Recreational Love

1. Spencer-1

1

Spencer

“Are you excited?” The woman from human resources asked in the nearly airless elevator. Her demeanor was cool, professional. It was packed, the doors opening on every floor letting people in and out. A gurney took up half the space, forcing the two of us against the wall.

I knew I should give an immediate answer, laced with a smile. But the ball of anxiety spinning in my gut made it difficult. It was my first day of work at the VCU Hospital in the ER. I’d moved home to Richmond from Boston to make a fresh start in my hometown. It was comforting to see familiar places, but starting a new job was stressful, especially after being gone for so long. Twenty years in Boston, the last fifteen nursing at Tufts Medical Center. Finally, my lips stretched across my face in a semblance of a grin. I managed a small nod.

“Well, the staff are looking forward to meeting you, and they will put you to work right away. The emergency room is always hopping. Never a dull moment.” Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and scowled.

“I thought I’d have time to show you around the floor, but an emergency of my own has come up. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you stranded. I have someone who will work with you for the next two weeks to make sure you learn the correct procedures.” Her eyes never connected with mine, and the ball of anxiety bounced up to my rib cage.

Human resources was on the 22nd floor, so by the time the elevator doors slid open on the first, I was ready to bolt. I’d never been claustrophobic before, but my nerves were on edge. It felt like day one of school again, not knowing anyone or anything. I glanced at her name tag. Alesha. I knew the woman meant well, but her demeanor left something to be desired. Oh, and her perfume was a powdery rose that overwhelmed the small space we were in.

It took every ounce of self-control not to run out of the cramped elevator. I waited for Alesha to exit first. When I stepped on to the floor I was amazed at the calm. This was a huge hospital, and I expected it to be a madhouse from the get go. Instead, the staff patiently went about their business. A few of them were standing together, obviously gossiping, but when they saw Alesha they parted in a hurry. Apparently, she was someone they didn’t want to cross.

“Spencer?” Alesha’s grin was gone, and she was looking at her watch.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” My cheeks burned, caught not paying attention.

“That’s okay, but I need to be elsewhere. Come with me.” She hurried toward the nurses’ station in the middle of the ward.

“Nancy, where’s Josh?” She asked a nurse, an older woman with a neutral smile she assumed as soon as she noticed Alesha heading her way.

“He’s at the pharmacy, but he should be back any minute. Would you like me to page him?” She said, picking up the phone.

“No, that won’t be necessary. Nancy, this is Spencer Talbot. He’s moved here from Boston and today is his first day on staff. I have to leave him here with you. Something has come up, or I’d stay with him myself. Josh is expecting him, so let him know Spencer is here as soon as he returns to the floor.” She turned without another word and jogged toward the elevator. Nancy’s mouth opened to reply, but Alesha was already gone. Her eyebrow lifted, and she shook her head.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. They scheduled me for my break five minutes ago. If you don’t mind I’m going to let you sit in an empty office until Josh returns.” She reached under the counter and pulled out a thick binder and handed it to me. It was a manual of procedures, and must have weighed ten pounds. “This way.” She led me down the hall and deposited me in a small gray room with a single window.

“I’m sorry, but you’ve arrived when it’s relatively calm. I need to take my break now, otherwise, well, you know what it’s like.” She shook her head then shut the door behind her.

I sat at a plain metal desk. There were no pictures or decorations, only the familiar smell of disinfectant. I opened the manual, prepared to at least give it a cursory glance, but my thoughts wandered to why I was here in the first place.

“You’ve come full circle, home again.” I whispered, then turned in the chair and looked out the window. A mixture of students and staff were walking up and down the sidewalk. A few in pairs, but most had their heads down, hurrying to their destinations. I wished I was one of them, with something to do, an important task to rush for.

I’d arrived in Richmond less than a week ago, escaping the chill of another Boston winter, or that’s what I told myself. I’d spent two decades up north, only coming home for sporadic visits to my Aunt Sue. She’d graciously taken me in until I could find my own place. My parents moved to Florida three years ago, so she was my only family here. I hadn’t maintained contact with anyone else, so it felt like a fresh start.

I heard a thump outside the door and my knee jumped and hit the bottom of the desk. I focused on the manual in case someone walked in. Footsteps hurried away, and I sighed with relief, glad I wasn’t caught daydreaming.

“No more doctors or men for that matter. You are to come to the hospital and leave alone.” I spoke aloud, a faint echo filling the empty space.

I drummed my fingers on the desk, impatient for this Josh person to put me to work. The longer I was alone, the more I could think of my humiliation. Jilted at the altar by Dr. Ted Walton, abandoned for a younger surgical intern. It was for the best, since oddly enough, I hadn’t missed him. On paper, he tore my heart to shreds. But what I didn’t tell anyone, was that instead of pain, I felt relief. Like missing an airplane at the last minute and discovering it crashed into the ocean later that day. I thought I’d been in love with Ted. He was confident and a top doctor in a crowded city teeming with doctors. In the rearview mirror though, he left me empty, devoid of passion. I’d only known true love once, but that was like a teenage dream, one you wake up from and despite closing your eyes over and over again, it’s lost forever.

What drove me away from Boston were the gossips. They were thrilled to whisper about it all over Tufts Medical. It was humiliating. The pediatric ward I truly loved went from being the perfect work environment to a nightmare overnight. After a month of sideways glances and whispered speculation, I turned in my notice.

“You just had to s**t where you eat, didn’t you?” I reminded myself for the umpteenth time. This job would be different. Come to work, get my s**t done, then go home. My heart was permanently encased in surgical steel, and it would stay that way.

The door burst open, and a man in scrubs stepped in, hands on hips and a broad smile plastered on his face.

“Hi! I’m Josh. You must be Spencer. Welcome to insanity.” His hands spoke as loudly as his words. He had flaming red hair and freckles sprinkled across his nose. Josh’s enthusiasm was infectious, and I returned his grin with a genuine one of my own.

“Nice to meet you, Josh.” I started to stand, but he gestured for me to stay where I was.

“Sit, sit. It’s quiet on the floor, which scares me. Whenever we get a lull, something insane happens.” He sat across from me on the other side of the desk. “I was informed by her highness, Alesha, that I am to be your mentor for the next two weeks. She’s someone to be avoided at all costs if you know what’s best for you.” He winked.

“Well, she does have a certain, um…” I started, then he burst into laughter.

“Oh my gawd, that look on your face is priceless. You are definitely going to fit in. Yes, a stick resides in her ass. Oh and don’t ever get trapped in an elevator with her. That god awful perfume would gag a maggot.” He slapped his thigh and giggled, and moments later I giggled, too. Looked like my new job wouldn’t be as boring as I thought. Boston was a crazy city, so I thought Richmond would be a snore fest.

“Before I show you around, tell me a little about yourself. You’d better do it now, because at the drop of a hat this place can turn into a madhouse. Where did you work last?” He asked.

“I moved here from Boston. Worked at Tufts, in pediatrics.” My gut clenched again, but this time it was a pang of regret. I had loved my job, wished I was still there.

“Strange, you don’t have an accent. I love Boston, oh and Provincetown, but have the hardest time understanding anyone. Did you ever hang out there?” Josh opened the office door and peeked out, checking to see if the floor was doing okay. When he closed it, I answered.

“I’m actually from Richmond, moved away twenty years ago. I guess that explains the lack of an accent. And yes, I used to go there with...” my mouth snapped shut while thoughts of long weekends with Ted at his condo on Cape Cod flooded my mind. Status and luxury were my rewards for being with my ex, and though I missed that part, I didn’t miss him. No walking down memory lane with someone I just met.

“Ah, sounds like a man with a past. Tell me later over a cocktail. So, you come from pediatrics. Have your worked in ER before?” Josh asked, eyebrows coming together. He was probably scared of having a total newbie to train.

“Yes, I worked in the ER there for my first twelve years. I transferred to pediatrics for a change of pace. It can get pretty crazy there too.” I said, then the door swung open. A young nurse with wide eyes interrupted us.

“Josh, there’s been a multi-car pileup at the Second Street exit on 95. Get out here, the first ambulance is pulling up now.” Adrenaline surged through my limbs and we both got to our feet. Josh held out his arm for me to go first.

“Welcome to the ER.”