Perfect Match (16 page)

His hand touched the cushioned seat as if it were something
sacred.

“I’m not sure I know how to pray, and with the less than
desirable life I’ve lived, I’m not sure that an intelligent being would listen
to anything I have to say.”

She studied him a moment. “The Good Lord is always
interested in what you think and what you have to say, especially the genuine
serious stuff. There are no perfect people in this church, but they pray.” She
paused a moment. “God might be wondering what you would pray for Selena, your
new friend. Ever think of it that way?” A beat. The silence confronted him.
“Will you let me offer a prayer for both of us right now?”

Feeling like he was walking on water and about to sink, he
said, “Yes.”

“May I hold your hand, while we pray?”

He nodded.

She surrounded his left hand with both of hers, resting them
on her right knee. She gave him a gentle squeeze, bowed her head, and closed
her eyes. Roscoe closed his eyes. Warmth flowed from their hands up his arm to
his heart and hovered. His chest was filled with heat. She waited a few moments
then prayed:

Dear Lord, I’m back again, but this time with Roscoe who
is also concerned about our loved one, Selena. You have blessed us by putting
Selena in our midst, and we love her. We need her in our lives, and pray that
you will let that be. We ask, Lord, that you show Roscoe and me how we can
continue to be supportive of Selena, making sure that we do our part. We pray
that your strength and wisdom will be with her health team. And we pray especially
that your love will comfort Selena’s mother. Thank you for letting us meet
Roscoe, and I pray you will receive all of his thoughts and questions about you
and your creation, and nurture him as your child. And lastly, Lord, a prayer
for your love to comfort and heal Selena. We offer our prayer in accordance
with your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ramona gave Roscoe’s hand another gentle squeeze, lifted her
head, and watched him blinking his eyes, trying to clear the misting.

She stood and said, “Thank you again, Roscoe, for being
concerned about Selena. I welcome your continued prayers for her. She needs
us.”

She paused a moment, before asking, “You’re not married are
you?”

“Uh…no.”

Facing him, she opened her arms wide and said, “If you ever
need it, ‘Free love for the asking,’” and then she turned half-way, lifting her
arms toward the cross wall-hanging, “there’s plenty to go around.” She
radiated.

He smiled, shaking his head, “I can see why Selena thinks
highly of you, and I’ve really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks for hearing me out,
and being…understanding.”

He “crutched” toward the door. She walked beside him,
inviting him to come back to some of the church’s services.

On his way out to the cab, his mind, heart, and soul felt
like a tornado had swept through, and his chest and arm continued to feel that
pulsing warmth. How could he explain it to himself, leave alone to someone
else. Jesus?
Jesus
, he thought, as he shook his head.

Ned stirred from his nodding, glanced back at Roscoe and
said, “What took so long? Y’all havin’ a revival in there or something?” He
laughed at his own comment. “I thought maybe you’d caught the soul train and
was on your way to heaven.” He laughed again at his humor.

Roscoe laughed too. “Just got some free love.”

Ned straightened up, turning his head around, eying him.
“You feeling alright, buddy? You’re meds wearing off or something?”

Roscoe chuckled. “I’m fine. Ready to roll.”

As the cab circled around the parking lot, Roscoe looked at
the rustic brick church with a bright red door, standing proud, strong, silent,
and yet humble. He thought, the best people on earth probably gather in this
church, although none are perfect as Ramona readily admitted. Maybe I’ve been
wrong about church and church people all these years. I’m certainly not a
saint.

Ned eased to a stop. “Uh, what about the rest of that
twenty-dollar bill?”

Roscoe said, “Give me back the half-twenty I gave you.”

The skinny driver turned sideways in his seat glaring at him
and snapped, “Hey pal, a deal’s a deal—”

“I was going to exchange a fresh one for your half.” Roscoe
held a new twenty-dollar bill over the seat.

Ned made the switch, meekly. “Sorry, I thought you were
trying to gyp me out of my tip. Guess I’m a little edgy about this rush hour
traffic I’ve got to fight.” He pocketed the new twenty, and hurried the car
down the drive. “These damn mountain hillbillies can’t drive for shit.” He tore
out across the highway, the right front wheel thumping into a large pothole,
rattling the ageing cab.

Roscoe said, “Yeah, I just noticed that,” grinning.

“Hey, pal, I didn’t see the damn pothole. Give me a break.”
He gunned the shuddering cab.

Roscoe was enjoying the ride, noticing familiar sights that
he’d taken for granted the many times he’d driven the highway…his favorite burger
joint on the right…Jake’s Used Cars on the left…the little hobby shop on the
right—

“Stop! Stop!”

Ned slammed on the brakes, cars braking and honking behind.
His head swiveled from side to side. “What? What? Did I hit something? What the
hell—?”

Roscoe, pointing from the back seat, said, “Starbucks. On
the right, pull in there. Let’s get a Starbucks.”

Ned wrenched the steering wheel to the right, and bounced
the cab over the dip into the drive-thru lane behind other cars. He glared in
the rearview catching Roscoe’s serene look. “Don’t ever yell like that again.
Scared the hell out of me…almost had a damn wreck. Shit, man.” He adjusted his
ball cap. “I’m the driver; you’re the passenger. See if you can remember that
‘til I get you back to the hospital. Got it, Rocky?”

Roscoe said, “What can I get you to calm your nerves?”

“It’ll take something stronger than a cup of coffee to
settle my damn nerves.” He blew out a heavy breath.

The car idled forward in the drive-thru. “I can’t make no
sense of the menu with those funny names. You sure you can get coffee here?”

Roscoe said, “When she asks, order two Venti Frappuccinos
with double espresso. I’ll treat us. You’ve been a good driver. You deserve a
good drink.”

Ned glanced in the rearview, rolling his eyes.

The intercom opened, and the barista asked for the order.

Ned jumped. “Uh…we want two Vinny Flappers with…double
express, you know quick. My passenger’s in a double hurry.”

She giggled. “That’s two Venti Frappuccinos with double
expresso?”

“Uh…yeah, that’s what I said.”

There was some clicking over the speaker. “Your total will
be $13.49.” She clicked off.

Ned looked over his shoulder. “Did you hear that? I think
she got the arithmetic wrong. That can’t be right, for two coffees?”

“That’s about right.” Roscoe handed him a ten, five, and two
ones. “Tell her to keep the change as a tip.”

He is shaking his head as the transaction of money for
beverage takes place. He hands the recycled cardboard tray with the two drinks
to Roscoe’s outstretched hands, and eases the car off to the side of the
drive-thru lane. “I still think she got the numbers wrong, and check that out,”
pointing, “looks like we got two milkshakes or some kind of slushy drink.”

Roscoe chuckled, handing one of the drinks to him. “Here,
try this. You’ll never be the same again.”

The driver cautiously took a sip, tasting, then another long
pull through the straw, smacking his lips. He grinned in the rearview. “Best
damn cold coffee I’ve ever had!” He took another long draw, placed the cup in
his sticky holder, and broke into the swarming traffic.

Roscoe leaned back, smiling.

The loading zone at the front entrance of the hospital was
clogged with cars and people. Ned eased along in line, stopping curbside,
getting out, and coming around the cab to assist Roscoe. The Frappoccino seemed
to have changed his attitude.

Roscoe was on his crutches, but hadn’t thought how he was
going to juggle his Frapp. As he fumbled around he put too much weight on his
injured foot, setting off a shooting pain, then stumbling, falling forward
across the pavement, but managed to keep his drink balanced.

The driver gave a shrill whistle, then yelling toward the
entrance, “Patient on the ground, need some help.” He leaned down to help
Roscoe, as a hospital volunteer grabbed a nearby empty wheelchair, and hustled
with a security guard their way.

The guard took charge. “What’s going on? If you’re checking
in you need to be on the emergency side.”

“No, I’m already a patient.” He held out his arm with his ID
hospital bracelet. As the volunteer and guard were reading the info, he said to
Ned, “Thanks for being my driver, enjoyed it.”

He said, “Yeah, maybe we can do this again, Rocky, and
thanks for the drink.”

Roscoe gave him a high-five, as he heard the security guard
mumble to the volunteer, “I think this is the patient they’ve been looking
for.”

Roscoe had one thought; Uh, oh.

He watched the cab drive away, wishing he was in it.

“Fallington, just what do you think you’re doing leaving the
hospital like you did? Do you have special privileges around here? I don’t
think so.” Nurse Rachel Johnson answered her own question, as she checked
around the room again, before returning to the bedside where Roscoe was now
half-sitting up, letting his right foot recover from his stumble.

She glared at him. “You had no business sneaking off like
you did. You’ve broken hospital protocols. The whole staff has been looking for
you, and they were about to alert the police.”

He smiled. “I didn’t sneak off. I left a note on my pillow.”

“Well, how thoughtful! One word? Vendin?” She propped her
hands on her hips.

He held up his Starbucks drink.

“You didn’t get that gourmet drink from any hospital vending
machine.” She put the blood pressure cuff around his arm. “And, you didn’t have
the manners to bring old Rachel here one of them fancy drinks.” A tiny grin
struggled at the corner of her mouth.

He grinned back. “I won’t forget next time.”

“There better not be a next time.” She checked his pulse.
“Just what I thought. You’ve had so much caffeine, your pulse is way off the
chart.” She shook her head. “What else did you drink or eat on your little
afternoon outing?” She glared at him. “I have to ask you these questions, so
pay attention. What else did you drink, smoke, inhale, or take?”

“Nothing.”

“Well, what did you do for over two hours? Did you get
involved with a woman?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

Her eyes widened. “You admit it?”

“Yes, one very nice lady, who was giving away free love.”

Rachel shook her head as if to clear it. “Well, I can see
I’m not going to get a straight answer out of you, Fallington.” She pushed the
bedside monitor to the side, letting her eyes drift around the room.

He thought, how amazing, when you tell the truth, people
sometimes don’t believe you.

Rachel started for the door. “I’ve got to write a report
about all this. You’re causing me extra work. You know that?”

“Before you go, I have a couple of questions.”

“I don’t have time for any more foolishness, Fallington.”

“I know, but these are serious questions.” He pointed to the
chair near his bed. “Please.”

Curiosity pulled her in. She stood at the corner of his bed.

“Um…I haven’t had a chance to talk with you, since you
returned from your absence a few days ago. However, I’ve picked up a few rumors
here and there.” He paused. “Is everything okay with you and your family?”

“Fallington, you know we can’t have this kind of
conversation. We’re patient and nurse, not backyard neighbors.”

“As long as I’ve been in the hospital, I’m beginning to view
everyone as family, so I want to know. You’ve been an excellent nurse, so it’s
time for me to know how you’re doing. Maybe I can encourage you…?” He left the
question hanging in the air.

She let her guard down, stepping over and taking the edge of
the seat. “All my patients are family.” She smiled. “I was out a few days to
take care of my grandchild. He’s four and his dad, my son, and his wife are
splitting up. She’s leaving him for another man. My son is broken hearted. He
loves that woman, but…things happen to people.” Her gaze had drifted to the
gray floor. “He lost his regular job, so I kept my grandchild, while he looked
for work. He found something part time.”

Roscoe nodded. “What kind of work does he do?”

“He’s a carpenter, a good one, but construction work has
been so tight.” She shook her head.

Roscoe’s eyes perked up. “I don’t know exactly when I’ll be
on my feet again, but I’ve been working on a business plan of my own. I might
be able to use someone with skills like your son. Let me have his name and
contact info.”

She just looked at him.

“Rachel, by now you’ve got to know more about me than just
about anyone. I have a bad track record on every level. I’ve had to do a lot of
thinking since being in the hospital. It’s no secret that I was fired by my
grandmother.” He chuckled. “The two of you are similar with your toughness.

“I’ll leave this hospital unemployed, so I have to find a
job or make one. I’m going to try to make one. It’ll be a small operation at
first, no more than two or three fellows, but I’ve got to try.

“The first day I met you as my nurse, I was angry at the
world, and at you for being so tough, but now I’m glad you were. You’ve helped
me with a banged up foot and a banged up attitude, so thanks for that.”

Her eyes were watering as she pulled a pen and pad from her
pocket, writing her son’s info, handing it to Roscoe. “This is mighty kind of
you.” A beat. “I’ve noticed the good changes in you. Keep at it.”