Indelible Love Series + Entwined Bundle

by DW Cee

  Fed up and shaking her head, Linda came over and offered to put her in a private room while waiting for the attending doctor to come and take care of her ankle. I was grateful for her help.

  “My apologies for those silly doctors. They’re here late all the time, and they try to find humor in every situation,” she explained.

  “No apologies necessary. It was all in fun. I’m flattered more than anything.” She was as gracious as she was beautiful. Emily Logan…truly, where have you been all my life?

  Linda put us in a nice room and her eyes signaled a good luck sign. I mouthed a thank you. Emily comfortably rested in the hospital bed, and I sat in the recliner next to her.

  “So sorry about all those guys…”

  She cracked up. “I hope I didn’t sound too mean to any of them. You have a bunch of cute young doctors here in the ER. Are all the other departments this fun and lively?”

  “No, the rest of us are old and boring.”

  We laughed together this time.

  “So…” I asked nonchalantly, “you really haven’t had a date in a year and a half?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “It’s hard for me to believe no man has asked you out. Have you been hiding under a rock all this time?”

  She stared at me, probably wondering why I cared. “Well, I’ve been asked out, but I haven’t gone out with anyone.”

  “May I ask why?” I asked cautiously again. I didn’t want to appear too nosy.

  “Um…I’m a one-man kind of girl and I haven’t found the guy I want to date. Dating around is not my thing.” She hesitated, then explained a lot more about herself than I expected to hear. “I was in a serious relationship for four years—all throughout undergrad—and my boyfriend dumped me on the day of our graduation.”

  I felt bad for her and angry toward this guy as tears flickered in her eyes again. Whoever he was, she must have loved him deeply if she was still hurting.

  “Is he why you haven’t dated in so long?”

  “Um…I don’t know if I’d say it was because of Max. It’s really more because I haven’t met anyone I’d like to get to know. Sorry. You look so tired. Details of my life must be boring you to death.” Her eyes perked up again and tried to make humor out of her sadness.

  She hadn’t responded to my dinner request and I was just about to repeat myself when Linda came back in the room.

  “Ms. Logan, I’m sorry but the attending doctor got called away. You’ll be in here a bit longer.”

  “OK, thank you.”

  “Jake?” Her voice sounded like it was dipped in sugar.

  “Yes?”

  “Do I really need to stay here? I feel horrible—you’ve been here so long with me and I’m really tired.”

  “You should be examined by a doctor.” I wasn’t ready to let go of her.

  “Aren’t you a doctor? Do you not know about ankles? Is that too far down south from the heart?” With almost a coquettish grin she was coaxing me and teasing me at the same time.

  Chuckling at her humor, I saw the exhaustion in her eyes and had to give in.

  “Why didn’t I think of helping you, earlier? Let me take you to X-ray then bandage you up if nothing is wrong.”

  “Would you? Thank you.” Her weary eyes filled with relief.

  Knowing that this night was coming to an end all too soon, I silently kicked and screamed my protest, while getting someone to X-ray her ankle and confirm my initial theory that nothing was wrong with her. Then I slowly wrapped her ankle with a bandage and hoped she didn’t wonder why I hadn’t done this the moment we walked into the ER. All the residents came by one last time as I wheeled her to my car.

  “Bye, Ms. Logan! Let us know if you change your mind.” They all chorused in unison

  Emily turned to me as I helped her into the car and shuddered. “That was creepy. Please don’t bring me back here ever again.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh one more time. I hadn’t had this much fun in a long while.

  “Do you want me to drive you home?”

  “No, I need to go pick up my car. I’ll be OK.”

  We got to her car and I hated the thought of letting her go. Perhaps it was wishful thinking but as tired as she looked, there seemed to be a part of her that was comfortable with me—that liked being here with me.

  “Jake?”

  “Yes?” Subtlety not being my forte. I answered her question too quickly.

  “Would it be OK if we went to dinner another time? I don’t think I can sit through a meal right now.”

  My heart performed a loop de loop in response to what she said.

  As casual as I could be, I answered, “Sure.” But of course, much too quickly I added, “How about tomorrow night?”

  I saw her hold back a laugh. She leaned over and gave me a light peck on the cheek. Like a schoolboy kissed for the very first time, her lips sent me over the moon.

  “Thank you for all your help tonight.” With that she hobbled out of the car. Frozen from her embrace, I stupidly let her limp to her car. Running toward her, I encircled my arms around her body and carried her off her feet. In turn, her arms folded around my neck and momentarily, I hoped time could stand still. Bodies close, face-to-face, I struggled to not lock her lips with mine. As I couldn’t help staring, she looked away abashed.

  “Were you planning on running away without giving me your phone number?” I slowly let her go when her body pushed away.

  “Oh, I guess you need that, huh? I have to warn you…I only have a cell phone and I’m not good about answering it. I respond better to texts.” She proceeded to rummage through her purse and jotted down ten digits onto a piece of paper.

  “Good night or morning.” She waved as she closed her car and left the parking lot.

  My eyes finally blinked long after her car drove out of sight.

  Chapter 2 Will You Go Out With Me?

  “Good morning, Mom! Good morning, Dad!” I greeted my parents with a cup of coffee at the breakfast table.

  “When did you get in? You’re unusually chipper this morning. Something good happen at work yesterday?” Leave it to Mom to notice already.

  “I met the most amazing woman last night.” My grin spanned from ear to ear.

  “Oh?” I caught both my parents’ attention now. “I don’t know that we’ve ever seen you this excited about a girl,” my mom observed. “What’s she like?”

  “Her name is Emily Logan, she’s twenty-four, and she’s the most beautiful person. She’s beautiful not only on the outside, but on the inside as well.”

  “How’d you meet her and when do we get to meet her?” my dad joined in.

  I explained our ordeal last night from the grocery store to the ER and told them I barely knew her. “For all I know, she might not be interested…although she didn’t turn down my dinner offer for tonight.” I looked at the clock, and it was almost 8:00 a.m. I’d been up since 6:00 a.m. waiting to call her.

  “Why don’t you bring her over tonight before going out for dinner? I’d love to meet her.” My mom was way ahead of herself.

  “Honey,” my dad chimed in, “don’t you think we’d scare her off before Jake had a chance? That’s a bit serious, meeting the parents on the first date.”

  “Yeah, I guess, but…Jake, where are you off to? We want to hear more,” I heard my mom call out as I ran up to my room. I didn’t have time to respond. It was 8:00 a.m., and I had a phone call to make.

  “Hello?” Tired and weak, Emily’s voice sounded like I woke her up.

  “Good morning, Emily, how are you feeling?” There were a couple of seconds of very awkward silence. “It’s me, Jake.”

  Still a pause…

  “Did you forget me already?”

  I heard a groggy giggle.

  “How can I forget you when you’re the last person I talked to yesterday and the first person I’m speaking with today? You won’t allow me to forget you.” There was hearty laughter on her part. I didn’t find that f
unny.

  “Is that a hint?”

  “No. Good morning, Dr. Reid. To what do I owe this very early call?”

  “It’s 8:00 a.m. already. You call this early?”

  “It is when someone kept you at the hospital till three in the morning.”

  This girl was impossible not to love. I needed to come up with an excuse to go see her this morning.

  “I’ll ignore that last comment. How’s your ankle? Are you in any pain?”

  “Now that you mention it, I am in a lot of pain and my ankle looks like a tree trunk.”

  Perfect. Here was my chance to go see her. “Let me come by and take a look. It shouldn’t be so swollen. Can I stop by right now before going to the hospital?”

  “Right now?” She sounded horrified.

  “Uh-huh. I need to be at work by 9:00 a.m., so if I stop by it has to be now.”

  “Jake, I’m still in my pajamas. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.” Her whining was even cute.

  “Give me your address.”

  It was like pulling teeth to get her address, but she gave it to me, and I ran down the stairs and jumped in my car before we said good-bye. Her house was within minutes of my parents and the hospital. How could she have been so close to me and yet so far away?

  Ding Dong. I counted to thirty before trying again. Ding Dong.

  Looking through the window, I saw her hobbling to the door. Between the plush robe and flannel pajamas under it, she was covered from neck down.

  “Hi,” she answered with her signature shy but angelic smile.

  I couldn’t answer. Awestruck I walked in and closed the door behind us. Not minding my manners, I placed one arm around her back and the other under her legs and picked her up again. She looked startled.

  “You shouldn’t be walking on that ankle.” That was my lame excuse for carrying her to the sofa.

  “Then you shouldn’t insist on coming over. You’re the one who made me get out of bed.” Her biting remark alarmed me until I saw her lips curl up again. I wanted to shower those lips with love as I laid her on the sofa.

  “I’m just doing my job as a doctor. Let’s see your ankle.”

  I undid the bandage and saw that it was quite swollen.

  “Emily, your ankle doesn’t look good. I’m going to take off the bandage and have you rest it on this cushion.” I gently put her legs up. “Let me get you some ice. Where do you keep Ziploc bags?”

  They’re over there.” She pointed to a cabinet.

  I went into her kitchen and made several ice bags for her and placed most of them in the freezer while bringing one over and placing it on her. Her big brown eyes followed my every move. When I thought about this situation, I wondered why she let me in her house—why she trusted me so much when we had met only a few hours ago. I hoped she didn’t do this with everyone.

  “Emily?” I sat halfway between her ankle and her erect body.

  “Yes?” She stared intently into my eyes.

  “Are you always this trusting?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, it’s a bit weird that you’ve allowed a perfect stranger into your house to take care of you. You don’t just allow anyone into your house, do you?” That thought was more than alarming.

  “Funny you mention it. I was thinking the same thing. I’m usually a paranoid person. I go around making sure all my windows and doors are locked every night before I go to bed. I don’t know why I let you in this morning.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But, I suppose you’re not a stranger. Aren’t you my dinner date tonight? Though, I think dinner is shot. This robe and pajamas will not be coming off today if my ankle persists to stay swollen.”

  “Does that mean I’m someone you’d like to get to know?”

  “Perhaps…or I might be keeping you around only till my ankle gets better, so I don’t have to go see those creepy ER doctors again.” Her giggle came back.

  Whatever the reason, I’ll take it.

  Her phone rang, and I walked over to get it for her.

  “Thanks,” she mouthed to me while answering, “Hello? Hey, Sarah.”

  I probably should have scooted down the sofa and sat in the empty spot at the end, but I didn’t want to be so far away.

  I listened to her conversation.

  “Why are you and Charlie around here at this hour? What? No, I don’t want to go to the picnic. I have a legitimate excuse now, I can’t go.”

  She looked at me like she needed my help.

  “I’m not kidding. I sprained my ankle and it’s really swollen. I can’t go anywhere, right, Dr. Reid?” She nodded her head feverishly, so I nodded my head along with her.

  “Here.” She handed the phone to me. “Tell my best friend I can’t go to any picnic with her.”

  “Hello, Emily’s friend,” I answered. “Emily wants me to tell you she can’t go to any picnic although if you put her in a wheelchair, she would be fine.”

  “Jake!” She pushed me off the sofa. “I think you’re late for work.”

  It sounded like her girlfriend was asking her who I was. Emily began stammering. “He’s a doctor who makes house calls. Anyhow, I’ll talk to you when you get here.”

  “Who was that?”

  “My best friend.”

  “What’s with this picnic you’re trying to avoid?”

  “College reunion of sorts. I don’t want to go.”

  “Could it be because of your ex?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Do you still like him?” Did I really want to know this answer?

  “No. I don’t like him anymore, but he has a girlfriend already, and I don’t really want to see either of them.

  “Got it.” I would’ve been happy to escort her if she had asked.

  “Jake, it’s almost nine. Don’t you need to leave?”

  “Yeah, I do. I’ll come back later with a set of crutches for you. Do you want a wheelchair as well?

  “No!”

  “OK.” I chuckled. “Will you be all right without me?”

  “I’ve been OK the last twenty-four years, so I think I can survive a few more hours,” she teased.

  “You want to give me a set of house keys so I won’t be scolded by someone for making you hobble to the door?”

  She didn’t even think twice about pointing to her keys.

  “Take those. I won’t be needing them today.” Either she really trusted me or there was something seriously wrong with this girl. She had just handed me the keys to her house and her car.

  “Emily.” In walked a tall, fairly good looking woman and what looked to be her husband or boyfriend.

  “Hey, Sarah. Hi, Charlie.”

  “Oh my gosh, what happened to you? You weren’t kidding when you said you got hurt,” Sarah said with a worried tone.

  I got up to introduce myself when Emily beat me to it.

  “Sarah, Charlie, this is Jake.” She turned to me, “Jake, this is my best friend and sometimes mother, Sarah, and her boyfriend since birth, Charlie.”

  We all said hello, and Sarah gave me a funny look.

  “When did you and Emily meet?”

  “About nine hours ago.” I saw Sarah and Charlie both stare at Emily for an explanation.

  “Charlie, can you walk Jake out? He’s going to be late for work.”

  “You’ll be OK?” I checked on her one more time. “There are more ice bags in the freezer, and I’ll call you from the hospital. I should be done around four.” Maybe I sounded too intimate. We really weren’t at any stage to be talking this comfortably. “Sarah, will you be taking care of her for a while?”

  “Sure.” Sarah somewhat slowed her word.

  “Bye, Dr. Reid.” Emily was trying to shoo me out the door. I walked out with Charlie, disappointed I couldn’t stay with her the whole day.

  “It was nice meeting you, Charlie. Hope to see you again.”

  “Well, if you’re around Emily, we’ll definitely run into you again. Sarah and Emily are like S
iamese twins. I think my girlfriend prefers to be with her girlfriend and only comes to me at nights.”

  We shook hands and I left for the hospital. I wondered the whole way to work what Emily was telling Sarah about me—how she was describing who I was in her life. I wished I didn’t have to work today.

  As soon as I walked onto the third floor of the hospital, I was besieged with patients. Luckily there were no surgeries this morning, but I had no time to call Emily. I sent a quick text.

  It’s been a crazy morning. Sorry I haven’t been able to call you. Hope you are doing OK. Is Sarah still there taking care of you?

  She answered back immediately.

  Sarah and Charlie left for the picnic. You have a knack for waking me up. Please let me sleep. See you soon.

  People walking by stared as I chuckled to myself. I counted down the minutes till I could leave the hospital and be with her again.

  I ran into Chief Henry Reid, my uncle and the chief of staff. The main reason I became a heart surgeon was because my uncle had been such a positive influence in my life. My father, now retired, was an internal medicine doctor, but I was always fascinated with operations. Uncle Henry bought me all kinds of heart books when I was younger and encouraged me to study hard so I could eventually do what he did daily—save lives. Little did I know this job would kill my social life. He never explained the casualties of becoming a surgeon.

  “Hey, Chief. Can I leave early today?”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve got a date with the most amazing woman.”

  “If she’s so amazing, why would she be going out with you?” The chief had a wicked sense of humor I didn’t appreciate today.

  “Yes or no?”

  “No.”

  “Chief…Come on, don’t you want to see your favorite nephew get married and have kids one day?”

  “I’m sure Glen will get married and have kids one day. What’s that got to do with you?” he guffawed. “All right. You can leave now but you’re on call tonight. Your Aunt Babs and I have a dinner to attend, so I’m putting you in charge.”