by Nana Prah
“What made you become a doctor?” she asked after the waiter brought their drinks and took their food order.
He chuckled. “I wish I could say I wanted to help people and do a lot of good in the world.”
She placed her elbows on the cream linen-covered table. “You wish you could say that?”
He nodded. “To be honest, I wanted to make money and I knew becoming a doctor would do that for me.”
“I see.” She’d dated men like him before, making the chase for money the most important thing in life. Her shoulders slumped. “At least you’re up front about it.”
“I ended up falling in love with the profession,” he said. “The aspect of helping to do God’s work and healing people came to the forefront of my practice. I’m not sure how it happened, but one day I woke up and had this brand new philosophy about my career.”
She leaned forward as her respect for him returned. “That’s wonderful.”
“And then the money became secondary to what I found to be my true calling in life.”
Ora’s curiosity piqued. “Why were you so interested in having a job that made you lots of money? Were you poor growing up?”
“We were in the middle income range. You know, neither poor nor rich. I desired more than to live in the three-bedroom house my parents worked so hard to provide. I wanted to live in the million rand mansions that sat on the beach.”
Ora nodded and smiled. “The gorgeous houses with rooftop parking that you kept pointing out?”
“Exactly. Little did I know that working as a doctor fresh from school wouldn’t earn me enough to buy even a tiny house. I struggled to rent my apartment.” He chuckled. “By the time I realized it would take me two days to forever to buy a mansion, I had started working for the enjoyment of the job.”
She patted his hand. “Poor little middle class boy that you were.”
His smile made her breath get trapped in her throat. She still couldn’t get over how he affected her. It had to be his eyes. With a slight tilt at the corners, giving him an exotic appearance.
He shook his head. “I can’t believe we never had this conversation in SA. I remember talking all the time. What were our conversations about?”
She laughed. “Everything. Well, except this. I know your favourite colour, food, animal, both of your parents’ names and occupations, but I didn’t know why you became a doctor. Weird.”
“Just like I know what your pet peeves are, who your best friend is, and your favourite article of clothing, but I don’t know why you became a nurse.”
She laughed. “That’s easy. God kicked me into it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to become a great researcher, that’s why I studied science in school, but then Esi kept talking about nursing school, and how I could do research as a nurse. I don’t know if she knew something I didn’t, but I applied, interviewed, and got in with no difficulty. I sailed through the course and even received five distinctions on my licensure examination. I was born to be a nurse, and I enjoy interacting with the patients.”
“They seem to appreciate having you as their nurse. God kicked you into the perfect profession for you.”
“Don’t I know it!”
The conversation moved along as if they’d never lost touch.
When the food arrived, the smell alone would’ve been enough to make her pass out with bliss. “This is delicious.” She spoke with her mouth full, overwhelmed by the extreme need to express her delight in the chef’s culinary skills.
“I told you.”
“I will never doubt you when it comes to food. Oh my goodness!” She stopped herself just in time from eating the grilled tilapia with her fingers and then licking the spices from them.
She’d finished half of her food before she realized she’d come on a date with more than the fish. She raised her head to see Jason watching her. “I’m sorry. I love good food and this is fabulous.”
He chuckled. “I remember. You were the same when we ate in Cape Town. I found it attractive.”
She tilted her head. “Are you being sarcastic?”
“No. Your eating shows how much you enjoy the small pleasures of life.”
“Oh.” Her skin tingled all over. How thrilling that he had discerned such a thing about her. “You’re no slouch when it comes to food yourself.”
“I admit it. I’m a closeted fat guy waiting to get out.”
“That’s good to know.” She continued eating, but this time at a more normal pace.
When she couldn’t eat another bite, only because her plate sat empty and scraped clean, she leaned back and groaned. “That was delicious.” She repeated the compliment, looking at her watch and surprised to see it read four o’clock. “My goodness, where did the time go?”
“I recall you saying the same words in SA. Being with you makes the time go faster than it should.”
“Einstein called it relativity.” She laughed at his quirked eyebrow. “I told you I liked science.”
“I don’t know a lot of people who can talk about relativity.”
She sat up straighter. “I’m no ordinary person.”
“I know.” He reached out and covered her hand on the table. Without thinking, she turned hers over and held his. She forced her eyelids not to flutter closed with the awareness of his touch.
“Do you have time for a movie?”
His voice sounded huskier to her, but she must have imagined it.
“I always have time for a movie,” she joked.
His gaze never left hers. “Would you like to see one with me tonight?”
She didn’t hesitate because she wanted to spend more time with him. She’d never forgotten how wonderful talking to him had been, but the reality of being with him now proved better than any of the memories she’d stored up or fantasies she’d built. “I’d like that.”
They arrived right on time to see an action film at the mall on Spintex Road. Before it started, he removed the armrest between them and interlaced their fingers.
Her mind told her to remove her fingers, but her heart made her tighten them.
After the movie, her hands were animated as she spoke. “What a spectacular movie. I love action films, especially when the female can kick ass, which she did even though she fought as one of the bad guys.”
Jason laughed. The sound made her heart beat a little faster.
“It was good. Thanks for choosing it. I envisioned you picking a romantic comedy.”
“I have varied tastes in movies,” she boasted. “Besides, I’ve already seen all the ones that are showing.”
“Would you like to have some dessert? We skipped it at lunch and I know how much you love sweets.”
She blinked, touched by how much he remembered about her. “I don’t think I could ever say no to dessert.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jason had to remind himself they were together in reality, not a dream. He’d held Ora’s hand during the movie and even ventured to put his arm around her. She’d fit in the crook of his shoulder and had softened into his body. He would have paid good money for the movie to be put on a loop. He currently floated on clouds nine, ten, and eleven.
At the food court’s bakery, Ora deliberated for a few minutes before choosing a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate icing while he ordered the strawberry cheesecake.
He caught her eying his cheesecake.
“I had to pick a number and move my finger back and forth pointing to the chocolate and cheesecake until I hit the number. Lucky number nine got me chocolate, but that looks delicious.”
Jason took a forkful of his cheesecake and headed it toward her mouth. He thought she’d decline. Instead, she parted her lips and allowed the delicacy to slide in. The expression on her face as she closed her eyes and chewed resembled pure bliss and lust raged though him, making him forget they were in a public place. He leaned forward to kiss her. Then her eyes popped
open, flinging him back into his seat.
“That’s delicious. Thank you.”
Wanting to see the expression on her face again, he offered her another forkful but this time, she refused and started eating her chocolate cake. It must not have been as good as the cheesecake because the look of rapture didn’t appear again.
“Ora, I have a question for you.”
She stiffened as if she knew what he’d ask.
“If I can answer it, I will.”
He took a deep breath and plunged in with what had been plaguing him for the past three years. “Why didn’t you call me after you broke up with your fiancé?”
The white elephant had made the room too crowded to ignore any longer.
She placed her fork on the plate, leaned back against the chair, and stared at him. Jason’s heart turned over. He’d never get tired of her beautiful face and prayed there would never be a time when he wouldn’t have the opportunity to be with her.
The silence lay heavy between them as he waited for her answer.
“About a month after I returned from South Africa, I broke off the engagement. Esi had to force me to eat because I’d been so upset about losing you, and then him. I had to let him go because he deserved someone who loved him as much as I loved you at the time.”
At the time. She doesn’t love me anymore? Jason leaned forward and kept his expression neutral as she spoke.
“He got upset. Well, a better word is livid and more than a little bit confused, but I had a feeling deep down, he knew we’d never share a true love for each other. After breaking off the relationship, I couldn’t bring myself to call you.”
He longed to ask her why not. Instead, he waited for her to continue.
“You might not believe this, but I missed you. And even though I suffered, I couldn’t bring myself to contact you. I punished myself for having had the emotional affair. Do you know what karma is?”
“It’s something to the effect of what goes around comes around. Everything we do has its consequences and comes back to either kick us or kiss us either in this life or another.”
Ora smiled and twisted a napkin in her hands. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you know that. I tried to apply karma to myself.”
Jason couldn’t wrap his mind around what she’d said. “What?”
“I attempted to punish myself for doing such a bad thing by bringing around my punishment to myself so it wouldn’t come back to me later,” she said.
“I see. Karma doesn’t work like that.”
“I know, but it made sense at the time. It had been the lowest I’d ever been. Logic didn’t take the lead in my decision.”
He took her hand in his. “You know you punished me while penalizing yourself.” He spoke softly while looking into her beautiful hazel eyes.
To his dismay, her eyes welled with tears. “I know. I’m very sorry for hurting you the way I did.”
Jason’s heart broke to see her remorse. “I forgive you, Aurora.” He’d done it a long time ago.
She ducked her head and wiped her eyes with her wrung-out napkin. “I know you’re serious when you call me by my full first name.”
“I’m dead serious.”
***
They were silent throughout the car ride. Her emotions when she’d apologized had come from deep within and if she could take the pain she’d caused him away, she would.
When they reached her apartment, he insisted on walking her to the front door. For once, she didn’t argue. Last week, she’d never wanted to see him again and now she was loath to leave his side.
“I had a great time. Thanks for lunch and the movie,” she said.
“I wanted to take you to dinner, too.”
“After all the popcorn and dessert you plied me with, I’m stuffed. I couldn’t eat another bite.” She rubbed her belly and he laughed.
He stepped forward and she tilted her chin up, anticipating his kiss. Her breath caught when he bowed his head down and touched his lips to hers. When he licked the seam with his tongue, she allowed him entry, intensifying the kiss.
They were both breathing hard when he pulled back. He touched his nose to hers. “You are an amazing woman,” he whispered.
The sound of his voice floated over her and made her shiver. He knew how to say exactly the right words to make her feel special. She reached up to kiss him again when she saw the hall curtain flutter. She stepped out of his arms and pointed to the window behind him. “We have an audience.”
His indrawn eyebrows turned into a scowl of annoyance when he saw that Esi blatantly looked out the pane.
Ora frowned at her cousin’s antics. “Esi is one nosy lady.”
“Nosy is not the adjective I’d use for her right now. I’d better be going. Are you working tomorrow?”
“The afternoon shift.”
“Would it be alright if I gave you a ride home from work?”
Ora’s heart lurched at the uncertainty in his voice. She’d screwed him up.
Esi became bolder and had the audacity to wave. They ignored her and moved further into the corner where they couldn’t be viewed.
Esi’s presence reminded her about the speech she’d given about her fear of commitment the other day. Ora had pondered and prayed over what she’d said and came to the conclusion it made sense. Jason being a doctor didn’t disturb her; she had some deep-seeded fear of commitment and she’d have to work that out. For now, she desired to see more of the man she loved.
“Anything to get out of riding the trotro in the evening,” she answered with an upbeat voice.
“I can’t have you riding those public transport vans when I can take you home in style. What time do you finish?”
“Barring any last minute emergencies, I should be done with handing over by about eight-thirty.”
“I’ll meet you at the front of the hospital.”
“I’ll be there.”
“I had a great time. Thank you for going out with me.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Ora let herself into the apartment to see Esi grinning like a fool. “How dare you spy on us?”
“I didn’t have anything better to do, and you two were more interesting than the shows on the television. How’d the date go?”
Ora smiled and told her everything.
Chapter Six
There was no way Ora would get to enjoy the ride Jason had offered last night. She’d been called into the hospital before her afternoon shift started to help with a mass cholera outbreak and wouldn’t be leaving any time soon.
When he stopped by, her shoulders slumped with disappointment. “I have to work the night shift. One nurse is down with cholera and I’m covering.”
The department was overcrowded with patients. He shook his head. “Would it be wrong if I got a megaphone and went through the city shouting that cholera is preventable through clean drinking water and sanitary conditions? The disease, like many others in Ghana, is unnecessary.”
She giggled. “I think it would be considered a public service announcement. No one would stop you.”
“I just got out of the theatre after doing back-to-back operations and came straight here. How many cases?”
Ora sighed as she set up a tray for an intravenous insertion. “So far, thirty people have been diagnosed. The cholera house, which is used only during an outbreak, is almost full to capacity. They called nurses in to help deal with the situation. That’s why there’s no one to cover the night shift, and I can’t leave Rhonke to work by herself.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
She shook her head. “Everything’s under control for now. Anyone with suspected cholera is ushered straight to the cholera house so we’re clear here. The cases we have now aren’t major and everything is under control. Dr. Ando will be coming soon to do the evening rounds, but thanks for asking.”
Sweet of him to do so and once again, extreme disappointment stabb
ed her at not being able to ride home with him.
Grace turned the corner, raising an eyebrow when her eyes clashed with Jason. “Good evening, Dr. Lartey. You haven’t been back in the ED for a while.”
“Good evening. I had filled in for the day. How are you doing? Are you putting my suturing tips to good use?”
“Yes. I do get a better approximation of skin now. Thank you very much.”
Jason nodded. “My pleasure.”
Ora refrained from sucking her teeth. The man had both an excellent bedside manner and the ability to wrap nurses around his little finger with little to no effort. “I have to go and put an IV in.”
Grace grabbed the tray out of Ora’s hands. “I’ll put it in for you. Who’s it for?”
“Bed twelve. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Good to see you again, Dr. Lartey.”
“You, too.” He paused and smiled, as if expecting her to provide her name.
“Grace. Grace Tetteh.”
“You, too, Grace.”
She walked in the direction of bed twelve, but when Jason’s back faced her, she looked at Ora, winked, and gave her a thumb up.
Ora turned away from Jason so he wouldn’t see her smiling at the woman’s antics and then have to explain. “Since she’s given me a small reprieve, I’ll see you out.”
They walked in silence to the front of the hospital. “I’m sorry you had to waste your time coming to the ER. I didn’t have your number, otherwise I would have called.”
“I should have given it to you. Let me flash you so you’ll have it.” He dialled and her phone rang.
“I almost asked how you got my number when I remembered you were stalking me.”
He reached out and squeezed her upper arm. The tingling where he touched her distracted her so much it took time to register his words.
“I didn’t stalk you. I’d call it reconnaissance, in order to find the best way to approach you. We’ll have to reschedule your ride home. Call me when you have some free time tonight. Anytime you’re not busy would be fine even if you have to wake me up. And if you need me to come in and check a patient, don’t hesitate.”