Page 11 of Big Easy
A moment later, we are interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I look to my right to see Peter standing on the opposite side of the counter, holding a bouquet of flowers. I stand. "Hi, Peter. How are you? I was just about to check in on your father."
"I'm doing well. Here," he says and thrusts the flowers toward me. "I got these for you."
I take the bouquet. "Thank you, Peter. They are lovely."
"So, listen." Peter begins to fidget. "I wanted to ask if you would like to get dinner sometime?"
Wanting to let Peter down easy, I give him a warm smile. "I'm sorry, Peter, but I'm not allowed to date patients or their family members."
"Oh, well, sure. Yeah, okay," he stammers.
Once Peter walks off down the hall, I turn to find Ada shaking her head. "What?" I ask. "I know I shouldn’t have lied like that, but I felt terrible. It was easier than just telling him I'm not interested. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. He asked me out the other day when I was leaving work too. I even ran into him at the charity event and again at the grocery store last night."
"Hmm," Ada hums. "I have a feeling that one will be persistent. He just better watch out for his competition."
"There is no competition. I agreed to one date with Jaxson. He’ll probably find me boring, and there won't be a second date."
"Now you're just talking nonsense, child. Go out with that man and just be yourself. You do that, and I guarantee there will be a second date. You're beautiful inside and out, Sutton. Jaxson can and will see that."
I blush at Ada's compliment. "Thanks, Ada."
The morning flies by, and before I know it, it is already time for my lunch break. I have spent the last thirty minutes in the supply room taking inventory, and as soon as I open the door, I run into Peter who is just standing there.
Once again I'm startled. "Peter!" For a long moment he doesn't say anything. He just looks at me with a weird expression on his face, and his presence is suddenly making me feel uneasy. I'm not liking the fact Peter continues popping up in the most random places. First he keeps asking me out even though I have already turned him down, then he shows up at the charity event and the following day he approaches me at the grocery store. Now this.
"Seems we keep running into each other," Peter grins.
"Yeah." I give him a tight smile. "Is there something I can help you with, Peter?"
"I was just looking for the vending machine," he says.
"Oh. Well the vending machines are down the hall from the nurses’ station. I was heading that way now. I can show you if you like."
"That would be great, Sutton. Thank you."
As I am making my way up to the nurses' station Peter follows. "Here you go," I point to the small sitting area where several vending machines sit.
"Thank you, Sutton."
"You're welcome." I give Peter a nod and continue my way up to the nurses’ station where I hear Ada giggling like a schoolgirl. A second later, I hear a familiar voice and sigh. I should have known he would show up. I'm sure Evelyn was running her mouth at the clinic today. When I turn the corner of the hall, my dad is standing there with Ada. "Dad, what are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to get Ada to run away with me."
Ada giggles again. "You're such a charmer, Doctor Murphy. You sure know how to make an old lady feel special. Even if you are full of it."
My dad clutches his chest. "You wound me, Ada."
Ada rolls her eyes. "Tell Eva I said hi and that I'll call her later with that recipe."
"Will do," Dad winks.
Ada then turns to me. "I'm off to make my rounds. You two have a good lunch."
Once Ada walks away, I look at my dad with a questioning look.
"What? I have the afternoon off and thought I'd come to see my daughter and take her to lunch."
"Fine. Let me grab my purse."
