Secrets and Jealousy....

The next day I was woken up by a nurse coming in to check Joel’s vitals.  I cracked my eyes open but the curtain was closed around his bed, effectively shutting me out.  I stretched in the chair where I slept and listened as Joel laughed at her flirtations.  Of course my mind was wandering, in a not good direction, the combined laughing and flirting that was going on behind that curtain was effectively goading the green eyed monster in me.  I silently got up out of my chair and left the room before I said or did something I would regret later. I had to trust him right?!  I walked down the hall and asked if there was a cafeteria that was open, to which I was directed to the Red Brick Cafe, which I hoped would be open. 

I was heading back with coffees and some pastry.  I figured that nurse had to have left by now.  When I walked in I heard a female voice saying “Are you sure you don’t want a sponge bath Mr. Billings?  I am sure we can make it fun” she said purring the last sentence.  I ripped the curtain back and saw her hand on his arm, caressing it, as I piped up and said “I am sure that I can handle that Nurse...”  She stood up slightly and said curtly “Jennifer.”  “Well Nurse Jennifer, my boyfriend and I can handle the bathing part just fine.  I am sure there are other patients who need your assistance.”  She turned in a huff and walked out of the room. 

I handed him his coffee and a croissant, and then sat in a chair next to his bed.  He looked over at me and smiled and shook his head “Jealous are you?”  I glared at him “Like you would be totally okay with an attractive male was all over me like that...” I sipped my coffee as he stared at me “what guy? Who have you been ...”he was sitting up and agitated “Jealous are you?” I giggled.  He sat back against his raised bed and sipped his coffee glaring at me but...he got the picture.

I stepped outside when the new doctor and his interns took over the shift and were making their rounds.  I called the boys and asked them to bring me some clothes and a pack of cigarettes, much to Monroe’s protests; I knew I had to stop that nasty habit eventually.  I had just hung up the phone when a young man approached the bench and sat down.  We both smiled at each other as I sat there enjoying the fresh air.  I saw him pull out a pack of cigarettes and I bit my lower lip, without even asking he held out his open pack.  I smiled and took one; it had been a good few weeks since I had one.

I blew out a sigh of smoke and relief.  We had sat in silence until he turned to me and said “Hi I’m Dane.”  I looked over at him and said hi and told him my name.  I then noticed he had a hospital lanyard around his neck, but he wasn’t in any tell tale scrubs that scream hospital worker.  We sat for a few more minutes in silence before he lit another cigarette and offered me another one.  I took it but didn’t light it; he looked like he wanted to talk so I sat with him.  All of a sudden he started telling me his story.  His wife and he just had twin babies, but there were complications.  One of the twins had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and his wife had also suffered some kind of complication.  They were in the middle of a c-section when her heart rate dropped drastically low and the nurses escorted him from the room.  He started to cry softly, tears rolling down his cheeks.  I rubbed his shoulder softly as he blurted out that he didn’t know what to do, he felt so helpless.  How would he raise 2 kids on his own?  He wished he could trade places with his wife, she was the strong one, she always knew what to do.  I didn’t try to offer any advice, because I don’t even know what he’s going through.  But I tried to offer some assurance that he would be an amazing father and that I hoped his wife and child would be ok.  He nodded and stamped out his cigarette before apologizing and heading back to the hospital. 

I waited a few minutes and walked back inside.  When I was coming back up to Joel’s room I passed by the linen room and heard Nurse Jennifer speaking to someone.  “The patient in room 202, oh wow he is so hot!  I have to get me more of that!  I almost had him before his friend came in.”  I continued walking past; I didn’t care for what she had to say.  I trusted Joel...end of story.  But as I approached Joel’s room I heard heated whispers of you tell her or I will; it just happened, let it go; no tell her now!

I walked in and saw Joel and Duane with Joel “Tell me what?”

 

**Just FYI for my readers, I am trying to aim for 1 post per week.  I have picked up another job for Christmas, so I have very little time to write. If it is not up I apologize in advance!  Thanks for understanding!**