6. Callie
Chapter 6
Callie
June 2023
Taking a seat at my desk I start the patient portal program and wait for it to load. I need to verify my patient schedule for the week, but I can’t stop thinking back to that day in the hallway. It’s been nineteen years since I met Mason for the first time, slamming directly into his chest.
Callie, focus. Daydreaming won’t help your current predicament.
Despite telling myself to focus I am locked into that daydream for what feels like forever.
Pulling my planner out of my work bag I scan my to-do list and schedule for the day. After making sure that both my planner and work tablet reflect the same visits I send patient documents that I’ll need this week over to my tablet.
I twist in my chair to check the time, noticing that I’ve only been at work for a little over an hour. I’m meeting with Mason at lunch today so my mind is not where it should be. It’s everywhere but at work.
I’ve forgiven him for what happened, for my well-being, but I have not forgotten. I don’t even know what to do to prepare myself for this lunch with him. I have no clue what his intentions are, why he’s here, or what’s going on. Nothing. I wish Jo Ellen would have told me more, and given me something to work with. But instead, I’m sitting here clueless, my mind coming up with multiple scenarios of how this lunch could go.
I’m doing my best to stay focused because I’ve got a long list of things to get done today. None of these are things I can put off due to daydreaming, so I need to get myself in check.
My computer pings with a new email, one I’ve been waiting for from an insurance company regarding one of my new patients. I make a mental list of what they’re requesting to finish this claim, head over to my filing cabinet to grab the documents, and sit down at my desk to fill them out. Once they’re completed, I walk to the front of the building to the fax machine. I am hoping that this will be finished quickly and that we can get this patient what she needs. Dealing with insurance companies has never been my favorite part of this job. They like to take their sweet time but always expect my response immediately.
I walk back to my office and cross a few things off my to-do list. I’ve always loved making lists; it always makes me feel more productive to see everything that I’ve completed being crossed off. Sometimes I even add things I’ve already completed to my list so that I feel even more productive.
While I wait for the insurance company to fax back their response I refresh my email and quickly reply to a few that have come in. I grab my sticky notes and make note that Mr. King is eligible for the wish project his daughter inquired about. I will have to make a phone call at some point today and let her know that we can move forward with his final wish.
Not even thirty minutes later there’s a soft knock on my door.
“Come in,” I say, expecting to see Jo Ellen. But it’s our secretary, Mel, walking in with a stack of papers.
“This came through on the fax machine for you.” She says quietly while walking towards my desk.
“Thank you. I’ll take those. I’m hoping they’re for Mrs. Lincoln, but I didn’t send the fax with her documents all that long ago, so I really doubt it.” I say before flipping through the sheets of paper. “Wow, they are for her. Thank you for bringing these back here. Since it’s early enough maybe I can get this taken care of for her.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help,” Mel says before heading back out to the front desk. I like her. She’s quiet but slowly opening up the longer she’s around us. She’s a few years younger than me and her bright blonde hair sits at her shoulders. She’s petite but doesn’t look child-like. The first thing I noticed about her, though, was her bright blue eyes surrounded by insanely long eyelashes that I am definitely not jealous of.
A song plays on Spotify that reminds me of Mason and, again, I’m taken right back to those days. I’ll never forget that first lunch I had with him, it changed my life in so many ways. From that point on we were inseparable.
“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz is currently playing through my headphones while I sit here and study for an upcoming test in study hall. Before Mason, I never would have been caught listening to sappy songs like this, but I guess when you’ve met someone who you feel is your soulmate things change. And lately, my song choice has begun reflecting how I feel on the inside.
Our teachers now know we’re dating and have sat us across the room from each other. I guess we talk too much when we’re sitting close. It doesn’t stop me from stealing glances at him, though. I’m not sure how many notes Mason is getting down because every time I glance across the room he’s looking back at me. Always meeting me with a smile and a wink.
I love that when he smiles a small dimple appears on both cheeks. There’s something about knowing he saves those smiles for me that makes it even sweeter.
The classes that I don’t have with him go by as slow as molasses. Last year we had four classes together, this year we’ve only got two together.
When the bell rings and I stand from my desk I’m met with Mason’s chest. How did he get over here that fast?
“Hey, a few of us are going off campus to get lunch today, you want to join?” he asks, grabbing my bag from me and throwing it over his shoulder.
“Um, yes. Any excuse to leave campus is an automatic yes.”
“I figured you’d agree. I’ll meet you at the side doors when the bell for lunch rings?”
“Okay. My class before lunch is right by that door so I may beat you there.”
He walks me to my next class, handing me my bag after placing a kiss on my temple. It’s the temple and forehead kisses that make me swoon the most.