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“Hmmm, a lady never tells,” I say, smiling, feeling too happy. This is all still very new. Not just in terms of a relationship, but for me in general. Having never really had a boyfriend before, and certainly never a man who treats me this way, I have no idea if this is normal, over the top, how things progress, any of it. I am just going with my gut and trying to live life to the fullest.
“Well, Baltimore, or perhapsEddie, is looking good on you. Glad that you are settling in so well.”
“Um, excuse me?” a voice sounds from the nurses’ desk behind us as we both turn quickly. “Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt,” the woman says, and the familiar long brown hair and thick glasses hit my mind immediately.
“Not at all, how can we help you?” Shelley says, smiling.
“I am just looking for Dr. Wilson. His office said he might be down here?” she says, looking at us both with hope.
“You have been here before, right? Looking for him?” I say, taking in the thick file in her hands, and I watch as she pushes her thick glasses up her nose. If I had to guess, I would say she works in a library.
“Yes. Sorry. I can’t seem to catch the doctor. He isn’t taking appointments and so his office said I am best to try to catch him here.” She obviously doesn’t know Dr. Wilson at all, because he would totally railroad her if she was to approach him here.
“Well, I think he is in surgery at the moment and probably won’t be available for a few hours,” Shelley explains, and the women’s shoulders visibly slump.
“Ohh,” she says, clear disappointment on her face.
“We can pass on a message. Or can another doctor assist you?” I offer, because this is the third time I have seen her here over these past few weeks. It is obviously important.
“Thank you, but no. I just need to speak with him directly about my parents’ medical file. I have some questions,” she says with a small smile. “I will pop back tomorrow. Perhaps I might catch him then. Thank you.” Giving Shelley and me a warm smile, she turns and walks out the door.
“She is such a pretty girl. Even with those thick glasses on,” Shelley murmurs to me quietly.
“I’ve seen her a few times trying to find Dr. Wilson. It must be important,” I say as I grab my things, ready to do my rounds.
“Maybe it is malpractice. Maybe she is trying to serve him papers?” Shelley murmurs, rolling her eyes. No one likes Dr. Wilson. Not one person.
“Who knows. But right now, I need to get to work,” I say with a smile, one which she returns, and I leave her to it as I walk down the hall to see my patients.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE - KATIE
Ifeel a little nervous in the back seat of the car. Tony is driving, but the car is different than what he usually picks me up in. This one is bigger, seems fancier, and the windows are fully tinted. Eddie sits next to me, his hands holding mine.
He asked me out on a date. Chuckling, he said that for weeks we have been together and yet haven’t left the apartment. I lied and said I didn’t really like crowds. Then he offered to take us somewhere private, and I lied and told him I was exhausted from work and needed to sleep. But I couldn’t hold him off forever. It isn’t his fault that I am scared to step out of the apartment. You would think I would be used to living in fear, but I am not. The constant looking over my shoulder when I leave the hospital is hurting my neck. The swirl of anxiety as I step out of the apartment to meet Tony is almost suffocating. But like always, I push it down. I know that in order to have some semblance of a life, I need to push through it. So when Eddie broached the subject of a date outside of the apartment again, I didn’t decline. Although now that we are driving down the street, I can’t say my nerves are steady.
I look out the window at everyone and everything. I should be looking at the sights of Baltimore, since I haven’t had a chance to play tourist in my new city yet. However, my eyes are peeled at everyone walking about. The traffic is a little congested, our car moving, but slowly.
Eddie feels a little on edge too, but I have no idea why. Maybe he is picking up on my anxiety, and that thought alone makes me feel guilty. I don’t want to ruin his day. I take a breath and try to relax. The windows are so dark that no one can see in unless they plaster their face right against the glass.
“How far away is it?” I ask, looking at Eddie. He senses my nervousness, I am sure, because he grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. That small action helps me lower my shoulders a little, and I smile at him.
“Only another fifteen minutes,” he says softly as he strums my hand with his thumb in soothing motions. My heart thuds at his sweetness.
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me where we are going? “I ask, trying to get it out of him. He has been awfully secretive.
“Nope. It is a surprise,” he says, grinning. It is a beautiful day. The sky is blue, there’s a light breeze, and I start to relax a little in the back seat, enjoying the soft leather while biting my lower lip in anticipation.
“I don’t think I have ever had a surprise date before…” I say out loud, thinking about it.
“Impossible. Never?” Eddie asks in disbelief.
“Hmmmm, not one I can remember anyway. What about you? What was the biggest surprise you have had?” I ask him, keen to know what makes a man like Eddie surprised.
“The biggest and best surprise I have had was this one time, I was working on the maintenance in the building, and I got a call that there was a leaking tap in one of the apartments. I went to investigate, found this gorgeous woman, wet from head to toe, with amazing pink hair and fantastic breasts…” My smile widens, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“That is not what I meant.” I pout, even though I love how playful he’s being.
“I know, but it is the truth. You were a total surprise that day, one of the best ones I have had.” Eddie is teasing me as he gives me a wink, and I laugh as I look back out the window, taking in the view.
