The blaring alarm clock on the nightstand jolted Jennifer awake. Too groggy to function after a late night at the lab looking over patient case files, she clumsily banged her hand around until she found the annoying culprit and slammed her palm onto the snooze button. Even after years of being lectured that it was better to get up the first time the thing went off, she never could. Only after two snoozes would she allow her eyes to crack open. Not a good habit for a doctor. There were patients to see and research to perform. Who was she kidding? After banging snooze buttons for twenty years, this was one habit she would never break.
After eighteen more luxurious minutes in her cozy warm bed, Jennifer couldn’t deny the fact anymore. She had to get up and get going. Waiting any longer and she wouldn’t have time for her morning run. No morning run meant a cranky woman--a cranky doctor at that. Not that she enjoyed running but it was the only time she could clear her head completely in order to focus throughout the rest of the day. Caffeine could only help so much so running had become her go-to activity. As much as Jennifer despised the bitter cold of a February morning in the nation’s capital, she threw back the covers to begin her day.
It would take at least a mile before the fog of exhaustion began to lift from her mind. The first mile was always the most torturous. After that though, Jennifer could run forever. Adrenaline finally pumping through her petite, 5’ 2” frame, she could take on the world. This morning in particular she needed the respite.
Being a pediatric oncologist was her life’s dream. That is, after Hannah, her best friend from elementary school suffered horribly and died from a brain tumor. It was the reason she became a doctor in the first place. No child should have to suffer like that, ever. And no parent should have to endure such a loss. But cancer was indiscriminate and unforgiving. Last night she suffered yet another battle with her childhood demon. A three year old child with lymphoma. Jennifer had been so sure her latest protocol would work. She had spent the rest of the night beating herself up for failing yet another patient, another distraught family. Sometimes her life’s dream was actually her life’s nightmare. This morning she welcomed the punishment of the frigid air filling her lungs as she near sprinted the remaining blocks from her small condominium on K Street to the National Mall. Her destination – the reflecting pond overlooking the Lincoln Memorial.
Once she reached the ice-speckled pond, she allowed herself a moment to rest and take in the beauty of the landscape. Still too early for the onslaught of commuters and tourists who flood the city daily. All was quiet except the occasional rumble of jets overhead as they were taking off from Reagan National. Whether from the freezing temperatures and wind assailing her eyes or from sorrow and frustration at her failure last night, tears ran down her freckled face. Jennifer didn’t know what was worse. Losing the patient or the fact that after so many years she still had not toughened up enough to make that pain any less.
Not wishing to dwell on the matter anymore, Jennifer raced back home. Shutting out all thoughts and allowing her body to operate on autopilot. New day, new challenge! She wouldn’t allow self-pity to stop her. After many battles lost, and a few won, her determination was greater than ever.
After a quick, scalding hot shower Jennifer towel-dried her short strawberry-blonde locks and made a beeline for the coffee pot. No breakfast. She couldn’t remember the last time she actually ate breakfast. Probably before leaving home for college when her overbearing mom would force her to eat before she could leave for school, even if it meant she was late. Her shift didn’t start until 10 AM so there was plenty of time to either tidy up her small, 640 square foot condo or aimlessly peruse the internet. Without a second thought, she plopped down in her oversized khaki arm chair with her laptop.
Not obsessed about politics and news like everyone else in this town, Jennifer decided on lighter fare. How long had it been since she’d been on Facebook? Probably since her high school reunion that had been organized via the website, forcing her to get an account. Surprised that she actually remembered her password, the site loaded. Wow! Fifty-two “Friend” requests?! Jennifer was surprised she knew that many people. The newsfeed was filled with funny pictures of cats and babies. Quickly scanning through all the miscellaneous vanities, she noticed a posting from one of her best friends from her days at the University of Colorado. It was a picture of her tall, slender, runway model friend Jacy Standish with her college beau Ethan Davis III. The posting showed the couple with Ethan on one knee and Jacy with the biggest smile ever. Yes, it was the couple’s engagement announcement. “Well, it’s about time!” Jennifer thought. They have only been together since forever, it seemed.
The posting was a few days old so thankfully Jennifer still had time to send them a congratulatory message. The announcement declared that the wedding was to be at the end of May in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The couple had been living there since Ethan graduated with an advanced degree in aeronautics and went to work with NASA. In lieu of formal invitations, since there was nothing formal about Jacy nor Ethan, the Facebook announcement was also serving as the wedding invitation. Any friends and family that could make it should reply to the posting. “Well, that’s certainly a modern approach.” Jennifer grinned as she knew it was typical of the couple to be that nonchalant about their own wedding.
After clicking the “Like” icon and commenting a quick “Congrats!” Jennifer noticed she had messages. There were five messages from Jacy. The bride-to-be was curious why Jennifer never answered her home phone and why didn’t she have voicemail. The next message scolded her for not keeping in touch and providing her friends current contact information as she was desperate to talk to her sorority big sister and best friend. Another message instructed Jennifer to call her STAT because she had a very important question to ask her. Looking at the clock, she realized it probably wasn’t too early to call so she picked up her phone to dial the number listed in the last message.
A groggy Ethan answered the phone but was more than delighted to disturb his soon-to-be wife who was already awake and had just returned from walking the dogs. Jacy’s squeal of delight nearly ruptured Jennifer’s eardrum. After letting Jacy run on for several minutes about the upcoming wedding and lecturing her friend on her lack of manners for not staying in touch, she excitedly asked the burning question… “Jennifer, will you be my maid of honor?” This was followed by more declarations that she HAD to be her maid of honor and she was NOT taking no for an answer. Typical Jacy.
Promising to check her schedule and to get back to her later that day, Jennifer ended the call hoping she would not have to disappoint Jacy but uneasy with the thought of attending a wedding. Her own personal life was, well lacking the personal part. She was not a big socialite, even though the Chief of Pediatric Oncology enjoyed forcing her to attend fund raisers to benefit the hospital whenever he saw fit. Social settings were just not her thing.
Jennifer noticed another message in her inbox. This time from a blast from the past male friend, also from college, Lorenzo Esposito. Now what could he want? They hadn’t spoken to each other since graduation. Despite being close friends in those days, she realized she didn’t even know what his post-grad plans entailed. Although they had hung out quite often, going to sporting events together and the occasional party, Jennifer had been too busy trying to get into medical school and Lorenzo chasing skirts around campus for anything more to ever develop between them. Friends had teased that they should stop trying to fool everyone because they obviously belonged together. She and Lorenzo would just laugh it off with a mischievous wink at each other. Never had anything other than a platonic “just friends” relationship ever entered their minds.
Curious what Lorenzo had to say after so many years, Jennifer clicked on the message. It was short and sweet. The usual, “Hi, how are you? I’m fine. Long time, no see.” He had heard about the wedding and Ethan had asked him to be the best man but he was lacking a date to the event. Even though they had not kept in touch he was hopeful she would save him from having to RSVP as “1”. He went on to explain that he was uncomfortable taking a “date” since weddings were seen as either the kiss of death for a relationship or as getting in line to be the next sucker down the aisle. He could do without the hassle either way. Lorenzo went on to note that he noticed her scant profile on Facebook as showing she was still unattached so he was pleading once again for her help, just like the good ole days in college. He needed a no-frills, no-strings attached wedding date and was hoping she would agree. “Wow! What a romantic?!” she thought sarcastically. He ended the message with his contact information if she was interested in helping him out.
Signing out of Facebook without responding, Jennifer took up her now tepid coffee and thought back to the outgoing, charismatic, undeniably handsome man Lorenzo had been in college. Tall, dark, and handsome didn’t come close to describing him then. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine what he might look like now years later. She had to admit, the picture in her head was nice…very nice, indeed. Throughout college Lorenzo had always attracted the ladies, in droves. At one point their group of friends had taken to calling him “Casanova” because of his love’em and leave’em attitude.
After college the gang had all gone their separate ways. Jennifer had been horrible about keeping in contact with anyone. However, she did remotely recall Jacy mentioning that Lorenzo had married a woman he met at his first job after graduation. Jennifer had been surprised the mighty Casanova had fallen so soon. It must not have worked out if he was hitting her up for a wedding date.
While heading out the door to the hospital, she promised herself to clear her schedule at work so she could attend her friend’s wedding. Besides she had not taken time off from the hospital in all her years working there. Not even for holidays to go visit her folks in Denver. She was due some R&R and this was the perfect excuse. As soon as she cleared the time off with her boss, she would contact Lorenzo.
After making her rounds at the hospital later that day, Jennifer sought out the Chief of Pediatric Oncology, Jacob Mallory, to discuss her “vacation”. She found him where she expected to find him…on the phone in his office attempting to drum up more money for the department from a donor. He motioned for her to take a seat while he wrapped up the call. Jacob was not just the chief of her department but she also considered him a friend. He was of average height but built like a linebacker. His physique was always displayed at its best in Armani or other designer suits with his dark blonde hair cut short and always clean-shaven. Outside of the hospital environment he could easily be mistaken for one of the bigwigs up on Capitol Hill. He was equally suited to the political life. After all, wining and dining for cash from the elites was his specialty.
Ending his call, he turned his piercing aqua blue eyes on her with a charming grin meant to make her melt but somehow she never felt the impact of his bedroom eyes. They briefly discussed her current case load and results of some tests she was running on a new patient. She hoped the prescribed protocol would work since the cancer seemed to be caught in the early stages. The results were still being validated but Jennifer was optimistic. After a few minutes she got up the courage to voice her request. Looking somewhat shocked, but pleasantly surprised, Jacob reassured her that vacation time was much overdue for the workaholic doctor. However, he added that he would be delighted to go with her. Jennifer knew that was a danger area. She had attended some hospital fundraising functions with Jacob and knew he was attracted to her but she had no desire to complicate their relationship. Declining with the excuse of spending time with old friends, she thanked him as she rose from the uncomfortable office armchair to attend to the remainder of her day.
Later that evening, Jennifer returned to her snug condo with a large brown paper bag filled with several containers from the corner Chinese restaurant. Not realizing until much too late that she had not eaten at all during the day, she was ravenous by the time she headed home. Not even bothering to transfer the food from the take-out containers to a plate, she dove into the combination fried rice first. After satiating her hunger and fixing a cup of jasmine tea, she sat back down in her favorite armchair and pulled her computer onto her lap.
First, she notified Jacy that she would indeed attend the wedding and be her maid of honor. Luckily, Jacy was so laid back that she allowed Jennifer to pick out her own dress, as long as it was lavender in color. “Terrific,” she thought, “purple does nothing for my Irish freckled complexion.” Next, she composed a short message to Lorenzo stating she would attend the wedding and would also appreciate a “no strings” date. They could arrange to meet up once they both got to Cocoa Beach. Before signing off the computer, Jennifer booked her flight, a rental car, and her suite at the resort where Jacy and Ethan would be married.
Following a hot shower and veg’ing out to some reality television show for an hour, Jennifer retired for the night. The wedding had given her something else to think about aside from her young patients awaiting a miracle cure. Jennifer briefly entertained the hope that tonight her sleep would not be interrupted by nightmares. Maybe there would instead be images of warm sands and the sound of relaxing waves and a tall, dark, and handsome man.