Playing Doctor: A Central West End Story

by Cahoon, Lynn

“Sure you are. But even a superhero needs to eat.”

  This caused Troy to break his stare with Matt to glance at Valerie. Her eyes twinkled with humor. “Superhero, huh?”

  “Maybe a male version of the Statue of Liberty. You could run around with the Olympic torch in one hand and a medical book in the other. Dressed in a pair of those tight running shorts, of course. Mama’s got to have her eye candy.” Valerie opened one of the charts in front of her.

  Troy snorted. His laugh gained stares from the other interns working at the table.

  “Get busy.” Valerie tapped her pen on his charts. “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

  Five hours later, Troy was finally in the elevator leaving the hospital, leaving his patients in the hands of the night shift. Leaning back against the elevator wall, he was beat. Dog tired. As much as he loved his sister, he prayed that this would be a day Sara wouldn’t be camped out on his sofa with her laptop, a sappy romantic movie playing on the big screen.

  Tonight he wanted delivery pizza and one, if not two, beers out of the six-pack he’d bought. Time to unwind. He’d managed to avoid any more issues from Matt’s side of the table, but the atmosphere on the floor had been tense. This problem wasn’t going away. Troy knew that. Even with Valerie’s peace-keeping skills, this was going to blow up, one way or another.

  He walked through the hospital’s main floor until he found an exit that would lead him home. The first night he’d left by the main entrance and walked around the mile wide building in the cold winter night. His eyebrows had frozen from the light rain falling on his face.

  The next night he’d wandered the main floor heading in the general direction of his building and found a door that took him right to the same street where his apartment building sat. Finding an empty unit had been a godsend. Even if he was sharing for the next few months.

  Annie. He thought about the way she ran, like no one was watching. She just ran. Alone in her head. What would it take to get her to think about him while she was pounding the pavement? Or ever? Could he be just friends? He’d set the ground rules. He didn’t want attachments. He didn’t want commitments. He had to get through the next few years, set up a practice, become established in the community. All this took time. And so did a relationship. He rubbed his hand over his face, trying to stave off the fatigue. He could be friends with her. As long as they weren’t drinking buddies, they could stay just friends. He heard his sub-conscious start laughing.

  Waiting for the light to change and give him a protected crosswalk, he watched the trees in the park across the street. Millions of cars passed by the park daily, but he bet no more than a few stopped and really looked at the beauty that was right in front of them.

  “Soon,” he promised himself. Before long he would be trading up his hour of treadmill running for time on the park’s miles of jogging paths. Just thinking about running elevated his mood and helped him put the crap of the day behind him.

  He crossed the street and headed home, humming a melody that he’d heard in the elevator. Digitized Beatles… She loves you… yeah, right.

  Chapter Seven

  Saturday morning sunlight streamed into Annie’s bedroom window. The week had been gray and cloudy, both outside with the weather and inside the hospital dealing with Nurse Abbott. Annie had her first monthly review meeting on Monday. A meeting she needed to be prepared for. There had to be a way to convince her supervisor that Annie was all about business. And that she wanted to succeed.

  But that was Monday. She had two days to shop, clean the apartment, do laundry, and pay bills. Nothing got done during the week. Not yet anyway. When Annie got home after work, it was Calgon take me away time. Then straight to bed. She hadn’t realized how draining working a floor could be. Or how emotional. Peds had been light, most of the time, nurses were encouraged to smile and play when possible.

  First things first, it was time to run. Annie figured out long ago that a run first thing in the morning cleared her head and put the day into perspective. Then when the treat cart came by, Annie didn’t feel quite so tempted by the variety of candy bars offered to the staff each Friday as a reward. Bess called it the ‘happy’ cart and looked forward to the sugar high. She’d sighed yesterday when Annie grabbed an apple instead of a candy bar.

  “Girl, you’re never going to build up any meat on your bones.” Bess bit into a chocolate covered toffee bar. “Mmmm. Men like curvy women.”

  “How many times do I have to say this, Bess, I’m not looking for a man.” Annie leaned back in her chair. “Don’t look at me like that. When would I have time?”

  “Everyone has time for love, Annie. You make the time.”

  Those words had rolled around in Annie’s head all night. Was she being too focused on career? She shook her head. Nope, she had a plan. Stick with the plan. Plans are good. A little house with a white picket fence came later in the plan much later.

  Annie pulled on her running clothes and stood by the window, tugging her straight hair into a ponytail. It was sunny. The streets were dry. Spring was fighting to arrive. It was time to run in the park.

  This would be her first run outside since she moved into the building. Her first run as one of the park’s neighbors. She couldn’t control the smile that covered her face as she took the elevator down to the lobby. Welcome to Forest Park, Annie, she imagined the park announcing when she crossed the sidewalk.

  Bouncing out the elevator, she ran smack into a petite brunette carrying canvas grocery bags and knocked one out of the woman’s hand. Apples rolled out on the lobby’s marble floor.

  “I’m so sorry,” Annie bent down to retrieve the runaway fruit.

  Sara sat the bag on the floor and went after a package of chocolate that had fallen with the apples. “No problem, my bad. I get lost in my head sometimes. Too many stories running around in there. I should have looked to see if the elevator was empty. I’m not used to these buildings yet.”

  Annie grabbed the last apple and tucked it back into the bag. She lifted the bag and handed it to Sara. “You writing this weekend?”

  “Hopefully, that is if Gretchen will still let me visit after running over her residents.”

  “Believe me, this was more my fault than yours. Mentally, I was already on my morning run, my body just wanted to catch up.” Annie held the elevator door open. “No one was up in the apartment when I left.”

  “Troy, his name is Troy. And you could talk to him.” Sara juggled her bags and pushed the floor button. She waved at Annie as the doors closed.

  Annie headed to the lobby door. Troy. Apparently Troy hadn’t told his sister bout their indiscretion. She bit back a smile. What did it matter to her? But she was happy he’d kept their secret. Friends. She was a grown woman. She could do friends.

  Run. Just run. Don’t think about the way a smile curved Troy’s jaw line and crinkled his eyes. Don’t think about those hands holding her waist, pulling her close. She stretched, trying to banish thoughts of Troy in bed, as she waited for the light to change that would take her across the busy road directly into the park. It was her time. Time to run and leave all her worries and emotions behind. She put her ear buds in and turned up her workout tunes, watching for the light to change.

  When it did, after checking both ways for traffic, she started running. A few steps across the city road and through an open gate and she was on a footpath heading around the park, trees that were just starting to bud surrounding her. The air cool and clean against her face, she breathed deeply, taking in the smells of dirt and grass and spring. A few other early morning runners sprinted ahead of her as she kept her eyes open for signs of trouble. This might be the Midwest, but it didn’t mean that bad things didn’t happen. Reading the direction signs, she headed up the path that would take her around the zoo.

  Twenty minutes later, after circling the zoo and the art museum, Annie was heading home when she heard a loud noise behind her. Turning, she saw a figure coming toward her. She quickly turne
d forward, not wanting to draw attention, but the blur of navy formed into a figure of a man in her mind’s eye. A strong man, lithe and fit, trying to keep pace. Her mom’s warning echoed in her head.

  “Don’t go running alone. You never know who or what’s out there. You don’t live in a little town like Sullivan anymore.” Her mom had chastised her about going running today. During last night’s call, Annie had mentioned her weekend schedule. Plans that kept her from driving the hour down to Sullivan to visit.

  Now she wondered if she should have listened. Great. Her first run in Forest Park and she was going to wind up a statistic on the evening news she loathed. She could just hear the announcer now. “A young female nurse was brutally slain by what’s now being called the Forest Park killer. Her parents warning not to run alone went unheeded.”

  Laughing at herself, Annie picked up the pace. If she was going to be attacked by the man running behind her, he would have to keep up. She was half-way back across the massive park towards home. Maybe tomorrow she’d run a little later to make sure there were more people peppering the park. Right now the section she was in was empty. Glancing to her left, there was a major highway. Would someone stop to help her if she headed that way?

  She shook her head. Right now, she wasn’t in danger. The man running behind her may just be running like her. But something felt off. Her best bet was to keep running and head home. She started counting her paces. One, two, three, one, two, three.

  Focus on the run, Annie.

  She glanced behind her. The man was gone. Her breath came faster and she started to laugh. Nothing, he had been just another runner. Annie stopped at a cross path and slumped on the bench. She started coughing and put her head down to catch her breath. She’d been scared for nothing. The sun beat down on her shoulders, warming her neck.

  “You run fast.” A male voice came from in front of her.

  Jerking to a standing position Annie faced the man, trying to remember the self-defense techniques she’d learned. She’d taken the class at her mother’s assistance as soon as Annie had mentioned moving to St. Louis.

  Step one: Show no fear.

  She prepared to swing when she looked in the man’s face.

  “Whoa,” Troy caught her arm. “What’s that for?”

  “Troy?”

  “Who’d you think it was? And why were you going to take his head off?”

  Annie sagged in relief. Her mom had wound her up and she’d played along. Troy had been some psycho killer running behind her.

  “How’d you catch up?” She sank back down into the bench. “I didn’t see you behind me anymore.”

  “I called your name. When you didn’t slow or stop, I took a short cut.” Troy pointed to the other trail. “It’s not as scenic but it cuts about five minutes off the run.”

  Annie held out the ear buds. “I didn’t hear you. I had these in and just heard something behind me. I guess I scared myself.”

  “Well, better safe than sorry my mom always says,” Troy sat down next to her. “It’s a great day for a run. Finally, the weather’s cooperating and we don’t have to be inside on the treadmill.”

  “Now that I’m not going to be murdered, yeah, it is nice.”

  “Sorry about that.” Troy leaned back, soaking up the sun. “I guess it’s time to head back. Do you want to stop for some coffee?”

  Annie looked at Troy sitting next to her. Even dressed in running sweats and an old Missouri University T-shirt, he was hot. And it would only be neighborly to stop in for a quick drink and conversation. “I’d like that.”

  Troy looked at her. “Really?”

  She felt herself blush. “Why would anyone say no to a successful good looking doctor?” Standing, she motioned toward the path.

  Troy fell in step besides her. “I’ll take good looking as a compliment but successful? The jury’s still out on that.”

  “Problems in the intern pool?” Annie glanced over at the man running next to her.

  “I’m just not sure yet who I can trust. And the pool is filled with sharks.”

  “I get that. I have my own dragons to slay.” Annie thought about her meeting with Abbott on Monday. The couple was quiet for a few minutes as they crossed the street and ended up in front of the building.

  “Hey, wait.” Troy stopped her as she was opening the door. “I thought we were doing coffee? Do you want to go down the street to the bagel shop? I think Sara’s working on her book. I don’t want to disturb her. My treat?”

  Annie looked at Troy standing in front of her and all she could think of was Nurse Abbott’s disapproval.

  “Actually, I just remembered I have an appointment. A hair appointment.” Annie stuttered, knowing her excuse sounded just like that. An excuse. She’d have to leave the apartment after all when all she wanted was a hot bath and a day of reading.

  “You’re worried someone will see us and get the wrong idea?” Troy guessed her fear.

  “I, well, yeah, I’ve got to keep up an image. Otherwise Abbott will have my head.” Annie shrugged. “I’m not proud of my fear, but I’m aware.”

  “The woman lives in Chesterfield. That’s an hour away. I don’t think she’ll be having coffee in a bagel shop this early on a Saturday morning,” Troy responded.

  “Logic? You throw out logic to a drowning woman?” Annie pressed her lips together trying not to smile.

  “Look, I really want a cup of coffee. And a cinnamon roll. And maybe a brownie. But if you want to think it’s all about you.” He waited for her answer.

  Annie glanced down the road and made her decision. “I shouldn’t but let’s go before I change my mind.”

  They walked the few blocks to the bagel shop and stood in line with other Central West End residents. Annie glanced around the small shop. The smell of coffee and bread made if feel homey and the mismatched furniture and bookshelves made her smile. She could get used to this. Running in the morning, stopping by one of the many local restaurants for a late breakfast, then maybe back to the apartment for a little play time before they went out for dinner. Stop it, she chided herself. No use planning for a future that may not ever come true.

  Carrying her coffee and cinnamon sugar bagel to a small table that a girl in a brown uniform had just cleaned, she sipped the hot liquid, blowing on the top to cool it slightly, and noticed his look. “Stop drooling.”

  “Just wishing I was coffee right now for some reason.”

  “You’re bad. Friends, remember?” Annie felt the blush run from her hairline to her chest. “Besides, your sister’s at the apartment.”

  “I wish I’d never said yes. I swear, I see her more now than I did when I lived at home.” He reached over and took her hand in his.

  Annie took a bite of her bagel, her gaze resting on their entwined hands before she answered. Was she supposed to agree with him that Sara was there too much? Or could she really tell this man her mind without seeming like a radical female? She took a sip of coffee, steeling herself for the conversation to come.

  “Well, isn’t this sweet. Troy has a girlfriend.” A man’s voice came over her shoulder. Then the man pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with them. “This is a surprise. Aren’t you that nurse, Angel or Allie or …”

  “Annie.” She pulled her hand away from Troy and offered it to Matt. “Annie Baxter.”

  Matt shook her hand, smirking at Troy. “Nice to meet you, Annie.”

  Troy looked like he wanted to deck the man. “We’re having coffee. And a private conversation.”

  Matt faked a shocked look. “And I’m intruding, I get it.” He stood and leered at Annie. “Nice to see you out of scrubs.”

  “Good bye, Matt.” Troy didn’t stand.

  They both were silent as Matt left the bagel shop, flipping a two-fingered salute to them as he walked out the door.

  “I’m sorry,” Troy said.

  “He’s going to tell Abbott he saw us here, isn’t he?” Annie tore a strip off her napkin.

&
nbsp; “I don’t know. Probably.” He took a sip of his coffee. He nodded to Annie’s uneaten bagel. “You want to get out of here? I can get you a bag.”

  “Sure.” Annie thought about what she’d tell Abbott on Monday. Having coffee with an intern wasn’t against hospital policy, she knew that. Just against Abbott policy. She decided to tell her the truth and hope she’d have a job afterward.

  The walk back to the building was quiet. Neither she nor Troy seemed to want to talk.

  When they reached the building, Troy held the door open for her. “Can we run, together, tomorrow? I’d hate to scare you again and we run on the same schedule.”

  She crossed the lobby and pushed the button. Running with a partner would keep her from being wacked out crazy like she was today. “I guess that would be fine.”

  The ride up the seven floors was quiet.

  When they arrived, he held the door and swept his arm. She felt his eyes on her.

  “You don’t want to run with me?” He challenged as they both stood in the hallway.

  “I do. I’m just … I mean, I’m worried about Monday.” Annie was never at a loss for words, except in front of Troy.

  “I’m sorry about Matt. He’s looking to hurt me, not you. There should be some way around this. Sara’s in the living room working. I’ll be on the computer in my room if you need me.” He put his hand on her back gently leading her to their door. “Six, all right with you? Right here at the elevator? Or should we meet in our kitchen.” A smile flirted on his lips.

  “The kitchen will be great.” She opened the door. Calling a greeting to Sara who was watching from the living room, she tried not to sprint to her own room. Closing the bedroom door behind her, she leaned against it, spent.

  Running with Troy was a bad idea. She knew it. It was bad enough that he slept a few feet away from her every night. Interacting with him daily, friends or not, would just make the ache in her body more needy, more desperate. And desperate was why the other night happened. Well, a mix of desperation, desire, and white zin. She glanced into her bedroom mirror, pulling her hair out of the pony tail. She’d been honest. She hadn’t wanted to have coffee with him. She knew something bad would happen. And she didn’t want to feel anything for him. Her reflection in the mirror told her to stop lying to herself.