Page 120 of Love Medley
“I was so impressed,” I say. “But not surprised. Damn, I’m proud of you, Lucy.”
The glowing smile she sends my way makes my chest tight.
As we make it back to the parking lot, we pause by Lucy’s car. She tilts her face up and lifts her eyes to mine.
For a beat that seems to stretch into infinity, I get lost in her gaze and feel a seismic shift deep inside me. Lucy is a fire that no one should ever put out.
Not on my watch.
I don’t want this moment to end, and I wonder if there’s some way to keep talking. Maybe we could go for a coffee? What time is it again? My eyes flick down to my wrist. “Shit. I’m gonna be late for my shift. I’m so sorry.”
There’s something I can’t read in her eyes, and then after a beat, she nods. “Of course. Will I see you at theBlackwell Timesoffice tomorrow?”
I nod, trying to memorize her face before I leave. “I’ll be there.”
I barely make it to the hospital in time for the monthly meeting with all the ER staff. It’s usually pretty boring, and this one is no different. At least they bring in good coffee from Coffee Conglomerate. I sip at mine, barely listening because my mind is still stuck on Lucy.
At the beginning of our conversation, it felt like we were headed towards a reconciliation, but somehow, we haven’t made our way back to each other. I know how I feel, but maybe Lucy still isn’t sure about us. But I’m being selfish—she has a lot on her mind right now. I need to give her time to deal with Weston first.
“And that’s all that I have for you today,” Alicia says, her words reorienting me to the meeting. “Oh, I almost forgot! We have the Employee of the Month award. I’m very pleased to present this award to a particular individual who has received the most positive reviews from patients and fellow staff this month by a landslide. In addition, he has been a stellar role model for other aspiring nurses. He’s achieved this in less than six months with us. Please give a hand to Jake Whitlock.”
I’m startled out of my stupor. Wait, what just happened?
Thomas is standing next to me and claps me on the back. “Congrats, man! Go up there!”
Denise and the other nurses are hollering and whistling.
In a daze, I set down my coffee cup and walk towards Alicia. She hands me a check and a polished wooden plaque.
“Great job, Jake,” Alicia says, shaking my hand.
“Wow, thanks!” I say, overwhelmed.
“Stay after the meeting for a few minutes, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
I nod, stunned into silence, as person after person lines up to congratulate me.
I received positive reviews? But I was just doing my job. I can’t believe people took the time to fill out comment cards for me. Here I was, begging my family to see me as someone valuable, someone worth loving, and complete strangers were giving me that validation for free.
It’s a humbling experience.
And also makes me wonder if maybe my family has as warped a view of me as I have of myself.
And maybe we’re both wrong.
After everyone leaves, Alicia motions towards her office.
“Take a seat, Jake.”
After I sit, Alicia says, “I’ve been incredibly impressed with your performance for the past few months. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one. I also got a glowing report from Thomas Kane that you’ve been a spectacular mentor to him.”
“Wow,” I say again, robbed of any other speech.
Alicia laughs. “Still shocked, I see. Anyway, I was thinking that more of the nurses in training could use a good role model. I was wondering if you’d be interested in heading up a mentorship program for nursing students?”
All of this—the award, the praise from Alicia and Thomas, the mentorship program—is unexpected, and I’m still reeling from the whiplash. But as the words penetrate my brain, I realize I already know my answer. “Yes, I would.”
“Good. I think you’d be perfect for the job. Do you like teaching?”
