Chapter One
Alissa Madison grimaced as she sipped her coffee. She was used to it
being tepid, more often than not the coffee having sat in the pot since the
beginning of the shift. This shit tasted horrible. One of the nursing students
must have made it, sacrificing any semblance of flavor for the infusion of
caffeine. If she continued drinking this, it would kill her and bring her back
from the dead. Alissa poured the contents of her mug and what remained in the
pot down the drain, washed out both, and made a new pot.
The door to the break room opened. Jaclyn Simmons, one of the other ER nurses,
walked in, chatting with Doctor Michael Reynolds, the attending doctor. Jaclyn
had been her friend since Alissa had moved to Boston and began working at Mass
General three years ago. Both women were in their mid-thirties, although Jaclyn
was flirtatious and free spirited, which Alissa attributed to her being a
redhead. Dr. Reynolds recently had joined the staff, having completed his
residency six months ago at Shands Hospital in Florida before taking a position
here. Tall, muscular, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, he caused quite
a sensation among the female staff.
Jaclyn stopped chatting with Reynolds long enough to watch Alissa. “We’re out of coffee already?”
“I dumped the rest. That shit could have removed the rust from my car.”
“How long will it be?” asked Reynolds.
Alissa finished pouring the pot of water into the coffee maker. “A few
minutes.”
“We’ll wait.”
Alissa opened the lid. The wet filter sat inside, filled two-thirds of
the way with soaked coffee grounds. She withdrew the basket and showed it to
the others. “Would you look at this? Who makes coffee like that?”
Reynolds chuckled. “Someone who obviously never made it before.”
Alissa stepped over to the trash can and threw out the filter, tapping
the basket against the side to dislodge any loose grounds.
As she did, Stacey, one of the student nurses, strolled in. “Hey, guys.”
The others acknowledged her.
“It sure is quiet tonight.”
“Shit!” said Reynolds.
“Damn it!” complained Jaclyn.
Alissa dropped the basket into the coffee pot and groaned.
Stacey grew embarrassed. “What did I say?”
“Didn’t they teach you anything in college?” Jaclyn asked. “You never
wish someone a quiet shift.”
“Why?”
“It’s like the theater.” Alissa did not turn her head, instead measuring
out five teaspoons of coffee. “You never wish someone good luck. It jinxes you.
You tell them to break a leg.”
“I’m sorry.” Stacey appeared as though she might cry. “I... I didn’t
know.”
The beeper attached to Reynolds’ belt went off. He slid it off, pressed
the mute button, and looked at the display. “I’m needed in the ER.”
Alissa closed the lid to the coffee machine and pressed the START button.
“Break a leg.”
Reynolds turned to Stacey and motioned to her. “You started this, so
you’re with me.”
They rushed out of the break room, leaving Alissa and Jaclyn alone.
Alissa slid into the chair beside her friend. “I hope Reynolds doesn’t rag on
her too much.”
“He’ll put the kid to work and teach her a lesson.” Jaclyn leaned closer
to her friend. “What do you think of him?”
“Dr. Reynolds?”
Jaclyn nodded.
“He’s a nice guy and seems competent. He’ll fit in.”
Jaclyn sighed good naturedly. “Do you think he’s attractive?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“Then why don’t you hit on him?”
“Because I’m married.”
“You’re separated. You have been for almost a year.” Jaclyn lowered her
voice. “I’m not asking you to marry the guy. Find an empty room and let him
rock your world for an hour.”
“You’re serious about this.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’m not….” Alissa tried to find the right words.
“Like me?”
“That’s not what I was going to say. You’re single and can see who you
want.”
“Technically, so are you.” Jaclyn held up her hand and cut off her friend
in mid-protest. “Yeah, I know. You and Paul are only separated. Do you really think
he’s pining away for you? He’s probably banging a different girl every weekend
in that mountain cabin of his.”
Alissa couldn’t argue with her friend because, deep down, she knew Jaclyn
was probably correct. Before she and Paul had gotten engaged, he had played the
field, sometimes dating two or three women at once. She, on the other hand,
took relationships a lot more seriously, seeing only one guy at a time. Paul
had never cheated on her during the years they were married, at least as far as
she knew. Now that they were separated, she would be surprised if he had not
been chasing everything in a skirt. Alissa, on the other hand, approached
romance and sex more traditionally. Still, it had been a long time since
someone’s hands other than her own had pleasured her.
“Tell you what,” said Alissa. “I’ll ask out Dr. Reynolds and see where it
goes.”
“Are you going to ask him out for coffee or dinner?’
Alissa chuckled. “What difference does it make?”
“Coffee implies you want to get to know him better. Dinner means you want
to get to know him intimately.”
“Fine.” Alissa knew she would never win this debate. “I’ll ask him out to
dinner.”
“Good.” Jaclyn paused a moment and then grinned. “When?”
“You’re not going to—”
Stacey burst into the break room, panting for breath. “We need you both
down in the ER.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The shit hit the fan.”
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