by Shawn Wall
“That Bright girl, the other candy striper hired when you were. After calling in all those days, they still gave her the night receptionist job in the emergency room.”
“Did I miss something? I am totally confused.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you missed the scoop when you were recovering.”
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense, tell me.”
“You know I am biased. I can’t stand that little brat,” Betty said.
“Just tell me already.”
“Well, the week you missed, after the kidnapping, Lauren Bright called in every shift. We were still pretty busy then, and of course, you couldn’t help but be out. She left us in a real lurch. I don’t think she was sick or anything. From what I hear, Daddy made a nice contribution to the hospital building fund. When she was back, she was transferred to the ER.”
“Since when was there a receptionist opening in the ER?”
“The previous girl had a baby. I think she’s going to stay home for now.”
“I have never liked Lauren anyway. She never pulled her weight. I ended up covering her end of the hall and mine.”
“You know I never liked her. It just boils my blood to think if any one of us called in like that we would be fired.” Betty’s face was turning red.
“Is there anything you need me to help you with? I have made my rounds so many times, the patients are sick of seeing my face.”
“Well, you can run a chart to Dr. Kelly for me. After that, I guess it’s so slow you can go home early.”
Suzanne shrugged her shoulders. “Okay.”
“What is that about? You are usually excited at the chance to get off early.”
“Well, I don’t have anything to do. I’ll just go sit in my dorm and stare at the walls.”
“You and Seth can go out or something.”
“Oh, I’ve not told you. There is no more Seth and me.”
“What?”
“We are taking a break. I think it may be a permanent break.”
“Is this because of the kidnapping? What Peter did?”
“That has some to do with it. It was my decision. Seth didn’t want it.”
“Life is too short. Take it from me. You need to do what makes you happy. The rest will work itself out. Dr. Kelly’s in his office, the last door past medical records. Just clock out after that and go have fun. You’re too young to look so sad.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
It was about seven o’clock by then and that part of the hospital was dark and quiet. Betty had obviously let Dr. Kelly know she was dropping by with the file. He greeted her with a smile, nodded, and quickly closed the door behind him. Moping back down the hall, Suzanne headed for the time clock. Then, she remembered she had forgotten her purse. She’d have to go by the lockers on the way out. She wasn’t paying attention, only thinking about Seth and what she would do with herself the rest of the night. Bursting through the break room door, she crashed into someone. It was Lauren Bright. Everything in Lauren’s arms went flying in the air.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Can you watch where the hell you’re going?” Lauren bellowed.
“I didn’t expect anyone else to be in here this time of night.”
“You don’t own the place,” she growled.
Lauren was a witch, through and through.
“Let me help you with your things.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Oh, I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Yes, I won’t be filling water pitchers anymore.” Lauren spoke with a smug look on her face.
“I’m glad for you. Good luck.”
Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “You really think you’re something, don’t you?”
“I don’t follow you.”
“You had Tray, and he wasn’t good enough for you.”
“Tray and I are still really good friends, but that is none of your business, Lauren.”
“After you ruined Tray for the rest of us, you tramped around with Seth Griffin.”
“You need to watch yourself. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You had the hottest two guys in school following you like lost puppy dogs. Why the hell couldn’t you leave my man alone?”
Lauren was clearly delusional. What was she on?
“I don’t know what you are talking about? I don’t even know who you’re dating.”
“Don’t act naïve. You want people to think you’re all innocent. I see through it. You’re a whore.” Her eyes widened in a fixed stare.
“I have not dated any other guys. Watch your mouth.”
“Watch your back. You’ve screwed up my life, and I intend on making you pay.” Her face turned red as she pointed a finger toward Suzanne.
Lauren moved slowly toward her almost in a crouch. Then, Suzanne stepped back, trying not to stumble over all Lauren’s belongings, which were still on the floor. When she heard a crunching noise under both her feet, she looked down quickly. Peanut shells were all over the floor. In the heat of the discussion, she hadn’t even noticed what Lauren had been carrying.
“You eat peanuts?” Suzanne asked.
“Is there something wrong with that? I keep a bag in my locker. You can’t get those out of the machine. What does it matter what I eat?”
“There’s nothing wrong with eating peanuts.”
“There you go again. That holier-than-thou attitude. You think you’re God’s gift to men. You think every man wants to sleep with you. Why couldn’t you just leave him alone? We were happy. Well, I was going to make him happy. Then, you had to come along and ruin it. You’re going to pay!”
In that instant Suzanne remembered Seth’s version of the night she was taken. The peanut shells. Could this be true? She recoiled inside so repulsed a wave of nausea came over her.
“You were there, weren’t you? You were helping him.”
“They all deserved what they got. Just like you deserve what you’re about to get.”
Lauren lunged toward her, wrapping her hands around Suzanne’s neck. Her nails dug into Suzanne’s skin, almost cutting off her air supply.
“You sent Peter away. I’m going send you out of this world.”
Unable to pry Lauren’s hands from her neck, she grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled with all her might. Lauren screamed, releasing her hold. Pulling her right hand back, she slammed Lauren’s cheek with the side of her fist. Quickly retaliating, Lauren slapped her right cheek with the palm of her hand sending Suzanne back against the tiny table in the center of the room. Suzanne could hear murmuring, for the most part undistinguishable words, but in between the groans she heard “I will kill you.” She knew Lauren was sick, maybe just as sick as Peter. She didn’t know how deep her involvement was, but those peanuts in the bell tower were enough of an indication. She had to get away from her and fast. In the same instant, she saw a vase of flowers on the table. She quickly grabbed it and slammed it over the top of Lauren’s head. The vase shattered with a loud pop sending water in the air. Lauren’s eyes rolled, and she fell to the floor. Suzanne stood for a few seconds in shock at what had transpired over the last few minutes. Pulling herself back to reality, she bolted out of the break room and ran to the nurse’s station.
She was out of breath and unable to speak between the gasps for air. Betty’s eyes widened as she ran around the counter and grabbed Suzanne’s arms. “What in the world happened? I thought you went home.”
“Lauren. She was helping Peter.” She barely choked out the words as her heart pounded feeling like it hit her chest wall with each beat.
“Where is she?”
Suzanne bent at the waist and leaned her head forward trying to keep herself from hyperventilating. “I left her in the break room. She was knocked out.”
Without another word, Betty reached in a drawer and handed her a paper sack, and then called hospital security and the local police.
The security officer was at the nurse’s station within a couple of minutes.
By the time security arrived, the old paper sack remedy had slowed her breathing. Finally able to speak clearly, she explained what happened and where she had left Lauren. The guard nodded and ran quickly down the hall toward the break room. She could hear the sirens.
“I hope I didn’t kill her.”
“I don’t know why not. She would have killed you if you hadn’t been quick,” Betty said.
“She is not well. That’s for sure.”
“Suzanne, she is crazy. Look at the scratches on your neck. Sit down let me look at those.”
To her astonishment, Detective Brown arrived with the officers dispatched to the scene. He assigned one of the uniformed officers to stay with her, and then quickly rushed toward the break room.
“Betty, did you have any clue that Lauren and Peter were dating?”
“I didn’t have the slightest hint.”
Emergency room staff rushed a gurney past them, and then Detective Brown walked to the nurse’s station.
“I’d bet money, Suzanne, this girl is the same one you heard the morning during your kidnapping.”
“I told you someone else was there. I knew I wasn’t imagining it.”
“We never said you were lying. There was just no evidence. No clues of where to begin looking, until now,” the detective said.
Suzanne explained the night’s events at least three times for the detective. Lauren was awake by then and would be fine aside from the whopping headache. Under the circumstances, Suzanne decided pressing charges would be appropriate. Although she protested, Betty forced her to get checked out by the ER doctor on duty, and she was given a clean bill of health, minus scratches and bruises, but the doctor didn’t want her drive herself home. Who would she call at this hour?
The first number in her head was Seth’s. It was instinct she guessed. After the last time they were together, it was pretty clear any call to him needed to be for reconciliation or she shouldn’t bother.
Of course, she knew exactly who to call. Tray had remained her friend and, on more than one occasion, told her to call if she was in a jam. Well, this qualified as a jam. Thank goodness she still had his cell number. Tray didn’t hesitate, and she knew there would be no strings attached, just a friend helping out a friend. Meanwhile, she went back and waited at the nurse’s station unable to stand anymore of the gawking eyes at the ER. It was quite evident Lauren had her own set of loyal friends, and Suzanne would probably have to deal with them eventually.
“Suzanne.” It was the voice she heard in her dreams every night.
“Seth, what are you doing here?”
He was rushing down the hall with a panicked look in his eyes.
“Detective Brown called me. Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Look at your neck. What did she do to you?”
He grabbed her, clutching her to his chest.
“I’m fine. I gave worse than I got.”
“I heard.”
“I told you I heard a voice. I knew I wasn’t crazy.”
“I never doubted you.”
He never loosened his hold, and she could feel his face pressing into her hair. His reassuring closeness felt so restful to her and, in his arms, was home where she should have always been.
“We need to talk about the other day.” She melted in his arms.
“It’s all right.”
“No, it’s not. I have never wanted to hurt you. Please know that. I thought you and me apart was the best thing for you.”
“You have weird thoughts, Suzanne.”
When he said her name, those familiar chills still ran down her spine.
“I can’t keep up this charade any more. I need you. I hope you still need me.” She rambled, so scared he would leave again.
He pulled back for a moment, searching her eyes for the truth. He must have found what he needed. Welcoming her back into his arms, he kissed the top of her head.
“Why else would I be here?”
Seth kept his arm around her as they walked through the parking lot. Could this be real? Were they going to be together? She was so tired of fighting it, and she just wanted to be with him. They were almost to his bike when they heard someone calling from across the parking lot.
It was Tray. She had forgotten about calling him.
“Tray, what are you doing here?” Seth said.
“Suzanne called me.”
She felt Seth’s body stiffen instantly. He turned to her, and his eyes flashed a dark blue, which she knew only came when he was angry.
“You didn’t want me to come, did you?”
“Seth, it’s a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, the only misunderstanding is the fool I’ve made of myself again. That’s it, Suzanne. It’s over. If you can’t give me your heart, then forget about it.” Seth’s voice cut her.
Tears were streaming down her face now, and Tray stood in silence. He had only come to help at her request, and he wasn’t only her friend now, he was Seth’s, too.
“I was going to call you, but I didn’t want to hurt you,” she said.
Seth raised his eyebrows, and his eyes narrowed. “No, this one was my mistake. I just can’t think rationally when you’re in danger. It’s apparent to me that you don’t want me coming to your rescue and that’s fine. Miss Foster, after tonight, I’ll leave you alone.”
“Seth, wait, man. I don’t think she meant anything by calling me. I’m going to give you guys a few minutes. You need to talk alone.”
Tray walked back to his car. Through the constant flow of tears, Suzanne couldn’t speak at first, and Seth wouldn’t even look at her.
“Seth, please.” Her voice was shaky.
She reached for him, and he jerked back.
“Don’t touch me. I can’t stand it.” The sound of his voice pricked her heart.
“Seth, let’s go somewhere alone. Just listen to me.”
“If we’re alone, I’ll only want to sleep with you. I need my mind clear. I don’t blame Tray. Maybe your feelings are stronger for him than you know. Even though we’re friends, he’s never lied to me. He’d be with you in a heartbeat if you asked.”
“You’re so stubborn! I don’t love him. I love you. Won’t you listen to reason? It was just a call.”
She walked slowly toward him and put her hand on his cheek. His gaze met hers for a brief moment, and then he closed his eyes. “I just can’t keep tearing myself apart, Suzanne. If you can tell me things will go back like they were before, then I’ll listen.”
“They can’t go back to you being so controlling,” she said.
He backed away.
“This isn’t going to work. I mean even with Peter caught, look what happened tonight. You would have to quit this job.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not quitting my job. I need the money. Who else is going to pay my bills?”
“I have money and have told you more than once I’ll provide anything you need.”
“I need the reference to get into the nursing program. There are over five hundred applicants this year.”
“I’m sure they would still give you a good reference. You can’t compromise. I’m through with this. You’re driving me crazy. It’s over.” His words sliced her heart in two.
Seth walked to his bike and didn’t look back as he sped away. Suzanne stood in the same spot for what had to only be a minute. She kept hearing a gasping sound and realized it was her own sobbing. She had lost him. Another classic Suzanne move. How she wished he could see her heart. Why didn’t she call him?
“Suzanne, what happened?”
“Oh, Tray.”
Tray didn’t say a word as he took her in his arms and proved he wasn’t just another man whom she had crushed. He was a true friend.
“Tray, can you just get me out of here? I just want to get wasted and forget about Seth. Can you do that for me?” she said.
&
nbsp; “We’ll make a run for Haynesville before the liquor store closes.”
Never releasing her arm, Tray helped her into the passenger seat of his car. She had closed her eyes the entire ride to Haynesville unable to face the truth. Had she lost him? Seth. Suzanne rolled down the window, letting the wind blow against her face and sting her eyes as it dried her wet cheeks. She had sucked down a hard lemonade by the time Tray pulled on the highway heading back to Magnolia. Nothing would take away the pain, but if getting drunk would dull it, she’d take her chances.
“I don’t want to go back to school. If I go back to my room, I’ll just see his face when I close my eyes. I can’t stand it. I don’t know what I’m going do. We’ve been split, but I never truly thought it was over. Somehow, I always believed we’d get back together once things were back to normal. You should have seen the hurt in his eyes. I cut him to the core. I don’t think he loves me anymore.”
The tears flowed freely again as she finished her second drink.
“He loves you. He’s just being a jerk. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well you know.”
“I was the one who decided we needed a break. He never wanted it. But this time it’s different. He made the choice, and he meant it. I’ve just cried wolf too many times.”
“We’ve got to get your mind on something else. When’s the last time you went skating?”
“Skating?”
“You heard me.”
“I was probably fifteen.”
“Well, we’re going tonight.”
“There is no place open this late.”
“It doesn’t have to be when your dad owns the place.”
“What? A skating rink?”
“Have you ever been to the one in Eldorado?”
“Get out of here. I went there with my youth group from church.”
“Well, slow down on the drinking, girl. I don’t want you falling and breaking something.”
They were there within thirty minutes. Tray unlocked the door with a hidden key. The smell of stall popcorn was still in the air, and it was like junior high all over again.
“Go over and find some skates on the far wall,” Tray said.
Tray headed for the DJ booth. There were hundreds of pairs of skates, and she found her size. It was a good thing she’d worn socks, although she still had on her uniform from work and falling in the skirt would not be a pretty sight. The next minute a disco ball in the center of the ceiling was rotating, flashing red, blue, green, and yellow lights around the room. Tray had the music on just as quickly. The 1970s disco was as loud as she remembered.
