“And all I’m saying is you can still do that, but while Jasiel is here, we can escape too. I already told Troy what the deal was and of course he agreed. So, even if I have to drag your ass to the plane, train, or car, we’re taking a girl's trip away. Give me two days in paradise somewhere please.” She tilted her head to the side as she tossed her hands in the prayer position, pleading with me.
I released a sigh and shook my head. “We’ll see.” Byrdie kissed her teeth, clearly frustrated by my answer and ready to battle more on the subject. I placed my hand up to stop her from overdoing the begging.
“Byrdie, It’s not a no. I’m saying let’s meticulously plan it out. Has Jasiel given you a solid date when he’ll be here? All he tells me is that it will be in a couple of weeks. I can’t move until I know if and when he’s coming for sure if you’re counting on him being here with Jo-Jo while we’re gone.”
“So, it’s a yes for real.” I smirked as I was now moving to grab plates so I could call the boys down for dinner. Since Jo-Jo wasn’t taking a ditch day, we were still on a school night routine.
“It’s anI’ll see.” Byrdie tossed her hands up in mock surrender before going for her glass.
As badly as I wanted to just be carefree and fly away to some tropical island of paradise, I was a single mother who couldn’t just pick up and go.
A vacation does sound nice though.
I satin the middle of the king sized bed with my legs crossed, facing my client in the same yoga pose as she told me about her work week in the ER and all the things she saw in the seventy hours of her shift. Tasha was a nurse who had been at her job for ten years now but the trauma sometimes got to her. So she came to me for simple comfort.
“I swear it never gets easier, Olive, and I felt hopeless this week. Yes, I knew what I signed on for when I decided to follow God’s path for my life, but some days it pains me to see the patients I can’t help beyond a pill or a shot.”
“Tasha, of course you’re going to feel, you’re human. I think it’s a trait for nurses to be empathetic. The way y’all can really understand your patients and what they need without even talking to them has to be a superpower. And the levels that you go to, to ensure that someone in y’all care is comfortable and pain free to the best of your ability is top notch. And that goes to the family not in your beds too. So, not hopeless, helpful. And you do help them beyond a pill. I’m sure you whisper their name straight to God’s ear for healing. Fix that perspective, ma’am.”
She chuckled just as a sniffle escaped.
“Girl, obviously I’ve been coming here far too long because not you already knowing I be in there laying hands.” I laughed next.
“Not at all, just observant. Tasha, you prayed in here before a lot. So my mind tells me that you could use it in any situation where you might not feel in control or need to reduce stress or calm yourself. Correct me if I’m wrong.”
I made sure to choose my words carefully because I wasn’t her therapist and everything I said was my opinion and fact-based from what I noticed.
“No, you’re right.” Tasha shifted and now was laying on her side. This was another of her favorite positions. Tasha grew up an only child like me but always wanted a sister, so a lot of positions were neutral to that relationship. I lay down beside her, still facing her as she quickly switched subjects, now telling me some deep juicy gossip about the guy she’s dating.
“Okay, let me tell you abouthim.” And even though she never told me his name, I knew all about this man and how she felt about him. To me, this was the main reason Tasha was even using my services. She could build relationships on a professional level, but she had a fear of intimacy when it came to relationships on a personal level.
“What’s been going on?”
“We had lunch in the cafeteria the other day. Well, kinda. I was there eating and he sat at the table next to me eating. We actually held a conversation for like five minutes. It was about the day, but still, that counts right?” I tucked my lip into my mouth to contain my smile.
I cleared my throat.
“Tell me who you want me to be to answer that question first.”
“Olive!”
“No, you’re right. That’s a plus. I’m wondering when you’re going to move to his table or suggest yours. This is the third kind of lunch date. I am proud of you for actually holding theconversation this time. But Tasha, you can make the first move and he can still wear the pants in the relationship.” I shrugged.
“Would you?”
“This isn’t about me, Tasha.”
“But honestly, Olive. If the guy didn’t approach you, but you knew you felt something there, would you make the first move?”
I thought about my past relationships and how they came to be. My last was Jasiel and I didn’t think he counted, but I had approached him.
Then briefly, I put my mind on the stranger in the park who, surprisingly, I hadn’t seen since that day he came to get his daughters. But, yes, if given the space and opportunity, and if I truly wanted him, I would.
Would you?
I mean, I did approach Jasiel.
And look where that got you.
