CHAPTER 39: A Declaration

 

There'd been something gnawing away at Barbara Dubois and it wasn't the alleged rat that her work colleagues and the sandwich bar claimed existed in the dry food storage. The last few days she couldn't get Jeremy Saint out of her mind. The more she thought about him, the more warmly and fondly she felt. Despite the outwardly square and awkward demeanour she knew he was really a romantic and caring person. Plus he was the first guy she'd dated who wasn't interested in one thing and one thing only. Barbara wasn't a prude by any means but she liked being courted, wooed and romanced and that's what Jeremy brought to their courtship. He was also the first American she'd dated since her move from Montreal to Sim City and that made him seem more exotic, crazy though that seemed.

But this lunchtime she'd finished her shift and and was desperate to see him. Maybe he was in, maybe he'd had lunch at home? Sure, she could wait until after 5pm but she HAD to visit him just in the slight chance he was there....to see him and tell him how she felt. However, knocking at the door she knew there was no one at home. Sighing in disappointment she began to trudge off when an idea struck her...she'd leave a note for him, telling him she wanted to see him soon. Not too desperate, but clearly displaying her eagerness to meet up. She wrote a note, folded it and pushed it through his letterbox.

At a little after 5pm Jeremy had arrived home feeling crushed, disappointed and embarrassed. He was certain he was going to get a promotion today after all the nods, winks and "attaboys" he'd been getting from some of the senior staff at Dewey, Cheathem & Howe. He'd heard his name being spoken in corridors along with the word "promotion" so when he was called into J.J. Gotcha's office he began by saying to his boss "Thank you, you do me a great honour and I'm pleased to accept the appointment...can we talk about my salary?"

"What salary? What are you talking about?" said Gotcha.

"Well, the promotion" replied Jeremy

"But what's your salary got to do with Henderson's promotion?"

"Henderson?" said an incredulous Jeremy.

"Yes...Henderson is being promoted to department manager. You didn't think it'd be YOU, did you? Ha. Ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha!"

"Well, sir, it's just that there were rumours...." said an embarrassed Jeremy.

"Hey! Bronson...come in here for a moment!" said Gotcha, calling to a passing colleague who stopped to listen. "Saint here thought he'd be getting the promotion! Ha-ha-ha-ha- ha!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" said Bronson, bursting out laughing.

"What's so funny?" said a woman clutching a folder who was also walking past. When Bronson explained that Jeremy thought he was being promoted to department manager she started laughing as well. The laughter was so contagious it started to spread around the office. Soon Jeremy couldn't take it anymore.

"Gahhhhhh!" he said, running out.

When he got home he just wanted to die. If that didn't happen then he'd probably pack his bags and move back to Crested Butte.

He opened the door, sighed and noticed a little note on the floor. Opening it up, he saw it was from Barbara.

I have to see you, is this evening any good? Please call me....hugs and kisses, Barbara

What could she want to see him about? Knowing his luck is was another dumping, just like Bianca. But she did sign it hugs and kisses so maybe it wasn't all bad? He raced to the phone and called her.

"Barbara...are you alright?" he said.

"Jeremy! Oh I'm so glad you called. Did you get my message?" she replied.

"Yes...I'm free tonight as a matter of fact. Is everything OK with you?"

"Oh absolutely...I'm so looking forward to catching up with you. See you shortly" she said, enthusiastically. Jeremy smiled....she didn't sound like she wanted to dump him. He went over to the radio and switched it on and noticed his "employee of the month" award. How long ago did that seem? Now he was "laughing stock" instead.

He changed into a casual suit and started to prepare some dinner for him and Barbara. Just as he was putting the finishing touches to a clam chowder, the doorbell rang. Springing to life he saw that it was Barbara.

"Jeremy, thanks for inviting me over" she said, entering the house.

"My pleasure. So you really wanted to see me?" he replied.

"Is that so strange? I'm.....very fond of you" she said, sheepishly. She wanted to say something else but fear had gripped her out of worry of being rejected.

"Well you're in luck because tonight I've cooked another of my grandmother's recipes...clam chowder, I hope you like it"

"I love chowder...it's a favourite dish back home" she said, smiling.

They ate and soon Jeremy forgot all about the work humiliation he'd suffered. Barbara was the ray of light in his life and he wanted to tell her....to tell her how fond he was. No, that sounded weak....he felt much, much more for her but he couldn't quite say it. What if she rejected him just like Bianca did?

Barbara joked and told silly stories about her work but she was barely supressing what she really wanted to say to him. Everything was perfect right now, what if she said something that panicked him?

After dinner they went to Jeremy's study where they talked about their favourite books, places they'd like to go and things they both enjoyed. But there was an elephant in this small room and it wanted to escape! Barbara looked at her feet and scuffed one of them on the floor whilst clasping her hands....

"So....I really wanted to see you tonight. I couldn't stop thinking about you at work today" she said, hesitantly.

"I sometimes feel that way about you" Jeremy replied, looking around the room, too frightened to look her in the eye.

"I....think....well...I KNOW that I...." she began.

"I...I...I..." said Jeremy, trying to fill the silence. "...I want to say, what I mean to say is....

"I LOVE YOU!"
"I LOVE YOU!"

They both said it simultaneously.

There was a short laugh and then silence. Both looked each other in the eye and couldn't break contact. Then they drew towards each other, as if by magnetism, neither wanting to stop what was happening naturally.

They parted after kissing for what seemed like an age. Jeremy stroked Barbara's hair and finally they spoke.

"What were we ever nervous about?" he said, softly.

"I know" she said, looking deep into his eyes. "What next?" she said.

"Stay" he said. She nodded.

"I was hoping you'd say that" she responded. "As it so happens I packed some nightclothes in my bag just in case"

"Good call. Shall we retire to the bedroom?" he said, a new found confidence in his voice. Anything was possible now, he thought.

"I'll just go to the bathroom first" she said. Jeremy went to his room and changed into his pyjamas, neatly folding his clothes on top of his dresser. His heart was starting to pound...he was going to spend the night with her and...well, this could be the night where they would...he couldn't bring himself to think of the word.

His heart began to pound faster when Barbara entered the bedroom. She'd changed into her nightclothes but they were not what he expected. She was wearing a white satin basque with matching garters and sheer white stockings. She'd gone the extra mile.

When Barbara packed a bag earlier on today, in the hope that she and Jeremy would spend the night together, she wondered about how risque her lingerie would be...maybe it would make Jeremy think less of her? As she put the garments on, however, she felt seductive and alluring. Sauntering into the bedroom she stood resplendent. Jeremy's jaw almost hit the floor.

"You're....beautiful" he said, admiring her from across the room.

They slid into the bed and began to snuggle and kiss. Each wanted the other so much but....it was late, and slowly, as they were canoodling, tiredness overcame them. Before anything else could happen they were fast asleep.

CHAPTER 38: Paging Dr Epstein

 

Julia Epstein was a young woman who liked schedules and procedure. She'd been like this all her life, much to the annoyance of her family and those who knew her growing up. She was up at 6am, did a routine of light exercises and had showered, as she had done all through her college years. Finally she put on her make up, plaited her hair and put in some contact lenses...normally she didn't wear them but today was a special day and she didn't want to lose her glasses in a patient during surgery. Yes, today was her first day of work at the hospital and if she was going to assist the best surgeons Sim City had she needed to look smart and professional.

Most doctors wore their normal clothes to work and changed into their scrubs or lab coats at the start of their shift at the hospital but Julia wanted to be super keen so she wore her new, fresh out of the box scrubs on the bus. She couldn't wait to start work; four years of medical school...finishing first in her class...all came down to this: An internship at Sim City's premier hospital.

When she arrived at the hospital she just sauntered in, confident. She knew she belonged here, in the medical world, bursting at the opportunity to show her superiors just what she was capable of. Walking through reception, she made her way to the information desk where she saw a woman in medical scrubs manning the phones and looking through patient records.

"Dr Julia Epstein, reporting for duty" she said.

"Dr...Epstein?" said the woman on the desk. "Do you work here?"

"As of today, yes. Did you not see my file?"

"I haven't but I'm sure the Duty Doctor has. Let's just look through my records here....Epcott, Ephraim, ah here we go...Epstein. I see you're a first year intern."

"That's me!" replied Julia, positively.

"I'm Francesca Griffith, admin assistant. Glad to have you on board, Doctor. I'll page Dr Murakami and she'll show you the ropes."

Francesca picked up a phone receiver and put out a message over the hospital loudspeaker system. "Paging Dr Murakami...paging Dr Murakami...please report to reception please.

After a few minutes wait a Japanese-American woman with short hair and wearing a lab coat arrived in the reception area and walked over to Julia. "Ah, Dr Epstein...good of you to join us. I see you've met Mrs Griffith...now, I haven't got time to give you a guided tour of the whole hospital but it's well signposted, there's maps in every corridor and I'm sure you'll pick things up quickly."

"Now, for your first task I want you to take some food for the patient in room 2" said Dr Murakami.

"Erm, you want me to take some food to a patient?" asked an incredulous Julia. "Surely I should be studying some case notes, maybe working in the lab..."

"Oh no, I want you to take food to the patient" said Dr Murakami, matter of factly. "I have a policy where new interns learn the ropes and layout of the hospital by doing simple tasks. I don't like those fresh out of medical school...particularly ones who show keen medical knowledge but little in the way of life skills...to learn from the bottom up. Now, this meal, room 2 and pronto...Dr Epstein." she said, pointing to a trolley with a covered metal dish on it.

Julia, without saying a word, trudged over to the trolley and began to push it. Reaching the double doors to the wards, she turned to Francesca looking puzzled.

"Through those double doors and just ahead to the left...you can't miss it" said Francesca.

Julia followed the directions and found room 2. Inside was a teenage girl who appeared to be covered in spots "Early stage psoriasis or perhaps an allergic form of eczema" thought Julia to herself.

"Nurse?" said the girl, quizzicly.

"Doctor, actually. Dr Epstein. I've brought you some food."

"Oh I'm so hungry...I had an examination early this morning and missed breakfast time...I guess this is a late breakfast, maybe brunch"

"Are my results back yet?" asked the girl.

Julia walked to the end of the bed and checked her notes...name, Yuki Behr, age 17. The usual medical history...nothing out of the ordinary.

"No, not yet it appears" said Judith. "But my guess is that it's an allergic reaction to something that contacted your skin. Do you by any chance frequent outdoor places much?"

"Well...no, not usually, but recently I've found a shortcut through Newcrest to my home that takes me through a lot of old heath land that has a lot of long grasses and wild bushes."

"Ah, that's probably it. If it is then there's plenty of ointments we can prescribe."

"Thank you, Dr Epstein...you're the first person here to tell me what might be wrong"

At that point there was a knock on the door. Julia said "enter" and Francesca did just that.

"Dr Epstein....Dr Murakami has got your next task for you." she said.

"Already? What is it? Does she want me to sit in on surgery? Does she want me to take some tissue samples from this patient?" asked an eager Julia.

"No, she wants you to change the IV drip of the patient in room 4."

Julia let out a "harumph", put Yuki's chart back in its holder and left the room. Popping along to room 4, she was met by a VERY talkative old lady.

"Well you took your time...do you know how long I've been waiting for an operation? Do you? Well it's not good enough, do you hear? Not good enough...good grief, look at the state of you? Are you a nurse? In my day nurses looked like nurses...white uniforms and hats...now look at you!"

"I'm a doctor, madam" replied Julia, when the old lady paused to intake a breath of air.

"A doctor! What are you, 12? Tsch! And a mere slip of a girl as well!"

"I'll just change your drip" said Julia, who had faced plenty of prejudice during her medical training from older male doctors who thought that she was too young and slight to cut it as a doctor.

"I tell you what Mrs...." and she checked the patient's notes "...Kearney. I'll follow up with the surgeons on your time of operation" and with that she quickly made her way out of the room.

Lunchtime came and Julia grabbed a light snack from the cafeteria. She ate alone; not knowing any of the other staff apart from Francesca, who was still working on the front desk. To be frank, she didn't mind the solitude here and appreciated the break from all the mundane tasks she'd been assigned. It certainly wasn't what she expected on her first day as a qualified doctor.

Heading back to the reception, Julia asked Francesca what her next "arduous" medical task would be.

"Well...there is something the higher ups wanted you to do" said Francesca. "Something that will familiarise you with every part of the hospital, be more hands on and is part of the very wellbeing of the place."

"Ooh, sounds interesting...what is it?" asked an expectant Julia.

At the end of her shift Julia trudged out of the hospital...she was disappointed that all her cases could have been handled by nurses, janitors or candy stripers but a job's a job and she would give it more of a go to prove to the "higher ups" that she deserved better. Francesca stopped her on the way out.

"Don't sweat it; all new interns go through this process" she said, sympathetically.

"Sigh...I guess. I'm still frustrated though; I want to prove what I can do!" said Julia.

"That'll come...in time. Meanwhile do you fancy hanging out for a bit after work? My husband's taking our daughter to ballet class this evening so I've got a workout session booked at Skye Fitness...and I'm allowed to bring a guest."

"Sounds good...I don't exercise much but I'm keen to give it a try. Sure." replied Julia.

"OK, see you there at 7pm"

Julia went home, had dinner and grabbed her exercise clothes. Catching the bus into San Myshuno she arrived....as she liked to do...promptly. Francesca had also just arrived and ran over to her.

"Phew! They couldn't find some x-ray at the hospital so yours truly had to locate it for them! Doctors! Anyway, I rushed straight from there to here; I didn't even have time to change out of my scrubs!"

"Hey, this is a pretty swanky place here" said Julia, impressed by the modern state of the art gynmasium.

She and Francesca entered the gym. "Yes, this place can be expensive but my husband's a member" said Francesca.

"Maybe one day I'll earn enough to get membership here as well" commented Julia, taking in the expensive furnishings and equipment.

They went into the ladies' changing room where Julia changed into her exercise leotard. She'd never been the sporty type and wondered how she would get on here but how difficult could keep fit be, she wondered. Francesca showed her to the treadmills and showed her how to operate one.

"So, do you think you'll stick with the hospital?" asked Francesca.

"I'm determined to. It's what I've always wanted to do all my life" replied Julia. "So what's the key to winning over Murakami?"

"Hard work and a can-do attitude" said Francesca. "But I think you did all the right things today, even if they didn't seem like much"

Julia kept running on the treadmill but noticed that two of her neighbours, John Action and Jeremy Saint, had entered the gym.

"Hey, Julia, what are you doing here?" said Jeremy.

"I might ask you the same question...this place is pretty expensive" she replied.

"I know. But my boss gave me a one off pass as a promotion present. John here got a pass from one of his contacts"

Action turned and smiled. "It was more of a personal contact...if you get my drift. I've been seeing this lady who has friends on the council. It pays to be connected"

Julia got off the treadmill, feeling exhausted. Jeremy turned to her and said "I almost forgot! Today was your first day at the hospital. How did it go?"

Julia paused for a moment. Francesca had gone to the other end of the gym to lift weights and was out of earshot and she didn't want to tell Jeremy about her day of delivering food, mopping floors and getting harangued by old ladies.

"Oh it was VERY challenging" she said. "I hit the ground running, so to speak. Never off my feet for a moment with all these tricky cases."

Action stroked his chin. "Really? You made a big impression on your bosses? Normally you have to mop the floors when you're at the bottom rung."