Page 43 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
His voice was so soft and tender, and although I wanted to lash out and snap out of fear, I couldn’t. I just wrapped my arms around his waist and cried into his chest, soaking his fresh white t-shirt. Desmond didn’t speak or rush my moment; he justallowed me to be. He rubbed circles against my back, reassuring me that whatever it was would be okay.
He reached into his pocket and then placed his phone to his ear.
“I have an emergency. I’m going to be late, so I need you to fill in for me,” he told whoever was on the phone.
He didn’t even know what had taken place, but was ready to step in. The act alone only made me cry harder because I had only experienced this kind of care with Darby and my parents. But if I were honest with myself. I never allowed anyone to be more to me than an acquaintance.
Whoever was on the other end of the call must have agreed, since he clocked his phone and then placed it back into his pocket. All while still rubbing circles against my back. I finally got my bearings together to tell him what the person on the phone told me.
“Everything is going to be fine. Leave your bag and come on. You're welcome to stay another night with me if you need to. But let’s see what the damage is and then build a strategy to fix it,” he instructed.
I nodded because, for once, I didn’t have to be strong. I could go with the flow and know things were being handled. I took his outstretched hand and followed him down the steps. We stopped for a moment so he could ask his parents to lock up. He told them the bit of information we knew about the situation, then ushered me outside and into his truck.
The entire drive to Little Angel’s Academy, I was imagining the worst thing imaginable. I sent a text to my family about it, and they let me know they would be there. Desmond said nothing the entire ride. He held my hand in his right and drove with his left.
Twenty minutes later, I noticed fire trucks and police cars outside my building with smoke coming from it. Tears trackeddown my cheeks as I took in the fact that one side of the building was dark with soot. Desmond parked outside the yellow tape and then rushed around to my side to open the door for me.
I slipped out of the truck and walked over to the waiting police officer. This couldn’t be happening, not after the morning and night I had just experienced. I found myself lost in my mind as the officer tried to speak to me. A light tap against the small of my back brought me back to reality.
I peered up at Desmond, and he kissed my forehead before reminding me that the cop was waiting.
“I’m sorry, what happened?” I asked.
“We aren’t certain until we get someone to come and check it out. But from my experience, it doesn’t seem to be any foul play, but more like an electrical fire.”
I nodded, then glanced back at my building. “Was anyone hurt?” I asked.
“No, ma’am, no one is hurt. We were able to put the fire out as quickly as possible. But I will let you know it’s not operational.”
I didn’t need him to tell me it wasn’t operational. I could see that for myself. It didn’t appear to be the same place I built all those years ago. His mouth seemed to still be going, but I couldn’t hear a damn thing. The only thing present to me was the circles Desmond was rubbing against my back. I wanted the day to start over, and for this to become a thing of the past.
A FEW DAYS LATER…
It had been a few days since Yara’s Academy had caught fire. After further research, it was found that the wiring in one of her teacher’s break rooms caught fire. No one was hurt, which everyone was grateful for. From the inspection that was done, I knew her insurance would cover the cost of getting the place fixed. But she had gone radio silent, understandably so.
I wanted to spend more time with her, but I had already pushed back my time of going to work on more than one occasion. Which wasn’t like me, but I did it for her. I could see from a mile away that she needed someone to be at her side.
“Paging Dr. Wilder. Paging Dr. Wilder. Please head to the receptionist’s desk.” Sounded over the speaker on my floor.
I finished with my patient and made my way to the desk. The nurse handed me a note from Mrs. Hamilton. I didn’t haveto assume or guess why she wanted to see me. I nodded in her direction, then let her know if they needed me to page me personally. Then I went toward the elevators and made my way to her office. I knocked twice and waited a moment for her to let me in.
She stood behind her desk and gestured to the chair in front of her. “Please have a seat, Dr. Wilder.”
I nodded, then took the seat in front of her.
“I just wanted to check in with you and see if everything has been alright. We’ve noticed a slight change in your work ethic.”
I leaned back slightly, schooling my face before I spoke. A dozen responses pressed at the back of my tongue—defensive, sharp—but I swallowed them down. I told myself to keep my composure.
“I don’t mean to interrupt you, but my work ethic is still the same. I am still giving my patients everything that I have. I’ve just been making time for my family as well. We’ve had a few emergencies come up, but I had someone to cover me for those gaps,” I told her, in the most professional tone I could muster.
Her brow raised, and then she leaned back into her seat.
“I’m going to be straightforward with you. To truly give your all to this and the position you’re up for, it’s going to take giving up some things. We know that, so I’m going to ask you again. Do you want this position? And I don’t want an answer now. I want you to think about it and come back within a week with your response.”
“Understood. I wanted to ask you a question, since I am here.”
She was shuffling through folders on her desk, but stopped to look up at me.
