Navy ‘Nay’ Prescott
“Thank you, baby,” one of my elderly patients said after I finished helping her adjust her pillows.
“You’re welcome.” I smiled, pulling the blanket a little higher over her shoulders. “Hit your call light if you need me, okay?”
“I will shuga.”
I eased the door shut behind me and glanced up at the clock hanging over the nurses’ station. It was twelve twenty-three and another thirty-seven minutes and I’d finally get a lunch break. I had just started updating my chart when my phone vibrated inside the pocket of my scrub jacket and I ignored it. Personal calls stayed personal while I was taking care of somebody else’s loved one. Whatever it was could wait. A few seconds later…it vibrated again and I frowned.
Rome usually gave up after the first call if I texted him I was working. Big Mama Lulu would’ve texted first before calling. Tasha already knew I couldn’t answer during patient care unless the hospital was on fire but now I was curious now, I slippedmy phone out just enough to glance at the screen and my heart raced when Denise’s name showed up on the screen. My heart skipped a whole beat as I stared at her name before locking my phone again.Don’t do this to yourself. I thought. What Rome didn’t know was me and Lulu went behind his back to apartment search as soon as he dropped me off and I had been hoping and praying that the realtor called and now here she was calling. I was in my own thoughts when I heard someone call out to me.
“Navy?”
I looked up and one of the charge nurses was smiling at me from across the desk.
“You okay?”
I realized I’d been standing there holding my phone without moving. “Yeah.” I laughed “I’m good girl.”
She chuckled but was still staring. “You look like you seen a damn ghost.”
“Shit, I would hope not,” I smiled.
She laughed and walked away. When she disappeared around the corner, my phone rang for the third time and Denise was still calling. I looked around to make sure nobody needed me, then pushed through the double doors leading outside to the employee patio. The Florida heat immediately pissed me off wrapping around me the second I stepped into the sunshine. One thing no Floridian should have ever been lacking was Vitamin D. A couple nurses were sitting at one of the picnic tables eating lunch and talking about her weekend plans and I wanted some privacy, so I walked farther down the sidewalk until I found a little bit of privacy beneath one of the palm trees and then I finally answered.
“Hey, Denise.”
“Hi, Navy. Please tell me I’m not interrupting your day.”
“No, I’m just at work.”
“Good. I won’t keep you long.” She paused just long enough for my stomach to do flips, and I instantly felt like I had to shit. She continued. “I wanted to be the one to call you personally.”
I slowly licked my lips. “Okay…”
“I know how important this apartment is to you. I just got word from the owner this morning and I wanted to congratulate you.”
I frowned. “Congratulate me?”
“You got it, Navy.”
It took everything in me not to start jumping, shouting, and praise dancing although I hadn’t stepped foot in a church since a little girl. I was so happy I could’ve started hitting the damn tootsie roll right here.
“You’ve officially been approved.”
I covered my mouth with my free hand before the tears could beat me to it. “Oh… my God.”
Denise laughed on the other end. “I figured that would be your reaction.”
“I’ve already got my deposit,” I told Denise, trying my hardest not to let my voice shake.
“Perfect,” she replied. “Bring me the cashier’s check before five o’clock and the keys are yours.”
I smiled so hard my cheeks started hurting. “So… that’s it?”
“Yep, that’s it.”
“I don’t have to submit anything else?”
