Chapter 4 - The Invitation
924 Words
Only five miles into a long training run, Sandy muttered, “Don’t look.” Last night
had been long at the ER, but easier working with Dr. Z.
Then Aloha ‘Oe played again from her phone. She slowed from a run to a jog and spoke
into the device.
“Accept.”
“You’ve got something waiting at the ER. Come and get it,” Annie said, then
disconnected before Sandy could reply.
The command was short, typical Annie, leaving Sandy unsure if it was irritation or just
her usual ER frenzy. Probably the latter. Probably.
Sandy pulled her water bottle from her jogging pouch, took a gulp, then reversed
direction.
Ten more days until the Boston Marathon. Just a half-mile detour. She could get right
back to the run.
The ER waiting area was overflowing and noisy. No seats, but she wasn’t there to rest.
Six days straight on clinical rotation, two more than required.
Her roommates Lee and Josie did the minimum.
Sandy always said yes when peers begged her to take their shifts. As if she didn’t have exams, papers, and final projects herself.
Wiping her forehead, anger and fatigue pulsed through her.
Tears pricked her eyes.
She was tired.
Suddenly, a left arm draped around her shoulder, guiding her into the staff room.
“Yuck, sweaty.”
“At least not pus, blood, or crap. Sweat is your ‘yuck,’” Sandy said, letting Annie’s arm
stay.
She needed a hug.
“Ta da!” Annie swept her right arm wide toward the lunch table.
Sandy followed her gaze.
Annie held a perfect bouquet of white and pink roses.
“Looks like a birthday cake,” Sandy said.
“Read the card.” Annie handed her a small sealed envelope.
Sandy laughed, teasing as she slowly opened it. She’d seen countless bouquets during
rotation, but this one was exquisite.
“Hmm,” she murmured, studying it. “Hmm.”
“I haven’t got all day to be nosy. There’s a ward full of patients waiting.” Annie grabbed
the card.
“Oh my. ‘Please be my guest for dinner tonight at Sapphire’s. Six o’clock.’”
“What if I don’t want to be this person’s guest? How does he even know I’m off
tonight?”
“Because he was on duty with you last night. Both off tonight.” Annie tapped the card on
Sandy’s head.
Sandy assumed that meant Dr. Z.
“Finish your run. Rest. Put on a nice dress and your contacts.”
“Dr. Z’s seen me in glasses.” Sandy said with a shrug.
“Not in a dress,” Annie started toward the door, adding over her shoulder, “looking like
beautiful young woman instead of a tired med student,”
The adrenaline surge made the next eight miles feel easy.
Sandy looked at her only real date dress. A red skater-style, hanging in her closet for four
years, worn once at her San Diego State Senior Baccalaureate dinner.
She held it against herself in the bathroom mirror, towel still wrapped around damp hair.
Taking a step back, she confirmed it: the only choice.
Contacts required mascara and steadiness. Hard when her right eye wandered if tired.
She rolled up her only pair of pantyhose carefully, fastened her grandmother’s Puka shell
necklace, stepped into black ballet flats, and took a deep breath.
Through the apartment common area, Lee and Josie were camped with laptops, earbuds
in. Neither looked up.
Sandy paused, thinking perhaps they might notice.
They didn’t.
She was just background in a room of brilliance and stress, same as always.
“See you later,” she said.
“Okay,” they replied, eyes on screens.
Stepping into Sapphire, the bar was quieter than Friday night.
A few couples at the bar, a few more at the banquette.
She tried not to look anxious, scanning the room for Dr. Z. Five past six.
Too early?
Too late?
Nik standing at the end of the bar, spotted her.
The long black hair, the Polynesian features, Alexei’s description matched perfectly.
She was clearly looking for someone.
“Sandy Smith?” Nik’s Ukrainian accent softened the Smith into Smit.
He gave a polite nod and motioned for her to follow.
She shoved her hands into her coat pockets, clenching her fists, and followed him.
Nik guided her to the banquette where a man had just risen to greet her.
She turned slightly. Still looking for Dr. Z.
“Thanks,” she murmured to Nik.
He gave a small, unreadable nod and slipped away, leaving her to face the man.
Her eyes lifted fully looking at the man.
He was strikingly handsome, wearing a sharp suit, and there was a quiet intensity about him that made her catch her breath.
Nobody dressed this well had ever asked her to dinner.
Nobody like him had ever looked at her that way.
She blinked, caught off guard by the attention, and felt her thoughts scatter for a second.
Then the truth hit.
Sandy had no idea who this man was.
Throughout the day, Alexei had known the cargo had arrived.
Nothing had gone wrong.
And still, Anton hadn’t called.
Now he was getting ready to meet the woman who had helped him.
Alexei extended his hand.
She wasn’t what he’d expected.
Not practiced.
Not impressed.
Not aware of who he was.
Her hand emerged from her coat pocket, fingers uncurling as she took his.
That shouldn’t have mattered.
His pulse slowed before he noticed it had.
- Writer
