by Marie Jem
PURSUIT FOR LUCIDITY
By
MARIE JEM
Published by Marie Jem
Copyright ©2013
About the author
Marie Jem was born in Yerevan, Armenia and migrated to the United States at the age of two. She was raised in Orange County, California and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. She is married and has two children. Marie enjoys writing romance with a twist of suspense and mystery. She also enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling. Although fiction, Marie’s books are very much relatable to real life. Those who read Marie’s books are taken on a roller coaster ride of every emotion possible by her characters.
Pursuit For Lucidity
Claire Morgan is a young, beautiful, and career oriented new graduate with a degree in healthcare. Upon accepting a position at Downtown Memorial Hospital, she meets Dr. Alex Blake, who is a reconstructive plastic surgeon. Claire is faced with difficult decisions, which involve her dark past. Her frequent nightmares are a constant reminder of the horrible events that cannot escape her memory.
After breaking her own rules and dating someone from her workplace, Claire soon falls in love with Alex, only to find out that she is not the only one who carries a dark past. Dr. Blake has his own share of secrets he has withheld from her.
Unable to escape her anxiety and constant premonitions of impending sorrow, Claire feels as though she has embarked upon a rollercoaster of life, which leaves her no choice other than her pursuit for lucidity.
Chapter 1
California had a way of melting the sun into your skin only enough to give you a beautiful bronze glow. How I loved spending my free time sunbathing in my parents’ backyard, my earphones filling my ears with my favorite music to get my mind off of the huge graduation party my parents were hosting for me the following day. All the years of hard work and sleepless nights studying had paid off. I had made my parents very proud by achieving my master’s degree in healthcare. My mother, Elizabeth Morgan, a Psychiatrist who took her career very seriously, and my father, Henry Morgan, an entertainment attorney both believed that education was the key to the future. I couldn’t agree more.
My parents lived in a beautiful neighborhood about forty minutes from Los Angeles, in the city of Calabasas. Their home was enchanting, with wrought iron gates and a stone pathway that led to a circular driveway surrounding a breathtaking water fountain. The house itself was over seven thousand square feet on at least three acres of land filled with lush landscaping. I grew up in that house with my two younger twin brothers, Kyle and Calvin. Kyle was down south in Orange County studying to be a pharmacist at UCI and Calvin was studying marketing at UCLA. I missed the days we all lived together as a family in that big house. My graduation party would give me a chance to spend time with all the members of my family. I knew my parents missed that also, as they mentioned it from time to time.
I moved out a few years after my grandmother died. Her condo in Encino was vacant and my parents did not want to rent it out. They decided it would be a safe place for me to live on my own, since I was ready to move out and would be less than ten miles from their house. My parents did not ask me to pay rent, since I was a full time student with many unstable part time jobs. They only asked that I pay the utilities. I was blessed with such generous and understanding parents.
“Claire,” my mother said, waving at me, pulling the earphones out of my ears, “Claire, I’ve been calling your name, honey. I hope you didn’t fall asleep in this scorching heat. You know how easily you can burn this time of day,” she said.
“Hey, mom! Sorry, I just couldn’t hear you because my music was too loud. You know I can’t enjoy it at a normal volume,” I replied.
“I should know that by now, right?” said my mother, chuckling. “I just got off the phone with the caterer. I asked him to add food for two more guests. I would like to invite the new neighbors, Peter and Cynthia Crow. Since they’ve invited us to dinner before, I thought it would be nice to include them,” she explained. I liked the new neighbors. They were a very pleasant couple around the same age as my parents. Their children were attending a university outside of California. They seemed lonely, so my mother wanted to spend time with them to make them feel happy.
“Sure, mom, that sounds great. They seem very sweet,” I said.
“I knew you’d agree, sweetheart,” she said, smiling before she got up to check on the decorations. I began to get up and help my mother with any last minute decorations when my cell phone rang. The number was blocked. I hated receiving phone calls from blocked phone numbers. I normally would not have answered, but I felt I should just in case it was a happy graduation wish from a friend or family member.
“Hello?” I said, hoping it was someone I knew.
“May I speak to Claire Morgan, please?” said the unfamiliar voice on the other end.
“This is Claire speaking. May I ask who’s calling?” I asked.
“Yes, Miss Morgan, this is Julie Rodriguez from the human resources department at Downtown Memorial Hospital regarding your interview last week. We would like to offer you the job if you are still interested,” she said.
Interested? My heart was about to burst out of my chest from excitement that I may finally have a job that would pay more money than what I had been making at my part time, minimum wage, or short term jobs.
“Yes, I’m interested, Mrs. Rodriguez. I’m so glad you called,” I said gratefully.
“That’s wonderful, Miss Morgan. Can you start Monday?” she asked with her pleasant voice.
“Of course, Monday sounds perfect,” I said, full of excitement.
“Have a great weekend, Miss Morgan, and congratulations,” said Julie.
“Thank you so much. You have a wonderful weekend as well,” I replied.
I had prayed night and day that they would offer me that job. I would be working in Hospital Administration as an Administrative Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, which involved various tasks. This job was the first step into my future. I could finally say I had experience in the field I had received my degree in.
“Mom, you’re not going to believe this. They just offered me the job I interviewed for last week at Downtown Memorial Hospital!” I screamed.
“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! Perfect timing, too. I’m so happy for you, sweetheart,” my mother said, as she hurried over to me and gave me a hug.
“Thanks, mom,” I said, hugging her tightly.
“There’s nothing left to do here, Claire. Why don’t you run your errands, get your manicure and pedicure and just relax today, so you will be all ready to party tomorrow,” she said.
“I’m definitely going to take your advice, mom. I really need a manicure and pedicure,” I replied.
“Sounds like a great idea,” she said, giving me a kiss on my cheek.
As I headed inside the house, I felt as though I had gotten a bit too much sun. I was hoping I didn’t get sunburned the day before my big party. My feet felt so good against the cold tile inside the house. I put my clothes on, grabbed my keys and purse from the kitchen counter and headed out to run my errands, so I could go home and relax afterward.
My car seat felt as though it were on fire. The heat from the sun had penetrated into the leather, causing the back of my thighs to sting. My parents had surprised me with a BMW M5 after I had received my bachelor’s degree. They had always promised me they would surprise me with something really nice if I graduated with honors and so I did. I wanted something smaller and sportier, but my father wouldn’t have it. He always lived by the “better safe than sorry” saying. I had to admit, my car was pretty fast for a sedan.
As I pulled into th
e mall parking lot, my car’s computer began to beep notifying me that I had low tire pressure in one of the tires. I knew I should have taken the car in the past week to have the sensor reset. The flat tire false alarms were becoming very annoying.
Westfield mall was one of the most extravagant malls in California. It had Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Armani, Versace, Chanel, and Valentino. I could go on and on about the exclusive boutiques it contained. My mother couldn’t control herself every time she came here and I couldn’t blame her. I, on the other hand, was very careful with my spending, since I hadn’t been making much money and didn’t want to charge everything on my credit card. My mother usually took me on shopping sprees and purchased more than I wanted or needed.
As soon as I opened the car door, I could feel the heat coming at me with force. As much as I liked the heat in the Valley, I found myself looking forward to Fall and Winter. Walking as fast as I could to get out of the heat, I finally made it to the entrance of the mall. The cool feeling inside the mall was a million times better than the outside. The mall looked very crowded for a Friday afternoon. It made me wonder if most people were here just to avoid turning on their air conditioner at home because they couldn’t afford it in this terrible economic crisis. Another reminder of how blessed I was.
The nail shop was empty, so I would be able to enjoy a spa manicure and pedicure without waiting. It felt amazing to have my feet massaged. I hadn’t done much that day, but felt so drained from the weather.
I wanted to walk around for a while and check out the new arrivals in some of the beautiful boutiques, but decided this was not the day for it. Hopefully that job would be stable enough for me to make good money that I could save. Another visit to this mall was in order.
As I approached my car, I noticed the front passenger side tire had gone completely flat. The flat tire sensor in the car was accurate this time around.
“Shit!” I yelled. My roadside service had expired and I had not renewed it because it was so costly. I guess it wasn’t a good time to be cheap. I didn’t want to call my father. He was in the courtroom that afternoon with a big high profile celebrity case he had been working on for the longest time. The tire looked too flat to attempt driving to a tire shop.
“Are you all right?” I heard a male voice from a few parking spaces over.
“No, not really,” I sighed. “I have a flat tire and an expired roadside service,” I said.
“Nothing to worry about, I know how to change a tire. Is the spare in the trunk?” he asked as he approached my car. I couldn’t help but stare. He was tall, at least six feet, two inches, with dark brownish black hair, eyes so piercing blue that they almost looked unreal. His jaw so chiseled and his body so lean, with very broad shoulders, he has to be a model, I thought. He wore a tight fitting dark blue t-shirt, his arm muscles stretching the fabric. My eyes shifted down and I noticed his flat muscular abdomen underneath the tight t-shirt.
“Did you want to open the trunk so I can grab the spare tire?” he asked.
“What? Oh, yes, I’m sorry. I will unlock the trunk,” I replied.
Oh no, he probably noticed how I was staring at him. I was mortified. There was no doubt in my mind that women were lost for words in his presence.
He opened the trunk and leaned over, opening the lid at the bottom of the trunk to expose the spare tire. “Got it,” he said as he pulled out the tire. I couldn’t help focusing on his muscular arms. What did this guy do all day, work out? Bodies like his couldn’t come that easy. I was sure he was a model and just worked out all day and posed for the camera. I couldn’t imagine him making a living any other way. Maybe he’s a mechanic, I thought. The way he worked on the tire seemed to come very easy to him. I watched him work, analyzing his every move without him noticing my stares, as he was busy with the tire. He removed the flat tire, replacing it with the spare and my car was good to go.
“Now you’re ready to roll again, Miss, uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he said, smiling.
“Thank you…it’s Claire,” I replied, “And you are?” I asked, nervously.
“I’m Alex. You’re very welcome, Claire,” he replied.
“Listen, Alex, could I pay you for changing my tire? You really saved the day for me and I want to thank you by giving you some money,” I offered.
“No, no, it’s really not a big deal, Claire. Besides, I wouldn’t take money from a woman,” he said with a big smile. His teeth were so white and perfectly lined. “Would you have a cup of coffee with me?” he asked.
“Um, I really have a lot of errands to run today,” I lied. Another minute in his gorgeous presence, I might have gotten weak in the knees and collapsed.
“How about a rain check then? Maybe we could exchange phone numbers and have coffee some other time,” he offered. How could I decline that? After all, I owed him a cup of coffee for his help.
“O-Okay, sure, let me give you my phone number,” I said with a shaky voice.
He handed me his cell phone and asked me to dial my number, so he could save it. I was feeling so anxious that it took me a few seconds to recall my own phone number. Finally, it came to me, thank God. I normally wouldn’t react that way to a random guy I just met at a mall parking lot. After I was done, I handed the phone back to him and he dialed the number I had entered into his smartphone. My phone began to ring.
“Just making sure you didn’t input an incorrect phone number, and also to make sure you have my number, too,” he winked. I wasn’t sure if it was the heat adding to my sweaty palms or just my nerves.
“Thanks again, Alex. I should really get going now,” I said as I moved closer to the car door. I hoped he hadn’t noticed how nervous I was in his presence.
“My pleasure, Claire. I will be calling you for that cup of coffee you promised me,” he smiled big, revealing his perfect dimples.
He opened the car door for me like a perfect gentleman. I made my way inside and sat down as he closed the door after me. I started the car and rolled down my window to thank him one more time and say goodbye. I noticed a distant look in his eyes when I looked at him. Could he be daydreaming about me? I laughed at the idea and how ridiculous that sounded.
“Claire, if you have any problems with that tire, please don’t hesitate to call me. I’ve changed a few tires before, but I’m no pro at it. We can take the car to a shop,” he said, smiling again. That confirmed he was not a mechanic.
“I will call you for sure if this thing doesn’t make it home. Thanks again, Alex,” I said and drove off.
On the drive home I was daydreaming about his beautiful crystal blue eyes and how sweet it was of him to change the tire of a complete stranger. In some way, he did look familiar to me. Maybe I had really seen him on a cover of a magazine. My original guess had to be accurate. He had to be a model.
I pulled into the parking garage of the condominium complex and parked my car in the usual spot. I almost ran out of there to get away from the heat. As soon as I unlocked the door and made my way inside my condo, the phone rang, not even giving me a chance to get settled.
“Hello?” I said, short of breath.
“Hey Claire, what’s up? Haven’t heard from you all day. Is your cell phone working? It went straight to voicemail when I called. Did you get everything done at your mom’s house?” Katherine asked. Katherine was my best friend since grade school. We had been inseparable since we were five years old. She was the sister I never had. I could talk to Katherine about anything and she never criticized me. She always had such an open mind about things. She had a bachelor’s degree in communications from UCLA and has been working ever since.
“Hey, Kathy! Yeah, I hung out with my mom and helped her out a little for the party tomorrow. I even got a manicure and pedicure on my way home. Oh, and how could I forget to mention that I ran into the hottest guy ever in the mall parking lot who changed my flat tire,” I started to describe Alex before Katherine interrupted me.
“Changed your tire? A
re you serious or is this just a joke, Claire?” asked Katherine.
“Why would I make a joke about having a flat tire? Oh and when I offered to give him money for helping me out, he refused to take it and asked if I could join him for a cup of coffee,” I said.
“Really? He sounds hotter every second. How was the coffee date?” she asked.
“Uh, I declined,” I confessed.
“Why?” she asked, with disappointment in her voice.
“I told him he could have a rain check. I didn’t want to say yes right away. I’m sure no woman has turned him down for coffee or anything before. Besides, he’s a little intimidating, Kathy. He’s so good looking and I’m a complete mess today. I’d rather style my hair and put some make up on before a coffee date. So we exchanged phone numbers and will do coffee some other day. I think it’s a good idea to play hard to get with this guy. Besides, I’m a little afraid to get involved with anyone right now. He looks like he walked out of a magazine. His face looks very familiar. Chances are he really is a model.” I said, laughing.
“Claire, you have to give people a chance, not everyone is an asshole like James.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that I’ve been skeptical after James, but you’re right, there are nice guys out there. You did really well for yourself. Maybe there’s hope for me,” I replied.
I loved talking to Katherine. We could go on and on, but I had to hang up, so I could do the necessary things before I showered and relaxed. Saturday was going to be a big day and I didn’t want to be exhausted. I did quite a bit of laundry, cleaned my condo, and organized anything that needed organization. Before I knew it, it was very late and time for some sleep. As I got into bed, I tossed and turned and just couldn’t get to sleep. I couldn’t get Alex out of my mind. His eyes kept popping up in my mind, so mesmerizing. With those thoughts, I somehow drifted off to sleep after two in the morning.
