Chapter 2
Serena
“Serenaaa… hellooo. Earth to Serena.”
“Hmmm?” I barely hear the voice of my co-worker, and best friend, Juliet when I am pulled out of the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my head about the cafe this morning.
Who does this guy think he is? First, he makes me spill my drink all over myself, and then he buys me another one. Only to leave some cryptic ass note on the cup.
What the hell is that about?
“Bitch, you’ve been all space case since you got here this morning. What is going on with you?” She shakes out her golden blonde hair as she pulls her hair tie out of her top knot.
“Well good morning to you too.” Sarcasm drips from my voice like molasses on a winter morning.
I put the box of nitrile gloves in the plastic glove holder on the wall by the sink in the exam room I was cleaning.
Not only did the medical assistant for Dr. Albertson fail to show up today, she also conveniently forgot to clean her rooms at the end of her shift on Saturday.
So now I am stuck picking up her slack too.
I am so fucking sick of this place.
Juliet pulls her hair back up as she follows me out of the exam room, down the hallway and to our desks that are tucked into the corner office in the back of the small one-story building. Small, but accessible.
Four exam rooms line the hallway on the right-hand side. In the middle of the U-shaped hallway connecting our offices, is our laboratory where the patients go to have their blood drawn and other testing done.
On the other side of the building are four more exam rooms for our pediatric patients, with another corner office where Jules’ desk used to be. She insisted on joining me in my office so we could sit together. So now, she walks back and forth between the two sides of the building.
I’m not sure who’s idea it was for her to work with kids, but they love her. And as much as Jules complains about the snot nosed kids , her words not mine, I think she secretly loves them too.
The doctors all share one office located in the back of the building between the two corner offices. Our only receptionist sits at the front of the building behind the counter in the waiting room.
“Also, did you know that you have a huge coffee stain down the front of your scrubs?” Juliet asks as she finishes pulling her hair back up into a high ponytail, pulling two small strands to frame her face.
I turn to face her with a glare that could have melted metal. “Yes, Juliet, I am aware that I have a giant coffee stain. It’s a new fashion statement, haven’t you heard?”
“Okay, you can put the claws away.” She hisses and curls her fingers in my direction.
I let out a loaded sigh. “I’m sorry Jules.” I sink into my chair and place my head in my hands.
Concern falls over her face. “What happened?” She rolls her chair over beside me and places her hand on my bicep. “I know when something is bothering you, and you’re not usually so catty. So what’s going on?”
I proceed to tell her about my sleepless night and my run in with the hot guy in the café. I’m in the middle of describing the coffee debacle when our manager walks in. Her eyes shift between us and she scowls.
“I don’t pay you two to sit around and gossip all day.” And just as quickly as she came in, she was gone.
“Geez, what crawled up her ass and died?’ Jules scoffs. On her way out the door, she turns and smiles at me. “Oh! If you need some fresh scrubs, I have a pair in my car. My keys are in the top drawer of my desk.”
“Thanks girl, but I don’t think they’d fit anyway.” There’s no way that my size nine ass and soft tummy would be able to squeeze into a pair of Jule’s size small scrubs. And my dumbass forgot a cardinal rule of working in the medical field.
Always keep a spare set of scrubs in your car.
To be fair, it was laundry day this weekend. And while I washed all my clothes, it takes me 5-7 business days to fold them and put them away. So all of my other scrubs are sitting on the chair in my room collecting lint.
“At least take my jacket.” Her hand falls on her hip.
Knowing she isn’t going to let it go, I take her jacket from her chair. “Thank you. What ever would I do without you.”
“You wouldn’t be able to survive without me.” And with a wink and an air kiss, she turns and leaves the office to prepare for her first patient.
***
I swear to all things holy that this is the last time I am covering for Keirsten.
In the past hour alone, I have roomed twelve patients, given six vaccines, and drawn the blood of five patients, two of whom weren’t even mine.
My feet feel like they are going to fall off, and my bladder feels like it is going to explode.
I open the schedule on my EMR to see if I have the chance to pee. So far, it looks like our 11:45 is going to be no show, and Dr. Albertson doesn’t have anyone right now.
Thank the lord and baby Jesus.
On my way back to my desk, I grab the growing stack of paperwork on the fax machine. Putting the rubber finger cover on my middle finger, I quickly thumb through the paperwork.
Medication authorization request from the pharmacy for Georgina, sweet old lady. Home Health nursing orders for Mr. Albertson to sign, plan of care from the assisted living facility for Bertha. Another sweet old lady. Her husband? Not so much.
I do enjoy working in internal medicine, but sometimes it is nice to get that break with family medicine. The kiddos are always such a pleasure, even if they are screaming their heads off. It’s the parents that are the headache.
The click clacking of Justine’s high heels reverberates off the hallway walls. I groan, a sinking feeling curling in my stomach. What does she want now?
Whatever it is, I doubt I’m going to like it.
The door swings open before I could prepare myself. “Serena, you’re still here.” Her voice is crisp and tight.
Where else would I be? I turn in my chair toward the office door to face her.
Without a single glance from her phone she informs me, “I just got a text from Keirsten and it sounds like she is going to be out the rest of the week. I’m going to need you to cover for her again.”
“You’re kidding. Don’t we have a float that can come in?” I sit up straighter in my chair.
“You know we don’t have the budget for that right now.”
“Justine, there is no way I can room both providers’ patients all week.” I slouch back into my chair.
“Sorry Serena, that’s just how it has to be.” Justine waves her hand and walks away, ending the conversation without another chance for me to defend myself.
“What a bitch.” I mutter under my breath. I’m always getting the short end of the stick when it comes to coverage. She doesn’t ask Jules because her patients are all on the other side of the clinic.
Mine and Keirsten’s are at least on the same side, so it’s more convenient for me to pull double duty. Convenient, but not easy. And it’s always on those days that we get the most complicated patients.
At last, noon comes around and I send my last patient home before lunch. Of course, I didn’t have any time to actually prepare anything this morning, so I had to mobile order a burger and fries. I take my phone out of my purse and open my messages.
Me: Hey, I got you a strawberry milkshake and fries. Meet me in the break room in 5.
Jules: Say less.
I put my phone away and as I am leaving, Jennifer, the nurse practitioner I work with, stops me. “Hey, I just want to say thank you so much for working double time today.”
“Don’t mention it.” I reply and continue my way to the break room to devour my well-earned lunch.
***
Six hours later and I can finally go home.
Driving home was a challenge all on its own.
My mind kept wandering to a certain six foot three, tragically handsome man and a pair of brooding deep brown eyes. Before I know it, I am turning down the cul-de-sac and pulling into my driveway at the end of the street in the corner lot.
My house may not be big, but it’s cozy. And it was perfect for me and Belle. Lately though, it's been feeling a little crowded.
I am so exhausted, I could cry. Hopefully Tyler made something for dinner, because the thought of having to cook after my shift today makes me cringe as I turn the key in the front door lock.
Belle is the best part about coming home after work. Hearing the thundering paws running down the hall to greet me at the door always lifts my spirits, no matter how hard of a day I had. And right on cue, here she comes.
I drop my purse and squat down with my arms open, ready to embrace my little spitfire. She crashes into me and knocks me on my ass.
The smell of food is absent, making it clear that dinner was not made. Looks like it's going to be cereal and pop corn for dinner tonight. I also notice that I haven’t heard another sound other than Belle since I got home.
“Down girl.” Slobber covers my face. I love her, but I don’t love the drool all over my face.
I walk down the hall and the master bedroom sits empty. The bathroom is cold. Tyler should have already been home by now.
Annoyed, I take my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. A missed notification pops up onto the screen. It is a text from Tyler sent an hour ago. Whoops.
Tyler: Nothing in the kitchen sounds good. Thai?
My stomach growls in response. Thai sounds delicious.
Me: Sorry baby, it was a crazy day today and I totally zoned out on the way home and didn’t see your text. Thai sounds great.
A few seconds later the phone buzzes in my hand.
Tyler: I was hoping you would say that. I am already on my way back. See you soon.
I quickly type out a reply and make my way to the bathroom for a much-deserved shower.
The water falls over me in a rhythmic cadence and melts my aching shoulders as I wet my hair.
What I need right now is a deep tissue massage and a good fuck session.
I’ve been so busy and tired from covering shifts at the clinic, that by the time I get home and I make dinner, I am already a walking zombie and don’t have the energy to do anything more.