Chapter 7
Disturbed by the bruises she’d seen on Aquila’s body, Pricilla pulled into the driveway of the nursing home where she worked part-time as a certified nurse’s assistant. She entered the building and swiped her employee card through the card reader. The registered nurse on duty, Summer, handed Pricilla her duty assignment with the patients she’d assigned her to for the evening. Pricilla glanced at her workload and met the nurse’s stare. “You don’t actually expect me to handle this many patients in four hours, do you?”
“It’s not that hard, Pricilla. You just have to work efficiently.” Summer smirked and tossed her blond hair behind her shoulder. “The other aides don’t have a problem working this floor.”
Angered by Summer’s snide remark, Pricilla glared at her, but decided it would be in her best interest not to voice what she thought because it would probably cost her her job. Besides, she only planned to work there until she graduated nursing school in December. Pricilla counted to ten under her breath, exhaled deeply, and returned the smirk. “Summer, you sound as though nurse’s aides are peons.”
Shifting in her seat, Summer appeared to be uncomfortable. “Pricilla, don’t be so sensitive. You should know that I didn’t mean anything by that,” she drawled.
Yeah, right, Pricilla mused. Pricilla gawked at Summer and walked away to start her evening shift. The evening hours passed by quickly as Pricilla attended to the needs of the elderly, making them as comfortable as she possibly could. At ten after seven, she slid her card through the slot and headed outside. Her cell phone rang. It was her boyfriend. “Hi, Jeffrey,” she greeted him excitedly.
“Hey, baby. What’s going on?”
Pricilla had met Jeffrey at WakeMed during her second year of nursing school. They bumped into each other getting on the elevator. The collision caused Pricilla to drop her chemistry book along with a pile of papers. Jeffrey apologized and bent over to help her recover her items. He introduced himself to Pricilla, and she greeted him coolly. Her first impression of him was that he was arrogant. Pricilla had preconceived notions about him because she had heard the nurses gossiping about Dr. Jeffrey Thompson.
According to them, he was a difficult doctor to work with. On the other hand, some nurses were not shy about expressing their desire to have a relationship with him. It was rumored that he was financially secure and that he was a generous giver. Despite Pricilla’s cool attitude toward him, Jeffrey continued to talk to her on the elevator.
By the time they had reached the lobby, Pricilla had changed her mind about him. She thought that he was a sweet, charming individual. Whenever she did her clinical assignments at the hospital, she anticipated seeing him again. However, she had no plans to approach him. She had no intentions of being a part of the drama and gossip that occurred between the other aggressive nurses that wanted him. A month later, they ran into each other again at the same elevator.
Again, Jeffrey dived into a conversation with her. Pricilla felt more relaxed with him, so she opened up and talked freely to him. Jeffrey gave her his business card and told her to call him if she needed a reference for a job. Pricilla thanked him. She told him that she was going to apply for a nursesaide position at the Sunrise Retirement Home and that she would use him as a reference.
Two weeks later, she called him and thanked him for the great reference that he’d given her. She told him that because of his reference, she got the job. From then on, they talked on the phone at least twice a week. Pricilla shared information with him about why she had moved to Raleigh. Jeffrey shared information with her about the difficult time he’d had after the loss of his loved one. Their relationship started out as friends, but it developed into a mutual love. The chemistry between them was undeniable. Needless to say, their relationship became intimate.
Pricilla picked up her pace. “I’m walking to my car. I worked four hours today at the retirement home, in addition to going to school.”
“Oh. You had a long day today,” Jeffrey coaxed.
“Yes, today was very hectic. So what’s going on with you?” Pricilla asked him sweetly.
“Not much; I’m leaving the hospital now. My day went well, but I’m sorry to hear that you had a trying day.”
“My classes went fine, but work was challenging. Some of the patients were very irritable, and two of them were just antagonistic.”
“One of my patients was annoyed with me today too, but that’s to be expected sometimes in our profession, baby.” Jeffrey pulled up to the stoplight and waited for it to turn green.
“You’re right. When people are sick, we can’t expect them to be on their best behavior. But some people are just mean. I feel sad for two of the patients I waited on tonight. I don’t think anyone ever visits them. One man buzzed the desk three times, and all he basically wanted was to talk.”
“I’m sure a lot of patients in the nursing homes are lonely and feel unloved.”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Pricilla sighed loudly.
Jeffrey put his right signal on and moved his foot from the brake to the accelerator when the light turned green. “Are you too tired to meet me at our regular place?”
Pricilla patted her hair down. “I’d love to see you, baby, but—”
“Or, I could stop by your house,” he crooned.
Pricilla giggled. “No, I can’t tonight, Jeffrey. Remember, I told you my friend from Nashville is staying with me.”
Jeffrey frowned. “How is that preventing you from seeing me? I’d like to meet her.”
“Because she has been seriously injured, and I promised her that I would stop by the store and get some ointment and bandages for her wounds.”
“Shouldn’t she see a doctor?” Jeffrey inquired.
Pricilla scanned the dimly lit area while she walked toward her car. “I think she should,” she agreed, “but she insists that she’s all right.”
Jeffrey grunted, then asked, “Was she in a car accident?”
Pricilla opened her car door, got in, and then locked the door. “No, more like a husband accident,” she said sarcastically.
“Are you saying her husband abused her?”
“Yes, he did. She’s got black and blue bruises all over her arms and back.”
Jeffrey whistled. “Did she report him to the police?”
“No; she’s too afraid to report him to the police. She’s fearful that he’ll find out where she is and come looking for her. I wanted to report him, but she doesn’t want me to.” Pricilla started her car and turned the air condition on full blast.
“So she’s hiding out at your place?”
“In a sense, yes, she is.” Pricilla expelled a short loud breath. She felt as though Jeffrey was interrogating her. “My place is a refuge for her and the children. She had nowhere else to go. Pricilla’s voice hardened. “I told you she was my best friend, but more like a sister to me in the orphanage. We’ve always looked out for each other. ”
“Don’t get so defensive, baby. You’re doing a good thing by taking care of your friend. Unless she presses charges, there’s nothing else you can do. ”
Pricilla relaxed her shoulders. “I guess you’re right. Thanks for understanding. I have early classes the rest of this week and clinical assignments on Thursday and Friday, but I’ll make it up to you Saturday after I get home from work, ” Pricilla told him in a seductive voice.
“I can’t wait that long to see you. Maybe we can have lunch together tomorrow in the hospital cafeteria. ”
“Are you kidding me? Aren’t you concerned that the nurses will gossip, Dr. Thompson? ”
“No, ” Jeffrey retorted. “If anyone asks, which I doubt they will, I’ll just tell them that you’re one of the students from the college. My personal time is none of their business anyway. ”
Pricilla laughed at Jeffrey’s sarcastic remark. “Okay, Jeffrey. You’re getting too bold for your own good. ”
“Everyone is going to know about us eventually, anyway. I plan to marry you some day. ”
“I wish I was as positive about this as you are. ” Pricilla sighed. “Jeffrey, can you do me a favor? ”
Jeffrey drove into his driveway. “Sure, what do you need? ”
“I need money to buy extra food for Aquila and the kids. The refrigerator is almost empty. ”
“No problem, baby. I’ll put the money in your account first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow in the cafeteria at twelve thirty, right? ” Pricilla asked him sweetly.
“Right,” Jeffrey confirmed.
Pricilla closed her cell phone, put her gray ’94 Nissan Sentra in gear, and drove to Walgreens. Her eyes stung with angry tears as she thought about the ugly bruises that Brandon had left on Aquila’s back. Aquila refused to press charges, but Pricilla wanted him to pay for what he’d done.