My mother sighed as dramatically as you can from a hospital bed. “You need to get laid, daughter of mine.”
Groaning, I wished the floor would open and swallow me. At least the curtains were drawn around the bed giving us a tiny bit of privacy.
“You know. I bet you could call yourself a born again virgin. I think it’s like five years. I mean when was the last time you cleaned out down there honey?”
“Mum,” I growled, humiliated. I hoped the other patients were too sick to hear what my mother was saying. It had been a very long time, but I wasn’t telling my mum, especially not now. If I went off what my mother was saying, I was almost a virgin twice over at the ripe old age of thirty one. Argh! I was so pathetic.
Needing to get away from my mother for a moment before I either broke down or strangled her, I stood and stared at her lying in the bed. “I’m going to go check on how much longer we have to wait for a doctor and go grab myself something to eat and a coffee.” I needed to go for a walk too, clear my head before I came back in to my mum. By the looks of my mum, I needed to call Principal Ranch and ask if he could give me time off. I’d also give my best friend Brent a call and see if he could pop by my house and check on Sherlock, my German shepherd.
My mum winked at me. “Sure, go check out what they have to offer around here.” I knew she wasn’t talking about food, but I could also see that whatever meds she’d been given by the nurse had not only just stopped her feeling pain, but made her high as a kite.
Not bothering to answer mum, I smiled at her and backed out of the curtain drawn cubical.
Mum had appendicitis. As soon as they’d confirmed this she was booked and taken to the operating room. After, a nurse came and told me my mother was in recovery, that the surgery had been fine, and they’d had no complications.
A heavy weight on my chest had been lifted and I walked to an exit needing fresh air. My mum drove me crazy, but I loved her and didn’t know what I would do without her. Whilst mum had been in surgery I’d rung work and explained the situation. Principal Ranch was an arsehole. He’d told me that it wasn’t in the school’s budget to find a replacement for me while I took a holiday. I’d explained my mother was in hospital, but for some reason he didn’t believe me. I should have argued that I really was looking after my mother. I should have told him that I was entitled to time off, but I didn’t. I apologized for calling him at home and that I would see him Tuesday morning. Argh, I was such a pushover. Thank God it was a long weekend, and I had Monday off to help mum.
The sun glistened on the horizon as I left the path to wander in the garden. Pulling my phone from my handbag, I dialed my best friend Brent. He had been my best friend since high school. We’d met in year seven in the library when Brent had gone in to get away from bullies, too.
He picked up on the second ring. “How’s your mum?”
“I’ve just come outside to tell you the surgery was a success. They took out her appendix and she’s in recovery. I want to stay here with her tonight, but I need someone to go check on and feed Sherlock.”
“Don’t you worry, love. I’ll look after Sherlock for as long as you need me to. When do you have to be back at work?”
My best friend was amazing. He was always around to help me whenever I needed him. “Thanks so much, Brent. I really appreciate it. Work has been a nightmare and I have to be back bright and early Tuesday. Lucky it’s a long weekend, huh?” A tingling raced up my spine and an odd feeling swept over me. Looking around, I searched for what could cause this strange feeling.
“Oh Bellie, You really need to speak to your union rep and…”
I stopped listening to Brent as my heart rate sped up and an awareness of someone watching me had me spinning around searching. I spotted him and my whole world froze. Holy shit. The man before me was breathtaking.
I muttered something to Brent about calling him later and hung up. I could barely move. I just stood there and stared. The guy was taller than me, which is something as I’m five-ten. I guessed he was close to six-five, maybe even six-six. He wasn’t a huge muscular build, but he was defined, with just enough muscle to make him perfect. It wasn’t just his body, in what looked like a very expensive suit, that held me captivated. It was his face: his high cheek bones, regal nose with its slight upturn, lips that weren’t big, but were definitely not small, his square chin. And the whole package rounded off with his little scuff of a beginning beard, making his GQ appearance complete.
The man before me was like a mirage in the desert. My stomach flip flopped and got hotter the longer I stared. I’d never in my life reacted to a man this way. What had this guy done to me? It was like I was put under a spell.