Twist of Love (5 page)

“Don't worry. I thrive under pressure.” Blake joked. “I have no doubt in my mind that you're going to love it.” Blake said.

“Is that so? Then let's up the ante. All our dates are gonna be like that. Keep giving me a good time, and I'll keep letting you take me on dates. But mess up once, and it's over. Deal?”

Josie stretched out her hand playfully. The way she said the offer was more playful than threatening.

Blake whistled and smiled. “You drive a hard bargain, lady.” he said.

“Hey, I thought you thrived under pressure.”

Blake laughed and shook her hand in response. “Fine. It's a deal.”

12. The Dance of Water and Light

“Are we there yet?” Josie asked impatiently.

They had been driving around for almost an hour. And there wasn't even any traffic. It would've taken them much longer if there was.

“We're almost there. Relax, just enjoy the ride. You're not in the hospital anymore, and this is a date, not an operation, so just take it easy.”

Josie felt slightly offended by Blake's remark. Did he really think that she was that shook up just because of her hospital work? However, after giving it some thought, she realized that Blake may have a point.

“Here we are.” Blake said as he pulled the brakes.

“The Greenzone Park?” Josie asked.

She was a little skeptical about Blake's choice for their date. She had always heard that the Greenzone Park was a place for hippies and vegetarians. She envisioned them having picnics on the park's grassy fields, exchanging their views on politics and conspiracies headed by the government.

'Not exactly the place I had in mind for our date...' Josie thought.

“Isn't this place for hippies only?” Josie asked.

Blake laughed loudly. “Of course not! I bet that's what they say about it though.”

“Definitely. I heard they even smoke pot here.”

“I'm sure you'll see that it's very different from the rumors.” Blake smiled and stepped out of his car. He opened the door for Josie.

“It sure is hot outside...” she said.

“I know, right? Come on, let me get you some ice cream.” Blake said. They walked over to the ice cream stand and Josie sat on one of the seats offered for the customers.

“Nuts and almonds for 2 please.” Blake took the ice cream and gave Josie one. She tasted the frozen dairy treat and smiled.

“How did you know that I love almonds?”

“Hmmm... I don't know, I just guessed.” Blake winked at Josie.

They both laughed and began eating their ice cream, and exchanging stories. Blake took Josie to another restaurant where they had some lunch. After having their fill of good food, Blake took Josie back to the park. They went on talking with each other as they walked, asking silly questions, telling each other the good and the bad events that had recently happened in their lives. Time passed quickly and Josie enjoyed her date, but not as much as she’d expected. She’d expected to see something new on their date, but that wasn't really the case. She didn't want to tell Blake, but she was actually disappointed at the park. It was just a regular old park, with grassy fields and some ice cream stands. She wanted her date to be like the one they’d had in her dream. But that didn't seem to be the case. She felt that their date was lacking something. Suddenly, Josie noticed the sky. It was slowly getting dark. She checked her wristwatch and saw that it was almost 6 pm.

“Blake, listen I had a great time... but I really have to go. I still have some work to do tomorrow...”

“Wait, Josie. It's about to start.” Blake smiled and grabbed her hand. He led her to an area that had an enormous pool of water in the middle.

“Okay... I like the lake thing... and the air is nice... but I really have to go-”

“Josie. Look.” Blake pointed to the pool.

Josie turned around to see the water splashing around. The water began to form little patterns as the droplets began to dance around. As the waters twirled in the air, a dim light began to form. The light got stronger and stronger till it started to illuminate the whole pool. The light flickered and changed color as it reflected off the water. The lights changed color as the waters danced in a symmetrical pattern of light and liquid. The beautiful water show complemented by the dancing lights mixed with the gorgeous night sky. And it was absolutely dazzling.

“Wow... It's lovely...” Josie said.

Josie was completely enamored by the beautiful scene. It took her breath away. She was so distracted by the stunning sight in front of her that she didn't notice Blake was behind her.

“Blake... this... this is-”

She turned around and was completely caught off guard. Blake embraced her tightly and placed his lips on hers. She suddenly remembered the strange dream she’d just had. Every scene in the dream vividly flashed in her mind. The hot, summer air in the carnival. The kids playing and running around the carousel. And then the kiss. The deep, passionate kiss. She felt as if the dream had actually come true. There was nothing else to do at this point. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. It was a magical moment that bonded the two of them together. Josie wished that this moment would last for eternity. It was as if no one and nothing else mattered, not her job, not her patients, not her past, not anything. She was completely caught up in this moment, her heart pounding, beating, and shouting feelings of deep love and affection.

It was as if for the first time in 5 years, 5 long years of feeling lonely, sad, and afraid, she felt truly alive. They looked at each other in the eyes and leaned in with their foreheads together. They both had a spark in their eyes that signaled their passion for one another.

“Blake I... I... don't know what to say...” Josie said.

“Why don't you just say what's really in your heart?” Blake said.

Josie couldn't help but blush. She was getting swept up in her emotions with Blake. What was it about this man? Was it his persistence? His stubborn insistence to date her, even when she refused to give him a chance? Or was it his eagerness and openness? His ability to see everything new and beautiful and show it to her? Maybe it was all these things and more? There was something about Blake that just resonated with her and made her heart pound. And now, Josie didn't even fight it anymore. Maybe it was illogical. Maybe it was silly. But now, Josie didn't care anymore. Being with Blake was all that mattered. And the feeling completely overwhelmed her.

“This is what's in my heart.” Josie said.

Then she kissed Blake passionately. They kissed as the lights and the water danced. And everything was well in the world for Josie Steele and Blake Ingram.

13. No Reply

Josie stretched her arms and quickly got out of bed. She parted the curtains in her room and enjoyed the sun's beautiful light.

“What a beautiful day...” she told herself.

She had slept soundly and without any nightmare at all. It had been a long and restful sleep that energized her for the day ahead. For the first time in years, Josie was actually looking forward to her work today. The cloud that hung over her head for several years had finally gone away, and it was because of one man. And that man's name was Blake Ingram.

Josie took a quick shower and hastily put on her white coat. She reached for her pocket and took out her cellphone. She texted Blake. It said: 'Good morning honeybun. Going to work today. hbu?'

Josie kissed her phone's touchscreen and put it back in her trousers pocket. She had finally realized she should let go of her worries and let love flow into her heart. And it felt good.

Meanwhile, in a small but beautifully furnished home, Blake laid still in his bed under his warm blankets, still sleeping from his date last night. His cellphone's loud ringtone shook Blake into wakefulness.

“Aghh!” Blake suddenly opened his eyes and rubbed them. He blindly reached for his phone. He silently cursed his phone. Blake was never really a morning person and often found himself getting jarred to wakefulness by his cellphone. This morning was no exception.

“What... time is it..?” He checked his phone and saw the time. It was 8:05 am.

“Shit! Class starts in 20 minutes!”

Blake rushed into his bathroom and brushed his teeth. He washed his face with some soap and put on some deodorant. He decided not to bathe, as he was already late and couldn't afford to waste any more time. The deodorant would have to do.

He quickly rushed into his car and drove away. “Crap, I hope there isn't any traffic today...” Blake told himself. Despite his youthful and child-like attitude, Blake still valued promptness above everything else. He had never been late to any of his classes before. He firmly believed that if he set an example to his students, the children would soon follow his lead. Amidst all of Blake's hurrying and rushing, he had forgotten to take his cellphone with him. It was left behind in his drawer, waiting for him to reply to Josie's message.

“Paging Dr. Josie Steele. Paging Dr. Josie Steele. Please proceed to room 204 immediately. Thank you.” Josie heard the nurse's command from the paging system and put down her coffee. She reached into her pocket and checked her phone.

'Still no reply...' she thought to herself.

It had already been an hour since she’d texted. Josie had noticed that Blake was usually prompt with his replies. She normally received his replies within 5 minutes after she messaged him. She was starting to get worried. What if something bad had happened to Blake? Or worse, what if he was out seeing another woman? Josie quickly shook her head and stood up.

'Get hold of yourself, Josie. His phone's probably on silent and he's having a class. Yeah, he's having a class... well, whatever it is he's doing, I can't think about it now. I've got a job to do. People are depending on you, Josie. Time to get back to the real world.'

Josie's analytical brain kicked in. Years of med school and training under pressure had taught her to set aside any negative emotions while the job was at hand. Today, she would have to apply all that. Blake's no-reply could wait.

Josie did her best not to think about Blake and hastily made her way through a crowd of doctors, nurses, and sick patients, through the hallway to room 204.

***

“I hope you all read the story about Hamlet over the weekend as I asked you to, because we'll be having a test about it today,” Blake said loudly.

The classroom was filled with teenagers who didn't seem very excited about their surprise test. The students quietly took their notebooks from their bags and placed them on the tables in front of them.

“Crap, I forgot to read this story last night...” A student whispered to his friend.

“Forgot? I tried going over one page and fell asleep instantly. Don't even try reading it...” the student's friend whispered back. The two of them couldn't help but chuckle.

“Mr. Watson and Mr. Simmons. Perhaps you two would like to share something with the rest of the class?” Blake asked as he pointed his ruler at the two students.

“No sir.” They both said in unison.

'Kids these days. They just have no appreciation for the classics. It's all pop-club music made by nameless DJ's who can't even read a single note, or some online computer game. What is the youth coming to?' Thought Blake.

Blake took some papers from his desk drawer and handed them to the students in the front row.

'Well, speak for yourself, Ingram. I do like club music, anyway....’

“Pass these to your classmates behind you.” Blake told the students in front as he handed them the papers.

He sat down and looked out the window when his random thoughts of DJs and club music were suddenly interrupted by a realization. Blake remembered the reason he’d woken up.

'Oh crap, the message!' He thought as he reached for his pocket. His hand did not feel the cellphone's familiar steel surface as it usually did. He checked his jacket pockets. Nothing. Suddenly, Blake recalled himself hurrying to school, and that he had forgotten to take his cellphone with him; it was lying in his cabinet drawer.

'Shit, I hope it's not Josie... we've got a date today... Great going, Blake.' He placed his palm on his face and sighed.

***

“It's going to be okay, Mrs. Griffith. You had a minor stroke, but the worst is over now.” Josie said as she held the old lady's frail hand. She told her some other minor details about what happened and the medicine that she should take, and proceeded to exit the room.

Suddenly, a tall handsome man that resembled Blake asked her: “Is she going to be okay? Please tell me she's going to be okay,” the man said.

Josie was startled. For a moment, she remembered the scene with Blake and his mother. She rubbed her eyes and took a closer look at the man. He was dark skinned and had a thick mustache. He didn't look anything like Blake. She hadn't realized she had been thinking about Blake all day, so much to actually think that this man resembled him for even just a little bit. And how many times had she encountered a mother and son like this? Josie realized she was beginning to connect dots to Blake. 

“Y-yes... she will be okay.” Josie said, still startled at what she saw. Was she so much in love with Blake that she would mistake a man who looked nothing like him at all to be him?

'This is crazy...' she thought to herself. She checked her phone again.

'Still nothing... who should I ask..? Should I-'

“Doctor Steele? Hey, Doctor Steele, you okay?” Milla's soft voice shook Josie back into reality.

“Oh, Milla..! Hey..!”

“You okay, Doc..? You've been daydreaming for quite a while there.” Milla told Josie worriedly.

“Really..? I didn't realize...” Suddenly, Josie knew the solution to all this.

“Milla, hey, I gotta go, okay? Meet you again, later. Bye!” Josie rushed hurriedly through the hallway.

“Umm... Goodbye...?”  Milla was left puzzled. This wasn't like Josie. What was Doctor Steele up to?

Josie rushed through the exit and hastily went to the hotdog stand that was beside the hospital. The hotdog stand had been there for almost as long as the hospital itself. Back in the day, Josie and her friends would hang out at this place all the time. Josie knew that this was the perfect place to make a call. She took out her cellphone and called up Blake.