Smoke (3 page)

*****

Gabrielle worked quietly unhooking the equipment to leave him alone to rest.

Putting the equipment on the cart, she rolled it into the hallway and returned to his room to stand by his bed. Obviously in extreme pain, he was no longer joking but lay still with his eyes closed. Softly, she removed damp hair from his forehead making sure not to touch the scar over his brow. “Jonathan, I hope you feel better soon. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

He opened his eyes but couldn’t speak. He hated such a beautiful woman had seen the worst of him. Bronchospasms led to heavy reflex coughing during the test.

She had to collect samples of the dark sputum for the lab to analyze which embarrassed him further.

Gabrielle retrieved the oxygen tube lying on the sheet next to his head. “Let me put this on for you.” Her breasts brushed against his face as she lifted his head to secure the tubing around his ears. The v-neckline of the baby blue scrubs revealed a sample of her cleavage as his eyes came in close contact with her chest. The delicate gold chain with the heart pendant dangled against his nose. He closed his eyes thanking God he was too out of sorts to do what his evil mind was suggesting.

“Is that better?” She asked after straightening his blanket and pulling the railing of the bed up.

Jonathan only nodded because if he spoke, he would vomit. He lifted his bandaged hand to touch her hand that rested on the railing of the bed to convey his gratitude for what she’d done.

Her smile was warm as she looked down at him. “You’re welcome and I can’t believe you’re still trying to flirt in your condition. I have to go.” She turned to leave but her steps stopped suddenly. She normally didn’t allow herself to get personal with the patients she treated because once they left the hospital, she never saw them again.

Something about Jonathan DeMinico was making her want to get personal with him.

Returning to his bedside, she spoke softly. “My shift ends at 7:00 tonight. I’ll be back to check on you before I go home.”

Weakly he replied, “I can’t wait.”

“See you then.”

She left the room almost being knocked over by two large men wearing navy blue jackets with the Cleveland Fire Department insignia imprinted on the upper chest.

One of the men whistled lowly. “Damn, DeMinico; who was that?”

He waved his hand signaling he needed a minute to recover. Pushing the lever to raise the head of the bed higher, he tried to talk. His voice was hoarse and his breathing noisy when he said, “That was my therapist.”

Nick bucked his eyes dropping a duffel bag at the foot of Jonathan’s bed. “Damn, I need to swallow more smoke so I can get help from her.”

Anthony stuffing his face with chocolate covered fruit from one of the gift baskets, laughed. “Neither one of you got a shot with her. She’s a sistah and wants a brotha like me to rock her world; not some pasty ass white boys sniffing after her.”

“Shut the hell up, Anthony. The only reason you get play from any woman is because of the uniform,” Nick teased.

Licking chocolate from his fingers, Anthony continued laughing. “Whatever playa, don’t hate because I reel in women like fish—and not just the sistahs.

Jonathan recovered enough to talk with his friends. “Both of you are nuts. She would fall for me because I got the
injured hero
working in my favor.”

“The lady is definitely easy on the eyes,” Anthony commented. “Do you know if girly is married or involved?”

Jonathan held his aching ribs as he scooted around for a comfortable spot on the hard bed. “I don’t know but I plan to find out when she stops by after her shift. Guys, she could be the one.”

Nick rolled his eyes and started to count on his fingers. “Man, you said that about Callie, Lisa, Tasha, Marie and I could go on but visiting hours ain’t that long.”

“Okay, okay, I admit I might have been struck a few times but never just by looking at a chick. This woman had me in a state of arousal and had not said a word to me. She’s powerful and I gotta know what is behind her power.”

Anthony folded his arms across his chest. “You could invite her to your awards ceremony. Word has it Mayor White is honoring you for bravery for saving the kid.”

Jonathan relaxed his head on the pillow. “I’ve been wondering how she’s doing and can’t get any answers.”

Nick scanned the channels on the television, saying, “She had no injuries and was released from the hospital the next day.”

“That makes me feel a lot better. Are you and Nick being honored also? I mean you guys were part of the rescue operation.”

Anthony snickered. “They don’t honor firefighters for falling in bushes—had I fell on my ass like you did, then maybe.”

Nick changed the subject to lighten the mood that turned sullen. “None of that matters since it doesn’t happen until Fireman’s Week. So, Jon, when are they springing you from this place? The St. Patty’s Day parade is on schedule and we are off that day.”

Jonathan shook his head. “Ugh, even if they released me tomorrow, I don’t wanna do that. Hanging out downtown with a bunch of drunken idiots is not my idea of a good time.”

“The parade is symbolic to the city; we have to celebrate,” Nick said sitting on the empty bed across from Jonathan.

Jonathan twisted his lip. “I’m not Irish and Anthony sure as hell ain’t Irish.”

Nick rubbed his hands together seedily. “So what—I’m Italian and look forward to resuscitating a few drunken red-headed Irish women. I don’t discriminate against any woman offering her goodies to me.”

Anthony tossed a grape in his direction. “Nick, you give men in uniform a bad reputation, but I hear what you’re saying, dude.”

Nick threw imaginary punches to Jonathan’s arm. “C’mon, Jon—your hero

status will have women bowing at your feet. You’ll have so much play you’ll need a professional organizer to keep your social life together.”

He began to cough slightly. “Man, I can’t walk from here to the door without losing my breath. Which one of you is going to willingly push my wheelchair around the bar while I huff oxygen and drink green beer?”

Anthony groaned. “Damn, man, that is not a sexy image.”

“Hell no, it’s not! I will skip the parties; thank you.”

Nick made himself more comfortable on the bed. “You gotta few weeks to think it over and, maybe get the nerve to ask that sexy nurse to be your date.”

“Nick, she’s not a nurse.” Jonathan propped his upper body on his elbow. “If I could get a shot with her, I would stop dating different women. I’m telling y’all, she has put a spell on my ass.”

Gabrielle stood outside Jonathan’s room after treating another patient. She overheard the men talking and continued to eavesdrop while writing in the chart.

Something told her a man like Jonathan DeMinico would not be without the company of a woman and his flirting was a lure into his trap; a trap she refused to fall into.

Anthony stood up adjusting his pants after eating most to the chocolate and all of the grapes from the fruit basket. “Well, I would be mad at you for going after her, but since you date black women on a norm, I say give it a shot. What do you have to lose?”

“I didn’t know I needed your permission, Anthony; but thanks. Anyhow, she isn’t my regular therapist and with my luck, I won’t be here long enough to get her interested in wanting to know me better.”

“You said she was coming back to visit you. You gotta work fast, bruh, or lose the opportunity.”

“Would you throw play at a woman looking like this? I’m not trying to get her to fall for me because she pities me.”

“Jon, look around; you’re in a freaking hospital and can’t change that. When she comes back tonight, just be you—you’re a good guy. Your only problem is you’re too direct. You gotta have some mystery about yourself. I got an idea; let me talk you up to her; get her a little interested in wanting to know you.”

“Anthony, I’d appreciate you wanting to help—but please don’t. You’ll have her thinking I’m a freaking dog.”

“Suit yourself, but we gotta get moving; our shift starts in an hour. Another thing, get your lazy ass back to the fire station—you’re going to go soft lying in that bed.”

He threw the covers from over him. “Hell, I can go now!” The smile left his face momentarily. “Thanks for coming and bringing me clothes, knuckle-heads. You know I think of you two as brothers. We stick together like glue,” he said holding two fingers closely together.

Nick held out his fist to pump. “Yeah, we are bothers and we’re lucky we didn’t lose you. All joking aside, do you need anything else?”

“I could use a decent meal, a hot shower and a shave; all in that order.”

“I got you covered with food. I’ll have mom make her famous lasagna and bring it by tomorrow,” Nick said sincerely.

“And, Gwen baked you an apple pie,” Anthony said. “You will be eating like royalty tomorrow.”

“I feel special. Nick, tell your mom thanks and Anthony, let Gwen know how much I love her apple pies, and love her for making them especially for me.”

“You got it, bro. Before I forget, she’s expecting you to recuperate at her place.”

Feeling drowsy from the pain medication, he closed his eyes responding with slurred words. “I won’t impose on her. She has a husband and kids to look after.”

Gabrielle ducked into the empty room next door to avoid being seen by

Jonathan’s friends leaving. She waited until she heard their footsteps trail down the long hallway and from earshot.

Peeking inside Jonathan’s room she listened to the crackling coming from his lungs as he slept. Slowly she walked over to the bed, admiring his large body filling the bed made for a standard sized person. He gave the appearance of the big brave fireman on the outside yet in his current condition, seemed so helpless.

Voices heard in the hallway entered the room startling her and awakening Jonathan. Unable to turn on her heels and scoot without being noticed, she stood frozen with Jonathan’s red eyes staring blankly at her.

He coughed to clear the mucus lining throat. “What’s going on?”

“You have visitors. I’ll leave you to your company,” Gabrielle said trying to hurry away.

He shook his head grabbing her by the hand. “Stay. You came back for another reason since the time is nowhere near 7:00. I’m itching to find out what it is.”

Standing in the room with the two adults, a young African-American girl

dressed nicely in tan slacks and a crisp white blouse holding a brightly wrapped gift box stood at the foot of Jonathan’s bed.

Jonathan felt an overwhelming rush of relief as he recognized the girl from the fire. It always gave him a good feeling to hear from people grateful for the services provided by the fire department.

With the nudging of her mother, the girl moved shyly over handing him the gift.

“Thank you for saving me from the fire. I hope you get better soon,” she said in almost a whisper.

The female hospital representative placed her hand on the child’s small

shoulders. “Firefighter DeMinico, this is Amira. She has been asking her mother when it would be okay to visit you. I hope we aren’t intruding.”

“No you aren’t intruding. Hey, Amira; I’ve been wondering how you’ve been.”

“My Mom said you were hurt because you gave me your safety equipment.”

Her eyes were still the size of saucers but not full of fear. She also didn’t appear to have any visible injuries which confirmed Nick’s story. “Well, my first priority was getting you to safety and now that you are here visiting me, I feel a lot better.”

“Will you open your gift? My mom helped me choose it for you.”

He took the gift but fumbled getting the wrapping paper off the box with only his fingertips dangling free of the gauze bandages. Gabrielle helped by reaching over and pulling an end of the wrapping paper free, so he could rip it the rest of the way.

Inside the box was a card, which he handed to Gabrielle to hold while he unfolded the tissue paper covering the soft cashmere sweater.

“Wow, this is really nice. I don’t know what to say.”

The mother of the child finally spoke. “Mr. DeMinico, I might have lost my material belongings in that fire but you saved my most precious possession, my daughter. The sweater is not enough to show how much I appreciate you risking your life to save her.”

His emotions surfaced. “It’s moments like this that make me love what I do. Are you getting help from the Red Cross or Salvation Army? If not, I can give you names of organizations that can help you find temporary housing.”

She put her hand up stopping him. “No, we’re fine. We’re staying with relatives for now. I was insured, thank God. But thank you again. May I ask how you are doing?”

Jonathan hadn’t taken notice of the mother until she spoke directly to him. Her thick curvy figure filled in every space of the tight red dress she wore. Her large breasts strained and spilled over the scoop neck instantly drawing him in. “I’m doing great. I hope to be out of here in a few days if this beautiful and talented therapist can whip me into shape,” he said throwing a glance in Gabrielle’s direction.

The woman casually browsed Gabrielle from the corner of her eye. The scrubs and lab coat did nothing for her figure but she had to admit the woman was attractive.

“That is excellent news. By the way, I’m Sandra Rhodes,” she said sticking her hand forward for him to shake.

“Nice to meet you Mrs. Rhodes,” he replied taking her hand. “This is Gabrielle King.”

Ignoring Gabrielle, she kept her focus on Jonathan. “Please call me Sandra and its Miss,” she said deepening her voice to a sexy alto and tossing long black hair with light golden streaks blended throughout, over her shoulders.

Gabrielle placed her hands inside the pockets of her lab coat and remained silent.

She knew a phony when she saw one and this woman had phony written all over her.