Steve heart started to race as he approached the door. This time, his heart raced with excitement and the anticipation of finally having what he had been searching for. Visions of Laura swirled through Steve’s thoughts. His heart pounded with joy.
The medical clinic was still fully lit inside. Laura was probably still with a patient, Steve thought. She won’t even know I was late. Through the frosted window of the clinic door, Steve could see a shadowy figure approaching from the other side.
She must just be getting ready to leave now so I will be right on time, Steve thought. Steve took a deep breath and gave the door a pull. He was just about to give Laura his rehearsed hello speech when he realized it was not Laura after all. The person approaching from the other side of the door was Jim Hart.
“Hey Steve. I never expected to see you here. What brings you out to Clearwater tonight?” asked Jim.
“I am here to see Laura.”
“Well you just missed her Steve. She just went in with her last patient. She will probably be awhile.”
Steve was startled by the unexpected presence of Jim Hart at the clinic. He found the situation to be a little unnerving.
“So Jim, What brings you down to the clinic?” asked Steve.
“Well Steve, after you mentioned Laura the other day, I got to thinking that I should really try to make it work with her again. The past is over. We are both different people now. So I came down to try and patch things up. I brought her the copy of the agreement on the new clinic. You know, to show her that I was able to get it passed by the planning board for her. I thought it might help smooth things over.”
Steve’s heart sank to his feet. “How did it go?” he asked. He was sure that he did not want to hear the answer.
Jim leaned in to Steve. He nudged Steve slightly with his elbow and gave a wink. “Let’s just say I still have it. I already have a date set up for this weekend with Laura. And I will tell you, I don’t plan on letting her get away this time.”
Steve did all he could to keep the false smile positioned on his face. He tried to think of something to say that would mask his shock and his disappointment but his mind was not cooperating.
“A date this weekend, wow already,” was all that Steve could get out.
Jim gave Steve a slight slap on the back. “Yeah, and I owe it all to you buddy for reminding me what a great girl she is. So Steve, why did you come all the way down here to see Laura?” Jim asked.
“We had a meeting for seven o’clock to discuss the needs of the medical clinic space in the new shelter.”
“You may want to cancel that meeting Steve, I can discuss all of that with her this weekend. I can get all of the information that we need,” said Jim.
“Well, I think I will just say hello and leave. I don’t want her waiting around for me,” said Steve.
Jim smiled. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you were trying to steal my girl Steve. Don’t go and get any ideas now.”
“I’m just going to say hello,” said Steve, sounding almost confused.
“Steve, I’m just kidding. Besides, you aren’t her type anyway. I’ll see you around,” Jim said.
The door to the clinic gave a long groan as Steve pulled it open. Steve stepped inside and walked down the hallway to the waiting room. The short walk lasted an eternity for Steve.
The waiting room was empty. Steve could hear some muffled talking coming from the examination room. He pulled out a chair and quietly took a seat. His mind and his heart slowed. Steve felt horrible. He began to think that he should do as Jim had suggested. He should just leave, he thought.
Steve didn’t want to face the rejection. The notion of getting together with Laura sounded absurd. I should just get out of here before I end up making a bigger jerk out of myself, he thought. I am only fooling myself being here.
Sadness poured into Steve’s heavy heart. He let out a sigh as a deep frown took shape. His beleaguered mind knew there was only one option for him now.
Steve slowly rose from his seat and started toward the exit. On the way he paused at the reception desk to write Laura a quick note that he had to leave. “Dear Laura” was as far as he got.
The writing stopped when Steve heard a door to one of the examination rooms open. He looked toward the sound just as Laura emerged. Laura saw Steve at the desk and flashed a quick smile.
“Hi Steve, I will just be a minute,” she said. “I just have to grab a new prescription book. I hope you don’t mind waiting.”
Laura disappeared into her office for a few moments then returned to the examination room. Steve pondered his next move. He couldn’t leave now, he thought. She already saw him.
Steve debated his predicament for a few moments. His decision was to stay; he could always be Laura’s friend. That shouldn’t be too hard to do, he thought. Just a friend; I could always use a friend.
The unfinished note was crumpled up and tossed into the waste pail. Steve leaned back slightly onto the reception desk and closed his eyes. He was sad. He was alone. What next, he wondered. What next.
Steve raised his hands to his face and gently rubbed his eyes. A slight “oowww” began to radiate from his throat as he assessed his painful predicament. Memories of Laura swirled in his thoughts. The radiating sound in his throat continued.
When Steve dropped his hands he was shocked to see Laura and her last patient standing directly in front of him. “You OK Steve?” Laura asked with a slight chuckle.
Steve was mortified. Oh, that was impressive, Steve thought. Now I will be known as the idiot friend.
Laura walked her patient to the exit. “I will see you next week Mrs. Fisher. You take care now.”
Steve didn’t move. His mind was trying to assess the situation and determine the best escape route.
“Steve, you coming?” asked Laura as she waved to Steve. “So where are you taking me?”
Steve was somewhat confused by the question. “What?” said Steve, before he had time to think of a better comeback.
“Steve, you said you were going to take me out to discuss the needs of the clinic. So where are you taking me?” she asked. “I think you even mentioned a dinner might be involved. You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
“No Laura, dinner sounds great. How about Thai?” Steve asked without really thinking. “I know this great little Thai place up in Safety Harbor that is nice and quiet and has great food and wonderful service.”
“That would be great Steve. I love Thai food.”
Steve was beginning to feel more relaxed. Maybe I could be her best friend, he thought. That won’t be too bad.
Laura shut off the lights and locked the door. She turned to Steve as they walked to the parking lot.
“Steve did you happen to see who was just here?” she asked. “I would guess he may have been leaving just as you arrived.”
Steve did not know how to respond. He hoped he would say the right thing. “You mean Jim Hart?” he asked.
“Yes, Jim Hart. I could hardly believe it. He had the nerve to come down here and act like he was the one that got me the clinic space,” said Laura. “I don’t know if you know or not, but he and I used to date a while ago. Now he has some crazy notion that he and I can get back together. He comes down here trying to take the credit for everything that you did and then starts talking about getting back together. What a self-centered jerk.”
Steve looked at Laura with a somewhat stunned expression. His mind was not quite ready to speak.
“You know Steve, he even had the nerve to ask me out on a date this weekend,” said Laura.
“Really?” asked Steve. He tried not to act surprised.
“I told him no way, but he is so conceited that I don’t think he believed me,” Laura said. “I think he thought I was kidding.”
“So you’re not going to go out with Jim this weekend?” asked Steve.
“Go out with Jim Hart?” asked Laura. “You have to be kidding. Once was enough. I learn
ed my lesson.”
Laura reached out and took Steve by the hand. “Why would I want to go out with Jim Hart when you’re the one who is taking me for Thai?”
Steve could not believe it. He could barely control his emotions. “Laura, I have a surprise for you in the car. I can’t wait to show you,” he said excitedly.
“Steve, I think you have done enough for me already,” Laura said.
Steve let go of Laura’s hand. He increased his pace to the car. His anticipation was building. “You are going to love it,” said Steve excitedly. He lengthened his stride and began to run.
Steve was excited to show Laura the design he came up with for the sign for the medical clinic. Laura started to laugh at Steve’s uncoordinated gait as he ran to the car. Laura soon found herself running after Steve in order to keep up.
The car’s lights flashed and the alarm beeped as Steve unlocked the doors. Steve was the first to reach the car but Laura was coming up quickly from behind him. Steve’s heart was pounding wildly from the excitement and the elation. There was no fear and there was no trepidation. He was joyous. The pounding in his chest was pure happiness.
Steve opened the driver’s door as Laura ran around the car to the passenger side. Steve struggled to fold his seat forward. He fumbled with the stubborn seat latch in his eagerness to get at the design for the clinic sign.
Laura opened the passenger side door and slid into the car. “I win,” she yelled jokingly to Steve.
Lara felt her foot brush up against something. She looked down and noticed a package at her feet. This must be the surprise, she thought to herself. Laura picked up the package and looked at the logo on the front of the bag. She turned back to Steve who was still wrestling with the uncooperative seat mechanism.
“Wow Saks, I can’t wait to see what’s inside the bag,” she said. Laura waited for a response but Steve was too busy to hear her words. “I can’t wait Steve. I am going to have to peek inside. You better hurry up.”
All of Steve’s attention was focused on getting the design. He did not hear any of the words that Laura uttered. Laura opened up the Saks bag slightly and peeked in at the contents. She saw the shimmering Gucci logos on the satiny dust cover.
“Steve, what have you gone and done now,” she asked.
Steve heard the words this time, but he was still focused on getting the tube dislodged from the back seat. He couldn’t see that Laura had picked up the bag. He finally twisted the tube from where it was wedged and excitedly replied. “You have to see it. You are going to love it.”
Laura heard Steve’s words. She reached in and pulled out the Gucci bag that Steve never returned. She just finished pulling off the dust cover as Steve emerged with the design. Steve threw back the set and hopped in the car.
“Steve, this is a beautiful gift,” Laura said, as several tears welled up in her eyes. “How did you know that I always wanted a Gucci bag? I think this is the best gift I have ever gotten. I absolutely love it.”
Laura rose up from her seat and leaned over to Steve who was thoroughly confused by her statement. She closed her eyes and gave Steve a huge hug and a kiss. It took a few moments for Steve to realize what was happening. He finally understood after he spotted the open Saks bag and figured it out.
“Steve you really shouldn’t have,” said Laura as she looked at the bag and beamed. Laura wiped her eyes and gave Steve another passionate hug.
“I picked that bag because I really liked it,” Steve said as the words quickly popped into his mind.
Laura held up the bag to get a better look. “It looks almost like a classy doctor’s bag. I love it.”
The End
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Dissention
Chapter 2 - The Proposal
Chapter 3 - Uprising
Chapter 4 - The Jackie-O
Chapter 5 - New Plans
Chapter 6 - Inquisition
Chapter 7 - Beginning
Chapter 8 - Hope
Chapter 9 - The Ruse
Chapter 10 - A Friend
Chapter 11 - Awakening
Chapter 12 - Memories
Chapter 13 - Healing
Chapter 14 - Family
Chapter 15 - Fitting In
Chapter 16 - Denied
Chapter 17 - Discovery
Chapter 18 - The Ruse II
Chapter 19 - Ouch!
Chapter 20 - Laura
Chapter 21 - Progress
Chapter 22 - Rumor
Chapter 23 - Femme Fatale
Chapter 24 - The Con
Chapter 25 - The Ride
Chapter 26 - Evidence
Chapter 27 - Seeking Answers
Chapter 28 - New Game
Chapter 29 - Defense
Chapter 30 - Turning Tide
Chapter 31 - Surprise
Chapter 32 - New Rules
Chapter 33 - New Day
Chapter 34 - Back to Work
Chapter 35 - The Split
Chapter 36 - The Meeting
Chapter 37 - An End, A Beginning
Chapter 38 - A Calling
Chapter 39 - The End
David Allen, Inside Traitors
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