A Dose Of His Love

Lunch with him

"How long will I be here, nurse?" asked the senator.

"We'll let the lab guys decide that as we

run some tests," says Mrs. Pinch.

"Sounds like you don't know for sure," says John.

"This isn't some sort of guess class, sir," rebuts Mrs. Pinch. "I'll send the lab technician over," she adds, and she leaves the room.

"Make a call to my campaign manager, John. Why the hell isn't the team here yet? Don't they know I'm hospitalized?"

"Yes, they do, father," replies John. "But we aren't in London any longer."

"Where are we?"

John looks at me. "Clarity Hospital, Belfast."

"You flew me to Belfast," says the politician. "Under the strain of a heart attack?"

"I called Dr. Hepburn, related the issues to him, and he came up with this idea."

"I'm pretty sure that's the reason he isn't here, trying to avoid giving an explanation."

"Call me if you need anything, sir," I announce, wanting to leave them be.

Outside, I phone Talisa again, and she even puts Tyler on the phone.

"Hey, mom. Aunt Lisa got me a meat pie. Was this your idea?"

"Oh, definitely not, sweetheart. But do you like it?"

"Well, it's not that bad. How's work?"

"Fine, sweetheart. How was school today?"

"Well, I'm happy I came. They picked me for class president. Do you know anything about campaigning?"

I look towards the room marked PRIVATE. "No."

"Know anyone who can help?"

"Maybe."

"Great."

"So I'll be running."

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

"Thank you, mom. We've got to go now. Talk later, mom. Love you."

"I love you too, baby," I say as Lisa comes back on. "Take care of him, Lisa."

"You know I will."

I don't feel like going back inside Mr. McRae's room, so I head downstairs for lunch. Just as I descend the first flight of stairs, someone calls out, "Nurse!"

I slowly turn. John McRae is after me.

*********

"May I help you?"

"We really didn't get to introduce ourselves formally."

"I already know your name."

"But I don't know yours," says John.

"Claire Bishop," I say.

"Alright, Claire. Where are you off to?"

"See if I can get lunch."

"Exactly what I had in mind," says John with a smile that puts me off guard.

"Shouldn't you be with your father?"

"Oh, I'm excused. What are you having for lunch anyway?"

"I'll know when I get there."

We get there, and the chef shows me a burrito and pancakes behind a glass. I take the pancakes.

"I'll have a burrito," announces John. "And a cup of coffee."

"Long night?" I ask.

"Like you wouldn't believe."

I'm surprised when he sits with me at a table. "What?" he demands when he notices the look on my face.

"Just checking."

"On what?"

"If this setting is appropriate,."

"There's something I wish to tell you, but it'll be wise if I tell you after we eat."

I say nothing but dig in. After this morning, Tyler left me with no room for breakfast. How unfair he had his.

"How long have you been working here?" asks John.

"A year," I say. "And two months."

"Quite a while."

"Yeah. Although it sounds like the first time you've been to a hospital,

"For something as serious as this, yes," says John as he halves his burrito. I'm still on one bite. Being this close to him and inhaling his scent, air of panache, and whatever it is that makes him look good all puts me in discomfort. And I definitely cannot remember the last time a man has made me feel this way without even a physical touch, being a single mom and all.

"Well, it's dawned on me now."

"What's dawned on you?"

"The conception that most politicians get flown out of their states and countries for medical checkups. I mean, that's what we see on television. So it could be something like this?"

"Something like my father's heart attack, you mean," says John, and he continues, not waiting for my answer, "It's really not that private, Claire."

"If I'm to work with this information, I'd say that sixty percent of politicians have heart attacks every year."

John just smiles, as if there's an important part of the puzzle I'm missing.

"On the other hand, why?"

"Why what?"

"Why a heart attack? Is it desperation? Forgive the word."

"If you knew the hours, time, and thinking put into one single campaign, then. that question would have been the least of your inquiries."

"Are you his protégé?"

"No, I'm more of a business tycoon than one who makes promises," says John with another smile. He finishes his burrito and empties his cup of coffee. "Anything I should get for my father; should he be starving already?"

"I doubt that. Has he complained?"

"No."

"Then he won't for a while. We gave him something to go by," I say, finishing my meal. "So what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Sorry for listening to your call, Claire. I was going out when I saw you in the lobby."

"Because your father woke up."

"Yes. I never knew that nurses could be so promiscuous," adds John.

I get up and leave the place. He follows after me.

"I had an idea you were going to mention that," I accuse. "Men can't just keep their mouths shut when it concerns a woman's private issue."

"Trust me, I do know how to keep a secret. Between us."

"I need to see Mrs. Pinch. I'll check up on your father shortly."

I find Mrs. Pinch in the nurses station, peering into some patient files. "How is he? McRae?"

"Fine. Now that he's awake and seems ready to take on a round of senatorial debate, is there something else you can make me do for the whole day?"

"For the whole day?"

"Yes. I'll be standing in for Talisa tonight. She has an emergency."

"Aren't we all Hepburns? But why would you want something else? I've relieved you already."

I say nothing.

"Oh," says Mrs. Pinch.

"What?"

"I get it now," she says, with a chuckle. "It's the son, isn't it?"

"What has this got to do with him?"

"With the way you explained it, he walked in on you with that face. One that's obviously had you hooked."

"It's not him, Mrs. Pinch."

"Of course it's not; it's the father instead," says the head nurse sarcastically. "You'll be fine, Miss Bishop."

"No, I won't."

"You think so?"

"I have a feeling John McRae is going to be offering me something more than just his conversations."

"Something like what?"

"Something he's already heard me mention on the phone today."