Dearly Loved (2 page)

“Hey, Mer. Doing anything special this morning?” she asked, her brows arched.

“Nope,” she said, blotting her face with a paper towel. “Unless sleeping is special.”

“That’s pretty pathetic.” She winked. “You need a man in your life.”

Meredith returned her smile. I don’t think so. “I take it you’re on your way to meet your fiancé.”

Ellen yanked a hairbrush through her hair. “Yep. He gets off at the same time as me. We’re meeting for breakfast.”

“Have you two set a date yet?”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? You know men. They’re big sissies when it comes to commitment.”

With that, Ellen bounced out of the room. Her parting comment made Meredith shake her head.
Why would I want a man when they’re so notorious for avoiding commitment?
Her smile faded. Especially if they abandon you for greener pastures.

Blowing a lock of hair from her face, Meredith shook the thought away.
Snap out of it, woman!

After changing her shoes, she replaced her smock with a light cardigan over her cotton tank top, stuffing the dirty smock into her workbag. Before leaving the hospital for her routine lap swim, Meredith decided to peek in once more on David to assure herself he rested peacefully. Just one last time.

While she was in his room, his doctor appeared, making his rounds early before going home. The doctor’s positive prognosis comforted Meredith. As much as she’d like, she couldn’t keep a constant vigil at David’s bedside.

That made her wonder what he’d say to her when he woke up. She closed her eyes as a cascade of faded images from the past sharpened in her mind.

Dear Lord. Am I ready for this?   

Two

After a forty minute lap swim at a local health club, Meredith made her way home. She parked in the driveway and walked up the stone path to the house, a small Craftsman bungalow, still thinking about David’s sudden appearance in her life. She retrieved the paper from the where it lay under the hydrangeas crowding the flowerbeds on either side of her porch, unlocked the door, and went inside.

Pale morning light streamed through the mullioned windows. Puddles of color from stained glass pieces lent a mellow air to the stone fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases, an overstuffed sage green loveseat, and two leather chairs situated around a mission style coffee table. She walked into the bright yellow kitchen, with the black and white linoleum floor and pretty lace curtains, and glanced around.

Usually the sight of her well-ordered home gave her an inordinate sense of pleasure. Today it seemed almost hollow, like a shell absent of life.
Everything looks the same, so why does everything feel so different?

Meredith set her purse and workbag on the countertop, trying to shrug off the disquieting feeling. She opened the refrigerator and peeked inside but realized her appetite had fled. With a sigh, she settled at the little oak dinette table and unfurled the newspaper.

Meredith didn’t have to look far for a report of David’s accident. On the second page of the Local section she found a three-paragraph write-up of the incident. Above the article she saw a professional photograph of David next to a photo of two mangled vehicles. Meredith studied the picture of David. Time had treated him well. If anything he was more attractive than ever, and she could still detect the mischief in his expressive face.

She learned Rosa was correct. He’d had been en route to the news station where he’d taken the job of sports anchor when he was broadsided by another vehicle. The other driver had been under the influence of alcohol, but otherwise uninjured.
Figures
.

From the photo of the wreckage, it seemed miraculous anyone survived. Meredith shivered at the thought David might not have made it. It was just too terrible to consider.  

The rest of the article chronicled his career from soccer hopeful to another sports injury statistic. From there, he’d worked as a sports commentator for college soccer teams and before arriving in Cedar Hill, for a small cable news sports show. No mention of a wife or children.
Not that it matters. Besides, David probably won’t even remember me after all this time.

After a quick meal, Meredith paced around her living room, unable to relax before going to bed. She slumped onto the sofa and flipped on the TV, changing channels with the remote control until her eyes crossed. Thoughts of David intruded, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

Snorting in disgust, she got up, grabbed her purse and headed for her car. Perhaps walking through the nearby shopping mall would tire her out in a way a twelve-hour shift and swimming could not.

Meredith drifted in and out of several shops at Cedar Hill Towne Center Mall, feeling restless and edgy. She bought a small diet cola and sat down on a wooden bench in front of a lighted water fountain. A teenage couple tossed some coins into the water. The smile they shared brought an unexpected ache to her heart. Meredith threw her cup into a trash receptacle, impatient with herself for being so maudlin.
I need to suspend these sudden jaunts down memory lane. They’re never any fun anyway
.

She glanced over at the entrance to a pet shop and decided a trip inside would help cure her funk. In the store, she found herself surrounded by brightly colored parrots, a rainbow assortment of fish, and the sound of yipping, yowling puppies and kittens. After wandering through the store for some time, a sales clerk approached her. “Can I help you find anything?”

Absolutely not. I don’t have the time or patience to deal with an animal
. Aloud, she said, “What kinds of dog breeds do you have?”

The clerk led her over to a bin of wiggling Llasa Apso puppies. “These little guys stay small, have great temperaments, and are on special just for today.”

Meredith regarded the furry little bodies as they rolled and tumbled over each other competing for attention.

“Cute, aren’t they?” the clerk said with a grin. “Go ahead, pick one up.”

Meredith sent them a wistful look. They were awfully cute with their curly coats and shiny little eyes. She started to reach into the bin, but paused, thinking of things like potty training, chewed furniture, and backyard messes inflicted on her well-ordered life and home. Meredith made a face and shook her head. “Not today, I’m afraid.”

The clerk stared at her in surprise as if wondering how she could be so hard-hearted.

On her way home, Meredith had second thoughts about getting a dog. It would be nice to come home to an eager puppy. Someone who cared she existed.

Meredith frowned. Where had that thought come from?
Maybe I’m more tired than I thought
. She glanced at her watch.
Eleven o’clock in the morning and past time for me to be in bed
.

***

Meredith reached over to put an end to the annoying drone of her alarm clock. When she sat up, her head throbbed. With bleary eyes, she looked around her room. Late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the sheers at the windows, casting the room in a soft glow. She pushed back the cotton quilt and slid from the bed. Her bare feet landed on the cool wood floor and she padded into the bathroom, splashing her face with water from the sink. Her reflection in the old beveled mirror on the medicine cabinet attested to her fatigue. Disturbed by dreams about David, she quickly readied for work, anxious to check his condition.

At the hospital, Meredith made her way to David’s room before reporting in. Inside the doorway, she let out a little gasp. In his bed lay an elderly woman hooked up to a respirator. Meredith closed her eyes for a moment to regain her equilibrium. Either David been moved to another room or...

Don’t panic yet. Get the facts
.

She strode to the nurses’ station and saw Erin Morgan, the night Charge Nurse, behind the desk working at the computer. Her red hair and cool green eyes seemed to match her personality.
Oh, great, the grouch is on duty
. Erin glanced up at her and grimaced.

Meredith cleared her throat. “What happened to the previous patient in two-thirty-two, David Steller?”

Erin’s eyes narrowed. “What’s it to you? You another one of his groupies?”

Spotting the patient assignment sheet, Meredith reached for it.

“They moved him down the hall,” Erin mumbled. “Somebody’s grandma needed his room worse.”

Scanning the information, Meredith went limp with relief. He’d been upgraded from serious to stable condition and moved to a room slightly further from the nurses’ station.
Thank you, Lord
. Replacing the clipboard, she hurried down the hall to his new room.

Meredith was relieved to find David’s color improved and his pulse, stronger. She touched his hand, silently rejoicing in his improvement. Noticing of the smell of flowers in the air, she looked around and saw a vast profusion of flower arrangements, Mylar balloons, and stuffed animals crowding the counter. Obviously he’d had several visitors over the course of the day. That was David. She remembered his name meant
dearly loved
. He’d always been popular, and she’d been just one more of the many who wanted to be close to him. The thought was depressing—and familiar.

Unable to stop herself, Meredith smoothed his hair from his face, breathing a prayer for his continued recovery. Before leaving the room and beginning her shift, she looked again at all the flowers. Tomorrow she’d bring him some from her own garden.

   The door opened and a woman walked in. As she came into the low light above the bed, Meredith recognized David’s aunt. “Gloria!”

“Meredith Ambrose, is that you? I heard you’d become a nurse. Thank God you’re here!” Gloria, dark-haired, with brown eyes similar to David’s, choked on a sob and gave her a hug.

The last time Meredith had seen David’s aunt and uncle was when her mom died seven years ago.
Why is it tragedy rather than good fortune that brings people together?

Gloria released her. “I just got the news. How is he?” She sat next to the bed, reaching out to touch his hand. Tears filmed her eyes. “We’ve been out of town for the past month and just got home today. I heard about him on the TV news!”

“He’s actually doing better than he looks. His surgery went well and his condition has been upgraded.” Meredith smiled. “David has always been tough.”

Gloria gave a nervous laugh. “That’s true. How long do you think he’ll be here?”

“Another week. Two at the most unless there are postoperative complications, which the doctor doesn’t anticipate.”

Sinking into the chair near the bed, Gloria covered her eyes with her hands. “I feel terrible I wasn’t here for him. Roy wanted to come, but he has the flu and didn’t want to expose David unnecessarily.” She looked over at Meredith and gave her a warm smile. “But you’re here for him. You always were.”

Meredith felt her face grow warm. How aware had David’s aunt and uncle been of her pathetic obsession of their nephew? She motioned to the flowers. “It looks like he’s had some visitors today.”

A nurse poked her head through the door crack. “Meredith, are you in here?”

“Yes?”

“Erin’s asking where you are. It’s time to get to your reports.”

“Okay, thanks.” Turning to Gloria, she said, “I need to go. It’s good to see you.”

Gloria stood and gave Meredith a quick hug. “I only wish it wasn’t under such circumstances.”

“Me, too.”

***

The night seemed to go on forever. Two nurses called in sick, so they were short-staffed, which had the usual effect of making everyone grumpy. In a room containing two patients, Meredith quietly prayed over a man after checking his stats. The door swished open. She looked up.

“Who are you talking to, Ambrose?” Erin barked, walking all the way into the room.

Meredith stifled a sigh. Here we go again. “God.”

“Wrong answer.” Erin crossed her arms over her chest. “Superstition has no place here. What if I were to sit down and figure out how much time you spend involving yourself in religious activities on hospital time? Unless you want to lose your job for waste and inefficiency, I suggest you quit that muttering and get to work!”

Meredith clenched her jaw and moved on to the next patient in her rounds. It was useless to be drawn into an argument with Erin. She knew she could get the Charge Nurse in trouble for religious discrimination, but Erin otherwise ran the unit well. Besides, it wouldn’t help their dubious relationship any by making a formal complaint against her.
Is it me she can’t stand, or just religion in general?

***

Meredith’s shoulders slumped when she finally got home after her shift. All she wanted was sleep. After brushing her teeth, she changed into her pajamas and burrowed under the blankets of her bed. Blessed drowsiness weighed her eyes and limbs. Her heartbeat slowed.
Almost there
.