Chapter 2: The Independent Nurse
1039 Words
Emma Brooks had never liked being the center of attention.
Unfortunately, that was exactly what Sarah Mitchell was determined to change.
Three days after agreeing to attend the Kingston Foundation Gala, Emma found herself standing inside the only boutique in Willow Creek while Sarah held up dress after dress.
"What about this one?"
Emma glanced at the sparkling blue gown.
"No."
Sarah grabbed another.
"This one?"
"No."
"What about—"
"No."
Sarah groaned dramatically.
"You know, most women would be excited about attending the biggest charity gala of the year."
Emma crossed her arms.
"Most women aren't me."
The boutique owner chuckled from behind the counter.
Sarah pointed at Emma.
"See? This is exactly why she needs this trip."
Emma rolled her eyes.
The truth was she wasn't nervous about the dress.
She was nervous about everything else.
The city.
The wealthy guests.
The feeling that she didn't belong.
Finally, Sarah pulled a simple emerald-green gown from a rack.
It was elegant without being flashy.
Sophisticated without looking expensive.
Emma stared at it.
"I actually like that one."
Sarah gasped.
"Did Emma Brooks just approve a dress?"
"Don't make a big deal out of it."
"It's absolutely a big deal."
An hour later, Emma walked out carrying the dress.
She felt slightly ridiculous for spending money on something she would probably wear only once.
Still, a small part of her was looking forward to the weekend.
Maybe Sarah was right.
Maybe she needed a break.
The following morning, Emma arrived at Willow Creek General Hospital before sunrise.
The emergency department was unusually busy.
Several patients had been admitted overnight, and the nursing staff were already rushing between rooms.
Emma immediately got to work.
For the next few hours, she barely stopped moving.
She comforted worried families.
Checked medications.
Assisted doctors.
Helped patients who needed someone to simply listen.
As always, she gave everything she had.
Around lunchtime, she finally sat down long enough to drink a cup of coffee.
"Rough day?"
Emma looked up to see Dr. James Carter approaching.
He was one of the hospital's youngest physicians and one of her closest friends.
"You could say that."
He laughed.
"You know, normal people take breaks."
"I'm a nurse."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I've got."
James smiled.
One of the reasons they got along so well was because neither of them had ever been interested in the gossip circulating around the hospital.
Everyone seemed convinced they would eventually start dating.
Neither of them saw each other that way.
They were simply friends.
"Sarah told me about the gala," James said.
Emma groaned.
"Of course she did."
"You should go."
"You sound just like her."
"Because she's right."
Emma sighed.
"I don't fit into that world."
James studied her.
"Do you know what's funny?"
"What?"
"You spend your life helping people."
"Okay..."
"You've probably changed hundreds of lives."
Emma shrugged.
"Maybe."
"And yet somehow you think you're less important than people with money."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because deep down, she knew he was right.
James stood.
"Trust me, Emma."
"What?"
"You belong anywhere you choose to be."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Then a nurse called her name from across the room.
Duty called once again.
Nearly two hundred miles away, Alexander Kingston stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Kingston Enterprises headquarters.
The city stretched endlessly below him.
Skyscrapers.
Traffic.
People rushing through their busy lives.
Most would look at his office and see success.
Power.
Luxury.
Alexander saw responsibility.
Pressure.
Expectations.
At twenty-eight years old, he was preparing to inherit one of the largest family-owned companies in the country.
A company his grandfather had built from nothing.
A company his father expected him to lead flawlessly.
"You're distracted."
Alexander turned to find his father entering the office.
Richard Kingston was a commanding man whose presence filled every room.
"I was thinking."
His father nodded.
"Dangerous habit."
Alexander laughed.
His father sat down across from him.
"The gala is this weekend."
"I know."
"Important investors will be attending."
"I'm aware."
Richard leaned back.
"You should also spend some time with Victoria."
Alexander immediately frowned.
Victoria Sinclair.
The daughter of another wealthy business family.
Beautiful.
Intelligent.
Ambitious.
And completely wrong for him.
His father knew it.
Alexander knew it.
Unfortunately, that didn't stop the endless attempts to bring them together.
"Dad—"
"Just think about it."
Alexander rubbed his forehead.
"Why does everyone care who I date?"
"Because one day you'll lead this company."
"And?"
"And people pay attention to these things."
Alexander looked out the window again.
For years, people had treated him less like a person and more like an investment opportunity.
Every conversation seemed to come with hidden motives.
Every relationship felt conditional.
It was exhausting.
What he wanted was simple.
Someone genuine.
Someone who cared about him rather than his family's name.
Someone who wasn't impressed by money.
Unfortunately, finding that person seemed impossible.
That evening, Emma sat at her kitchen table helping Lily study.
"You seem distracted," Lily said.
Emma looked up.
"Do I?"
"A little."
Emma smiled.
"Just thinking about the trip."
Lily grinned.
"You'll have fun."
"Maybe."
"You definitely will."
Emma laughed.
"I wish I had your confidence."
"You do."
"No, I don't."
Lily shook her head.
"Emma, you walk into hospital rooms every day and help people through the worst moments of their lives."
Emma was silent.
"That's confidence."
Sometimes she forgot how others saw her.
To Emma, she was simply doing her job.
But maybe there was more strength in that than she realized.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Emma stepped onto the porch once more.
The stars sparkled above Willow Creek.
Everything was quiet.
Peaceful.
The kind of peace that only existed in small towns.
She smiled.
In two days, she would be attending a glamorous charity gala in a city she rarely visited.
She would meet people from worlds completely different from her own.
What she didn't know was that one of those people was Alexander Kingston.
And in less than forty-eight hours, a spilled cup of coffee would set both of their lives on a path neither could have imagined.
- Writer
