Chapter 3 #2
“Byrdie, It’s not a no. I’m saying let’s meticulously plan it out.
Has Jasiel given you a solid date when he’ll be here?
All he tells me is that it will be in a couple of weeks.
I can’t move until I know if and when he’s coming for sure if you’re counting on him being here with Jo-Jo while we’re gone. ”
“So, it’s a yes for real.” I smirked as I was now moving to grab plates so I could call the boys down for dinner. Since Jo-Jo wasn’t taking a ditch day, we were still on a school night routine.
“It’s an I’ll see.” Byrdie tossed her hands up in mock surrender before going for her glass.
As badly as I wanted to just be carefree and fly away to some tropical island of paradise, I was a single mother who couldn’t just pick up and go.
A vacation does sound nice though.
I sat in the middle of the king sized bed with my legs crossed, facing my client in the same yoga pose as she told me about her work week in the ER and all the things she saw in the seventy hours of her shift.
Tasha was a nurse who had been at her job for ten years now but the trauma sometimes got to her. So she came to me for simple comfort.
“I swear it never gets easier, Olive, and I felt hopeless this week. Yes, I knew what I signed on for when I decided to follow God’s path for my life, but some days it pains me to see the patients I can’t help beyond a pill or a shot.”
“Tasha, of course you’re going to feel, you’re human.
I think it’s a trait for nurses to be empathetic.
The way y’all can really understand your patients and what they need without even talking to them has to be a superpower.
And the levels that you go to, to ensure that someone in y’all care is comfortable and pain free to the best of your ability is top notch.
And that goes to the family not in your beds too.
So, not hopeless, helpful. And you do help them beyond a pill.
I’m sure you whisper their name straight to God’s ear for healing. Fix that perspective, ma’am.”
She chuckled just as a sniffle escaped.
“Girl, obviously I’ve been coming here far too long because not you already knowing I be in there laying hands.” I laughed next.
“Not at all, just observant. Tasha, you prayed in here before a lot. So my mind tells me that you could use it in any situation where you might not feel in control or need to reduce stress or calm yourself. Correct me if I’m wrong.”
I made sure to choose my words carefully because I wasn’t her therapist and everything I said was my opinion and fact-based from what I noticed.
“No, you’re right.” Tasha shifted and now was laying on her side.
This was another of her favorite positions.
Tasha grew up an only child like me but always wanted a sister, so a lot of positions were neutral to that relationship.
I lay down beside her, still facing her as she quickly switched subjects, now telling me some deep juicy gossip about the guy she’s dating.
“Okay, let me tell you about him.” And even though she never told me his name, I knew all about this man and how she felt about him.
To me, this was the main reason Tasha was even using my services.
She could build relationships on a professional level, but she had a fear of intimacy when it came to relationships on a personal level.
“What’s been going on?”
“We had lunch in the cafeteria the other day. Well, kinda. I was there eating and he sat at the table next to me eating. We actually held a conversation for like five minutes. It was about the day, but still, that counts right?” I tucked my lip into my mouth to contain my smile.
I cleared my throat.
“Tell me who you want me to be to answer that question first.”
“Olive!”
“No, you’re right. That’s a plus. I’m wondering when you’re going to move to his table or suggest yours.
This is the third kind of lunch date. I am proud of you for actually holding the conversation this time.
But Tasha, you can make the first move and he can still wear the pants in the relationship. ” I shrugged.
“Would you?”
“This isn’t about me, Tasha.”
“But honestly, Olive. If the guy didn’t approach you, but you knew you felt something there, would you make the first move?”
I thought about my past relationships and how they came to be. My last was Jasiel and I didn’t think he counted, but I had approached him.
Then briefly, I put my mind on the stranger in the park who, surprisingly, I hadn’t seen since that day he came to get his daughters. But, yes, if given the space and opportunity, and if I truly wanted him, I would.
Would you?
I mean, I did approach Jasiel.
And look where that got you.
I released a low breath before I answered her question without further hesitation.
“Yes. If I felt as if something was there between us and I wanted to explore it. Whatever his name is might be just as nervous as you or feels like you’re not interested because you’re always short with him or keep the conversation on work.
I would at least try flirting first to gauge him though.
You do know how to flirt, right?” Tasha rolled her eyes as she kissed her teeth.
“Yes, Olive.” She didn’t sound convincing but I would leave that for her.
“Well, on your next fake date, bat an eye or something and see how he responds. If he doesn’t give you a weird look, then take it a step further and say something about how you enjoy the lemonade from Redmond’s so y’all could at least eat something else besides hospital food.”
Tasha chortled. “And you think just by mentioning that will get me food from there?” I shrugged again.
“We won’t know until you try it.” The timer sounding off let me know our session was coming to an end.
Tasha looked at the clock on the wall and I instantly noticed her mood.
“If you need another session before your next, just let me know. But, you got this.” I rubbed her shoulder for added comfort.
“No, time just feels like it flies when I’m here.” Tasha fake pouted right before we both got up so we could head to the living room.
This was the bittersweet side of my profession.
Some might see that as they were growing unhealthy attachments.
I didn’t think so though. Yes, it’s been a couple of months for Tasha, and I was sure once she finally got over this situation and stepped into her true feminine power, she would go free like the others.
“Well, until next time.” She waved bye and I prepared to head to pick up Jo-Jo early.
On my way to the park, I decided to make a quick stop at The Marketplace and get a box of popsicles for Jo-Jo and the girls today. They were always the last ones there still playing so I had been coming prepared for my extended stay at the park these last couple of days.
The girl's grandpa, Kelvin, had stepped in and took over picking them up all week, meaning I hadn’t set my eyes on their dad since last Friday. So I made sure to ask him if the girls had any allergies before I started bringing snacks.
Selfishly I hated that their dad wasn’t the one picking them up anymore, but also knew it was best for all involved.
I got lucky last week when I claimed they were with me, but I couldn’t keep doing that, especially when the girls didn’t know me that well.
The most they knew was that I was Jo-Jo’s mom and I often brought snacks and drinks since they had both me and their grandpa here past camp hours.
By the time I made it, like routine, their grandpa and I made our way to the playground.
“Hello, Ms. Liv. How are you doing today?” he greeted me as soon as we took our seats on the bench.
“Hi, Mr. Kelvin. I’m doing good. I brought popsicles today. Would you like one?” I asked as I pointed to the little cooler. I set it down to open. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I was smart and got all the same flavor. Even though I had one kid, I knew better than to bring multiple options.
“Aww, now I see why you asked if the girls had any allergies the other day. You were covering your bases with all the food groups and snack options. This is really nice of you. I’ll take one please. These kids love to keep an old man like me out in the sun far too long some days.”
I giggled as I passed him one. “Mr. Kelvin, you’re not old, but they do keep us both out here well past the time limit.
But these fruit pops should help with that.
” I wasn’t that mom who didn’t believe in sugar with kids, but I knew certain fruits helped with keeping them…
us hydrated, so I opted for the all-natural, real fruit popsicles this go round.
“And you cover the healthy chart. My son needs a woman like you around all the time.” That had me blushing as I smirked and turned away, putting my attention on the kids to wave them over for a break since they had been out here all day as is.
“Not you trying to put your son on right now, Mr. Kelvin.” He shrugged, trying to feign innocence right now.
“As a parent who only wants the best for his, it couldn’t hurt to try. Did it work?”
Now I shrugged as I smiled just as the kids approached with me passing out popsicles.
I didn’t even know his son’s name and I was sure he didn’t know mine.
You don’t know that, and you could ask for his son’s name.
No, not now. It’s going to look like I’m interested.
I silenced my thoughts long enough to answer the kids’ questions while I caught Mr. Kelvin’s smirk.