Would You Be Mine?

The Unofficial Official Meeting

“Did I hear you right, Nurse Jane? My father is here?” Theresa had to confirm.

“Yes, Attorney Edward Reed is waiting at your office as we speak.” Nurse Jane was slightly teasing, she was close friends with the Doctor making her entitled to joke around even in stressful situations like these.

“Ah, this is too soon,” Theresa felt a little bit nervous. She felt like a teenager that was caught red-handed by his father.

“What do you want me to tell him?” Nurse Jane felt her uneasiness and stopped teasing.

“Tell him I am with a patient and will be right with him in 10 minutes maximum.” She gave Nurse Jane the look. Nurse Jane already knew that look. She was not supposed to spill anything and make sure that nothing reaches his father’s radar until Theresa gets back in the office.

“You want me to stay with him for a while?” Nurse Jane suggested.

“Yes, please.” Theresa’s face was grateful. “Get him some coffee too. Thanks!”

Nurse Jane nodded, smiled then closed the door.

“Dad’s here,” Theresa told Chad she was really nervous.

“I heard, “ Chad said, entertained by how Theresa was acting.

“I am not kidding. What do we do?” Theresa was serious.

“Introduce me,” Chad paused when he saw how Theresa’s face went from stress to panic. “Or not, if you are not yet comfortable with it.”

“But I already told him a few details about you,” Theresa said.

“Then introduce me, I can handle myself,” Chad told her.

“But I know little about you. My Dad is an attorney, he’ll definitely be asking a lot of questions.” Theresa explained.

“Let him be, I have nothing to hide. I am a good person.” Chad said. He took Theresa’s hand. “And I have no bad intentions towards you, naughty, but bad, Nah.” He was trying to lighten up the mood.

Theresa took her hand. “I am not kidding.” She almost stomped her feet.

“Sorry, I was just trying to calm you down.” Chad was now serious. “You can introduce me. We stay honest. Except for the part where you were the one who asked to be my girlfriend.” He was teasing her again.

Theresa gave him a warning look.

“Sorry, seriously.” Chad had to assure Theresa that everything will be alright. “If you are ready to introduce me, just come here. I do not see any problem.”

“I am a little bit tense. Just wait, give me time to breathe before I meet him” Theresa was still hesitant, more excited and conscious and worried at the same time.

“I know what can help,” Chad pulled her hand, this time harder so her body would be closer to his. He kissed him again. Deeply this time.

Theresa enjoyed the kiss. She felt her body drifting. She actually felt relaxed.

Chad didn’t want to let go but he didn’t want to receive a bad impression from the doctor’s father by keeping her from him for so long. He slightly lifted his lips from her, “Do you feel better now?” His voice was husky, barely breathing.

“I guess I do.” Theresa was catching her breath too.

“I think your father is waiting for you.” Chad was straining, he was having a hard time controlling himself around Theresa.

“Yes, I think so too.” Theresa was not moving, their lips slightly touching.

“Do I need to let you go now?” Chad asked, still strained.

“I think so, I guess,” Theresa said.

Chad mastered all her strength and kissed Theresa on the forehead instead. “I think your father needs you to know. Or else, we risk getting caught again, this time, by your father. We do not want that happening right?” Chad said.

Theresa gave out a sigh. “I’ll let you know. Rest here ok, I promise to see you before I go home.” Theresa stood from the edge of Chad’s bed.

She walked out the door. Theresa tried not to look back but she wanted so badly to do so. Chad was smiling at her when she closed the door. She smiled back too.

Theresa braced herself and went straight to his office.

When she arrived, Nurse Jane was updating her Dad with her surgery earlier. “Oh, you're here now, I guess I need to excuse myself and leave the two of you alone.” Nurse Jane immediately said right after she entered the office.

Theresa was about to motion her to stay a little bit but her father was looking at her. “Thank you, Jane. I think you are needed in the nurses' station.” She informed her. That was not true. Jane was already done with her shift.

“What brings you here Dad?” Theresa asked her father after Jane left the room.

“You told me you’ll be back as soon as you are done with your surgery.” Her Dad replied while sipping on his coffee.

“It took me longer than expected. I just finished a while ago.” She informed him.

“Ah, oh well, we can have lunch then.” Her father said. Theresa knew he wanted something else so she didn’t hesitate to ask.

“Really Dad, why are you here? You could have just called if you wanted to check on me.” She knew her Dad very well.

“Fine, I just want to meet this Chad.” Her father finally gave in.

“Why?”

“Why not?” Her dad gave her the face.

“Fine then, I’ll introduce you to him. Just let me change for a minute.” Theresa said. Chad said he was ready.

“Are you sure?” Her Dad was the one hesitant right now.

“You wanted to meet him right?” Theresa said while removing her white coat. She took off the bun of her hair and started combing her hair with her hands.

“Ok then, let’s meet this Chad.” Her dad said, sounding satisfied.

After a few minutes, Theresa and Edward headed to Chad’s room.

Chad heard a knock on the door. He instantly knew that it was Theresa and her Dad. The nurses nor his visitors rarely knock. They just enter his room as they please.

“Come in,” It was Chad.

It was Theresa who first entered the room. Edward followed Theresa at rather an awkward distance.

Theresa walked towards Chad’s bed. She waited for her father to walk closer before she introduced Chad.

Chad was smiling. He was his usual self. He didn’t look nervous at all.

“Chad, this is my Dad, Edward Reed. Dad, this is Richard Alberty.” That was the best Theresa had come up to introduce the two men.

Chad gave out his hand, offering a handshake. “A pleasure to meet you sir.” Her dad took Chad’s handshake and smiled at him too.

“So we finally met.” Her dad was using his Lawyer's voice on Chad. Which was funny for her.

“Yes sir, I was the one who called Theresa earlier,” Chad revealed. “Can I get you something? Sorry, I cannot offer that much given my current circumstance.” He tried to lighten up the conversation.

“Ah, yes. Why are you here if I may ask?” Theresa’s Dad began interrogating Chad.

“Gunshot wound sir. I was trying to save a friend.” It was a humble and genuine answer from Chad.

“What do you do Chad? When you are not saving other people’s lives.”

“Dad,” Theresa interrupted.

“I work at the farm. A few hours from here. It is my parent’s place. I have been helping my father out and living with him since my Mom died. But before that, I used to be a Chef in an Italian restaurant in the city.” He shared.

“What do you farm? Crops?” Her father seemed interested.

“Not really, we raise horses and other animals. Actually, we have newborn ponies right now, that’s why my Dad hasn’t been around lately.”

“So it’s just you and your Dad?” Theresa knew that Chad managed to hit a spot.

“Yes, and we have great neighbors, a supportive circle of friends. Life is happy even in a remote area like ours.” Chad was a charmer. He didn’t have a hard time being around Theresa’s father.

“So you do not plan on getting back to working as a chef?” Her father was genuinely interested in Chad. He even pulled a chair and sat close to Chad’s bed. She decided to sit beside Chad’s bed, but with a decent distance. His father didn’t seem to be bothered.

“I still visit the restaurants. It is still my Mom’s place. But I think that my Dad needs me more. My brothers are recruits, so they do not usually go home that often. My dreams can wait or can be set aside. I can always cook for my Dad at home.”

“Would you like to have lunch with us? His dad asked. It was one of his excuses to talk to a person more.

“I would but I am locked up here with these tubes.” Chad pointed to his dextrose.

“You can have food delivered here right Theresa?” Her father finally addressed her presence. She was just watching the two.

“Yes, we can.” She said, smiling.

“Order lunch for the three of us.” Her father instructed.

“Me?” Theresa had to repeat that.

“Yes, you. You’ll know what food is allowed for Chad and what is not. Can we have steak? Is he allowed to have steak?” Her dad was bossing her. Which is fun and irritating at the same time.

Chad looked at her. “Can I have steak?” He was excited.

“Yes, but well-done. We do not want you getting infections don’t we.” Now it felt like she was an outcast.

“Go then and order food so we can have it as soon as possible.” Her father was pushing her.

“I can order if you want,” Cha was grabbing his phone.

“No, let Teresa do that. Now tell me more about your farm.” Edward told Chad.

Theresa got up and kissed Chad’s forehead. She needed to do that just to get back to her Dad.

Edward didn’t seem to mind.

She went out and gave Chad a thumbs up before closing the door behind them.