“Yep,” Elena replied without looking up from her device.
Jackie dipped out and went to look for the nearest lady’s room.
Sean leaned toward Elena and asked, “So, what do you have there?” She bounced over and showed him the game she was playing.
𓂓
After Jackie left, one of the nurses who had been in and out monitoring Clay and making small talk, reappeared to look over his chart again. She looked up and gave Clay a warm but brief smile. He recognized her but couldn’t figure out why.
Clay read her name tag. “Charlotte. That’s a unique name.”
Charlotte stepped around and checked a setting on the monitor, then back to the chart to make a note, avoiding eye contact. “Not as unique as my nickname.”
“What’s your nickname?”
Charlotte studied the chart a bit longer, long dark hair pulled back tight. She slid the chart back into the holder at the foot of the bed and gave Clay an amused look, eyes smiling as she walked around to his bedside. She leaned in and adjusted the sheet, made a fuss with the wrinkles while he observed. She smelled of fresh citrus and talcum powder, moved effortlessly, like a lithe ballerina. With her proximity, he could sense the finer workings of her body, the way the stiff uniform slid over her skin, the soft clicks of her toned musculature as she moved, the subtle sounds her body made as she articulated the slightest adjustment. He lost himself in the intoxication of moment.
When she finally answered, dark assessing eyes met his. In the low light, Clay couldn’t tell where the black of her iris ended and dark browns began, giving her eyes a larger-than-life feel. “Charlie,” she said in a hushed tone, then a quick sharp laugh as if the name itself were absurd.
Sean glanced up, then quickly looked back down, focusing intently on his device.
Clay smiled back but did not extend a hand. He felt like they’d already shared something more intimate than a business-like greeting. Intentionally not repeating her name to let her know he understood why she practically whispered it, he replied, “Nice to meet you.” He started to say something more, then paused, eyes briefly glazing over in memory. “Wait, wasn’t that you down in the emergency room... when I woke up?”
Lingering near his bedside, Charlie simply nodded.
“Aren’t nurses assigned a certain floor or station or something? Did they transfer you up here?” Clay asked.
Charlie shook her head. “No, I’m on my break. I just wanted to check in and be sure you’re okay.”
The gesture touched him, causing Clay’s expression to soften. “Thank you. That’s really nice of you.”
Charlie paused a moment and held eye contact before looking down at her hands, pretending to check her nails, which had been given a short French manicure. “Well, news of what happened arrived before you. Every nurse, doctor, and staff member with a kid was struck by what you did, including myself.”
One thing Clay didn’t want—too much praise for something anyone should have done. “It was just instincts. Any decent person would have done the same.”
At that, Charlie appeared to smile from her heart, with her entire body. Her shoulders lifted with a deep breath, bringing a depth of life to her countenance that Clay had rarely ever witnessed.
“You’re a mother?” Clay asked.
“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “A boy about the same age as the little girl you saved.”
“What’s his name?”
“Jensen,” she replied as she looked down at her watch. “I have to get back.”
Clay nodded. “I imagine we’ll need to... consult later today on my chart after the doctor swings by?”
“We’ll see.” She shrugged, a more serious look on her face, then patted his hand, letting hers linger for a moment. Then she trailed her fingers slowly over his before turning to leave. His hand simply reacted to the touch and turned over. A couple of their fingertips met in a brief hook before parting. She paused at the foot of the bed. “Oh, I wanted to get you a packet of Hydralyte too. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Clay’s awareness followed her. Their eyes met briefly as she looked back before slipping through the door.
𓂓
Jackie exploded into the bathroom. Sally’s head shot up at the sound. She finished washing her hands and turned to the hand dryer without a word.
Jackie cut her eyes as she walked by. She stopped at the farthest sink, pulled out a paper towel and dabbed around her face. Looking in the mirror, she saw Sally give her a hateful look.
Jackie turned with her hands out. “What? What are you looking at?”
Sally stepped forward. “I don’t appreciate you messing with my business.”
“Fuck you, Sally. I’ve overheard the way you talk to Clay. The whole neighborhood knows what a bitch you are. How’s that for messing with your business?”
Usually full of hateful quips, Sally tried to speak before processing what Jackie had just said. “I... you...” The pause gave rise to a more vicious thought. “I’m not the one who let my child run into the street.”
Jackie spun on her feet and slammed her hands into the wall of a stall. She fell silent for a moment before turning her head, hard eyes looking back through strands of hair. “Mean bitch.” Jackie turned to face her. “You drove your husband away with that shit too, didn’t you?” Jackie pressed.
“Now, wait just a minute—”
Jackie cut her off. “We met Baldwin. Talked a few times.” Her voice calmed down a bit. “You know, he seemed like a decent guy.”
Sally glared at Jackie. “Again, not your business.”
Jackie nodded. “True enough. But Clay? Yeah, that’s my business now.”
“Is that so?” Sally replied.
Jackie stepped toward Sally and got nose-to-nose with her. “The man is stuck in a hospital bed because he just saved my daughter’s life. So, yeah.”
