CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, she was surprised with more flowers at the front desk, a movie ticket in place of a card with a small sticky note saying,

Please come to the movies with me, I will be waiting

Josie rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help noticing that Blake had beautiful penmanship.

"I don't know who keeps sending you flowers, but honestly I am jealous,” The head RN said with a playful smile pulling at her lips.

"You can have these,” Josie chuckled but pocketed the ticket while trying to decide whether she would let herself go or not. She looked over her tablet, another busy morning... but she received the test results about Mrs. Ingram. Of course, the first thing she did after reading them over carefully was call.

"Good morning Mrs. Ingram, I heard from a little bird that your primary didn't send you the results?"

"Good morning Dr. Steele! Blake said that you would call soon about those. I'm so glad to hear from you. I have the best news!” The elderly women seemed so happy to hear from her that Josie found herself smiling wider.

"Yes ma'am, what is this good news?"

"I made it from my bedroom this morning, to the mailbox, and back without having to use my cane! I am so proud of myself. Blake said I needed to calm down with all this walking, but I'm able to walk all around my house now. I even sat outside this morning and worked on my flower beds."

"That is great news! Any pain or weird tastes in your mouth?"

"Not at all. I don't know what you did, but since I saw you, I feel amazing!”

"I'm glad to hear that, I wanted to tell you about your results though. They are perfectly fine. Your heart doesn't show any signs of clotting or clogging. You seem to be doing well with your medication as well."

"That is good, I am glad. I really do feel better."

"I'm glad too."

"Blake said he asked you to the movies and you didn't give him an answer, do you think you will go?"

"I don't know what my schedule is like right now, but we will see."

"Good, at least you're thinking about it. My boy is a sweetheart."

"Alright Mrs. Ingram, it was good to speak with you, but I have to start my rounds now."

"Oh yes! Yes, good! Have a good day. I'll pray that you do. Thank you for calling me!"

With that they hung up and Josie lightly shook her head, thinking that was the cutest thing she had heard all morning. She headed on her rounds, the rest of the day went by almost too fast for her.

She stood in the locker room at the end of her shift and just stared at the movie ticket trying to decide whether she should go. Or if she was just wasting her own time. She did, after all, have a glass of wine and a book back home waiting for her.

Though, as she thought more about it, if she went, she would be able to say she did. Then she could decide she did not actually like him, and never would have to worry about seeing him again. The only thing holding her back was the thought of what would happen if she ended up having fun? She chewed on her bottom lip in thought and headed out the door to start her way home—Only to find Blake standing outside the front door waiting for her!

"What are you doing?"

"I'm waiting to hear an answer from you, Dr. Steele."

"Oh really?" She chuckled, he was persistent. She pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and tilted her head.

"Yes really. I would greatly appreciate a real answer,” He said.

“I’m not interested, I only kept the movie ticket to give it back to you,” Josie said, rejecting him fully this time.

“I just want dinner, we don’t have to go to the movie.”

“I said no.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Josie sighed in frustration. She was hungry, and he said he only wanted dinner. She rubbed her temple softly before she looked up into his deep, dark eyes.

"I would need to go home and change."

"I can drive you home."

"Why would I let you know where I live?" She smirked, amused and unable to hide it.

"I don't know. Maybe you could invite me in for something to drink while you change?"

"I don't think so. I'll meet you at the theater. Just stop showing up at the hospital unless you are injured, please?”

"Fine... fine... are you sure you don't want a ride?"

“I’m absolutely positively sure that I don't want one."

"Alright, alright... I will see you there. If not, I'll be back here every day after school lets out. But first, let’s make this a little more fun. If you have fun with this date, you’ll go on another one with me?" He smirked playfully. Although Josie doubted his words she rolled her eyes and walked to her car, her heart pounded in her chest. What was she doing? Why was this happening?

The mild panic attack was almost painful and still happening even as she pulled into her driveway and headed into her room to change into a pair of form fitting, but comfortable denim jeans and a clean black blouse that accentuated her curves. Looking in the mirror she winced. Her hair was still up in a tight bun to keep it out of her face. She let it down, brushed it out.

The sight of unruly, poofy hair made her panic slightly, but after some tender love with a hair brush, she tamed it down to where it looked at least halfway decent. The last time she had dressed up this nice had been the day she told her ex to leave her alone or she would call the police. She shuddered and started to pull her shirt off, only hesitating when she thought about how this wasn't a shirt she wore for her ex. This was something she had bought after leaving him. She wasn’t thinking very clearly.

All her clothes were something she had bought after her ex. She sighed heavily and lowered the shirt back down. Smoothing out any unnecessary wrinkles and clearing her throat. Looking into the mirror, she said aloud very clearly: "Josie, you're going to do this. You may not like this, but damnit it is time to make sure!" She wrinkled her nose. "What am I even saying? Worst pep-talk ever…” She shook her head and checked herself out in the mirror again.

She could not believe that she looked the way she did. When was the last time she looked at herself? Even with this minimal make-up look she was surprised by how young she looked. For being in her early thirties, she felt she could pass for a woman in her mid-twenties.

Maybe this brought the confidence she needed, because excitement started to bubble up to the surface. Her weekly yoga regiment seemed to be keeping everything firm and in the right place. She smiled at herself, wondering if she had gotten too dolled up for this. She shrugged her shoulders. Free meal at the very least, and she gets to dress nice. She headed out to meet him at the theater.