Road to Recovery

by Ann, Natalie

  At his nod, she continued. “I’ve actually compiled a list of projects I hope to tackle, time lines, goals and such for each. Not to mention questions pertaining to each before I even start. I wouldn’t want to step on toes, or take on something another department may handle. I realize I don’t report to you, but a lot of what I’m doing, or plan on doing has to pass through Legal before it is all finalized. At least that is my assumption?” She paused.

  He confirmed, “Yes, we will work closely together on any policy you write. I have to sign off on anything prior to distribution, or at least my department does. Job security for us,” he added jokingly. She didn’t smile, so he cleared his throat. “In all seriousness, hospitals are a breeding ground for lawsuits. Not only from patients, but from employees too, which is why we need to focus on Work Conduct among staff and patients alike. Both polices and trainings. Needless to say, though you don’t report to my department, you will work more closely with us. Sometimes more than the Human Resources Department.”

  Several topic changes later, Lucas noticed the time. “I’m sorry to cut this short, the time got away from us. If you don’t mind, can you email your list of projects, along with the questions you have? I will try to get back to you in a few days. Then we can schedule another time to meet, and go from there.”

  “That sounds good,” Brooke said as she stood up and walked around the table where Lucas was already waiting at the door.

  He gestured with his hand chivalrously. “After you.”

  He was right. She had on some killer black heels.

  ***

  “Ahhh, Friday!” Cori climbed onto the elliptical bike next to Brooke. “So did you set up an appointment with Dr. Chen yet?”

  After reading Brooke’s list of requirements, Cori had suggested Dr. Chen. She was a fairly young doctor, in her mid-forties, and focused primarily on sports injuries. Not everyone liked her, because she was known to push her patients and not take excuses or laziness kindly. But those who were up for the challenge and focused on recovery couldn’t say enough good things about her. Cori was right—that was exactly what Brooke was looking for.

  “Actually, I did. She was pretty booked but managed to get me in in two weeks. And it also saves me the lecture from my mother when she calls tonight. So thanks, for two things,” Brooke said cheekily.

  “Happy to be of assistance to you. So what exciting plans do you have this weekend? Work, a book and cleaning?” Cori asked with a silly, knowing grin.

  Brooke decided to play with her. Mainly because Cori had been on the money with her statement of Brooke’s weekend plans. “Actually, I was planning on organizing my dongles,’’ she replied seriously, hoping that Cori wouldn’t know what she was talking about.

  “What?” Cori’s green eyes popped out wildly on her face.

  Oh this is going to be fun, Brooke thought. “You know, dongles. It’s important to keep them organized.” She leaned in, and whispered, “You don’t know how frustrating it is when you need the right one and can’t get your hand on it.” Brooke had never seen someone’s jaw actually drop before. “Don’t you agree?” She pressed on.

  “Ah, yeah. But, well, I try to get mine out before I get to that point of frustration,” Cori stammered, then recovered and smiled brightly.

  “See, you’re practical. More practical than I am when it comes to that. You might even say that it’s logical to do it that way.”

  “OK, hmm. Whatever works, right?” Cori said with another wide smile.

  Brooke couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. She put her hand over her mouth to muffle it, not wanting to draw attention to them.

  “What’s so funny?” Cori asked.

  That only caused Brooke to laugh even harder. “Well, I guess I could be considered somewhat practical too, as I always carry at least one with me at all times. Want to see it?” she asked with twinkling eyes.

  “What? You’re joking. You have a dongle with you right now? Here? Where?” Cori asked in an excited whisper, then eyed Brooke’s bag on the floor.

  Brooke slowed down to step off the elliptical, then leaned over to pull her purse out of her gym bag. She was reaching her hand in when Cori hissed. “Seriously, you’re going to pull it out right here? Are you crazy?”

  Cori’s eyes whipped around the gym and then fell on Brooke’s fisted hand that she slowly opened up to reveal the small USB key. Then Brooke calmly placed it back in her purse and climbed back on the elliptical. She turned and grinned at Cori, who was now speechless and unmoving on her bike.

  Recovering quickly though, she accused Brooke. “Not funny! You knew what I thought, didn’t you?”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure at first, then just decided to go with it. Admit it, it was pretty funny.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I should have known you wouldn’t have a mini vibrator in your purse. Least of all pull it out and show me in public,” Cori admitted.

  Brooke tried not to choke on that blunt statement, enjoying herself too much to stop now. She tried to be as blunt back. “Of course not. I keep mine in the bedside drawer, like most people.”

  Now Cori laughed, loudly. Louder than Brooke had wanted, drawing some attention to them after all. “Glad to know you have a sense of humor under that calm and cool demeanor.” Cori leaned in close, lowered her voice. “So how many do you have in that drawer of yours? Variety or just one run-of-the-mill?”

  No matter how hard she tried, Brooke couldn’t help but feel the heat rise up her neck to her face. Thankfully anyone looking at them would think it was exertion from her workout. She should have known better than to try to joke about something like that with Cori, who always seemed to get the upper hand. Clearing her throat, Brooke tried for her calmest voice and looked straight ahead. “Some things are private.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, I think you have a bit of a bad girl in you under all that prim and proper. I’ll get it out of you. You just wait,” Cori said, taking her hands off the bike and rubbing them together in glee. “I’m always up for a challenge. This is going to be fun!”

  Before Brooke could reply, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “A little bad never hurt anyone.”

  Mortified, Brooke swung around and stared right into a set of piercing pale blue eyes. And felt a jolt of heat and embarrassment, and however much she wanted to deny it, a little bit of excitement. Choosing to ignore the comment, praying that Lucas didn’t hear any more of their previous conversation, she composed herself despite her bright red cheeks. “Hello, Lucas.”

  He nodded in return and responded, sounding just as proper. Even though she had a feeling he was secretly laughing at her. “Hello, Brooke.”

  She paused and then glanced to her side. Ever the professional, she introduced Cori. “Lucas, this is Cori. Cori, Lucas Mathews.”

  ***

  Cori watched the interaction between Brooke and Lucas. She’d only known Brooke for a week but was positive she never had her feathers ruffled. And right now Brooke was doing her best to not look ruffled in the presence of Lucas. Interesting. And entertaining. Maybe she could push some buttons here, get back for the dongle comments.

  “Nice to meet you, in person.” Cori continued after the arch of his brow. “Well, we’ve all heard about you. Only good things though, I assure you.”

  “I guess that is good to know. But then again, I do try my best to keep the bad to a minimum at work. Appearances and all,” he replied, never taking his eyes off of Brooke’s face.

  Cori watched Lucas watching Brooke’s reaction. Maybe Brooke wasn’t so indifferent after all. Maybe she was right, and there was a bad girl in there, or at the very least, a fun one. Cori loved to have fun.

  Lucas grinned. “Have a good evening, ladies. Brooke, I’ll try to get back to you this weekend regarding some of your questions and set up a time for us to meet next week.” With that he strode away.

  “Wow, the vibes coming off of the two of you almost knocked me off the bike. What gives? And don’t leave a single
bit out. I mean, geez, you’ve been here less than a month and the Legal Hunk, which is what most the ladies refer to him as by the way, was flirting with you. And if you think you pulled off that calm and cool pose of yours, well, you failed miserably.”

  “What? What do you mean?” Brooke asked, horrified.

  “Oh, honey, you can fight it all you want, but it’s written all over your face. You would love nothing more than to know how bad he can be. Don’t lie, because that little one-minute skit between you two was hot! The sparks flying between you two was enough to turn me on!” Cori said excitedly, verbally putting an exclamation at the end of each sentence.

  “You’re wrong. There is nothing there. He was joking with you. It had nothing to do with me. He was only being friendly,” Brooke tried to explain.

  Snorting, Cori said, “You really can’t be that naive, can you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Shaking her head, Cori explained, “That very hot hunky piece of a man was most definitely flirting with you. You can’t tell me you didn’t know that. And he wasn’t joking with me, never even looked at me. He was staring at you the entire time.”

  “Well…” Brooke stammered a bit, cleared her throat and added, “I know what flirting is, obviously. I just didn’t think he was with me. That would be totally inappropriate. I have to work with him, closely too.”

  “So what? All the more reason to be friendly with each other. You know, being close and all.” She used her fingers to make quotation signs.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t do that. I won’t do that. I have a job to do, and part of that job is dealing with work conduct. You can see the irony here, right? That is why I know he was joking. You’re reading too much into it. He was being friendly,” Brooke repeated, trying to convince Cori.

  Deciding to drop it for now, Cori grinned and shrugged. “Whatever you say, but I’m telling you, you’re wrong. So you keep thinking those pure thoughts of yours. For now.”

  ***

  Brooke thought long and hard about her conversation with Cori two weeks ago. And all it originally did was make her suspicious of Lucas and his motives. She never used to be this suspicious, but she refused to let the past repeat itself. In the end Brooke realized she was totally wrong about him. Yes, he was flirting with her, it was obvious, but it wasn’t done in a way that could be considered inappropriate at all, even at work.

  He always seemed cautious with her, considerate even. Waiting out her replies and moods before his own mood changed, before his tone would take on another meaning.

  All their encounters were professional and above reproach, with him always smiling at her, always asking her if she needed any help or assistance with something. Always there when she needed a hand, without even knowing she did. Underneath it all, she concluded he was a good guy at heart.

  Aside from her brother, Mac, she never really spent a lot of time with a man so gentlemanly. She didn’t even think that trait existed much anymore.

  She wasn’t sure what the turning point was, when she started to see Lucas as something other than a coworker, as someone other than a man that might be hitting on her.

  Maybe it was the day she saw him helping an elderly patient on the first floor trying to find her way to an appointment. He didn’t have to stop and give the elderly woman directions, could have pointed her to the information desk. But instead he ended up walking her right into the elevator, then, Brooke assumed, to the awaited destination safe and sound.

  Another time she saw him in the cafeteria sitting with a few doctors when a little girl in the seat behind started to stare and flirt with him. He turned his attention to the child, smiled and waved, got a big grin in return. Brooke watched in awe as the toddler proceeded to bat her eyelashes and flirt some more. It didn’t embarrass him in the least to be playing a simple game of peek-a-boo with a strange child while sitting at a table full of colleagues.

  As much as Brooke held back, she had to be honest. She was starting to look forward to seeing him. She enjoyed her time with him. Enjoyed seeing that side of him, the side of him that was so generous with others. Not with money, but with time, and patience, and humanity.

  She tried to avoid work relationships at all costs. They ended badly, as she knew from personal experience. But Lucas actually had her reconsidering that, which scared her.

  More concerning was her past relationship experience, or lack of them. Her first real boyfriend was in college. She was a late bloomer, not that she hadn’t been asked out earlier, she just wasn’t interested in high school. Nor was it allowed, anyway. Plus she was too focused on her future.

  Besides, most of the boys that asked her out were too immature and crude for her. And she didn’t handle casual well. Watching all the girls her age go from one guy to the next, never caring or concerned that everyone was dating each other at one time or another. She wasn’t like that. She wanted something more. Wanted something special, not to be another notch to someone.

  Her first boyfriend in college was similar to her, shy, and as an inexperienced. A sweet relationship. One that started out as friendship and then turned to something more, something slow and calm and peaceful at times. They were each other’s first sexual experience, which was also slow and sweet.

  But looking back now, Brooke could say it lacked passion. The real make-your-toes-curl passion. Which was why after dating for three years then graduating from college, they drifted and went their own way. No hurt feelings, nice and tidy.

  Her second relationship was the opposite. There was love and passion all right, at least on her part. But the lying, cheating and scheming was all him. Enough so that Brooke told herself that love and passion really wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Better to keep things simple and calm, to know where you stood at all times. Better than running the risk of being hurt in the long run. Or worse yet, humiliated.

  So even though Lucas was wearing her down, it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t ready. Not ready to take that step with someone else right now. And not ready to do it with a coworker either.

  She was going to have to remind herself that however much she was enjoying time with him and appreciated the man that he was, the risk wasn’t worth the price.

  So Simple

  “I looked over all of your medical records. I know what injuries you’ve incurred and the steps and surgeries taken to repair them. How you’ve progressed and where you were the last time you saw a doctor.” Dr. Chen pushed a few more buttons on the keyboard, read over Brooke’s notes, and went to a few more screens. “Which was about two months ago. So fill me in on the last two months. I’m assuming you’ve relocated in that time, hence the reason you are here?”

  “Yes. It took me a little time to get situated between work and home, but in the meantime I’ve been working out five to six times a week, a combination of low impact cardio and weight bearing exercises. At home, each night I work on stretches and strength moves I learned in physical therapy. So though I haven’t been going to physical therapy, I’ve continued from where I left off.”

  Nodding once, Dr. Chen continued to type. “How is your pain management? How often are you taking anything for the pain? Whether it’s over-the-counter or prescription.”

  “Just over-the-counter. Ibuprofen mainly. A couple of times a week, if needed. I try not to. Mainly alternate hot and cold therapy when the pain gets to be too much. By now the pain is more muscle related than anything else. I probably overdo the workouts, but I’m not used to sitting idle either.”

  “Hmm.” More clicking on the keyboard followed. “Okay. I appreciate that you work hard and are trying to get stronger. That’s exactly what I’m looking to see. However, you need to work smart, not hard. A little muscle fatigue is okay. How many ibuprofen tablets do you take at once when you do take them?”

  “No more than three at once, and that’s rare. I really try to avoid any type of pain pills. If I can feel the pain, then I know my limits.”

  The typing s
topped. Dr. Chen turned, looked Brooke in the eye. “I agree. But there is a fine line with unnecessary pain too. I’m trying to determine where you fall. It seems to me you’ve got a good handle on things, but I would like you to start seeing our physical therapist at least two, if not three times a week. For a few weeks, until we can see for ourselves where you are.”

  With eyebrows drawn together and lips pursed, Dr. Chen added thoughtfully, “You seem like a smart person to me. So I don’t need to tell you how lucky you were or how lucky you are right now. A shattered femur sidelines most people for a good year or so. When you add the fused vertebrae, it’s surprising you aren’t still in a wheelchair or on crutches right now. Let alone exercising.”

  Nodding, Brooke returned Dr. Chen’s steady gaze. “I know how lucky I am. Believe me, I do. I’m not going to say it’s been easy, because the last year has been difficult. But I’m determined to return to as close to a hundred percent as possible.”

  After a few more questions, and an exam of her back and leg, Brooke tucked her shirt back into the waistband of her skirt.

  “Everything looks to be healing nicely,” Dr. Chen informed her. “I realize you have a new job, but will you be able to arrange time off for physical therapy, starting this week? Next week at the latest. How far away do you work from the hospital?”

  Brooke chuckled, realizing that the doctor hadn’t looked at anything more than her medical records. “I work here.”

  “Excuse me? Here, where?”

  “Here, Albany Medical Center. I can come in whenever there are open slots.”

  Dr. Chen smiled brightly. “Wonderful. When you check out, the receptionist will get you set up for a few sessions and I’ll see you back here in a month. We’ll go from there.”