Sherry
All I’ve been doing day in and day out is studying for this exam. I know this stuff frontward and backward, but something keeps telling me to keep reading. Keep reciting every possible thing that I can. When I told June that I wasn’t going to be taking the real estate exam, she wasn’t happy with me. Needless to say, she fired me that day in her office. When I went to clean out my desk, she came out of her office and told me I could stay on until I passed my nursing exam. She knew all along that my heart wasn’t in real estate, and since I lost Mr. McBride, it was time for me to do some serious rationalization of my life. After a long talk with Ava, she encouraged me to follow my dreams and do what I’ve always wanted to do—be a nurse and help other people. Ever since I sent Mr. Tinkerbell and Miss Peter Pan away, I’ve been able to cut back on my allergy medication. I’m down to one pill at night before bed. Which has also allowed me to be human again. I no longer fall asleep at a drop of a hat, nor look like a walking zombie. My only problem is I still dream about the hot doctor that lives a few floors above me. I’ve become a master at lurking in the shadows. Only seeing him and not allowing him to see me. It’s turned into this weird thing these days. No, I’m not stalking him. But I might happen to know what time at night he goes to workout, and might just so happen to hang out behind a pillar in the bar pretending to study when he exits. Don’t judge me. I like the way he looks, shirtless and sweaty.
I made a promise to Ava that once I pass my exam and land a job, I’ll jump back into the dating scene. It might not be with Dr. Greyson Davis Jr., but I’ll meet someone.
Sitting inside all day working prompts the desire to sit outside to study this evening. I pack up my computer and books and head down to the pool. The building has a nice sitting area off to the left where I can set up camp and still enjoy what’s left of the sunlight. When I enter the space, I notice the commotion off to the right where it seems a private party is being put together. It’s not unusual for tenants to rent out the private sections to throw a BBQ, birthday party, or just have a get-together. Paying no attention to the staff, I focus on another chapter. Kicking my legs up in the chair I pulled in front of me, I place my headphones into my ears. Some can’t study with music, but it helps me retain everything I read. My focus intensifies when I have background music.
The sun is setting, leaving a purple and orange glow behind in its wake as the moon rises overhead. I stretch my arms and crack my neck, releasing the tension that’s built up from leaning over to read my book. Satisfied with the amount of studying I’ve completed today, I drag my notebook and computer out. When I was at lunch with Dr. Davis Sr. the other day, he’d suggested that I research some clinics to apply to. Which also means I need an updated resume. I might also have to explain why it’s been such a gap between school and applying for said new job. All I know is that I don’t want to be stuck at Dawson Realty longer than I need to be. I set up the basic concept of a resume, filling in my name, address, phone number then moving to the general layout of the page. I leave blank spaces between my objective, my work history, schooling, and even my volunteer section. Knowing that I can complete this part, I start to type it out when I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Evening,” he says before entering my line of sight.
“Evening,” is all I say as I focus on the screen from my computer.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Working, can’t you tell I’m busy,” I snap back.
“Why don’t you take a break and come join the party over there.”
“I’ll pass; don’t know them, and I have better things to do.”
“Can you drop the attitude, and since it’s my party you are welcome to join.”
“I don’t have attitude, and I think your guests are waiting for you,” I say as I look over in that direction. I notice that his mother and father are waving me over, and now it’s officially a trap. “Really, you drag the parental units into this mess between us?”
“No, I just know you can’t say no to my father; plus, my mom would have my ass if I left you over here alone. Come on, you look like you need a break.”
“I’ll give you thirty minutes and then I’m leaving,” I say, closing down my computer and packing it away.
“Thirty minutes is better than nothing, I can deal with that.”
“I’m not walking over there for you, just for the record.”
“Understood,” he says, placing a hand before me to help me up. I don’t take it, instead I push up to my feet myself. While standing, I stretch and realize that I’m more tense than I expected. Greyson eyes me, taking in the way my sore body is giving off signals that not only am I stressed, but tired. Guess I’m still getting used to not having so many naps a day. The short walk across the way causes my body to feel like it’s walking toward a firing squad. The only other person I know here is his father as I’ve met his mom once before, but not enough to say I know her know her.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Sherry Wilde, and of course you already know my father,” he says as Mrs. Wilde engulfs me in a hug. When I step back I take in the way Greyson’s face is scrunched up.
“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Davis. How have you been doing?”
“Great, going crazy with this one home all the time now.” Her laugh booms through the area as she swats Mr. Davis in the abdomen.
“You two know each other,” Greyson questions.
“Of course dear, I met her when she was helping your father out—what, last summer?”
“Yes, that’s correct it was just last summer wasn’t it, Sherry,” Mr. Davis says, and I chance a look over at Greyson.
Now I’m the one with a scrunched up face as I prepare for the questions.
“Wait, so you knew each other and you worked for my father and never said anything?”
“Correction, I met your mother a time or two, and yes I did work—or really volunteered—for him for a few months over last summer.”
“How has no one told me this?”
“Didn’t come up, I guess.” I shrug my shoulders and take Mrs. Greyson by the arm so we can catch up. We aren’t far when Greyson comes over and interrupts, “Mom, would you excuse the two of us for a moment? I need to speak privately with Sherry.”
“Of course, dear. I’m going to mingle, and then we will leave soon. Don’t want to crowd your party with the old people,” I hear her as she walks away, and for the life of me I don’t want to have this conversation with him right now.
“Greyson, let’s not do this now, okay. It’s your party and you need to go have fun, while I need to leave and rest. Thanks for the invite, but I can’t do this right now.” I try to turn around, but an arm lands on mine and pulls me back to the hard chest that I’ve been admiring from afar for way too long.
“I don’t care about this party. What I do care about is what have you been up to?”
“Up to? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, Sherry. I find out all these months later that you know my family, but act as if I’m some stranger when you see me. What’s the issue?”
“It’s really a long story, and one that isn’t appropriate for tonight.”
“Come, let’s go upstairs where you can explain, and then I won’t have prying eyes when I kiss you.”
“You won’t be kissing me; do you understand me?”
“No, because that’s all I want to do is kiss you, if I’m being honest. Seems that you could take a few pointers.”
I should fight him, but the pull that’s been there since that day in his office when he rescued me from falling is strong. It’s real and something that I’ve spent my entire life wishing for. That’s where I have to be careful. I can’t just hand over my heart to someone who could break it, causing me to never want to give it away again. I thought I’d loved Chris. I thought we had a connection that was strong. Turns out that it wasn’t as strong as I’d thought. That day in Greyson’s office he made my heart skip a beat. Each and every time I see him, it sputters in my chest. Maybe it’s because of him that I decided to go back and get my degree. It was that night that changed my outlook on things. I opened my eyes at the same time I spread my legs for a guy I hardly know. He sees me for who I am and not for what I could bring to the table like Chris did. He wanted someone to help build his career, his life, and then to sit back and watch from the sidelines cheering him on the whole time. I picture Greyson being one who wants someone to walk through life with him—hand in hand, heart to heart. That’s what scares me. The look of desire within his eyes, the way my body reacts to just his smile; I want to crumble beneath him and offer up everything I have to a man I barely know.
Greyson leads me inside his apartment. My mind flutters back to that awful night where I ran from here scared to ever show another man my body. “Sit down, Sherry. I think it’s time we come clean.”
“Greyson, really it’s nothing and doesn’t need to be hashed out.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re wrong, and I’m going to win this one with you.”
“Fine, what do you want to know?”
“Everything. I want to know everything about you up until I saw you for the very first time in my office. I want to know why my parents never spoke of you in the past, and how I didn’t know my father had a nurse volunteering for the summer.”
“That’s easy to answer, did you ever call and ask how the practice was? What was new and exciting in the life of medicine? No, you didn’t, did you? I heard about you, I knew about you, but I dang well wasn’t expecting you. When we’re done, you’re going to tell me why all of sudden the interest in the practice.”
We sit here across from each other for I don’t know how long before Greyson finally breaks the silence.
“Fine, I’ll tell you as I don’t have anything to hide from.”
“I started seeing your Dad shortly after I started college. My old doctor moved and that left me high and dry. A few of friends were patients and referred me there. One day we were talking and he asked me what I was studying. I explained that I wanted to be a nurse, and how I wanted to be one since I was a little girl. I never had the desire to be a doctor. I didn’t want to be the one in charge, I wanted to connect with people. You know make them happy, while easing their minds before the doctor would come in. He’d told me the story of how his only son was off preparing to save the world. Ever since then, I’d come for check-ups or run into him on lunch breaks. We’d chat about school and stuff. See, I’ve worked for June for a long time in between classes. She’s friends with my family. Over the summers, I’d answer her phone, take her coffee, and do things around the office. One day I was in deep thought about what to do when our professors wants us to get clinical hours. I knew that a hospital wasn’t right for me, especially since I had that whole going to sleep issue. I explained that to your dad, and he offered me the chance to work with him at this office over the summer last year. Once my professor signed off, it was a done deal. God, Greyson, your dad thinks the world of you and you might not know this, but you taking over his practice was a dream of his. He’d keep us all up to date on the life of the great Dr. Greyson Davis. But one day I was leaving and could tell something was wrong. It was the day that you finally told him that you weren’t coming back, do you remember that day?” Greyson nods, remembering that day probably a little different than my story. “I asked him if there was anything I could do to help, or if he needed anything. He made me promise to continue my education and save as many people as I could. He also told me that in a few years I’d need to find a new doctor myself as when he retired the practice would close. That day, when you waltzed in… Well, needless to say, I was not only shocked, but blown away on the person I was seeing. I didn’t expect to have feelings for you instantly.” I pause before I continue. Letting out a loud sigh, I move to the next portion of my story before I lose the will to speak. Nothing might come from us, but I need him to know what an impact he’s had on my life like his father has.
Before I say anything, I lean forward, planting my arms on my knees and inhale through my nose releasing and exhale. “When I failed the first time on my exam, I lost the guy I thought I was going to marry. I felt that I’d not only let him, my parents, and myself down, but your dad as well. When the second time happened, I didn’t tell anyone other than Ava. I’ve taken this dang test three times already, and not once could I stay awake long enough to finish it. Each time I’d make it a littler further than the last, until the buzzer would blare in my ear almost knocking me from my chair. Meeting you, and listening to you that night, made me realize that I was hiding. I was using my heart to hide behind life. I don’t even know if that’s possible but it is. So, I changed my life around and I plan to take my test on Monday at nine, and I will pass this time. Nothing is holding me back now.”
Greyson leans back in the armchair across from where I’m sitting, staring at me as if I just told him I hold the codes to a nuclear warhead and plan to blow him up with it. Silence fills the room… All I can hear is the beating of my heart and the silent plea that he speaks soon. I’m afraid that at this moment I might have to run from his apartment again. This time when that happens, I’m packing my bags and leaving this place.
“I had a fling with the attending doctor’s ex-wife at the hospital I worked at,” is all he says, causing me to gulp down the words that I can’t say.