SWEET SPOT

CHAPTER THREE

The air outside was just like the weather app had predicted.

It was a tad bit sunny, yet a cool breeze was able to whisk it's way around to overshadow the sun in a way.

Jackie quickly said a little prayer of gratitude for the weather.

It made her feel a depth of relief, she didn't know how or why, it just did.

She was a mile away from the hospital when she heard 'Dancing Queen by Abba' playing loudly from her tote bag by the passenger seat.

Eyes still on the road, she blindly stuffed her right hand in the tote bag.

She grabbed the phone and picked up the call.

Without glancing at her screen, she knew who it was. The dancing queen. It was almost like ABBA sang that song for her specifically.

She placed the call on loud speaker and gently placed it in between her legs.

She started with a smile on her face "Please tell me you're on your way back already"

" I know you miss me, but a little 'hey' never hurt anybody" Cassie said and let out a brief laugh.

" I did miss you, we can do the pleasantries when you get back" Jackie pressed brake at the red light. Now she had enough concentration on the conversation "I mean, I know you informed me that you won't be able to communicate with me, but you forgot to mention the part where you would be away for the entire summer"

"I know, I'm sorry babe, let me make it up to you. Tonight, we'll go to that restaurant you like, eat and have drinks of all kinds. You, Jerome and I, don't worry, everything's on me" Cassie said with more confidence than Jackie had ever felt from her friend.

Their friendship was like Andrew and Jackie's, only without the romance and prom kid. And awkwardness.

It is rare for two people to stay friends for this long, but not for these two.

Along with Andrew, they were a trio that did almost everything together. From going to school, to wearing the same themed outfits for Halloween to running errands and playing.

Their friendship brought their family together. It formed a relationship that couldn't be broken, even though a certain two people from the trio made a baby.

Cassandra was there for her friend when she got pregnant, making light of the situation to ease the tension, as she was known for.

Michelle appreciated her efforts and didn't fail to tell her that. Her last words to Cassie, which she shared to her friend were the most beautiful thing she would ever hear. It warmed her heart to know that her effort was appreciated by a woman on her dying bed. She promised to always stick by her daughter and protect her.

That, she never failed to do.

Being an event planner was a beautiful work choice because she loved going places and she could plan an event.

It would give her enough time to spend with her best friends and goddaughter, which were the most cherished moments of her life.

The traffic lights turned green and she drove off and made the next turn.

She shook her head chuckling.

"Did you win a lottery or something?"

"Girl, you know I won't leave town for this long and come back not looking like I won the lottery. I got you"

"Well, Jerome won't be around, so, we could go with Andy."

A brief silence overshadowed the air, except for the sounds of horns and engines reving

"Woah" Cassie exclaimed, "What happened Jackie? The jackie I know would never let Andy go out to our nights out. No matter how hard Jerome and I tried to beg you".

She sighed "Andy's turning eighteen, she needs a break. I have been really hard on her, I figured I could raise a finger". As she spoke those words, she herself found it hard to believe. She laughed at the "wow" sounds Cassie made.

She passed through the hospital gates. Driving into the parking lot, she parked at an empty spot next to another empty spot that was next to Dr. Miles' black Chevrolet "Well, I have to go. I have entered hospital premises". she said in the best James Corden expression she could do.

"Alright, Andy and I will be waiting for you at home. Don't forget her... "

"Chocolates, I will try not to. Bye".They exchanged I love you's and hung up.

Jackie put her phone back in the tote bag.

She whispered another prayer, grabbed her bag and went out of her car.

She walked into the building and the coolness from the AC landed softly on her skin.

It almost felt like the same feeling she got when she reached for ice cream in her fridge, which was a beautiful thing for her.

She greeted Gerald from the door with a smile. Looking ever dashing in his door man uniform.

If he didn't have a wife, she thought he would be a charming, loving lover. She shouldn't be fantasizing about someone else's husband,but if you have not been touched and loved for as long as she has, you would too.

Being single forced her to claim celibacy when her friends teased her, and they did very often. She felt getting a boyfriend would complicate things with Andy, but, Cassie and Jerome knew it was because she still haboured feelings for her baby daddy. You wouldn't blame her, her first love and first kiss and first f**k. The psychologists must have said something about the firsts.

She continued through the hallway, exchanging glares, nods and greetings from patients to nurses to cleaners. A ritual she weirdly enjoyed.

She made her way to her office and was about to open the door when Emily walked up to her.

A Caucasian brunette haired twenty-one year old.

Emily was one of four interns in the hospital. The only female.

She was assigned to Doctor McQuaid, Jackie's head doctor but was denied. just like every other doctor.

They claimed she wouldn't "work well" for reasons only they could understand.

For some reason Jackie liked her. Maybe Emily reminded her of her younger self, apart from the ever cheerfulness. Emily didn't let what others did or said let her down. She kept her head up high and was determined.

She would always tell Jackie "I'm glad the others said no, I got the yes I deserve" with the biggest smile.

She smiled, mouth open, her veneers exposed. Jackie knew it was intentional, but she would never understand why. I guess when you spent that much money on teeth, the whole world has to know too she would say to herself.

"Good morning Doctor Sanders" she said, in her high pitched voice, smiling. She didn't wait for a response and continued "Dr. Miles wants you in his office".

"Alright, thanks Emily" Jackie said "And good morning to you too" she smiled and Emily smiled back.

She handed her keys and bag to Emily and walked down the hall.

Why did he want to see her?

That was something that rarely ever happened.

She got to his office, knocked and turned the door knob after she heard a mumbled "come on in".

She walked into the office and closed the door behind her.

There he sat. His dark skin, smooth, without a single spot, except for the scar under his eye. He raised his hand indicating for her to wait a minute as his eyes stayed fixated on the computer screen.

He was old, but it never really showed.

Now that she was looking at him, she really noticed him. He looked alot like Michael Jordan, if he was old and a little wrinkly. That's probably why the nurses let him have his way.

For a man in his late sixties, he really did look good.

She snapped herself back to reality as he raised his head and smiled at her. "Good morning Miss Sanders" he said softly as he gestures for her to sit. He took off his glasses and placed in front of him.

Jackie nodded took a sit in front of him. "Emily said you asked for me?".

"Oh yes. I didn't think you would see me through out the morning till lunch time and Doctor McQuaid asked me to inform you since she won't be available that you can breathe now" he paused and peeped at his screen as he heard his notification go off.

She sat there clueless. Breathe from what?

He continued "Sorry" he pleaded quickly before adding "Doctor Donaldson is back from his honeymoon so now you have one weight lifted off your shoulders".

She thought it would never end. If it wasn't his father's death, it was his aunt's. At this point he was the only person left in his family who hadn't died. Finally he got married and he wouldn't come back from his honeymoon.

This meant she wouldn't have to stay longer today.

It was indeed a relief.

She sighed loudly. She didn't mean to, but she did and he laughed.

"Thank you for this news. If that's all I will take my leave now" she said, the laughter still lingering in her.

He placed his glasses back on his face "Of course you can. I'm sure you have a lot , the hospital seems packed..."

"Oh yes, I saw the waiting room. It is packed" she affirmed, rising gently from the chair "I'll leave now. See you at lunch". She waved and left the office with a glad heart.

This day seemed to go from good to bad, but she was grateful the good outweighed the bad.

Immediately she stepped out of the office, she came across her worst nightmare.

Wilson.

Wilson was a nurse.

For some reason he had an obsession with her. She knew this because he would often surprise her with information only she and her friends knew. He looked at her for a long time whenever they crossed paths at the hospital.

She didn't know if she was tripping but she thought she saw him trailing her, staring in her windows at home and at work.

She had brought this to the attention of the people at work but they would just brush her off "It's just Wilson"

He had a huge crush on Jackie, but, the problem was,he was not just her type.

Her type just wasn't creepy.

"Hello Jackie. I missed you last night". She looked at him in awe. His huge, mascular body teased her.

"Sorry,I don't understand" she managed to stutter.

"Remember,we were meant to go bowling last night,but, you ditched me?"

"Oh. Sorry" she whispered.

They weren't meant to go bowling.

As a matter of fact, she tried her utmost best to dodge him the whole day and succeeded.

He smiled weirdly "It's okay we'll just reschedule. how about..." he thought " Tonight!" He exclaimed as though he just found the cure for cancer.

"Argh. I'm sorry I can't. I have an outing with my..."

"Cassandra" he interrupted. "And Jerome of course, every other Sunday I know." he groaned, clenching his fist.

She looked at him open mouthed. This was probably a clue for her to leave. "Okay, I'll be going now. I have somethings to do" she said slowly stepping back and when she was at a safe distance, she strode to her office and closed the door behind her.

She had once spoken to her friends about him and Cassie jumped and said "I'm sure I've seen this Wilson dude before... Isn't he that hot nurse person that sat at a table next to us when I visited you at the hospital?" Jackie nodded her head "Oh he is fine, like fine fine. And you don't like him because?"

"Because he is so weird, like creepy weird. I have told you about the times I had seen him in my windows or he'll sneak up on me..."

Cassie rolled her eyes "I feel like you're trying to make me see him in a different way, but all I see is one handsome man being cute. If you don't want it, then pass it on"

"I don't think he wants you Cassie, he's obviously obsessed with our friend here and I have watched movies like this. It doesn't go well for the friends of the person being obsessed about" Jerome said, taking a sip of his Martini.

Cassie kicked him from under the table "There's a difference between real live and movies okay" she turned to Jackie "Can I get his number? Who knows, maybe I could take his eyes off you for a bit. You know a friend is supposed to be there, sacrifice and all that. You can thank me later".