“Hello, Alex,” Dr. Anderson greeted me cheerfully. “Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
I greeted him pleasantly. Being here, and not on the defense, was a good feeling.That was definitely a new experience for me, one of many that came about after my heart-opening afternoon with Emma. My favorite was the long kisses we shared that night. Rubbing cheeks and kissing her neck where it smelled like perfume was like being inside a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors and emotions.
“Will you take a look at this for me?” Dr. Anderson tossed a folder across the desk.
My name was on the tab, which meant this was my personnel file. A feeling of dread leveled off in my gut. I thought things were going well. How could I have gotten another complaint? I stared at the folder like it would poison me on contact.
Dr. Anderson suddenly chuckled. “I’m not trying to trap you, Alex. Please open the folder.”
I drew in a breath, and I did as I was directed. The first page was a review sheet. The date in the top left was last week. I scanned the rows to find four-star reviews from patients and coworkers.
“Seems you have figured out how to communicate a little bit better.” Dr. Anderson smirked like he’d known I had it in me all along.
The left side of my mouth picked up in a lopsided grin.Communication wasn’t so difficult when I wasn’t waiting for the next bomb to drop in my life. I’d spent so many years hiding in an emotional bomb shelter that my interpersonal skills were rusty. But once I let the kid out of the cement box, I realized that I was likeable. And more importantly, I liked other people. Not that I’d become a social butterfly, but there was a richness in making connections with others, even as acquaintances, that was familiar.
“You could say that,” I answered. I glanced down at my hands, which were folded in my lap, and then back up at Dr. Anderson. “I hate to admit it, but you were right about me.”
He shook his head like a guy who’d just won an award he wasn’t sure he deserved. “Well, you’ll be happy to know that the ethics committee has recognized the efforts you’ve made, and you can stop counseling if you’d like.”
My heart skipped a beat. This was exactly what I wanted, but somehow, I didn’t feel ready for it yet. “Thank you, sir, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to continue. I want to finish tidying up some things in my life.”
He lifted both his hands. “What you do on your own time is none of my business, but I am glad you have the insight to be proactive with your mental health.”
“Thanks for your insight, Dr. Anderson.” I stood and offered him a handshake. “I appreciate your patience and support.”We chatted for a few minutes, and then I made my way out of his office.
I was so excited to be off of unofficial probation that it felt like a weight had fallen off my back. The first person I wanted to see was Emma. Her shift ended in about five minutes. If I hurried, I could beat her to her car. I stopped by the gift shop on the way out and got her some flowers, and I was at her car with a minute to spare.A smile planted itself on my face and refused to budge.
Today was a beautiful day with sunshine and heat on my skin. I lifted my shirt sleeve to marvel at the newly acquired tan line. Emma and I had taken in an afternoon game, and I’d gone home with a tan. I couldn’t remember the last time in my life I’d had tan lines.
Emma came out of the building, her head down as she checked her phone. Her wild blond curls caught the sunlight and turned white.
“Hello, beautiful!” I said, my excitement pouring out of my voice. She called me all sorts of nicknames, and I was just dabbing my toes into the warm and welcome water of committed relationships. We hadn’t made anything official, but it was pretty much a given that we were a couple because we were together so often.
I must have caught her off guard, because she startled a little bit before she saw me and broke into a big smile. “Hello, handsome.” Her eyes dropped to the flowers. “Those are beautiful! What are they for?”
I held them out to her. “For helping me find myself again and get off of my unofficial censure.”
She ran the last few steps and threw her arms around my neck. “I was hoping that was what your meeting was for.”
I wrapped my arm around her back and held tight. This woman! I didn’t do anything to deserve her. Truly. “Yes, and I couldn’t have done it without you. I feel like I say that a lot, but it is the truth.” I kissed her passionately, not caring that we were in the hospital parking lot. When our lips touched, my body caught fire. I wanted her more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. I pressed the small of her back to bring her closer to my body. She didn’t resist, and our bodies melted together.
All of a sudden, we were interrupted by a loud throat-clearing/coughing session that was worse than a third-grade theatrical production. “Whoa! Who’s not professional now?” said a voice from behind me.
My shoulders lifted to my ears, and I loathed the man who interrupted our happy moment. Dr. Nick Rasmussen.Resident egomaniac and classic bully. I still hadn’t forgiven him for badmouthing me in front of my colleagues at the migrant worker clinic, and I’d tried to avoid him as much as possible. I knew what it was like to be considered a jerk, but I didn’t mock others or tear them down behind their back.
Emma blushed a scarlet red. “Oh hi, Dr. Rasmussen. We didn’t know you were there.”
I turned to see Nick’s shock as he realized Emma was the one wrapped in my arms. How he’d missed her trademark curls was beyond me. I’d know them anywhere.
“Emma, I didn’t know you and Dr. Mitchell were seeing each other.”
I could see the anger flash in his eyes. I’d gotten the feeling at the service project that Dr. Rasmussen was interested in Emma. Clearly, I was right. Emma did her best to discourage him politely, but he didn’t get the hint.
I put my arm protectively around her. This guy gave me the creeps. “We try and keep it professional at work. But yes, we’ve been seeing each other for some time now,” I replied for the both of us.
“Sure. I mean, there’s lots of couples at the hospital. They just don’t keep their relationships a secret.” He locked eyes on Emma, and I turned to shield her with my body. “If you were mine, I’d tell everyone. You’re the type of woman a man should be proud of.” He tried to say it jokingly, but I could tell he was trying to distort things for Emma.
Before I could tell him to shove off, and maybe throw a fist in his face, Emma lifted her chin and spat,“I’m not a trophy, Dr. Rasmussen. Alex respects my desire to keep things professional. And you don’t have to worry what it would be like if we were together—because that’s never going to happen.”
