Dearly Loved (17 page)

Gino smirked. “Since I’m new in town, I have to admit I’m a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the Lakers.”

Rosa laughed and looked up at him, patting his chest with her little hand. Returning her gaze, he covered her hand with his own. Meredith sighed and looked at David. His tawny-colored curls shone in the arena lighting and his dark eyes glimmered with humor.

He put the mic near her mouth. “Tell me, do you think the Kings have a shot at the play-offs this season?”

Meredith felt like a deer caught in the headlights, mesmerized by the intimate look in David’s eyes. All her admonitions to herself were forgotten in that moment. Without quite realizing what she was saying, she opened her mouth. “If they show they really mean it and keep their foul plays down to a minimum...I think they have every chance of achieving their goals.”

David turned to the cameraman. “Words to be heeded. For Channel Nine KVL, this is David Steller.”

The cameraman lowered the camera from his shoulder and told David he’d be waiting for him in the van.

Gino turned to David. “Hey, we’re going out for coffee and dessert after the game. Think you’d be up to it? Ask the camera guy, too.”

Meredith kept her gaze glued to a wad of bubble gum stuck on the concrete steps. What had she been thinking? She only imagined a double-entendre in David’s words but her own answer made even less sense. Now, a part of her waited in suspense for his response about going out after the game.

“I’d love to. But I have to get back to the station and prepare the tape for the eleven o’clock broadcast. Thanks for the invite.”

“We’ll see you at church on Sunday.” Rosa waved and moved away with Gino.

Meredith mumbled a good-bye and followed the couple out. She couldn’t bring herself to look at David.
What will he make of that inane comment?

They exited the arena and headed to the parking garage. The sun had disappeared and the few stars competed with the halo of light from the city. Rosa gave Meredith a sidelong glance.

“Gee, Mer. Interesting answer to David’s question. I didn’t know you knew so much about basketball.”

“I don’t,” she said gloomily. “I don’t know anything at all.”

***

Meredith pleaded a very real headache and declined going out for coffee with Rosa and Gino. She knew despite Rosa’s intentions, they wanted to be alone. In her opinion, they were made for each other. During the ball game, she noticed they seemed to be wholly in tune with each other. Their gazes strayed to the other, finding every excuse for casual touches. Meredith wished them well.

Right now, she only craved a couple of pain pills and about nine hours of sleep. Her days on began the following night. Perhaps unconsciousness would serve to obliterate her embarrassment of making such a corny comment to David tonight.
What was I thinking?

After Gino dropped her off at her house, Meredith made her way inside. She’d left Bitsy in the house and she sat down on the floor with a plop to receive his puppy ministrations. When Bitsy had settled down, she went to the kitchen for a snack after downing a couple of Extra-Strength Tylenol. Exhaustion made her eyelids heavy.

Once her teeth were brushed, her face washed, and an over-sized T-shirt on, Meredith glanced at the clock radio in her room. It was nearly eleven. Wouldn’t hurt to catch up on the latest news.

She settled herself among the pillows on her bed. Using the remote, turned on the little TV she kept in her room. The usual news was reported; trouble in the Middle East, a government scandal, and wildfires in the West. Meredith barely heard any of it.

Her heart rate accelerated when the sports segment neared. A few moments later, another one of the sport reporters sat at the desk, explaining David had been at the King’s game earlier in the evening. They cut to video of David interviewing the basketball player she’d seen him with at the arena. She admired the engaging way he talked with the player, the way he showed genuine interest in his comments.

Meredith’s eyes began to drift closed. She knew at any moment, they’d cut back to the reporter filling in at the Sport’s Desk. From there, they’d go on and on about the scores of practically every game played on the planet.

“We talked to some of the fans tonight to get their thoughts about the upcoming Cedar Hill Kings season.”

Meredith’s eyes snapped open.
He wouldn’t
. Surely he’d only been teasing about interviewing her. David wouldn’t dare actually film her without her permission.
Would he?
She saw him asking some young boy’s opinions. She relaxed. In the next moment, to her horror, the screen was filled with an image of herself and David.

“Tell me, do you think the Kings have a shot at the play-offs this season?”

Meredith groaned.
I want to die. The way I was looking at him is disgusting. I acted like a David Steller groupie
.

Worse was to come.

“If they show they really mean it and keep their foul plays down to a minimum...I think they have every chance of achieving their goals.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Meredith turned off the TV and put a pillow over her head, her humiliation complete.

Thirteen

When Meredith began her last shift in the Med-Surg unit, her bone-deep fatigue reminded her she wouldn’t miss working these hours. Frankly, there wasn’t a whole lot she would miss. She had never been close with most of the nurses—the high turnover rate of the night shift didn’t encourage close friendships. Her gaze flicked over to where Erin sat talking with a few other nurses.

Would she miss the Charge Nurse? Nope. But she’d continue to pray for her. As Meredith passed by the nurses’ station en route to a patient’s room, Erin looked up and saw her.

“Well, well. It’s Ambrose’s last day. You going to miss me?”

The other nurses laughed nervously at Erin’s challenging tone. Meredith tried to ignore her and continued on by.

“Nurse Ambrose! I’m talking to you. Do you want to add insubordination to religious fanaticism as a black mark on your record?”

She stopped and turned around. “Do you want to be reported for religious discrimination?” she said coolly.

“Oh, I see. You’re going to speak up now that it’s your last day. What bravery! I’m impressed.”

Meredith flushed. She walked up to the station and set down her clipboard. Before she could speak, Erin laughed. “Are you going to let me have it now? What about turning the other cheek? Isn’t that what a Christian’s supposed to do?”

Breathing heavily, Meredith counted to five before opening her mouth. “Erin, I don’t deny that you make me angry and I don’t like the way you’ve treated me these past few years. I’m sorry you need to berate and belittle others to feel better about yourself. All it does is drive everyone away. Do you want to end up all alone?”

Erin stared at her, her face pinched and white, her green eyes wide. Suddenly she burst into tears and hurried from the room. Meredith stood stock still along with the other nurses, stunned by her reaction.

“Meredith?”

Turning at the sound of her name, to her further surprise, she saw Clay entering the unit. “Uh...you’re back in town?”

Clay’s eyes followed Erin’s retreating figure. “I just got back and thought I’d stop by. I need to talk to you about something.”

“Oh.”

“What’s wrong with Erin?”

Meredith shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m going to find out!” He startled her by setting out at a run after the Charge Nurse.

Meredith gripped the counter for support. “Does anyone know what’s going on?”

***

Meredith didn’t have a chance to analyze the sudden turn of events. Patient calls came in and she had to answer them. An hour later, things slowed down a bit and she found one of the nurses who’d witnessed the scene between herself and the Erin. Meredith asked if she knew anything more about Erin’s outburst.

The nurse shook her head. “All I know is that she went to the chapel. She’s been there all this time.”

“What!”

The nurse shrugged.

“Could you cover for me? I think I should talk to her.”

“Sure.”

Meredith hurried from the unit, twisting and turning down the different halls, until she came to the chapel. It was a small room with mauve carpeting and a set of five wooden pews in a row. Stained glass glowed over a wooden altar but there were no other religious symbols as it was open to anyone regardless of their faith.

Hearing the sound of muffled crying, Meredith swallowed and edged open the door. Her words died in her throat when she entered the room. Erin sat cradled against Clay’s chest. His cheek was pressed against her hair while he rubbed her back and spoke to her in soothing tones. He glanced up at her before returning to his comforting of Erin. He didn’t say a word.

Turning on her heel, Meredith went out of the room and returned to the Med-Surg unit, her thoughts in a whirl. Out of the confusion, one thing was very clear. Clay was in love with Erin Morgan.

***

The remainder of Meredith’s shift passed by in a haze. Refusing to give Clay or Erin any room in her thoughts, she went about her duties in a precise and organized manner. By the time she’d reported off to the day shift, thoughts she’d held at bay crowded back into her brain.

After making sure her pockets were empty of hospital paraphernalia, Meredith tore off her smock and stuffed it into her bag. She donned a light cardigan over her tank top and changed her shoes. Without an ounce of regret, she cleaned out her locker and left the Med-Surg break room. She made her way through the hospital out to the parking lot without looking back.

“Meredith! Wait!”

Meredith continued walking to her Saturn. After unlocking the door, she wrenched it open and threw her bag and purse inside. Clay came running up, out of breath. His usually perfect hair now stuck up all over his head. He looked as exhausted as she felt.

“We need to talk,” he said.

She gave him a fixed look. “I don’t think so.”

He took her hand and held it firmly when she tried to pull it away. “You have to listen to me.” His gaze beseeched hers.

Her shoulders sagged. “I think I figured it out, Clay. You don’t owe me any explanations.”

“Yes, I do.” He exhaled a ragged sigh. “The times I’ve come to the hospital to see you, I’ve often ended up talking to Erin. She's revealed some things to me. I...I knew she was hurting and I gave her my phone number so she could reach me if she needed to talk. I swear I did it in all innocence.”

Meredith gazed at him. “What did you talk about?”

“Erin...was married once. She was in a car accident that killed her husband and unborn child. She told me she used to believe in God until that happened. She’s so hurt and bitter, and I felt...coming fresh from losing my own spouse, that I could minister to her.”

“No crime in that,” Meredith said, shocked at the sad details of Erin’s life. In fact, the Charge Nurse’s treatment of her began to make some sense.

“I didn’t say anything at first because of the private nature of her grief. We’ve spent hours on the phone. I...had her meet Tiffany.” He sighed. “How do I say this?”

“You were drawn together through a common experience, and you fell in love with her.” Her voice was flat.

Clay smiled sadly. “You’re right, Meredith. You’re always right about me.” He looked down at their joined hands. “While all this was happening, I felt so confused. I continued to pursue you because I felt genuine affection for you. I’m sorry to hurt you this way. Your friendship will always be special to me.”

“Are you going to marry Erin?”

“I know she’s got a lot of stuff to work through but I can see what she’s really like on the inside. She’s not a one-dimensional embittered person. I believe, with God’s help, she’s on her way back to the Lord.” His eyes blazed. “I love her and do want to marry her someday.”

What could she say? For all her enjoyment of her relationship with Clay, she’d never fallen in love with him—yet.
I thought it was only a matter of time. Now I’ll never get to find out
.

She squeezed his hand and tried to inject a note of enthusiasm into her voice. “I wish you all the best, Clay. I really do.”

“I wanted to tell you in a better way, Meredith. That’s why I came by this morning. I had to talk to you before you found out in an awkward manner—like the way it happened.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a tight hug.

She patted him awkwardly on the back. He moved away and looked down at her. “You don’t hate me, do you? I truly value our friendship.”

She gave him a wan smile. “Of course I don’t hate you. This is the way it’s meant to be. I pray all the best for you and Erin.”

“Thank you, Meredith.” After a parting smile, he turned and headed back into the hospital.

Meredith climbed in her car and sat for a long time.
Take it easy. Concentrate on breathing. Don’t come to the conclusion that only troubled, rude people find love. Don’t decide that Clay abandoned you like David and everyone else. Sometimes things just work out this way.