There was no way Ora would get to enjoy the ride Jason had offered last night. She’d been called into the hospital before her afternoon shift started to help with a mass cholera outbreak and wouldn’t be leaving any time soon.
When he stopped by, her shoulders slumped with disappointment. “I have to work the night shift. One nurse is down with cholera and I’m covering.”
The department was overcrowded with patients. He shook his head. “Would it be wrong if I got a megaphone and went through the city shouting that cholera is preventable through clean drinking water and sanitary conditions? The disease, like many others in Ghana, is unnecessary.”
She giggled. “I think it would be considered a public service announcement. No one would stop you.”
“I just got out of the theatre after doing back-to-back operations and came straight here. How many cases?”
Ora sighed as she set up a tray for an intravenous insertion. “So far, thirty people have been diagnosed. The cholera house, which is used only during an outbreak, is almost full to capacity. They called nurses in to help deal with the situation. That’s why there’s no one to cover the night shift, and I can’t leave Rhonke to work by herself.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
She shook her head. “Everything’s under control for now. Anyone with suspected cholera is ushered straight to the cholera house so we’re clear here. The cases we have now aren’t major and everything is under control. Dr. Ando will be coming soon to do the evening rounds, but thanks for asking.”
Sweet of him to do so and once again, extreme disappointment stabbed her at not being able to ride home with him.
Grace turned the corner, raising an eyebrow when her eyes clashed with Jason. “Good evening, Dr. Lartey. You haven’t been back in the ED for a while.”
“Good evening. I had filled in for the day. How are you doing? Are you putting my suturing tips to good use?”
“Yes. I do get a better approximation of skin now. Thank you very much.”
Jason nodded. “My pleasure.”
Ora refrained from sucking her teeth. The man had both an excellent bedside manner and the ability to wrap nurses around his little finger with little to no effort. “I have to go and put an IV in.”
Grace grabbed the tray out of Ora’s hands. “I’ll put it in for you. Who’s it for?”
“Bed twelve. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Good to see you again, Dr. Lartey.”
“You, too.” He paused and smiled, as if expecting her to provide her name.
“Grace. Grace Tetteh.”
“You, too, Grace.”
She walked in the direction of bed twelve, but when Jason’s back faced her, she looked at Ora, winked, and gave her a thumb up.
Ora turned away from Jason so he wouldn’t see her smiling at the woman’s antics and then have to explain. “Since she’s given me a small reprieve, I’ll see you out.”
They walked in silence to the front of the hospital. “I’m sorry you had to waste your time coming to the ER. I didn’t have your number, otherwise I would have called.”
“I should have given it to you. Let me flash you so you’ll have it.” He dialled and her phone rang.
“I almost asked how you got my number when I remembered you were stalking me.”
He reached out and squeezed her upper arm. The tingling where he touched her distracted her so much it took time to register his words.
“I didn’t stalk you. I’d call it reconnaissance, in order to find the best way to approach you. We’ll have to reschedule your ride home. Call me when you have some free time tonight. Anytime you’re not busy would be fine even if you have to wake me up. And if you need me to come in and check a patient, don’t hesitate.”
“Thanks.”
“Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
Neither of them moved, but then Ora remembered she had patients to attend to. So instead of slamming herself into his arms as if they’d all of a sudden become magnets, she rotated and walked away. At the hospital doors, she glanced over her shoulder. He stood in the same spot. Warmth radiated from her heart outward. She waved. He waved back and she went inside the building.
***
Instead of heading to the consulting room the next morning, Jason strode post haste to the Emergency Department to see Ora. They’d talked for two hours last night. The conversation had been cut short when she had to deal with an accident patient.
His willpower had been tested when he stopped himself from getting into his car to go see her in the hospital. What made her so special that he always wanted to be near her? When they weren’t together, he thought about her, and when they were together, he had this insane need to touch her, be closer to her.
He’d never dated someone who captivated him and left him with a burning desire to be with her on more than just a physical level. The thought of her made his heart race. You’re a goner, buddy. Don’t fight it; enjoy the ride.
An eerie quiet filled the ED. He spotted her with the other staff at the nurses’ station.
“Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning.”
The chorus of female voices met his ears, but he’d become attuned to one and when their gazes met, his heart kicked.
“How are you?” He stated his question to the group, but intended it for Ora. He forced himself to look at the nurses standing before him.
“We are fine,” they singsong-ed in unison.
“That’s good.”
“Are you here for ward rounds?” one of them asked.
“Not this morning.”
He thought her heard her say, “Damn.”
“I came to see Ora.”
All eyes shifted to her.
“We just finished handing over and I’m ready to head home. The night had been long and exhausting.”
Her beauty and freshness after working two shifts amazed him. An image of her lying in his bed after making love all night snuck into his mind, but he squelched it. “Can I walk you out?”
“Sure. I’ll get my things.”
Hypnotized by the gentle sway of her hips, he observed her until she turned into the nurses’ room. He chatted with her co-workers while he waited.
“I’m ready to go. Have a great day, everyone,” Ora said.
“You, too, Ora. Sleep for me,” Clara said.
She laughed. “I will.”
They walked out together.
“How’d the night go?”
“It got a little busy at about two in the morning, but then settled down again at five. How about you? Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you. I hoped you’d call back.”
Ora winced when the bright sunshine hit them as they stepped outside. “I feel like a vampire. I didn’t want to disturb your sleep. No use in both of us being up all night.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
“Oh.”
He pushed a stray strand of her straight, silky hair back behind her ear and held himself back from cupping her face in his hands and kissing her. Instead, he continued walking until they’d crossed the street. “Do you know how to drive?”
“Yes. I got my license about five years ago.”
“Would you like to take my car home?”
Her head jerked back in surprise. He’d shocked both of them with the offer. He didn’t love his Passat, but he’d never been reckless about who he loaned it out to, either. He needed her to be comfortable.
“If exhaustion hadn’t claimed me, I’d take you up on that offer, but as it stands, I think I might fall asleep sitting in traffic and then your beautiful car would be ruined.”
“I don’t think that’s the way it would go, but better safe than sorry. I’ll send you home in a taxi then instead of a trotro, since I missed out on giving you a ride home last night.”
“Thanks. I’d like that.”
He stopped a taxi, negotiated the price, and gave her the money to pay when she’d been seated in the vehicle. “I’ll stop over this evening after work?”
She yawned. “Okay.”
“I’ll see you later, then. Sleep well.”
“Oh, I will. See you tonight.”
He watched the taxi take off and smiled in anticipation of being with her again.
***
Ora woke up from her daytime sleep feeling groggy and disoriented. She loved her job, but didn’t miss working the night shift. She preferred to sleep during the night hours.
She forced her eyes open, blinked at the glare of the sun streaming through her window, and reached toward the nightstand for her phone. No missed calls, but the time read two p.m. The shift had been busy and talking to Jason for most of the time had ensured she didn’t get any sleep while on duty.
A smile sprung to her lips. He’d offered her his car. She rolled onto her back and kicked her feet into the air. He’d been protective of his vehicle when they’d been in Cape Town.
“What does it mean?” she asked out loud and then chastised herself. A friend offered another friend their car. He might not be as attached to his car as he used to be. Perhaps he’d grown up a little and learned that possessions can be replaced. She snorted. He wanted to get on her good side. She sludged through the apartment for the rest of the day, watching television and eating. He called at around six.
“Let me guess. You’ve been called to do an emergency surgery and won’t be able to make it,” she said.
He chuckled. “Bite your tongue, lady. Don’t wish that on me. I’m calling to see if you wanted me to bring any food.”
“That would be great. What kind of food?”
“It’s a surprise. And before you tell me you hate surprises, I promise it’ll be a great one.”
“The last time you pulled such a stunt, your unannounced presence in the ED almost sent me sprawling on the floor.”
“I promise this time there will be no shock involved. But it won’t be as good of a surprise as that one.”
“You’re a little cocky, aren’t you?”
“It’s a course they teach us in medical school.”
“I never heard of Cockiness 101, but I did hear of Doctor Arrogance 224.”
“I passed both with an A.”
Ora chuckled.
“I’ll be over in about an hour. Should I bring food for Esi, too?”
Ora’s breath caught in her throat. The man amazed her; he didn’t just think about her, but her cousin, too. How sweet. “That would be great. Neither of us cooked today. Laziness is a horrible disease. We were going to keep it light with bread and Milo. But what you’re offering sounds better, whatever it is.”
“I’m sure you’ll be pleased. It’s much better than having a hot chocolate drink for dinner. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.”
“Bye.”
Ora couldn’t make herself hang up the phone. She wanted to continue talking to him, but he had to go so he could find his way to her house. She should stop being such a love-struck female and hang up. “See you soon.”
“Okay.” But he didn’t hang up.
Ora took the bull by horns and pressed the end button. She left the phone on her bed so she wouldn’t call him back and went out into the hall to inform Esi he’d be coming over to feed them.
“You know how much I love Milo and bread as a meal, but substantial food sounds great.”
“He’ll be here in about an hour.”
Esi’s gaze travelled the length of her. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
She held up her arms and glanced down at her jeans and t-shirt. Her clothes were fine, but her cousin liked to dress to impress. “I’m sorry. Let me go change into the dress we wore as bridesmaids in Donna’s wedding last year. Would that be better?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not changing. We’re just hanging out.”
Esi persisted. “How about a little makeup, then?”
“You are too much. I’ll put on some lipstick. Would that make you happy?”
“A little, but I’d prefer if you put on eye makeup, mascara, and foundation, too. You might look a little dowdy next to me and the next thing we know, Jason is my man and not yours.”
Ora laughed. “If you want him, please have him. He’s not my man.” The offer proved useless, though. The two of them had opposite tastes in men and had never once in their lives fallen for the same guy. Although they both liked their men handsome and intelligent, that’s where the similarities ended. Esi liked them on the bad side with an edge of darkness, while Ora preferred the wholesome type.
“Not your man, my foot. You’ve been in love with him for the past three years.”
Ora got up from the couch to get her favourite wine-coloured lipstick from her room. “That doesn’t mean he’s my man. We’re just friends.”
A rude snort came from Esi’s nose, but Ora ignored it. All of a sudden, apprehension filled her about seeing Jason. She didn’t know what he wanted from her. Were they friends or on their way to more? The kisses they shared, screamed out they were more than friends.
Live for the moment and stop worrying about every detail. Everything will work out as it should. Let your insecurities die with the day.
The image of his pained expression three years earlier flashed before her eyes.
From this moment forward, she’d take huge, sidewalk-eating strides toward her future instead of lamenting over her past.