s great!”
“That also means that I am completely free tomorrow. I can come to the build and help out.”
I reached over and pressed my lips hard against his. “I knew you could do it, sweetie!”
I felt him smile behind my affection. “Thanks. So, what were you going to tell me?”
“I didn’t seal a multi-million-dollar deal, but I might have a full-time job at the hospital.”
“Congratulations!” he exclaimed, and I told him about what Raymond had said. He seemed genuinely excited for me. “He’s right, Jenna. You do deserve it. You’re a great doctor and you deserve to be where you are happy.”
With the way he said that, I couldn’t help but think that he was referring to the unspoken question, the wonderment that I was sure we both shared. However, instead of bringing it up, I chose to forget about it and simply enjoy the time we had to spend together – however long that might be.
Chapter 31
Tim
I couldn’t believe how many people showed up at the build the following day. I had thought I got there early, but half the town had already started working. Even Dr. Pierce was there! The police and firemen were also nearby, watching out in case anything went awry. It was nice to see everyone coming together in this manner.
It was something that certainly wouldn’t happen in California.
I parked a little ways away from the house and walked through the mass of people, trying to find Jenna. I wasn’t great with building, but I would do whatever she needed me to. By this point, I had stopped asking myself why.
Throughout my search, I was stopped by a few people who were interested to meet me and thanked me for coming out. I felt strange, since I didn’t feel like I deserved any of the credit. After all, I hadn’t done anything. But as I found Jenna talking to one of her neighbors, I was stopped by a policeman.
“Are you Tim Meck?” he asked and, with a panic that still remained from my teenage years, my mind raced, wondering what I could’ve done. Did someone see us the other night? I wondered, realizing that I was currently standing in the exact spot that Jenna and I had started to undress.
Nevertheless, I grinned at him and extended my hand. “Yes, Sir,” I answered. “W
hat can I do for you?”
“I wanted to come over here and say thank you,” he explained, shaking my hand firmly. “Without your generous donations to the town, there is no way we would be able to do community outreach like this.”
“Oh…” I replied, still slightly shocked, but otherwise enlightened. “It’s nothing. Really, I mean, I grew up here.”
The policeman pursed his lips and shook his head. “No, Sir. It ain’t nothing.” Nodding toward Michelle and her family, who looked even more overwhelmed with the show of support than I was, the policeman continued, “Not to Michelle and her family. Not to the other families in our town that your money has helped. Whether you know it or not, you do a lot of good in this town, and people appreciate it.”
“Well, thank you,” I answered, feeling slightly embarrassed to be called out in such a manner. After all, I had truly never done anything for this town for the credit. I did it because I felt sorry for it and wanted to help the people who I felt were stuck here have a better life.
However, I wasn’t going to say all that to anyone, and the more I stayed here, the more I started to believe that there were a few good reasons to choose to make this town home.
The only one that I would ever consider was currently walking toward me, stunning auburn hair blowing back away from her gorgeous face an easy grin playing at her features.
Jenna’s eyes were wide and bright when she reached us. The policeman excused himself and returned to his duty while Jenna kissed me.
“Quite a turnout, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s wonderful. Michelle is beside herself. She keeps trying to help, but everyone tells her to go relax and enjoy the day. It’s driving her crazy.”
“I bet,” I offered, knowing I would be the same way. “So, what can I do to help?”
“Well, according to half the town, you already did. You are the one who makes this kind of generosity possible.”
“Oh God, not you, too!” I groaned as she giggled and threw her hands around my waist. I shook my head.