Human Blend (8 page)

“Have a seat,” the doctor said, once inside
his office. Julie was surprised at the appearance of the office. It
seemed modest in comparison to the title he carried.

Julie was anxious. She had no idea what he
was thinking. The doctor sat down behind his desk and stared at
her. Julie averted her eyes from his. “So, tell me about yourself,
Miss Miller,” the doctor asked.

“Why?” Julie asked. The doctor raised his
eyebrows.

“Why?” he asked back.

“Why would someone of your stature want to
know about a simple volunteer?” Julie replied.

“Miss Miller, I make it my business to know
the people I am working with. I think it's important to know who is
interacting with my patients. Don't you agree?” he asked.

“Of course,” Julie had to concede the
point.

“You are obviously experienced. Where did you
work at before coming here?” the doctor continued his
questions.

“Lindy Boggs Medical,” Julie answered.

“Louisiana,” the doctor commented. “What
brought you to Virginia?” he asked.

“Change of scenery.” Julie was purposely
keeping her answers short.

“Miss Miller, this is not an inquisition. The
patients are singing your praises after one day on the job. I think
Billy has gone through a whole box of crayons making pictures for
you,” the Doctor said. “I don't think I've come across someone who
is so suited to the work they are doing. You seem to have a, for
lack of a better word, sense, of knowing how to make people feel
better,” he added. “I'm trying to figure out what makes you so
special,” he finished. Julie hated that word.

“I'm not special, Doctor Elsworth. I just
like making people feel better,” she said. “Isn't that why you do
what you do?” she asked him.

The doctor smiled. “Yes, Miss Miller, it is,”
he said, and stood, extending his hand. “Welcome aboard.”

Julie smiled, and stood to shake his hand.
The smile faded from her face the minute she made contact with his
hand.
How could this be? It's impossible.
Julie pulled her
hand back and stared incredulously at the doctor.

“What's wrong?” he asked her.

“I... I have to go,” Julie said, and turned
for the door. She made it to the door, but was unable to open it.
The doctor was holding it shut.

“What did you feel?” he asked her. Julie
shook her head unable to speak. “What did you feel, Miss Miller?”
he asked, again.

“Nothing,” she whispered. He turned her
around to face him. She looked up at him, not understanding how it
could be possible. “Nothing,” she said again, more firmly. “You
have no heartbeat. How is that possible?” she asked, accusingly.
“You should be dead,” she said.

“I guess that makes us both special,” the
doctor said.

“How did you heal Billy?” he asked,
softly.

“I... didn't,” Julie said, turning her head.
His fingers lightly turned her face back to his.

“I saw you. You were in pain,” he said, his
voice soothing.

“I took it from him,” Julie said, unable to
keep quiet.

“It was inside of you, then,” he said, his
fingers still on her face.

“Yes,” she said, her voice sounding far
away.

“Where did it go?” he asked, his lips close
to her ear.

“Away,” she said, and closed her eyes.

“How?” his lips brushed the side of her
face.

“I don't know,” her voice was barely audible.
She opened her eyes to see him staring at her.

His hand brushed her cheek. “You are not just
a simple volunteer,” he said, and moved away from her. Julie was
unsure of what just happened. She felt like she had been in some
kind of trance. She shook her head to clear the fog that still
lingered. “I saw you looking at Michele Royal. You didn't heal her.
Is cancer out of your ability?” he asked her.

Julie stared at him, still trying to
comprehend the turn of events. She remembered the child curled up
tightly in the bed. “I can, but I need time,” Julie said, still
having a hard time believing she was having this conversation with
him.
This is dangerous for him and me.

“How much time do you need?” he asked
her.

“Wait!” she said, her nervousness returning.
“I can't... you can't know... I have to leave. This is not safe,”
she said, turning again for the door. He, again, blocked her way.
She backed away from him, not wanting to lose her senses as she did
before.

“What do you mean, it's not safe?” the doctor
asked her.

Julie was beside herself with fear. “You
don't understand. They'll find me and take me back,” Julie
said.

“Who's 'they'? Explain to me. Let me help
you,” he said, coming closer to her.

She backed up again and found herself against
the desk. “No! No! You don't understand,” she said, feeling the
tears on her face. He was there, touching her face, wiping away the
tears.

“Calm down,” he said, his voice again having
a soothing effect. “No one will know anything. I promise. We will
work together. I will keep you safe,” he said, his voice, again
near her ear, calming her.

“They're dangerous,” she said, softly,
closing her eyes. “They killed others who tried to help me,” she
said, feeling like she was floating.

“Trust me,” was the last thing she heard him
say before she lost consciousness.

Julie awoke, slowly. She found herself on a
small couch, still inside the doctor's office. She saw him at his
desk, doing paper work. “How long was I out?” she asked, sitting
up.

He put down his pen and looked at his watch.
“About twenty minutes,” he said.

“Can you, like, not do that anymore?” she
said.

The doctor gave a small chuckle. “As long as
you don't get yourself into a frenzy, I can,” he said. He got up
from his desk and walked over to the couch, before sitting down
next to her. “Are you going to work with me?” he asked her.

“Even after everything I told you, you still
want me here?” Julie was surprised.

“You told me you want to make people feel
better. So do I,” he said.

“You don't know everything about me,” Julie
cautioned.

“I guess we are both in the same boat then,”
he admitted.

“This is bizarre,” Julie laughed.

“Until what time are you scheduled today?” he
asked.

“Three,” she said.

“You better get going, then. Come find me
tomorrow, and we can discuss how to best help Michele,” the doctor
said. Julie nodded, still digesting everything that transpired. “I
look forward to working with you, Miss Miller.”

“Julie,” she said, standing. She didn't like
being called 'Miss Miller'.

“Eli,” he said, indicating his first name.
“See you tomorrow, Julie,” he said, walking her to the door.

Julie took her time getting changed and going
down to see Kathy. She was still trying to wrap her mind around
everything that happened with Doctor Elsworth.
Eli
, she
reminded herself. Joy was on break, she was told when she
inquired.

Down on Kathy's floor, she knocked on her
door and entered when she heard the command to do so. “Hey,” Kathy
said smiling at Julie. “How did it go?” she asked.

“I think it went okay,” Julie answered.

“I think it went better than okay. I heard
nothing but good things about you. Even the head Doc called down to
make sure I didn't let you get away,” Kathy recited. Julie smiled
at the last comment. “Seems even the stuffy but single surgeon
seems smitten with you,” she said, making them both laugh. “Say
that three times fast,” Kathy joked. “So here is your schedule.
Take a look at it; I made some adjustments,” she stated.

Julie looked over the schedule as Kathy
explained. “I have you starting later. I am only allowed to work
you six hours with a break. The mornings are crazy. Most surgeries
take place then, so we need you more in the afternoon. Is that okay
with you?” Kathy asked.

“That's fine. Only six hours though?” Julie
wished it could be more.

“Hospital rules, sorry sweetie. I gave you
off on Fridays and Sundays. I know you young people like to go out
on Fridays,” Kathy continued.

Julie didn't care if she worked everyday, but
didn't want to raise questions. “Looks good,” Julie said.

“Welcome to our rag tag little group,” Kathy
said.

“Thank you.” Julie smiled. “Where do I check
in?” she asked.

“Volunteer locations are posted daily in the
locker rooms. Stop in to say 'hi' once in a while, or if you have
any questions,” Kathy finished.

“I will, and take care of that ulcer,” Julie
reminded.

“Git!” Kathy smiled, and pointed to the door.
Julie left with a big grin on her face. She exited the building and
peeked at the sky. It was no longer raining, but the clouds
remained. Julie began the trek home.

She had walked for about twenty minutes when
a black sports car pulled over to the side of the road, just ahead
of her. Julie took a wide berth around the car, but looked inside
as the window rolled down. “You didn't drive this morning?” Doctor
Elsworth asked.

“Last time I checked, you need a license to
drive,” Julie replied. “Nice car,” she added.

“It gets me from point A to point B,” he
replied.

“So do my feet,” she said with a smile.

“My tires have better tread than your
sneakers. Get in. I'll give you a lift,” Eli said. A rumble of
thunder shattered the calmness. The clouds looked darker than they
had when she had started home.

“You gonna tell me you control the weather
too?” she kidded. He laughed and pushed open the passenger side
door for her. Julie had no sooner closed the door when the rain
started anew. She gave the doctor a sideways look. He just smiled
and pulled back onto the roadway.

“You are at the Inn in town, right?” he
asked. Before Julie could question him, “I read your paperwork,” he
informed her.

“Ah, right. Getting to know your employees,”
she said.

“Are you going to look into getting a more
permanent place?” he asked her.

“Most likely, on my next day off,” she
answered.

“You might want to check the hospital
bulletin board, located in the lobby. There are usually postings
there about rentals,” he told her.

“I'll do that. Thanks,” she said, as they
pulled up in front of the hotel. “Thanks for the ride,” Julie
said.

“Wait. Here, take this,” he said, handing her
an umbrella from the back seat.

“Thanks, but I can run through the
raindrops.” She gave a teasing grin before getting out of the car.
Julie made a mad dash for the awning overhang and made it with
barely a drop on her. She turned and waved, before ducking inside
the building.

She made her way over to the front desk. Her
first order of business was to extend her stay into next week. This
way she would have time to find a place of her own.
A place of
my own,
she marveled at the thought of that.

“Miss Miller, how wonderful to see you
again,” Anthony greeted.

“Hello, Anthony. I would like to extend my
stay here for another week,” Julie said.

“Absolutely. We can accommodate you, no
problem,” he replied.

Julie was happy to see that he seemed a
little less skittish around her today. “I'll be down later this
evening to pay the balance,” she instructed.

“That will be fine. Is there anything else I
can do for you?” he asked her.

“No. I'm good, thanks,” Julie said, turning,
heading for the stairs.

“Oh, Miss Miller. I almost forgot. You
received a delivery today,” Anthony said, as Julie turned back
around. He handed her a long thin box with a note attached that was
addressed to her.

“Thank you,” Julie said, accepting the
package with a perplexed look. She put the package down on a nearby
table in the lobby and detached the note, opening it carefully. A
smile came to her face when she read it.

Julie,

I hope you had a good first day at work, and
that it was everything you were looking for. I'm working for my mom
until six tonight and hope to see you afterwards, if you are up to
it.

Austin.

Julie opened the box and took out the single
red rose that was inside. She sniffed the sweet smelling flower
before returning it to the box to take it upstairs.

“Secret admirer?” a voice suddenly beside her
asked.

Julie recognized him as the man from this
morning. “Excuse me?” she asked, wondering why he was still
lingering in the lobby.

“Usually, when a woman receives a single
rose, it's from a secret admirer,” he commented.

“I know exactly who this is from,” she
replied, giving an annoyed look at him. “Do you just hang out in
the lobby all day?” she asked him, suddenly curious as to why he
seemed to be lurking.

The man laughed. “No, I'm here on business,”
the man replied, with what struck her as an eerie smile. She turned
and headed up the stairs. “Somebody special?” the man asked, as she
made her way up. She turned to give him what she hoped was a look
that said 'mind your own business' and continued to her room.

The encounter had shaken her a bit. There was
something creepy about the man. Looking at the box she held helped
to put the smile back on her face. “I need to buy a vase,” she
said, opening the box to look at the rose again. The ice bucket
caught her eye. That would make a short term vase until she could
pick one up. She filled the bucket partially with water from the
sink in the bathroom and gently rested the stem in it.

Julie relaxed on her bed for a few minutes,
with the day's events playing out in her head. Her eyes kept
straying back to the makeshift vase. She was looking forward to
seeing Austin later that evening.

Restless, Julie got up and retrieved the
money from the safe. She counted out what she would need to pay for
extended stay at the hotel. Once that was completed, she went
through her duffel bag and pulled out the garments that needed
washing. The hotel had provided a laundry bag that she could use to
put her dirty clothes in. They could wash them for her, but it was
a twenty-four hour wait. Then, an idea came to her. Julie opened
the trusty phone book and found the listing for the laundromat.
Thankfully, there was only one listed. Laundry bag in tow, she
headed downstairs.