2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Brooke
A few days after decorating the lobby for Christmas, I'm heading into work when Lexi stops me.
"Okay, it's been a stressful morning already, and I know you’ll get briefed, but I wanted to let you know from me we had to move Luke to one of your rooms," Lexi tells me.
Instantly, I’m alarmed.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Well, we didn't know he had an issue with confined spaces, and he can't use the stairs and refused to use the elevator, so he wasn't leaving his room. So, we did some shifting, moved him downstairs, and assigned him to you."
"Why me?" I ask.
I've been doing so well at avoiding him. The feelings I felt just by looking at him still run through me when I think of him. I don't want to be tempted, especially since he has a girlfriend.
"Other than you are the head nurse and the best one we got?" She gives me a look like I've completely lost my marbles.
Hell, who knows? Maybe I have. I've never had feelings for a patient before, and it's a line I'm not willing to cross.
"Yes, other than that," I say with a straight face.
"Honestly, he reminds me of Noah. He's lost in his head, and I think you can help him better than anyone here," she admits.
Well, I sure as hell can't say no to that. So, I nod.
"Okay, I'm going to go get my briefing, and then I’ll talk to his old nurse and see what I need to know.”
I head to the conference room, where the nurses brief me on anything major going on and anything I need to know for my patients. When Lexi asked me to come to Oakside and run the nursing staff, I agreed, but only if I could still see patients. Helping someone is my favorite part of my job, even more so when I'm helping a soldier.
After hearing the report and discussing the needs of the other guys I’m caring for Luke's old nurse comes in and sits down.
"It took me a bit to figure out why he was refusing to go to his appointments. I wish the hospital had told us so we could have put him on the ground floor from the beginning," Maria says.
I agree with her there.
"They may not have known. In the hospital, the doctors and staff come to you, so it might have only been an issue when he was discharged." I try to comfort her.
"No, he was agitated in the elevator on the way to his room the first day, but I was talking on and on about the place and didn't think much of it. Many of the guys are anxious when they first get here. New surroundings and all."
"His doctor was going up to see him, so he didn't really miss any appointments. The physical therapist gave us a list of exercises to work with him, but he's still wheelchair-bound. They expect him to be walking some in a few weeks or so as the swelling goes down more."
She goes over all the technical stuff from the hospital, his background, and family information. I see that he only has his sister listed as next of kin.
"Have we asked about his parents?" I ask her, wanting to make sure his forms are filled out properly.
"Yes, they died a few years ago, so it’s just him and his sister. She’s the one who insisted he come and has been to visit him a few times that I have seen."
"Good. Guess it's time for me to go introduce myself." I say as I stand up.
On my way to his room, I look over his files one more time, stop outside the door, and take a deep breath. In school, we learn how to hide our emotions. Emotions aren't good in high-intensity situations, and I try to use that skill now.
Even though the door is open, I knock on the doorframe as I peek my head in. The room he’s in is set up and decorated exactly the same way as his room upstairs, but the only difference is the Christmas tree I added in the corner on a small table.
I find Luke sitting up on his bed, reading a book. He’s dressed in sweats and a t-shirt, which seems to be the uniform the guys choose to wear around here because it's easy. He sets his book down and looks at me.
"Hello, Luke. I'm Brooke. I’ll be your new nurse and wanted to come in and introduce myself. Have you done your exercises from your physical therapist yet today?" I ask.
He shakes his head no.
"Okay, I’m going to take your vitals, and then we will work through those exercises. I see here you like to eat in your room. Now that you are on the ground level, do you still want to eat in here?" I ask.
He nods.
"Okay." I make a note on my tablet I carry, so the kitchen staff will bring his food to his room.
During the entire time I check his vitals and work with him on the exercises, he doesn't speak a single word.
Over the next week, each day is the same. I come in and do all the talking, and he says nothing but complies with his appointments and exercises.
Needing to find a way to get through to him, I sit down with Lexi and tell her how he's been.
"I told you he needs someone to get through to him,” Lexi says. “And I really think that could be you. Talk to him, and find a way to get him to open up. You know as well as I do, the longer he stays shut down, the longer his recovery will be."
"I know. I will think about it and try to get him to open up. Mind if I tell him Noah's story? I feel like that's a story he might relate to."
"As you know, my husband always likes to share his story. He’s so dedicated to helping these guys that he’ll tell it over and over again if it helps them." Lexi smiles with pride.
I head home to make my plan of action that mixes in some holiday cheer. Poor Luke has no idea what's coming at him tomorrow.
Luke
It's been a few days since I switched rooms and a few days since Brooke became my nurse. Of course, the girl I had my eye on was to become my nurse. Why wouldn't she be? It adds a whole new level of confusion to everything.
We have a routine down. She comes in each morning and checks my vitals, gives me my medication, and helps me do my physical therapy exercises. Then, she takes me down to the dining room for breakfast.
She makes sure I attend all of my appointments. These are normally physical therapy in the morning, followed by a doctor's appointment, if I have one. Then, in the afternoon, I have my required therapy session and then a meeting with a counselor, who is meant to help me figure out my next steps in life.
Brooke makes sure I eat lunch and dinner before coming in again to check on me before bed and do more exercises before the night nurse takes over.
I have yet to speak a single word to her, but I have been watching her. She smiles, talks, and is really good at her job. Everyone here seems to like her. She’s friends with Lexi, who is one of the owners of the place.
So today, when she walks in with a determined look on her face, I know something is different. She’s in scrubs, though her top is Christmassy with Santa, reindeer, and stockings on it, and her pants are a dark green to match. Her thick chestnut hair is pulled up in a messy bun, and her lips are light pink, which I have come to learn is because she likes to use cherry Chapstick. I don't want to think about how many times I’ve thought of kissing those lips just to taste them.
"So, tomorrow is the Secret Santa drawing for patients here. Lord, who thought putting on something so simple was so much work!" She goes to tell me about the event set up, as she takes my vitals and gives me my medication.
"Still not talking to me, huh?" She makes herself comfortable, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She’s fairly close to me, though, as I’m sitting up against the headboard. It’s my favorite spot in the whole room because my back is to the wall, and I can see anyone who comes in, and normally, it’s before they can see me.
I still don't answer her. What do I say? No, I don't trust myself to talk to you? Then, I would have to explain why, which will just make this weird, since I'm sure she has a boyfriend or husband waiting on her and wants nothing to do with a cripple like me.
"You remind me of Noah, you know," she says.
That's when I cave. "What?" I ask.
Her face breaks out in a huge smile, and my heart skips a beat.
"Ahhh, there he is," she says. "I was Noah's nurse before Oakside. It's how we met. He was one of my patients in the hospital, and Lexi never left his side. Because he was there the longest of almost any patient I had, the three of us bonded pretty well. When they started Oakside, I came over with them."
She smiles with a faraway look, lost in a memory, before continuing. "Noah was stubborn at first. Lexi had to drag him, kicking and screaming through the healing process, but he was a fighter like you. He taught me the most important thing about recovery."
She pauses, so I sigh. "What's that?" I ask her.
"You need something to fight for. Guys with the most basic injuries take forever to heal if they have no motivation. I've seen men like Noah heal much faster than anyone ever thought possible because they have the right motivation. So, what’s driving you?" She asks.
"My sister," I say without thinking.
"Well, no offense, but she isn't enough," Brooke says without missing a beat.
"What? She’s all I have. I have to get better for her."
"But she isn't motivating you to get better. You’re still stuck in this holding pattern. Eventually, you need to find your ultimate impetus to push yourself. Now, let's do these exercises and get you down for breakfast. Also, you are going to do this Secret Santa no matter what. I put in too much work for you to tell me no," she says adamantly.
"Yes, ma'am," I smirk. Everyone has been so careful thinking I might break, and here she is giving me sass.
I love it.
She stands up and runs a finger up the bottom of my foot.
"You feel that?" She asks.
"Barely," I say.
"Better than not at all," She says she is doing the same thing to the other foot, which feels the same.
Then, she starts helping me with basic leg movements, and like every day, her hands on me feel like heaven, and I have to think of not so pleasant things, so I don't pop wood just from her hands on me. It's a daily struggle, but I wouldn't have anyone else help me.
My sister tried once, and it wasn't the same. That night, I told Brooke I hadn't done them just so she'd do them with me again.
As she wheels me to the dining room, I wish time would slow down and give me a little more time with her.
"After breakfast, it will be time for the Secret Santa. So, don’t go anywhere, as I’ll be back for you. You also have a PT appointment right after," she says.
I realize I'm already waiting for her to come back to me. Who am I kidding? I'm already in too deep.