by Elsie Davis
The pastor approached the podium, and the room fell into silence. The morning message was focused on why terrible things happened to good people. Juliet could feel the tension radiating from Jake. She was worried the message was too much for his first time back. It’s not like she had any control over the content—but God did.
Jake suddenly stood, and without a word, turned and walked out. The message must have struck a nerve, but Juliet needed to trust God knew exactly how much Jake could handle.
Juliet stood to follow, but paused, and sat back down. She wasn’t sure whether to follow or let him have some space. His admission he’d gone to church regularly had narrowed the wide gap between them, or at least it had provided a bridge of sorts. Her thoughts drifted to the situation at work. More specifically, her duplicity. It wasn’t like her, and the longer it went on, the more she was determined to fess up.
Maybe it was the impact of being closer to God in this moment, but the conviction laid on her heart told her exactly what she needed to do. And right after the service, she’d find him and tell him the truth. He’d be upset with her, but it was a chance she had to take.
Better yet, tell him now.
If she could help him through whatever he was dealing with and come clean it might help push them into a new place of trust. Or destroy it completely.
She stood a second time and made her way to the back, curious gazes following her every step of the way. Outside, she caught up with Jake, grabbing his arm. “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, hating the look of pain etched on his face.
“I don’t need your help, Juliet. You’ve done enough. I showed up at church just like we agreed. You didn’t specify how long I had to stay.”
“But where are you going? I’d like a chance to talk to you.” Now probably wasn’t the best time considering his mood, but she was willing to try anything to keep him from leaving. She was worried about Jake and wanted to help.
“Not now, Juliet.” Jake pulled away and walked off down the sidewalk.
Juliet stood there and watched him walk away, unsure what else to do.
Jake paused, turning in through the wrought-iron gates just past the church parking lot that led into the cemetery.
Suddenly, she knew where he was going, and why. Jake was in a dark place, and she’d been a fool to think she could help him. Her lofty ideals did nothing to ease his pain. Maybe she’d been too pushy, making him a project because of what was missing in her own life. In trying to find something to validate her reason for being, she’d crossed lines.
Jake’s faith journey was between him and God, and the only thing she could do was pray for him.
The truth hit her hard. Praying was something she could do from the city. And if she left, Jake would be forced to work at the clinic and become self-reliant. He’d enjoyed this past week, she was sure of it. How much better would it be for him to experience it alone? Being needed and trusted by the community would go a long way to help heal his pain and for him to realize the town trusted him and wanted him back. That he would always be one of them.
Far be it for her to stand in the way of Jake’s healing if that was how God could reach him. And if it meant leaving Hollow Creek, she’d do it.
17
Hollow Creek Medical Center
Dear Dr. Kensington,
I regret to inform you that I must return to Memphis and will be unable to remain working in the temporary position of RN at the Medical Center. This decision has not been easily made but is unavoidable. I appreciate the opportunity and wish you the best in not only your medical future but your personal future as well.
With your return to the clinic, I have every belief you can manage the caseload singlehandedly and feel confident the people of Hollow Creek are in expert hands. I will stay through the end of this week as I’ve promised to help at the Shakespeare festival this weekend. If you feel the need for an assistant, perhaps you could advertise for one.
Thanks again for everything.
Sincerely,
Juliet Walker
Juliet felt another twinge of guilt about the applications she’d deleted. More like gut-wrenching guilt, but guilt was guilt. It meant she’d done something wrong and she knew it. No matter how she tried to sugarcoat her response to his daily questions, she’d not told the whole truth. She’d tried to control the outcome of the future and only managed to make things worse—for Jake.
Someone she’d come to care about far more than she should have, and another reason it was time to turn tail and run. Jake was a man who loved his late wife and she’d been a fool to let her imagination run away after he’d kissed her. Juliet was a third and unwanted wheel in his life. She’d gone and done it again, falling for a man unequally yoked and worse still, emotionally unavailable.
It wasn’t long before her email notification pinged. Juliet knew without looking it would be Jake’s answer.
Dear Juliet Walker,
I was sorry to receive your resignation letter and hate to see you leave, but I respect your decision. Hollow Creek is a small town, so don’t worry about working this week. As you said, I can handle the workload.
I apologize for my gruffness this morning and hope it had nothing to do with your decision.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jake Kensington
18
Walking into the office earlier than usual, Juliet was hoping to collect her things before Olivia showed up. It wouldn’t be easy telling her new friend why she was leaving. No one would understand even if she tried to explain it, which she preferred not to do. It stung that Jake hadn’t even wanted her here this week. It was as though their friendship had meant nothing up to this point.
Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on her side. The lights were on in the lobby, which meant Olivia had already arrived. So much for her pack and run idea.
“Good morning, Juliet. You’re in early,” Olivia said, smiling as she prepared the pot of coffee in the breakroom.
“Good morning to you, too. I…umm…there’s no easy way to tell you this—”
“She’s leaving,” Jake said from the doorway.
Juliet hadn’t anticipated him being there.
“What do you mean leaving?” Olivia frowned, looking back and forth between the two of them.
“Just what it sounds like,” Jake said, his voice rife with tension.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but fix it fast. Mrs. Trenton wants you to look at Johnny’s arm, and she’s on her way in. She thinks it might be infected. And I’ve got two more physicals set up for this morning. And a full calendar of appointments for this afternoon.”
Jake smiled. Not the kind of smile that suggested he was happy, quite the opposite. “That’s great. Let’s hope not too many at once since it’s just me now.”
Olivia’s eyes darkened. “You keep saying that. Where are you going, Juliet?”
“She quit,” Jake said, answering for her.
“No way. Juliet?” Olivia looked for confirmation, the woman’s face an expression of confusion and disbelief, all rolled into one.
Juliet got up the courage to finish what Jake started. “It’s true.”
“Why? That’s not like you. And without notice? What did you do, Jake Kensington?” Olivia turned her full outrage on Jake without having all the information.
“He didn’t do anything. I’ve decided it’s time to return to my job in the city,” Juliet said, trying to smooth things over.
“Hogwash,” Olivia huffed.
“It’s true. But for the record, I offered to work out the week. Dr. Kensington didn’t feel my presence was necessary.” The sarcasm lacing her voice was unavoidable as his rejection had stung.
“I hope you didn’t say that in so many words. Clearly, you’re still a little rough around the edges, having spent so much time in isolation.”
“As a matter of fact, I was nice about it. I think my words were something like I could manage it.”
&
nbsp; “Hmmph. So, what did you do to run her off?” Olivia stood there, arms crossed and demanding answers.
“Why would it have anything to do with me?” Jake asked, scowling.
“Because she loves it here. We’ve talked, and I know things. This is too sudden.”
It was time to let Jake off the hook. “Olivia, I can speak for myself. I’m not leaving because of anything Jake’s done. It’s just time, trust me on this. I’ll be at the Shakespeare festival on Sunday to help out with the kids, so there is that.”
Olivia huffed. “Men.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jake asked.
“If you can’t see what’s in front of your face, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”
“And what’s that?” he asked, his expression one of complete bafflement. Juliet felt sorry for him, but there wasn’t anything she could say to change Olivia’s mind.
“She cares about you. Any fool can see the way she watches you when she knows you’re not looking.”
“Olivia! Stop with this nonsense,” Juliet exclaimed, her heart racing as Olivia’s pronouncement hung in the air with electrifying intensity. “Jake, she’s talking out of turn, I promise.”
“I’ll be back in an hour. It’ll give you time to pack and I’ll be out of your way,” Jake said before turning to leave. The door shut firmly behind him.
“This is nonsense. Any fool can see what’s between you two. Why are you denying it?” Olivia asked, her friend desperately trying to stop the train that had derailed.
“Because this is not my life. Some things aren’t meant to be. I’m sorry, Olivia. You thought wrong when you lumped us together as a couple.”
Juliet left to pack up her personal belongings, not wanting to discuss it anymore. Any of it.
Hours later, back in her room, her email notification pinged. Juliet pulled out her phone, the sender’s name causing her to suck in a deep breath.
Dear Juliet,
I’m sorry for some of the things I’ve said. Please reconsider staying on at the Medical Center. I haven’t told you this, but I want you to stay. I enjoyed working with you last week and would like to see where this team/friendship can go. Let me know why you're leaving, and I’ll see what I can do to help. You’ve done so much for me, it’s the least I can do. I’ve said from the start I wanted you to stay on permanently. I still wish you would.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jake Kensington
Somewhat mollified by his apology, Juliet tried not to think of anything else. Because thinking would get her into trouble. Jake was acting like he cared, but they’d gone down this road once before.
Nothing had changed. He was still in love with his late wife, and the only way to keep him working at the clinic was to give him time to fall in love with practicing medicine all over again, something he couldn’t do if Juliet was there and he hired another doctor.
She spent the rest of the day working out the details of getting home and walking around town, taking pictures to help her remember the place. She’d be back this weekend for the play, but her heart already recognized the goodbye. And other than Olivia stopping by her place and grilling her about why she was leaving and helping her to get squared away at the bus station, the rest of the day had been quiet.
Dr. Kensington was back in full swing for as long as it lasted. Juliet would like to think she had a hand in his return, but she’d also come to realize if he hadn’t been ready, it wouldn’t have happened. Jake’s return was largely due to his heart and passion for medicine. And it was the same heart and passion God would tap into to make Jake’s heart whole again.
She also knew it was a fool’s errand to have fallen for Jake, but it had happened anyway. Part of her had hoped he’d come to talk to her, but there’d been no word from him. Which, in the end, was exactly as things were intended.
But if that was true, why did it hurt so much?
It was a good thing she was a nurse because duty called—it was time to nurse her own broken heart.
19
Juliet returned to work at the hospital in Memphis on Wednesday, but after three days, she still hadn’t managed to get back into the groove. Her heart wasn’t into it after Jake’s last email the night she returned home. She’d read it a hundred times, and the words were now stuck in her head.
Juliet,
After I sent an email to the owner of the Sunshine Employment Agency trying to understand why we weren’t getting qualified applicants, I discovered your duplicity and can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am. I trusted you, and you abused that trust. How dare you play God with my life!
I thought you cared about me and that we were friends. I thought we shared a connection, but I realize now it was all in my head. Was I just a project for you? Someone to fix and then go on about your merry way to help the next poor unfortunate soul?
You’ll be happy to know the application pool is alive and well—for both positions. Doctor and nurse.
Dr. Jake Kensington
Jake had every right to be furious with her. She was guilty of making him into a project, as though she had a gift and a duty to give him back his life. Who was she kidding? It was presumptuous of her to think she’d been led to help Jake. All it had done was make him angry.
Of course, there was no way she’d respond to the email. Everything she’d done had been to make her feel useful and needed; that she had a purpose. In the end, she only proved herself a failure at something else and that she’d been wrong to decide what God’s purpose was for her life, like she had any control over the outcome. Only God knew the plan, and she needed to learn patience.
The truth was hard to bear, but in humility, she would work on herself and not others. Helping others was wonderful, but not if her own reasoning was to fulfill a project need inside her. Her joy from helping someone should be based purely on the happiness she brought to others, and with no expectation of reward to herself for her charitable deeds.
Starting with this weekend. Juliet would give anything not to go, but a promise was a promise, and she’d do it for the children and for her friends in Hollow Creek. They say time heals hurts, and for that reason, she wanted time to pass quickly.
At least there was little opportunity of running into Jake at the play, almost positive Grizzly Jake would return at the end of his story.
Driving toward Hollow Creek after work, she made good time, but being alone with her thoughts gave her far too much time to think about her mistakes. Juliet drove past the clinic, wishing she could stop in and see Olivia. Her friend had emailed her a few times, but so far Juliet had kept her responses limited, not sure what Olivia thought of her now knowing Jake had most likely shared the truth about her application deceit.
Jake’s old truck was nowhere to be seen, and Juliet made a split-second decision, pulling a U-turn, and parking in front of the clinic. She hurriedly made her way up the sidewalk before she lost her nerve. “Hey there, how’s it going? Juliet asked, going through the front door. She glanced around to make sure there was no sign of any patients. Or Jake.
“Hey, stranger. Am I ever glad to see you.” Olivia came around the desk and gave her a hug.
Her friend’s greeting warmed Juliet’s heart, and she knew stopping had been the right decision. “Likewise. Sorry I didn’t answer your emails. I was hoping to see you when I came into town this weekend for the play.”
“That’s great you came back for it. It’s a special tradition in this town and absolutely amazing.”
“I promised to entertain the kids. And besides, I’ve never been to an outdoor play and wanted to see what the excitement is all about,” Juliet said, grinning. There was no reason to let Olivia in on her heartache issues.
“Well, you showing up here in person is even better.” Olivia reached into her desk and pulled out a packet of papers. “Here. Fill these out and leave them with me.”
“What are they? Juliet asked, taking them from Olivia.
“It’s an
application for the full-time APRN position here at the clinic.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I messed up while I was here, and Jake had every right to be angry with me. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the behind-the-scenes things I was doing trying to help him,” Juliet said, hoping Olivia would forgive her.
“You mean about the applications? I knew. Who do you think deleted the deleted email file?” Olivia grinned.
Juliet shook her head, slightly dumbfounded at the admission. “But you didn’t say anything.”
Olivia shrugged. “I didn’t want to. You were on the right track and the first person that seemed capable of reaching Dr. K. Who am I to judge your methods with the success you were having?”
“Jake. He wasn’t impressed.” His email had been more than enough proof to know he didn’t share the humor of the situation the way his receptionist did.
“That’s where you’re wrong. It might have stung a bit when he found out, but you two were a good team—in and out of the office if you know what I mean. You should come back. Judging by the one email you did send me; you aren’t quite yourself either. Perhaps your discontent has more to do with Dr. K than you’re willing to admit.”
Juliet knew this was a dangerous path to continue down and she needed to put an end to Olivia’s train of thought. “That’s where you’re wrong. Jake has strong opinions about relationships, me, and his late wife. And the first two aren’t good opinions, trust me. We’ve talked.”
Olivia’s grin only deepened, as she plopped down in her chair. “Now see, that’s what I mean. You’re giving me reasons about Dr. K and his opinions, not your own reasons to prove you don’t care for him. Which tells me, you do care. But then, I watched you working with him and couldn’t miss the way you connected. It’s just like I said before you left. And Dr. K feels the same about you, I just know it.”
Juliet knew she’d lost the battle. She was never good at hiding her feelings, and it was a lost cause anyway with Olivia. “Was I that obvious?” she asked, resignedly.
