by Tess Oliver
Mrs. Norton had one of those kindly, grandma style faces that made me miss my own grandparents. My mom’s parents, the only grandparents I’d known, had both died far before their time, one from a stroke and one from cancer. We’d essentially grown up without them, but I still had fond memories of standing on a stepstool in the kitchen helping my grandmother roll out pie dough.
Mrs. Norton lifted her shaky hand and stared at the tube coming out of it. Her laugh was weak but nice to hear. “My gosh, I’ve been poked and prodded, and I don’t even remember them doing it. I must have been too upset. I feel so clumsy. I knew I should have moved that electrical cord. It’s always in my way.” Mrs. Norton had been home alone when she took a bad fall. She was in a great deal of pain when they brought her in, but x-rays had brought good news that nothing had been broken. She was incredibly thin and frail, so it was a miracle. It was rare for an elderly patient who had fallen to come in without a broken bone.
I walked over and checked the monitor and fluid level in the IV bag.
Mrs. Norton tilted her head and smiled up at me. “Such a pretty girl and such a fine nurse. Your dad must be very proud.”
I resisted a smile as I thought about her comment. “I suppose in his own less-than-showy way, he is.” Dad was many things, but he was far better at finding faults than acknowledging success. Still, several times in the past year as I left the house at midnight to start my shift in the ER, he would take a second to glance at me over his television glasses and cast me what was almost a grin of pride. Sometimes, I wondered if I was just imagining it, and sometimes, I was convinced I saw it only because I’d wished for it.
Mrs. Norton reached over with her trembling arm. “I had the same father growing up. Nothing I ever did was quite good enough, and when it was, he’d just shuck me on the shoulder like a coach in a football game.”
I laughed. “I see we were raised by the same man. Guess that makes us soul sisters.” I smiled down at her. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
Footsteps sounded outside the treatment room. An elderly man came in with a middle-aged version of himself right behind.
“Oh, Charles.” Mrs. Norton burst into tears at the sight of her husband. He hurried to her bedside and hugged her. Seconds earlier, she had been joking about her upbringing, seemingly happy to know that she’d escaped this mishap with just a few bruises. But the sight of her husband opened a valve of sorts, and all the stress and emotions of the day poured out. What a lucky woman she was to have someone like that in her life, someone who could absorb all the bad and give only comfort in return. A true love. What I wouldn’t give to find that.
I smiled at her son. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. But the x-rays looked good. Nothing broken.”
He released a deep breath. “Thank goodness for that.”
I slipped out to give them some privacy. My shift was about over. I’d decided that, even though Tommy had been an absolute first class butthead, I would take some fresh bandages to him. I knew damn well that he wouldn’t be taking proper care of the burns or the stitches. I’d left the house on Sunday in a swirl of emotions and hadn’t talked to any of them for three days.
I was just as pissed at Dawson for huffing and puffing and doing his raging bull impersonation at the mention of me being in a scuffle with a gun. I was standing in front of him, clearly unscathed by it all, but that darn testosterone of his reared its blustery head anyway. And then when I realized that Tommy had sunk back into his shell like an angry turtle, I was doubly pissed. I’d made the mistake of thinking that we were back to being friends again. But, apparently, the crazy night in the hospital had made him vulnerable and shadows of his human self had accidentally seeped out. He seemed to be back to his steely, unfriendly self.
I walked down the hall to the supply closet. Unlike many other staff members, I rarely took supplies for personal use, but I knew Tommy well enough to know that he wasn’t returning to a doctor anytime soon for new dressing. I reasoned that Tommy had been a patient in the ward, and he’d also stepped in to unarm an angry, gun-wielding man. He’d earned a few free bandages. Of course, if he wasn’t interested in me tending to him, he could get my brother to nurse him. I’d done my share of first aid on all of them. Maybe it was time I let them grow up.
Nurse Berkin looked up from the shelf of syringes as I stepped into the supply closet. She was one of those lucky girls with large blue eyes, a bow-shaped mouth, baby smooth skin and as Tommy had annoyingly pointed out, nice breasts.
“How is your friend doing? He was so brave when he wrestled you out from under the arm of that madman.”
“That’s not exactly how it went down, but yes, fearless is Tommy’s middle name. He’s been like that since his boyish days as a tough-ass sixth grader. He lost his dad when he was ten and that toughened him up a lot.” I had no idea why I was telling her all this, but sometimes, even I had to hear the story to remind myself why Tommy was so hardened.
“Oh, that poor baby. What he needs is someone to take care of him.”
“And you fancy yourself in that position?” I asked.
Nurse Berkin was new to nursing and to the emergency room. We’d spoken mostly only on a professional level. Something told me a lasting bond and friendship was never going to spring up between us. Not that I minded her. I just didn’t feel any common vibes between us. She was from a well to do family of doctors, and I was from the wrong side of town and the daughter of a coal miner. It was entirely possible she just reminded me too much of the north end girls I’d gone to school with. There was always a distinct, yet invisible, line separating the Highlanders from us below the tracks Trogs. And that line of separation had never faded in my mind.
“Are you kidding?” she said with a giggle. “I would love to snuggle up and comfort that honey bear.”
I had no luck at holding back a smile.
“What’s that grin for?”
I reached into the box of gauze and pulled out a roll. “No grin. I’ve just never heard Tommy being referred to as a honey bear.”
“Well when he calls, I’ll be flying right over to offer him my medical assistance and whatever else he might need.”
“I wouldn’t set your expectations too high. Tommy’s got plenty of girls waiting in the sidelines to nurse him back to health.” The words were meant to discourage her, but at the same time, they left me feeling a little empty. I had no doubt that, like my brother, Tommy had a phone full of women’s numbers.
I looked at the stack of clean bandages in my hand. Maybe it was time to accept that the guys just didn’t need me anymore. Growing up, I was the only person with the patience and persistence to put up with their wild, crazy lifestyles. Even our moms had no tolerance for the constant injuries and fights. But now, they had other women. Kellan had Rylan and Tommy and Dawson had their women friends too.
I would at least take him the supplies and see if he needed me. And I’d try hard not to be completely shattered if he shooed me away.
“I’m not delusional or stupid.” Nurse Berkin’s sharp words snapped me from my musings. “I have eyes. I know a man like Tommy isn’t going to be short on girlfriends. But I think you have a different motive for warning me off. I see the way you look at him. There’s a lot more there than just a childhood friendship.”
I dropped the roll of surgical tape, and it rolled beneath the cabinet. “Damn it.” I reached for another roll of tape. “You’re imagining things. Tommy’s an old friend. End of story.” I grabbed up the supplies I’d collected for the man who I’d just insisted was nothing more than an old friend and flounced out of the room.
I signed out at the nurses’ station and headed with my armful of technically stolen goods to the locker room. I placed the stack of supplies on the bench. The door opened as I reached into my locker for my coat.
I glanced back over my shoulder. Gary walked in and made a point of shutting the door behind him, as if privacy was what he craved. He did have a somewhat predatory g
leam in his blue eyes, a gleam that I’d seen in the past just before we fell into bed.
I smiled as I searched inside my messy locker for my keys. Ever since Tommy had been wheeled into the ER, Gary had changed, or at least, he’d amped up the flirting. In a short span of time, the menacing looking, powerfully built burn victim had become hero and, for some reason, a threat to our relationship. Of course, Tommy had saved me from death by violence, and immediately afterward, I’d gone to him, my longtime friend, for comfort. But I’d given Gary no other reason to be jealous. Although, if he’d found a reason to be jealous on his own that was his problem. And my good fortune. Only, as badly as I’d craved a little wanton, sexy attention from Dr. Hunky in the past few months, the timing was all wrong. I wanted to get back to Bluefield. Tommy’s burns needed attention, I assured myself. It was my innate, inextinguishable sense of worry and nothing more.
A short laugh spurted from my mouth and echoed off the locker walls. How quickly I’d let silly Nurse Berkin get into my head with her ludicrous comment about the way I looked at Tommy.
Gary’s stethoscope was cold on my neck as he came up right behind me and leaned down to kiss my ear. It tickled. I lifted my shoulder up, hitting him in the chin and effectively obliterating the flirty moment.
He straightened. “Well, that didn’t go quite like I pictured it.” He glanced down at the pile of bandages. “Are you planning on being a good Samaritan on the way home? Maybe stop off and bandage some roadside injuries?”
“Actually, I’m taking the bus again. But you just never know what might happen on those crazy public bus rides. It pays to be prepared.”
I turned around. He took a furtive glance toward the door before pressing his body against mine. “I was hoping we’d get together later. Barring no giant catastrophes, I’ll be off in a few hours.”
I couldn’t understand it. Last week, this fun transgression from the right and proper hospital behavior would have made me giddy. Not today. And I really couldn’t puzzle out why this wasn’t as exciting as I’d envisioned.
“I’d have to take a bus back out here, and I’m tired and hungry. I think I’ll just head home for a quiet evening. There’s a book—”
He pushed away harshly. “Why the hell don’t you buy a car?”
“Sorry if my finances cause you hardship. I’m helping my parents with some bills, and—” I stopped. “I don’t need to explain it to you. If you really want to see me, why the heck don’t you drive out to Bluefield and pick me up?” It was a suggestion that I desperately didn’t want him to accept. Gary had never been to my home or my hometown. Something told me he’d look at both with a measure of repulsion or pity or something that would no doubt set my teeth on edge.
I picked up the bandages. He looked at the pile of goods and something must have clicked. “Nurse Sullivan, must I remind you about taking home free supplies?”
“They’re for a good cause.”
“Right. A good cause.” The look he gave me assured me he knew exactly who the bandages were for.
“He saved my life. You’d think that would warrant a major dose of sympathy and a big hearty thank you from the man who is supposed to be my boyfriend. Not to mention that silly little Hippocratic oath and your promise to help the sick. I know Tommy, and he won’t be taking proper care of those burns.” I had no idea why I needed to defend my decision to bring home bandages. It might have been more to convince myself again that this was all out of my inborn need to care for people, rather than an excuse to check in on Tommy.
“Fine,” Gary said. His name was called over the loudspeaker. He headed toward the door. “Oh, by the way, don’t forget Martin’s cocktail party two weeks from Friday. Remember to get the night off.”
My lip turned up in distaste. I was certainly letting it all hang out today. I just had no idea why. I wasn’t angry at him. I was just sort of disinterested. The lip snarl was definitely disinterest. His friend’s cocktail parties were just one step up from a tour around a mausoleum. Actually, given the choice, I’d choose the mausoleum.
“What’s the spoiled little girl look about? It’ll be fine. Some of my old college buddies will be there. I want to introduce you.”
“You’re right. Sorry.” I wiped my hand across my mouth. “Spoiled little girl lip turn gone.”
He took a few steps, lifted my chin and kissed me lightly on the mouth. “I’ve got to go. And wear that slinky little red dress. Not the green one. I hate that one. It reminds me of something my Aunt Agatha would wear.” He walked out of the room before I could respond to his insult.
I stared at the closed door. Green dress it is, I thought wryly.
Chapter 10
Andi
I was nervous, and I was disappointed in myself. I was pretty disappointed in Tommy too. His completely unpredictable attitude toward me was the source of my uneasiness. He’d slid from one extreme to the other and back again in a short span of time. I’d been relieved when it seemed the cold war he’d started between us, a distant, harsh silence that made no real sense in my mind, had ended. Now we were back to square one of the peace talks, and none of it sat right with me. I was sure I’d never done anything to deserve it. Moody, irritating man.
My mom had allowed me a few precious hours with her rattling, tin box of a car. She had nowhere to go and only drove the thing an average of five miles a week, but you’d have thought I’d asked to borrow her right arm for a few hours.
Daylight had shifted to that fuzzy gray area between afternoon and evening. I much preferred the day shift at the hospital. Crazier things happened on the night shift, things like gun wielding nutcases and bad accidents. It felt especially good knowing that I’d be able to sleep in the dark, during the quiet hours of night, rather than trying to sleep through the usual noise of day.
I pulled onto the unpaved road that led to the cabin. The guys had really gotten lucky to find the place. It was in a perfectly serene setting of pine and quiet mountainside, just far enough from the town to forget they lived in Bluefield.
I was in luck. Tommy’s truck was in front of the cabin. Dawson was just heading out with Sasha, a woman from down the road. Midweek meant dollar beers at The Hole, the local bar and hangout.
Dawson laughed as I stood up out of the car. “Holy shit, do you mean Mom actually lent you the grocery cruiser? Don’t let any stray pine cones or rocks hit it. She’ll inspect the thing for scratches when you return it.”
“Oh, I’m sure of it.” I walked around to the passenger side to pull out the first aid supplies. “Dollar night at The Hole?”
“Yeah, you should come,” Sasha suggested. Sasha was a few years older than us, but she was a friend to everyone, most especially the Bluefield men. She’d never had a serious relationship with anyone though. She lived with her grandfather, a salty old dog, who, like most of the men in town, had worked in the mine when he was young. He had some crazy good genes, it seemed. Even though he’d worked at a time when health codes were non-existent or ignored, he had somehow managed to stay alive well past his peers.
“Cheap beer sounds good, but I’m going in to check on Mr. Grumpy.” I lifted the stack of supplies. “How is he doing?”
“Grumpy is the perfect word for his mood,” Dawson said. “He started back to work today. Just pulled on his coveralls and kept a stiff upper lip so no one would find out about his injuries. The foreman would have sent him back home for sure. He’s been sucking down beers and playing video games since we got home, so he might be feeling better. Still, enter at your own risk.”
“Dawson told me about Saturday night,” Sasha said. “That boy deserves some kind of a medal. I’m sure he’d be the last one to think so.” She shook her head. “Tommy just never sees himself as doing the right thing. It’s too bad.”
“Yep, that’s exactly what I told him. Which he, of course, scoffed at. You two have fun and drink a few for me.”
Like most of the people in town, Sasha knew all about Tommy’s tumultuous years
after his dad’s tragic death. His mom had made the desperate and poor choice of marrying James Beecham, the town bully. She’d lost control of her teenage son and needed the support. It wasn’t long until she realized that her bad decision had only compounded her problems and made Tommy rebel more. Staying true to character, James had bullied and abused both of them. Tommy had had enough one day. He threw his fist at the man, a man who by general standards was big and meaty. James had nearly died from the blow. Even though Tommy had finally given the asshole what he deserved, things only got worse for Tommy.
I knocked and stood for a second. It seemed he couldn’t hear me over the sound effects of his video game.
“Just go inside,” Dawson called over the top of his car.
I clutched my supplies in one arm, took a deep breath and opened the door. Tommy was slumped against the back of the couch, no doubt, irritating the burns on his back. He stared, unflinching, at the television as if some of the villains in his game might just hop out of the monitor and attack.
His attention flicked my direction for a millisecond before returning to the game. He was clutching the game controller in his hands moving it around in the air as if that might help blow up his opponents faster. I could already sense that I wasn’t going to get much conversation or cooperation.
I stood in front of the television. He leaned to the side to look around me, not willing to part his focus from the screen for a second. I walked to the coffee table and dropped the bandages down next to the empty beer cans.
“Here are some clean bandages.” I paused. “You’re welcome.”
He nodded. “Yeah, thanks, but I haven’t really figured a way to reach back there. I’m fine.” His thumbs moved like lightning over the controller. From behind, the sound effects assured me some dastardly demon had just been blown up. I was trying to decide if being completely ignored was less upsetting than being shooed away like an annoying insect. It seemed both were about equal on the rudeness scale.
