Smoke (6 page)
Authors: Toye Lawson Brown
“Flirting is innocent action. But, I think you are trying to make me jealous by dating Anthony? Confess that’s what you’re doing and we can move on from there.”
She shook her head. “Jonathan, you have one huge ego and no matter what I say, it won’t penetrate that thick skull of yours. I’m really late for my shift thanks to you.
So, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting off this elevator and forgetting this conversation ever took place.” She hit the open door button hoping the elevators doors would open.
“What about dinner? You never answered me.”
She turned to face him tilting her head to one side, aghast. “Oh—my—gosh really; did we just not cover this?”
“Um, no we didn’t,” he said folding his arms across his broad chest. “You really should answer me since you’re already late and I have all day to stand here and debate.”
Gabrielle realized they were blocking the elevator and sighed. “Call the department and ask for me around 6:00 tonight. I will let you know if I will be able to do a dinner break.”
“See, how hard was that? I’ll walk with you since I’m going that way,” he said taking her by the elbow.
*****
On his way home he made a detour by the fire station. He had not been to the fire station since his accident. Walking in the station he interrupted his fellow firefighters cleaning house. “Hey! What’s up homies! He announced loudly.
“Hey, Jon!” Nick greeted stopping his mopping. “You’re in time to help us clean for inspection.”
“I don’t think so; I’m still on leave for a few more weeks; broken ribs gotta heal; he said holding his side.
Lieutenant Murad came from the office to see what was going on. “Jon, good to see you…when are you returning for good?”
“I should be able to return for light duty in a few weeks.”
“Great, I have plenty of paperwork to keep you busy.”
“Pile it on; I’m anxious to get back to work,” he said walking with Murad to his office.
“It’s funny you stopped by today. The little girl you rescued and her mother are coming in for a tour in about an hour. You should stick around.”
He checked his watch; it was past 4:30 in the afternoon. “Lieutenant, ain’t it a little late in the day for giving tours.”
“Yeah, but, the mother writes a column for the Plain Dealer and is doing a piece on the fire station. Won’t she be surprised to find the real hero here today?”
A shudder ran through his body. “Sorry, but I won’t be around that long.”
“You can make an exception this once.”
“Guess I don’t have a choice,” he said to lowly. He spotted Anthony coming around the corner carrying a trash bag. “Yo, Anthony; can I talk to you for a second?”
“Jon, what’cha doing around these parts?”
“I stopped by to chat with the fella’s but I want to talk to you in private.”
Anthony caught the seriousness in his voice. “Okay, follow me to the dumpster out back.”
The March day was warmer than normal and sunny. Sprouts of green leaves
were popping on several trees in the backyard of the firehouse. Taking a seat at the picnic table, Jonathan motioned for Anthony to sit. “Anthony, you my boy, we grew up together and have been friends a long time.”
“Yeah, so what’s up?”
“I’m not gonna sugar coat this. I saw Gabrielle at the hospital today. She told me you asked her to Gwen’s party Saturday. Why would you do that, man?”
“Because you said it was okay for me to ask her out.”
“I didn’t expect you to do it! You knew I would be there. Did you even consider how that shit would bother me?”
“No I didn’t and you know why? I waited before calling her to see if you were just taking shit, and after three weeks passed and you said nothing; so I called her.”
“Well, I’m not over her. I went to my appointments hoping to run into her and today I did. She is more beautiful than I remembered.”
“Damn, man, do you hear yourself? You sound whipped and she ain’t even into you all like that.”
“Thanks to you, she’ll never be. Did you know she has this thing about dating best friends?”
“No, but she hasn’t actually agree to be my date yet; maybe that’s why.”
“Anthony, I’m asking you as my friend, to back off her. I have a chance to have happiness with one woman finally and you’re blocking me.”
Anthony rubbed his bald head. “If she turns me down then I will. It ain’t personal; Jon, but I gotta see where this goes.”
Nick called from the door with a snide grin on his face. “Yo, Jon, you gotta visitor—Ms. Rhodes.”
He dropped his head doing a slow shake. “I see this day nose-diving straight to hell.”
“Why don’t you give Ms. Rhodes a chance? She’s throwing you play and you’re deflecting it. She might just be what you need instead of Gabrielle.”
Jonathan was not amused and rolled his eyes. “I’m not a rebound guy and won’t use Sandra. But you’re right, what’s happening between us is not personal, but I will have Gabrielle and I hope we will remain friends after that happens.”
Anthony shrugged his shoulders. “Bring your game, bro, and let the chips fly.
And, if she chooses you in the end, there won’t be any animosity coming from me.”
He bumped a fist with Anthony sealing the deal and making a suggesting. “You should meet Sandra. I know you like ‘em thick and she is thick in all the right places.”
“I don’t have a choice but to meet her since she’s here. For the record, I’m bringing Gabrielle to the party Saturday regardless of the deal we just made.”
“That’s cool; if she accepts. I can suck it up for the one night you get to be with her. But, you better believe I’m gonna be all up in your face blocking your flow.”
*****
You’re here!”
He kneeled down hugging the child. “I heard you were coming so I decided to stick around and wait for you. Are you ready for that tour?”
She nodded her head excited. “Yeah—c’mon, Mom”
“Give me a minute with your Mom, Amira,” he said looking up to lock eyes with the woman freaking him out with her lascivious smile.
Sandra had dressed more professionally in a slimming gray A-line skirt that touched her knee and a matching suit jacket with a plain white blouse underneath.
Black pumps graced her feet and her hair was pulled into a long ponytail to the back of her head. As hard as she tried, there was no hiding her large breasts straining the single button holding the jacket together.
Jonathan extended his hand in a friendly manner. “Sandra, how are you?”
She pushed his hand away. “I don’t want a handshake; give me a big hug.”
He complied hesitantly. “Okay, but not too tight. My ribs are still sore.”
Her arm wrapped around him. His eyes watered from the strong scent of her perfume. Jonathan felt her hands caressing his back and broke the hug moving her away from him. “I want you to meet a good friend of mine.” He motioned for Anthony to come from hiding behind the ladder truck. “This is Anthony Jenkins; he was part of the rescue that night along with Nick who seems to have disappeared.”
Sandra’s eyes roamed over Anthony. Anthony was also tall with a very
muscular build. His dark chocolate skin was void of blemishes and had a perfect bald head that fit his handsome face. She bit her lower lip as she extended her hand. “Hello, Anthony; I guess I owe you thanks for saving my daughter, also.”
Anthony stifled a sneeze as the perfume cut through the cavities of his sinuses penetrating his brain. “We’re here to serve. I gotta go; I left the hose running in the yard. Enjoy your tour.”
Jonathan reached hold of Anthony’s sleeve. “Hold on, Ant. You turned the water off before we came inside, remember,” he said raising his eyebrow.
Anthony cringed clinching his jaw tightly. “Geez, Jon, thanks for reminding me.”
He slapped Anthony on the arm, smiling. “I got your back. Um, you don’t mind showing Sandra around while I let Amira sit inside the fire truck do you? I’m sure you two will get along fine without me.”
“No problem, we can start the tour outside.” He hit the lever to lift the bay doors and let in fresh air.
Sandra sauntered next to Anthony slipping her arm through his. “I would love to have you show me around outside.”
Anthony looked over his shoulder at Jonathan, mouthing, “I will get you.”
Gabrielle gave a squint to the clock on the wall. It was almost 6:30 and so far she had not heard a word from Jonathan. Her dinner break began at 7:00pm and depending on where he was in the area, he probably would not make it before her one-hour break was over.
With a deep sigh, she began restocking the shelves with supplies. Slamming items into place she didn’t understand her frustration. Jonathan was not the type of man she would become involved with after overhearing the conversation with his friends. The only reason she agreed to share her free hour with him was to stop his begging. But, obviously a better deal came along and he didn’t have the courtesy to call and cancel.
Gathering the magazines patients had left lying in the treatment rooms, she went to the waiting area to return them. She stopped when she saw a shadow brush by the slither of glass the double doors provided. Another reason she hated working the late shift. The departments located on the lower level of the hospital were always the first to clear of people when closing for the night, leaving only a scattering of medical personnel around to staff the departments open twenty-four hours a day.
Respiratory therapy was one of those departments. Even though the outpatient portion of the department was closed, a small staff was always on duty for emergencies.
Gabrielle went to the desk to call for security to do a sweep, but hung up the telephone when she saw a nurse pushing a patient in a wheelchair pass the door not appearing concerned. She decided to lock the double doors since the cleaning staff wouldn’t make another round for a few hours. They had keys and could let themselves in.
Gabrielle opened the doors to latch the first door. She started to close the second door when a hand grabbed it. Her heart pounded wildly until the man came into view.
Pinching the nerve between her eyes, she huffed. “You scared the hell out of me!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Jonathan, why didn’t you knock?”
“I just arrived and decided to see if you were still down here since it not time for your break. Why so spooked? Is the morgue on this floor?”
“No it’s not. And, I’m spooked because people don’t normally linger in hallways of a hospital after hours, unless they are waiting to be treated.”
He laughed. “Well I can see you not a fan of horror movies, especially those that take place in hospitals.”
“No I’m not.” She locked the door and returned to the waiting room. “You took a chance just showing up. You were supposed to have me paged.”
He followed her inside. “I know but I wasn’t at home and decided to drop by. So can you get away?”
“Yes. Let me wash my hands then we can go to the cafeteria for some of that great cuisine they serve.”
He frowned. “Seriously, we have to eat here? Are you the only one working tonight and can’t leave the premises?”
“I’m the only specialist working tonight. If an emergency comes up and I’m needed to assist in OR, or to approve a procedure for a tech to do, I have to be here.”
He reached over lifting her name tag dangling from the pocket of her lab coat.
“Wow, you carry a lot of letters after your name. I didn’t see those on your name tag before.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Perhaps if you had been looking at my name tag
instead of other things you would have noticed all those little letters.”
“You got me. I’m guilty as charged.”
Walking past him to the sink she got a whiff of a familiar scent. “What kind of cologne are you wearing?”
Jonathan lifted his shirt to his nose to sniff. “That is not my cologne—“
The smell came back to her and she cut him off. “That smells like that god-awful perfume that woman was wearing that came to visit you. Were you with her before coming to here?”
He detected her tone and jumped to defend himself. “I swear I was not with her.
She is a columnist for the Plain Dealer and came by the station to do a story. I had no idea she was going to be there when I stopped by. She had Amira with her and she gave me a hug.”
“Whoa, stop! You don’t owe me any explanations. She didn’t make it a secret she found you attractive and you seemed interested in her—“
“First of all I am not attracted to her. I’m attracted to you but you’re giving me mixed signals. Gabrielle, be honest, do you see yourself dating a guy like me?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “What do you mean when you say a guy like you?
I overheard what you said to your friends about women. So, if you mean you’re that kind of guy then, no. I won’t date a man that can’t commit to one woman.”
“I’m not a womanizer. I’m a 36-year old single man that loves women. I do date often, but that’s because I haven’t found the right woman to settle down with. I’m thinking I might have found her, but she won’t give me the time of day.”
Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. “You’re 36 years old?”
“You say that like I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. I know it’s not polite to ask a woman her age, but how old are you?”
She shied away. “I’m a little younger?”
“Exactly how much younger are we talking? Do you get carded buying liquor?
Are you a genius and graduated from college at age 15 and started your career at 16?”
Gabrielle hated to look him in the eye. His eyes held the depth that drew her in.
She didn’t want to be drawn to him in a romantic way but his closeness was making her tingle and her body react unnaturally. “I’m not a genius but I am smart, and I do get carded even though I’m 29.”