Finally, there was a hesitant knock at the door and a gentle female voice called out. "Cathy, it's Beth, your nurse. Can I come in with the discharge paperwork?" She walked in holding a small stack of papers in her hand and gave all of us a pleasant smile.
"Oh, yes," Cathy said, sitting up a little more in the hospital bed. "I'm ready to get home. My poor cat is probably pretty lonely."
Oma moved closer to me by the window and I stood up next to her. My stomach growled with hunger. Looking at her watch, Oma said, "Jacey, it's well past lunch. Why don't you go down to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat while we finish up. We can meet you down by the car."
I was relieved. I had felt slightly nauseated the entire time I was in Cathy's room. Partly the nausea was because of the hunger and partly because I just didn't like hospitals.
"Thanks," I told Oma, as I looked at the IV that Cathy still had in her hand. I didn't want to be in the room when the nurse took that out. I shuddered just looking at it.
Oma chuckled lightly. "Go, child. Get out of here before we have to admit you. You are already pretty green around the gills." Oma patted my shoulder affectionately with her hand.
I turned quickly, kissing Oma on the cheek. "Do you want anything?"
"Just a cup of coffee, with a..."
"A splash of cream, yes, I know," I said with a smile. I was already feeling better just thinking about leaving the stifling room.
I walked out, taking a peek over my shoulder to check on Oma. She was smiling, her attention already back on Cathy. I watched Oma and Cathy chatting and giggling while the nurse looked over Cathy. There friendship was so strong and such a blessing to Oma. I really hoped I could do this for them both.
I walked into the hallway and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the brighter lights. Varick stood where I had left him, up against the wall next to Cathy's door. His arms were crossed over his chest, the seams of his sleeves pulling over the tightness of his muscles.
"Hi," I said, blushing lightly.
"Hi." His eyes were still shadowed by his ball cap, but his smile was plainly visible.
"I was told to get something to eat from the cafeteria."
"Yeah, I know." Varick's smile twitched with delight.
I smiled in return. "Wanna come with me?"
"Of course," Varick replied, standing up straight and dropping his arms.
We walked down the long hallway to the elevators that would take us back down to the entrance and the cafeteria.
"Cathy looks pretty sick. I don't know, Varick. This is a pretty big deal. I really don't think I can do this." I didn't realize until Varick looked down at my hands that I was rubbing them together nervously.
Varick stopped to face me. He lifted his head slightly so I could see his eyes. They were so bright, even in the shadows of the bill of his ball cap.
I will never get used to those eyes.
He placed his hands on either side of my face, delicately cupping it in his palms.
"Yes, you can do this. I know it. You can heal her, Jacey Brindle. There are no doubts." His words were fierce, strong, convincing, but his hands remained gentle on my face.
We stood like that in the middle of the hallway. Varick began to lean in a little closer towards me, his hands still holding my face still. I saw his eyes dart to my mouth and my heart jumped into my throat, my belly flip flopping in anticipation.
Oh my god! He's going to kiss me!
I practically screamed in my head.
Right here, in the middle of the hospital hallway, Varick is going to kiss me.
When my heart settled back in my chest, it was hammering so hard, I thought for sure it would burst. My breath was shallow, coming in little gasps. I closed my eyes, waiting for his lips to touch mine.
But they didn't. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I felt Varick's hands leave my face. I opened my eyes to see Varick pulling away from me. Disappointment flooded in.
"Aren't you going to answer your phone?"
"No," I muttered, the word coming out with a definite sound of poutiness. I roughly reached into my pocket and grabbed out my phone to see who was interrupting.
I recognized Jamie's number flashing on the screen and cursed under my breath. Varick pulled his ball cap back down over his eyes as he chuckled softly.
Rolling my eyes in irritation, I shoved the cell phone back in my pocket and started walking to the elevators. I needed to talk to him. I still felt guilty. But now I was irritated with Jamie because he had interrupted the moment between me and Varick. I would talk to him later.
"Was that your friend, the guy from last night?" Varick's hands were shoved in his pockets.
"Yeah, that was Jamie. I need to talk to him. I have a lot to explain to him."
"Explain? Like what?" Varick asked, pushing the button on the wall summoning the elevator.
"I still haven't explained how or why I was able to heal him the other day. And I need to tell him some other things too."
"He looked pretty upset last night. Did you find out why?"
Crinkling my nose in consternation, I answered, "Sort of."
Varick held the elevator door back with his arm, so an older woman in a wheelchair pushed by a younger man could get off the elevator before we got on.
"After you," Varick said, bowing chivalrously.
"Thank you, sir," I answered, giggling as I nodded my head at him.
"Jacey Brindle. What are you doing here?" A voice called out from across the hallway.
I turned to see who it was. Varick held the elevator door open.
Evie Tender walked toward us, her lips pursed together tightly.
Grimacing, I whispered out the corner of my mouth to Varick, "Hurry, close the door."
"Why?" Varick asked, his arm still holding the door open.
"Wait. Hold that elevator," Evie called out, obviously to Varick.
"Too late," I mumbled, giving Varick a glare.
"What?" Varick asked, grinning.
Taking a deep breath, I turned towards Evie and plastered a smile across my lips. "Why Evie, hello. Funny seeing you here."
"Funny?" Evie said, tilting her head. "No, I wouldn't call it funny. Maybe you think it's funny being on a cancer ward of a hospital, but I don't." Evie's head slightly moved back and forth emphasizing her words.
Rolling my eyes in response, I said, "That's not what I meant."
"My grandmother is here getting treatment for advanced breast cancer."
I wasn't sure why she felt the need to tell me that. I hadn't asked. "Sorry to hear that."
"Yeah, sure you are," Evie's eyes looked me up and down. They then traveled to Varick. Her eyes traveled slowly down his body and back up, settling on his heavy, black tattoo. "Who's your...friend?" She still didn't look at me.
Varick pushed his ball cap up off his eyes with his free hand. His blue eyes sparkled and he flashed a dazzling smile as he looked at her.
Evie gasped, her eyes widening as she took in Varick's features.
I rolled my eyes in disgust. She recovered quickly, closing her mouth. Her eyes lowered seductively. A smirk spread across her face as she began to twirl a piece of her long, auburn hair around her fingers. I'm Evie," she flirted.
Varick nodded in response. He cleared his throat loudly, attempting to get my attention since I was staring at Evie.
I didn't look at Varick, but continued to stare at Evie in amazement at her boldness. "This is
my
friend, Varick."
"Varick..." she murmured in return, her fingers still twirling her auburn hair. "I'm Evie."
"Yes, you already told me that," Varick continued to smile at her.
"Oh, yeah, I did, didn't I?" Evie giggled.
"Is there something you wanted, Evie? We were going downstairs to the cafeteria." I rolled my eyes again.
Evie stopped twirling her hair and placed her hands on her hips, her attitude turned icy. "Actually, yes. I think it's interesting you weren't at school yesterday, but you're here today. Were you sick?"
"So, what, Evie? How's it any of your business." I wasn't going to pretend to be her friend if she wasn't going to pretend to be mine.
"It is my business because my grandmother is fighting cancer and her immune system is weak because of chemo. I don't want her getting sick."
"Well, for your information, I'm not sick. I was with Varick all day." I glanced at Varick, whose eyebrows raised in surprise at my statement. But as soon as I said the words, I regretted them. I was so jealous of Evie's flirting with Varick that I couldn't help but throw it in her smug face. Grimacing, I turned back to Evie.
"Oh, really? All day with Varick? Well, if I had that opportunity I'd do the same." Evie turned back to Varick. "You do know that she is already seeing someone, don't you?"
Varick's eyebrows shot up in curiosity, his lips still smiling.
"Evie...," I warned, as jealousy clouded my vision.
"Does Jamie know about Varick?" Evie asked, trying to look as innocent as possible, her eyes wide with faux shock.
"Evie, don't."
"I mean you and Jamie looked pretty close to each other, holding hands and all, having breakfast together. I, of course, just assumed you were more then friends."
"We are just friends," I muttered through clenched teeth. I was mentally counting to myself trying to remain calm.
"Friends who hold hands and kiss," Evie scoffed, flipping her long hair behind her with her hand.
"That's a lie." My eyes narrowed accusingly.
"That's not what I heard," Evie spoke softly toward Varick.
"We have to go." I knew if I didn't leave soon I would be doing something I would regret.
"Well, if you get tired of Jacey's cheating ways, you can give me a call. She knows how to get a hold of me." Evie blinked flirtatiously at Varick.
Varick just nodded.
"Let's go," I said, pulling Varick into the elevator. The elevator's door shut, leaving Evie standing in the hall. As the elevator fell to the lobby, I looked at Varick. He just laughed.
It took awhile for the jealousy clouding my vision to dull and finally disappear. Varick found a table by the window so we could eat in the sun. The rays of light fell across me, warming a body that had grown cold with jealousy at Evie's remarks. We sat at the table, eating coconut cream pie. When we finally spoke, the conversation was light and comfortable. Varick was smart not to bring up Evie Tender or her remarks. Thinking of her would automatically make my blood boil with jealousy again.
Evie always bothered me so those feelings weren't new. But the fierceness of my jealousy did surprise me. The more Evie flirted with Varick, the angrier I became. Although there was a definite connection between me and Varick as Healer and Protector, I did not have any exclusive right to him. We weren't a couple. But as I watched Varick eat his pie, talking casually between his bites, I realized I did want more. I wanted the connection and the exclusivity of a relationship.
Taking a deep breath, I stuffed a large forkful of pie in my mouth.
"Are you alright?" Varick asked.
Swallowing hard, I spoke, "Yes, I'm just a little worried about Evie and the gossip she is going to spread about me and you." I added the last two words for Varick's sake.
Finishing the last bite of pie on his plate, Varick laughed. "Yeah, she really is something else, isn't she?"
My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?" I could feel jealousy rearing its ugly head again.
Varick didn't miss my reaction. Laughing lightly, he placed his hands in front of him defensively. "No, no, no," he said quickly. "I didn't mean in a good way. I meant that she is a bold, gossipy girl, that's all." He laughed as he said the words.
"Right." I was gripping my fork so tightly that I thought I probably could bend it.
Varick laughed harder. When he finally settled a bit, he said, "Really, Jacey. There isn't anything to be jealous about. Trust me." His eyes twinkled in the light of the sun. I became distracted by them, immediately feeling less threatened by Evie Tender. I did trust Varick.
We continued chatting lightly. Whenever Varick and I were together, the world around us faded away, leaving only the two of us. Together. I didn't notice Oma standing next to me, until she spoke.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Jacey. You two look like you are enjoying each other's company so, but Cathy has been discharged and I'd like to get her home where she can rest. She is very tired." Oma smiled sweetly at Varick.
"Oh, Oma," I said, surprised by her presence. "I'm sorry. We totally lost track of time." I grabbed Oma's coffee that I had bought for her. "Your coffee may be cold now. Sorry." I gave Oma a sheepish grin.
Oma took the cup graciously. "Thanks, honey. We should be going."
Varick pushed his plate away from him, only crumbs left with the fork. He smiled at me and leaned on his elbows.
I looked at Oma with pleading eyes. "Could Varick take me home?"
Oma's smile vanished momentarily. But she recovered it quickly. "Uh, sure, Jacey. Just be careful and don't be too late." She raised her eyebrows at me.
"I won't be too late, Oma. Promise." I smiled brightly, excited at the possibility of spending a little more time with Varick. Plus, I was in no hurry to get to Cathy's and attempt healing her. I was really afraid I was going to disappoint everyone by not being able to cure her. I knew Varick was sure I would be able to do it, but I wasn't. And I was actually afraid of the healing process itself. The burn that came with it was painful even excruciating at times, much like placing my hand directly in a fire. Because this was terminal cancer, a serious illness, would the pain I felt during the healing be more intense or less? I shuddered at the thought.
"Jacey?" Oma asked, gently touching my shoulder with her hand.
"Yes, I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head to clear it. I turned to Varick. "Ready?"
"Always," he answered, grinning.
Cathy was sitting in a wheelchair in the lobby waiting to leave. Joanie and Jane were standing next to her holding her vases of flowers and her bag. Cathy gave me a weak smile when she saw us. "I'm ready to go home," she said. "I'm sick and tired of this place."