Take Care of Me
By Melita Washington
Copyright 2012 Melita Washington
Smashwords Edition
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Chapter 1
What made them friends, Stacey didn’t know. They were more opposite than night and day. But there was absolutely nothing Stacey wouldn’t do for Nick. She watched him now, struck by how handsome he was. No wonder he never had to work for female companionship. He turned, saw Stacey coming towards him and smiled. “Hey Stacey May.” It was his affectionate nickname for her that no one else would dare use. Especially considering that her middle name was really Elizabeth. But, just as much as she would do anything for him the feeling was mutual for his part as well.
They were meeting to have their usual Friday night dinner. But there was someone else at the table. The question of who the striking stranger could be furrowed Stacey’s brow as both men rose from their chairs. “Stacey, I would like you to meet Stefan Spencer,” said Nick as he pulled the chair out for her to sit. Stefan held his hand out and she grasped it to find a warm, firm shake. Sign of a strong man her uncle would say. He looked her straight in the eye and held her hand just a moment longer than was necessary and smiled a dazzling smile at her. Stacey’s heart skipped a beat. She had no words, which was a rarity for her. Nick noticed and cleared his throat. “You’ve heard me speak about Stefan we went to high school together.” Stacey did remember the stories and felt a small stab of jealousy. She always felt amazed about the bond that had formed between her and Nick; and now worried that with a male counterpart on the scene, her role would be usurped. “Stefan is relocating to the D.C. area,” Nick was explaining.
“And Nick told me all about you, but he never said how lovely you were Stacey,” Stefan said his eyes never leaving hers. Stacey felt flush and didn’t like the feeling. “You never told me he was a used car salesman Nick,” She stated flatly trying to put distance between the tug of the attraction she felt toward Stefan. Both men laughed.
“So Stefan why are you returning to the D.C. area?” Stacey asked trying to make her voice sound normal and to steady her erratic heartbeat. The waitress came and took their orders then Stefan answered, “Well the main reason is that my mother is suffering from dementia and my father needs a hand looking after her. But I also had the opportunity to take on a new position in our company. You are looking at the new Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Crawley and Company.” “So you are a salesman,” Stacey laughed. Stefan returned the laugh easily, “I guess you can say so in a manner of speaking.”
“I am sorry to hear about your mother Stefan.” Stacey said this knowing it was a hard road ahead of him. As a nurse she had seen so much sickness in her life. Nick often wondered how she kept her sanity, but it was just who she was. Compassion was in her DNA and she felt it now for Stefan. Nick softly chuckled, “Stefan’s mom is a firecracker. She used to beat me just as much, if not more than Stefan.” Stefan’s smile held sadness. “We definitely deserved it and many more.” Both men laughed and said simultaneously, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.”
“I know you were a handful Nick and from the stories I’ve heard Stefan, you’re just as incorrigible.” Stacey said trying not to stare at him. The attraction she was feeling was undeniable and making her very uncomfortable.
Stefan took a sip of his wine that the waitress had just refilled and said, “I have to admit it was 50/50 as to who instigated the situations we found ourselves in as kids.” He turned to Nick, “do you remember that time we got caught sneaking out to go to a party when we were both already grounded?” Nick chuckled softly, “Of course I remember, that one was worth the beating I received when I got home. Libby Giovonni was worth all the trouble and then some.”
Stefan added wistfully, “And I can say the same about Tiffany… What was her last name?” They both laughed. The evening progressed and Stacey was regaled with stories of their youth. She felt encompassed in their circle of easy ribbing and laughter.
The waitress, like she was drawn to their laughter came and batted her eyelashes at Nick. Stacey shook her head knowing how this was about to go down. Mandy, the waitress had been overly solicitous the whole evening, brushing up against Nick whenever she came by to check on the table. He turned to her now knowing what she wanted and gave it to her. “What time do you get off of work Mandy?” He was so nonchalant about it. She quickly answered, “An hour ago, but wanted to make sure you were taken care of.” He gave her that alluring smile Stacey knew so well and said, “So what are we waiting for?” Nick said his goodbyes after taking care of the tab for the evening.
“Does he always do that?” Stefan asked chuckling at the ease of which Nick had picked up the waitress.
“Yes, it’s incredibly easy for him. Who could blame her? He’s hot.” Stacey answered shrugging her shoulders. Stefan frowned at this. He had been laughing and smiling all evening so the frown looked out of place on his face.
“What?” Stacey asked.
“I didn’t realize it was like that between you two,” he stated flatly.
Stacey was quick to correct him, “It’s not like that at all. I love him, but I’m not in love with him. I know him too well to fall for his charm. He’s my best friend. Don’t know what I’d do without him. But it’s never been like that between us.”
A slow smile spread across Stefan’s face, “That’s good to know. We stay away from sharing girls.”
Whoa, did she hear that right? Did that mean he was considering Stacey to be his girl? Well, Stacey thought to herself, just ask. “So,” she started out slowly, “am I under consideration for being your girl?”
His smile broadened. “Would you be receptive to the idea?”
She had to remember to breathe. Never in her life had a guy this attractive come onto her. She contemplated his good looks. Not as model handsome as Nick, but gorgeous none the less. He had an olive complexion that definitely wasn’t born in a tanning both. His eyes were a grey blue that looked like a storm brewing when he frowned and fireworks when he laughed. He had midnight black hair that looked windblown, but she knew enough about style to know that it was not a natural occurrence. There was definitely product in this guy’s hair. Metro-sexual much? He wore an expensive suit that screamed designer and probably cost more than her whole closet worth of clothing. He looked like he stepped from between the sheets of GQ magazine. Why on earth would he be interested in going out with someone who was the total opposite of that?
Next to him Stacey looked so plain. She was grateful that for once that she had at least changed clothes before meeting Nick. Usually she met him in her scrubs. She had actually put on a skirt and blouse, which showed a hint of cleavage which Stefan, checked occasionally to her happy surprise. Her brown hair was pulled severely away from her face and she was pale from lack of sun. She refused to go to a tanning salon, like Nick was always pestering her to. Stefan was a good foot taller than Stacey, lean and muscular. While she wasn’t overweight she definitely wasn’t model thin like she envisioned his type to be. Why on earth was he asking her out? She realized he was still waiting for an answer and she still couldn’t think how to respond. This was probably easy for him, she had heard about his and Nick’s escapades in school. He was a rival to Nick’s ways with the ladies.
She took so long to answer he began to back pedal, “If you’re not interested you can just say so, I’ll survive.” He looked away seemingly chagrined.
Oh no, she thought, I‘m blowing it, over thinking the situation as usual. “No, it’s not that. I just don’t usually get asked out. I couldn’t help trying to examine your motives. But I’m game for anything once.”
“Not exactly a resounding yes, but I’ll take it. There must be something wrong with the male population around here, if a beautiful woman like you doesn’t get asked out all the time.” Stefan said smoothly.
Stacey shrugged blowing off the exaggerated compliment, “I get asked out on a rare occasion or two, but definitely not by drop dead gorgeous guys like you. Oh! That sounds superficial doesn’t it?”
He grinned at her, “Totally, but I’m not going to hold it against you.”
She wiped her hand across her forehead dramatically, “Whew! I have the propensity to put my foot in my mouth, so I’m glad it’s not there now.”
This flirting thing was going well, much better than she had ever done it before. He genuinely seemed interested. She was on her second glass of wine, definitely her limit. Afraid that she was going to mess things up, she decided to call it quits for the night.
Stefan, however had other ideas, he pulled his chair closer to Stacey. “So what would you like for dessert?” He set the dessert menu in front of Stacey while putting his arm over the back of her chair. She could feel the heat from his body and without even thinking she leaned closer to him. They were almost touching. Her stomach was doing little flips, thinking about his proximity. Maybe she didn’t have to leave just yet.
“Dessert does sound good. Do you like chocolate?” Stacey asked in a breathy voice that sounded nothing like the practical no nonsense voice she used as a nurse.
“Who doesn’t love chocolate? Shall we share something?” Stefan mused.
“That might save on calories.” Stacey intoned begrudgingly. She really did love dessert but didn’t want to look like a complete hog in front of Stefan.
He laughed out loud. “I wouldn’t dream of making you share a dessert. You look like I just kicked your puppy by even suggesting it!”
Embarrassed that he read her thoughts so easily Stacey said, “Really I don’t mind sharing. But look there is a mudslide pie and a chocolate lava cake. Maybe we could share both?”
His eyes twinkled in his mirth. Stacey could get lost in those eyes. She found herself inching even closer. She wanted to be in the orbit of his dazzling sunshine of a smile. He stroked her cheek with his index finger and said, “I would be happy to share dessert with you.”
Stacey felt that slight caress shoot straight through her entire body. She shivered with a need that she had never felt before. The man just oozed sex appeal. She felt flush and overheated, and she didn’t want the sensation to go away. It felt like there was a magical cord connecting them.
They ordered dessert and when it came Stacey dug into the chocolate lava cake first. “Mmm. This is heaven. How is the mudslide pie?” She leaned over and put her fork into the slice on the plate in front of Stefan and was equally impressed. “Ooo. This is so good.”
Stefan sat back, “I think I’ll just watch you enjoy them both, it’s downright erotic.” His eyes watched Stacey intensely. It made her feel self-conscious. But she didn’t want to seem selfish, so she feed him a bite of the lava cake. He closed his eyes as he tasted the delicious morsel.
“See it’s not just me, you make it look good too.” Stacey watched as he licked his lips to remove the residual chocolate that coated his lips. Oh how she wanted to lick it off!
Whoa! Where did that come from? She had never been that brazen in her life and she definitely couldn’t start having thoughts like that about a man she met 3 hours ago. She tried to reign in her raging hormones. She took a sip of the wine that she had been nursing. It took everything in her not to climb in his lap.
“I think I am going to call it an evening before I embarrass myself.” Stacey mumbled as she rose from her chair and Stefan automatically rose with her. Wow what a gentleman, no guy did that these days. He was closer than she anticipated. She could feel the heat radiating from him. He smelled of some sort of spicy aftershave, chocolate and wine. It was definitely a masculine scent and the heady aroma felt like an actual pull that lead Stacey much closer to him. If she just looked up she could kiss him. What was going on? This wasn’t me! Stacey took a step away from him but got caught up in her purse which she had put on the floor at her feet. She wobbled; he reached out to steady her. The touch sent another electric jolt through her body.
“Can I see you home?” he asked, concern coloring his voice.
“I’ll take a cab.” Stacey said. The room was starting to spin, but she didn’t attribute it to the wine. She was intoxicated by his closeness. If she could just get some distance between them she would be ok. But the more Stacey tried to move away the more concerned he became.
“Please stop,” she begged. “I am alright.”
He continued to support her unnecessarily, “I promise I’ll just see you to the door. My mother raised a gentleman, and I couldn’t live with myself if I let you go home alone in this condition.” They walked to the front exit of the restaurant. And he hailed a taxicab.
Stacey couldn’t tell him that he was making her imbalanced. That would sound totally ridiculous. It even sounded ridiculous to her and it is how she was feeling. But why was she feeling this way? Sure he was handsome as all get out, but that wasn’t cause for this type of reaction. Or was it? Is this what love at first sight was like? Stacey had felt the attraction as soon as she laid eyes on him. Don’t be ridiculous! She shook her head to dispel the thought.
Best course of action was to keep her mouth shut, make it home and pray not to embarrass herself further. The cab ride was quick, she lived a short distance from Carly’s their favorite restaurant. Stacey wondered what Nick would think about Stefan and her as a couple. Would it bother him? She certainly felt a tiny stab of jealousy when she had listened to their easy camaraderie. It was definitely a male thing that she couldn’t compete with. But she got over it quickly. Stacey knew Nick loved her. She was secure in that. Probably the only thing in her life she was secure with.
Nick and Stacey had met when his one night stand of the evening had overdosed on heroine. Nick had brought her to the emergency room and confessed they had been doing smack when Rosslyn, the lady in question, had a seizure and stopped breathing. Nick called 911 and the operator told him to do CPR. He came with her to the hospital and Stacey was the nurse on duty at the emergency room that night.
She had been out of nursing school only a week and she was unsure what to do. The head nurse took control of the situation and Stacey ended up talking to Nick. She wasn’t judgmental as he told her all the things that he felt were bad in his life. They clicked. She got him through rehab. They connected in ways that she never knew it was possible to connect with a person. It was so strange.
Many of his negative behaviors continued, but he had never done drugs again. Rosslyn died that night and it changed a fundamental part of him. There were many nights, after her death that he cried in Stacey’s arms. No one has ever been that vulnerable with her. It takes courage to be that vulnerable with someone and Stacey told that to Nick when he lamented about crying like a baby with her. It’s just what you do when you love someone.
And it was definitely reciprocated. For as many times as Stacey has been there for him, he has been there for her. Her heart was too open Nick constantly told her. For every death in the ER, for every bad day and for many lonely nights Nick had been there for her.
The whole cab ride home Stacey worried about what Nick would think about this. Stefan was his best friend from high school, so she didn’t want to come between that. So when Stefan saw Stacey to my door and went for a kiss, she turned her head and he planted one on her cheek. He looked a little disappointed, but took it with good grace. “Do I get to call on you tomorrow?”
Stacey didn’t trust her voice not to squeak, so she nodded.
Stefan walked away from Stacey with mixed emotions. There was something there with her, but he didn’t like how close she and Nick were. There were insecurities from their younger days that Stefan tried to dismiss, but tonight they were nagging at him. But he felt interested in Stacey that went beyond how she appealed to him as a woman. She was voluptuous and was sexy as hell, but for some reason didn’t know it. From the moment she walked to the table he was hard for wanting her body. But as the evening progressed, he was more and more intrigued by her character.
Nick had told him about his friend Stacey the nurse, but he always talked in terms of how she took was the conscience in his life. So Stefan had assumed she was an old fuddy duddy. When Nick invited him to dinner to meet his friend, he had braced himself for having a rather dull evening. He should have known better. Nick knew all the cool people. He laughed to himself. But he definitely looked forward to seeing Stacey again. He couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind.
Stacey walked into her apartment and collapsed on the bed. Her mind kept going over every detail of the evening. Stefan was so gorgeous and he seemed genuinely attracted to her as well. Nick always tried to push her to date, so she suddenly wondered whether or not this had been a set up? It never occurred to her that he had set them up until just this moment. How embarrassing! If Nick had gotten his buddy to come on to his frumpy friend she would kill him.
Nick often would suggest she dress more provocatively. Or would try to set her up on dates, but she wasn’t interested. She was more focused on her career. She wanted to be a good nurse. But if any of Nick’s other friends were as hot as Stefan, she definitely was missing out. But maybe Nick had tried to manipulate her into accepting a blind date. Oh she could just see Nick maneuvering this into happening. She was going to kill him!
Stacey picked up the phone, but then put it back down. He had left with Mandy the waitress. He wouldn’t be answering the phone tonight.
Nick would have welcomed the interruption. It wasn’t that Mandy wasn’t attractive, she most definitely was. He caressed her curves dispassionately accessing her beauty and found nothing to find fault with. But while he stirred her passion to great heights, she did absolutely nothing for him. And his nonexistent erection was proof of that. But he was stroking her so insistently that she had yet to notice his lack of enthusiasm. There was nothing unappealing about Mandy. He’d been with her a couple of times on and off. Just casual fun in his mind, but he knew she wanted more. And to be honest he did too, but just not with her.
Stacey was forever telling him he needed to stop his womanizing ways. But they gave him some comfort. There was power in being able to smile at a woman and get her to give herself to him. He enjoyed it immensely, but lately it wasn’t as fulfilling as it had been in the past.
A flash of Jasmine’s body flitted through his mind and his erection flared to life. But scoundrel that he was, he couldn’t be intimate with Mandy and pretend that she was Jasmine. He was ready for this encounter to be over, but didn’t want to hurt Mandy’s feelings. He could see her to completion and she would never know he didn’t want to be with her like this ever again.
So he began whispering in Mandy’s ear. Wicked things he knew would make her blood sing. And as he kissed his way down her body, he knew she would be a quivering mass of jelly by the time he finished with her. He licked at her slick folds and was rewarded by her gasp and deep sighs. He followed the gyration of her hips relentlessly until he felt her start to peak. He then slipped two fingers deep inside and began thrusting in time with the strokes his tongue made against her clit.
Her release came and she smiled at him with love shining in her eyes. He hated to see it there because he really didn’t want to hurt Mandy. So he pulled her close and held her. She tried to stroke him to life, but he pulled the covers over her and told her he was good. “Really?” she asked surprised.
He considered getting rid of her, but really didn’t want the confrontation. So instead he kissed the top of her head and said, “Really.”
*************
The next morning Mandy was attached to him and for a moment, Nick felt he couldn’t breathe. He was wondering how he was going to get rid of her without causing a scene. He really hated when women cried in front of him.
She knew it was a dream, but Stacey couldn’t shake herself out of it. In her dream Nick paid Stefan cold hard cash to ask her out and the two men were laughing behind her back at how pathetic she was. In her dream it felt like she had felt when she was younger. She felt small and alone and lonely. Stefan looked at her and laughed harder. She could feel herself beginning to cry in her sleep.
Stacey’s alarm awakened her and she rolled over and called Nick. She didn’t even turn off the alarm. Nick heard the phone ring and disentangled himself from Mandy. It was Stacey; he answered and heard her alarm going off insistently and loudly in the background.
“Why is there a klaxon blaring,” he raised his voice to be heard. She turned it off.
“Nick did you do it?” there was so much distress in her voice he immediately was concerned. She sounded like she was crying.
“What’s the matter? Never mind, I’ll be right there.” Before he hung up Stacey could hear a female voice saying, “You’re leaving?”
Stacey was relieved that Nick was coming over. He always made things right. He would give a rational perspective to this whole thing; at least that is what Stacey said to herself.
As Stacey tried to pull herself together; she put on a pot of coffee, took a shower and as she was getting out, she heard the door open. Nick had a key to her place so she wasn’t surprised. As he came through her bedroom door she came out the bathroom and accused him, “Nick did you do it?” Her voice choked on unexpected tears.
“What? What is it?” he closed the distance between them and held her by her arms.
“I just need to know, did you put Stefan up to asking me out?” She took a couple of deep calming breaths. He stared at Stacey with a perplexed expression on his face. “Tell me everything. What are you talking about?”
They sat on her bed as she recounted the evening in excruciating detail, leaving nothing out. He held her as she talked. She even told him about how she felt punched in the gut when Stefan said she was beautiful. Then she told him about the horrible dream she had and how they both were laughing at her for thinking a hot guy would be into her.
He listened to everything. Dried the irrational tears and kissed the top of her forehead. At that exact moment Stefan walked through the door holding coffee and a bag, “Hey your door is open….”
He stopped as he saw Stacey in a towel, and Nick in very casual clothes holding her in his arms on her bed, with his lips pressed to her forehead.
It seemed as though all the air had fled the room. No one spoke for what seemed like minutes. Nick found his voice first. “Hey, good morning man.” Nick untangled Stacey from his embrace and grabbed the coffee and the bag of donuts from Stefan’s hands. “I love Krispy Kreme donuts. Great timing, I was just leaving.” He turned back towards Stacey and placed breakfast on her nightstand and whispered, “I didn’t do anything; there was no set up.” With that, he winked and left munching on a donut and smiling.
The silence was very awkward. Stacey sat thinking of how handsome he was and how frumpy she must look in her towel and fuzzy slippers. If he had been interested in dating Stacey surely she scared him off with her red rimmed eyes and disheveled appearance. She must look like a drowned rat with her hair stringy and wet.
His expression was hard; the storm was raging in his grey blue eyes, “I thought you said it wasn’t like that with you and Nick.”
Stacey shouldn’t have been shocked that was where his thoughts had taken him. But looking at it from his viewpoint she guessed she could see how he would make that assumption. “No,” she assured him, “Nick is really just a friend. I am a bit of a mess. Let me go make myself presentable.”
“You look perfect just as you are.” Stefan stepped closer to the bed and held her in place to keep her from retreating. “It’s 7 in the morning, why was Nick in your bedroom?” He looked deep into her eyes, trying to see the truth.
Stacey couldn’t meet his stare. She knew how ridiculous it had been to call Nick, but how could she admit to Stefan that she thought she was in love with him? To admit that was putting herself out there in a way that couldn’t be taken back. But what else could she say? Stacey just decided to go for a portion of the truth. “I called him to ask him if he had put you up to asking me out. I was a little upset about that prospect and he just immediately came over. I didn’t ask him to come by, he’s just protective of me. Honestly there isn’t any sort of romantic relationship between Nick and myself.”
He took that in, nodded his head and sat next to Stacey on the bed. “Let me be clear. I am very interested in getting to know you better. Nick had nothing to do with my asking you out. You can always just ask me these types of questions. I am going to take it on faith, that you are being honest with me, so I am going to accept your answer that there really is nothing going on between you and Nick.” He sat closer and lifted up her chin. “Are we on the same page?”
Stacey nodded her head not trusting her voice. This whole situation just made her feel unbalanced. She usually had a quick answer for anything someone said, it was a self-defense mechanism. But with Stefan everything turned topsy turvy. Stacey took a deep breath trying to pull air into her lungs as well as pull herself together. She used the donut to give herself a moment. “Krispy Kremes really are the best donuts. Thanks for breakfast.”
“I just wanted to make sure you were alright before I went to work. You really had me concerned last night. You are a lightweight if just a couple of glasses of wine do you in that badly.” He softened his criticism with a smile.
Trying to stay with the honesty line of thinking she told him, “I really wasn’t drunk. It was you. You throw my equilibrium out of whack.”
His smile broadened, “Well that’s quite the compliment.”
“Just being honest,” Stacey stated stuffing the last bite of the donut in her mouth. “So it’s Saturday, why are you going to work?”
“New kid on the block got to make sure I’m up to snuff for my first day Monday.” He took a sip of the coffee. “But, I am just putting in half a day; can I take you to lunch?”
“Sorry,” She was truly disappointed. “I work at the hospital today from 11-8. But how about a late dinner?” She asked trying to disguise the hope in her voice. “I make a mean spaghetti.”
“It’s a date.” He got up from the bed. He held her hands and gazed into her eyes. It felt like she couldn’t breathe. He leaned down and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “I will see you later tonight then.” He glanced at Stacey’s bed as if he just realized where they had been this whole time. He left Stacey’s apartment and she felt a rush of adrenaline. Wow! This guy really was into ME! She got dressed and went to the corner store to grab ingredients for tonight’s meal.
Manny, the store clerk waved at Stacey, “Hey, good morning Ms. Richards. You look bright and chipper this morning.”
She waved back and sent a smile over her shoulder, “And why wouldn’t I? It’s a glorious day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing.”
Manny laughed, “It sounds like you’re in love. Oh, hey morning Mr. Faulks. Doesn’t Ms. Richards just glow this morning? I think its love.” He winked at Nick and went back to stocking the shelf.
Nick looked at Stacey. “You do look radiant.”
She smiled back at Nick. “Stefan is coming for spaghetti tonight.”
Nick didn’t return her smile. “I want you to be careful Stacey May.”
“Is there some reason that I should be worried?” Stacey frowned at Nick.
“Besides the fact that you have no experience with men, no.” He frowned at her. “Stefan is a good guy. If he wasn’t I would be more worried about you than I already am. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve never seen you like this before. And you only had dinner with the guy. Slow your roll Stacey May.”
Stacey nodded her head. “I hear you. I don’t understand it myself. I’ve never felt this sort of attraction before. Honestly Nick, I feel like its love at first sight. And that scares the crap out of me.”
“That makes two of us.” Nick wheeled her grocery cart down the aisle and absently put items in her basket. He put everything that Stacey would have wanted for the menu she had planned in the basket. They knew each other that well. That gave Stacey comfort. Nick was her rock.
They checked out and went to her apartment to put everything away. They worked side by side in silence; each of them thoughtful about her situation. Stacey knew he was worried that she was going to get hurt and frankly she was too. Nick pulled a loaf of bread out and started making them both sandwiches. She grabbed the mayo for him and the mustard for herself. Nick got the chips from the pantry. They assembled lunch and Stacey was struck at how intimate it was that they could go through this process and not have to ask what the other one wanted. She guessed she could see how Stefan wouldn’t know what to make of her relationship with Nick. She said as much to Nick.
“Do you think he was jealous?” Nick seemed incredulous.
“I don’t know Nick, but it definitely gave him pause. I mean how would you feel if you walked in on Jasmine with some guy and she’s only wrapped in a towel in her bedroom?” Stacey asked shaking her head.
“I don’t want to talk about Jasmine. Nick paused, he seemed emotional but continued.
“Loving you is like breathing, I don’t even think about it. But you’ve never been in a relationship in all the years that we have been friends, so I guess I am just worrying-- being overprotective. I guess I should be jealous. He’s going to be taking your attention away from me. But all I can really think about is what if he hurts you? He is my oldest friend, but you’re my best and dearest friend. He doesn’t know all the crap I was doing, the trouble I had gotten into. Doing heroine was the darkest time in my life and you were there to see me through that. You have seen the worst of me and still you have stood by my side. You have been my rock.”
Stacey laughed at how his thoughts were echoing her own. “I know our friendship has caused you grief with the girls you date. Especially Jasmine, but you don’t want to talk about her.”
Nick had a steady stream of women that were bed partners, no one serious. Jasmine had been the one girl that he had gotten close to though. Jasmine had been immediately threatened by Nick and Stacey’s closeness. She didn’t believe that a man and a woman could have a close relationship without it being sexual at one point or another. He always reassured her that their relationship wasn’t like that. But she constantly harped on Stacey’s presence in Nick’s life. She always tried to exclude Stacey in everything they did. While Nick did the opposite and tried to include her in everything they did.
Jasmine was beautiful. She and Nick looked like a matched Ken and Barbie set. Stacey had liked her. She was savvy enough to be a match for Nick. Stacey wanted him to find someone to bring him happiness, but Jasmine saw Stacey’s acceptance as some sort of manipulation. She thought that she was pretending to like her, but only to make Jasmine look worse to Nick. Stacey’s mind just didn’t work that way. Stacey tried to be unobtrusive, but Nick would have none of it. His stance was if Jasmine couldn’t accept Stacey, then there was a fundamental problem in their relationship.
So they kept trying to co-exist by sharing Nick. They would go out and Jasmine would barely speak to Stacey. It was like Stacey wasn’t even there. Jasmine did everything to have Nick pay attention to her. For Stacey’s part, she tried to stay out of her way. But it wasn’t enough. She just resented having to put up with Stacey’s presence.
Stacey told Nick to let it go. Stacey thought he was using her to put a wedge between them because he was getting too close to Jasmine. He was scared about falling in love with someone. To actually care about a bed partner was the biggest taboo for him. He hadn’t known how to face those emotions.
Stacey remembered the night they broke up; unfortunately she had been front and center for the whole debacle. Jasmine blamed it all on her. She screamed at him, “She is all you think about. She is all you talk about. And why? She is nothing special! Look at her! She’s downright frumpy! I love you. I am the perfect match for you. We have everything in common. I turn my world upside down to accommodate you and all you ever do is put her needs first!”
Stacey sat there stunned. But Nick wouldn’t have it. “She is three times the woman you’ll ever be Jasmine. Do you ever have a thought in your head that doesn’t start and end with how it benefits you? Yes I love her, but she is my friend. I will not allow you to speak to her that way. She has done nothing but try to be a friend to you. She knows I love you and she would have let our friendship go to do what would have made me happy. But no! You were too threatened to see that she could have been your strongest ally. Yes, you and I are a perfect match Jasmine. We are probably too much alike to be good together over the long haul. But your blatant disrespect for Stacey is the breaking point. How can I possibly be with someone who doesn’t give basic consideration to someone who is so important in my life? Get out. I don’t ever want to see you again.” He threw her out and never looked back.
It was a hard break for him. And Stacey felt a certain amount of guilt. Maybe she was too much of a presence in his life. So they continued filling the gaps in each other’s lives. Stacey felt an undeniable pull towards Stefan and wondered if she was going to have to face what Nick had with Jasmine. It would be twice as hard if that was the case because Nick and Stefan were friends. She would just have to take it a step at a time. Who knows where this was leading with Stefan. Just because she felt this pull didn’t mean that he felt it too. Nick was right; she had to slow her roll.
“I have to get going, I’m going to drop off some food to Mrs. Horowitz before I head to the hospital.”
They left her apartment together and went their separate ways.
Mrs. Horowitz was Stacey’s mother’s friend. She was 77 years old. She had helped put Stacey through nursing school after her mother’s death. She was now in a wheel chair because of hip replacement surgery. Stacey brought her food every other day and looked after her to make sure she was doing ok. Her mind was sharp as a tack, but her body seemed to be failing her.
“Hi Mrs. Horowitz, how are we doing today?” Stacey asked after she let herself in with her extra key.
“I’ve had better days sweetie. But it does no good to complain, so I won’t. You look beautiful today.”
Stacey blushed, “Thank you.” She started fixing her a plate of food, keeping her head down so she wouldn’t try to probe further into the reason behind Stacey blushing. But it was too late. “So what’s with the glow?”
She didn’t know why she tried to diffuse her inquiries; Mrs. Horowitz was too shrewd to be put off. “I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about Mrs. Horowitz.” Stacey turned towards the fridge pulling out the milk to pour her a glass.
“Don’t try to work around me girlie girl. Spill. I want to know what’s put the rosy color in those cheeks.” She peered around the corner at Stacey. If she could have gotten up from her wheelchair she would have.
Why was Stacey trying to avoid her question? Here was a fount of information that she could tap. 77 years of experience with men, what better resource and insight could there be? “Do you believe in love at first sight Mrs. Horowitz?”
She clapped her hands. “Oh this is wonderful! You’re in love! It’s written all over you. Tell me all about him. It is a him right?”
Stacey was shocked. “Mrs. Horowitz!”
“What? It’s not like I’m so old that I don’t know about these things Stacey. You’ve never been interested in a man before; even that gorgeous Nick that you are so attached to. So can you blame me for wondering about your orientation? From your shock I am assuming that it’s a man and not a woman.”
“Yes, it is a man and I promise I will tell you all about him when I come back tomorrow. I’m late for work.” Stacey handed her the glass of milk she had poured and turned to leave. “But do you believe in love at first sight?” She stopped and looked back at her. Mrs. Horowitz eyes crinkled in the corners as she answered, “Yes, I do.”
Stacey gleefully made her escape from Mrs. Horowitz’s interrogation and was somewhat looking forward to grilling her tomorrow on male/female relations.
Normally Stacey enjoyed her work. She looked forward to getting up in the morning because as a nurse she found fulfillment in helping other people. She honestly knew she was on the right path in her life. Mrs. Horowitz often commented on how rare that was. Most people drift from one thing to another trying to figure out where they fit in the world. But Stacey had known from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse.
Stacey had leukemia as a child. She spent months on end in the hospital. And her nurse Ellen Costas’ nurturing care was the reason that she wanted to be a nurse. Ellen made such a difference in her recovery. Hospitals are scary places and as a ten year old it had been the scariest time ever, but Ellen was there along with Stacey’s mother every step of the way.
She always had a silly joke, a cute toy or time just to sit and hold her hand. Stacey’s mom was a single parent, so she couldn’t take off work to be with her. Ellen was there when Stacey felt lost and alone. She remembered that. It stuck with her and it’s what made her want to be a nurse too. Ellen had retired the year Stacey graduated from nursing school. She had come to her graduation ceremony. The pride in her eyes had shone through the tears.
And here Stacey was working in that same hospital. She got along well with most of the staff. One nurse in particular she had connected with, Alyson Cooper. Alyson and Stacey had been friendly, but after Alyson had a one night stand with Nick she became the opposite of friendly. It saddened Stacey, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
It seemed like time had stopped at the hospital. Would eight o’clock never come? Stacey kept looking at the clock and Alyson noticed. “What’s up with you and the clock watch?” she asked snidely.
Stacey answered her curtly, “I just have plans tonight, that’s all.”
“With Nick no doubt.” The sarcasm in her voice was dripping acid.
It angered Stacey. “No actually not with Nick. Not that it’s any of your business. You know Alyson, I did warn you what Nick was like. Why do you constantly take his use of you out on me?”
She just turned and walked off in a huff. Stacey sighed deeply, saddened by the situation. That was one thing she would definitely ask Mrs. Horowitz. Why do women blame men, when they let themselves be used? She truly did not understand why Alyson was mad at her.
She didn’t have time to wonder about it as a new patient was brought into the ER. It was a young girl who had narrowly escaped being hit by a car. The driver in that accident came in the next ambulance so her time was no longer her own to ponder the battle of the sexes.
At 7:30, just when Stacey could see the light at the end of the tunnel of this endless day, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She answered it not knowing whose number it was and was pleasantly surprised to hear Stefan’s voice on the end of the line. “Stacey, hi this is Stefan.”
She could hear the smile in her own voice as she responded, “Oh hi Stefan!”
But the smile vanished quickly. “Stacey I am so sorry, but I am going to have to cancel on you tonight.”
The disappointment was overwhelming. Stacey really felt like an idiot. Here she was thinking that she was in love; that at the very least he was attracted to her, and now at the first opportunity to get to know her better he was already making excuses not to spend time with Stacey. How could she be so stupid?
The tears were stinging her eyes as she retorted quickly, “Came to your senses, huh?”
“No, that’s not it.” He was quick to respond. “We’re just having a bit of an emergency with my mom. No one seems to know where she is.”
Stacey felt terrible. She had jumped to an entirely wrong conclusion. “What can I do to help?”
“We’re forming a search party. We are just going from door to door around the nursing home, hoping someone has seen her.” His voice was tight with stress.
“I’d be happy to join if you need an extra hand.” Stacey said softly.
“I won’t turn down any help.” He gave Stacey the address to the extended care facility where his mother had disappeared from and where everyone was gathering to start the search.
Stacey called Nick. “Nick, did you hear about Stefan’s mom?”
“No, what’s up? Oh hold on. That’s Stefan calling me now. Hold on Stacey.”
During the pause where he had Stacey on hold; she was checking out at the front nurse’s station. It was close enough to eight o’clock. She signed out and let the head nurse on duty know that she had an emergency to deal with. She practically ran to her car. The phone beeped back it was Nick.
“You’re on your way?” he asked concerned. “Can you come by and scoop me up since it’s on the way?”
“Of course I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Stacey put her phone in her purse and focused on the drive to pick up Nick.
When she arrived Nick was standing on the corner. He got in the car and they were on their way. They were silent the entire way, each lost in their own thoughts. She was really worried about Stefan. Dementia was a hard thing to watch your parent go through. She couldn’t imagine the stress this was causing him.
They pulled up to the nursing home and several of the police cars were leaving. Nick got out and flagged down Stefan. “What can we do to help man?” They embraced in a one armed hug.
“I am so grateful you came to help, man.” Stefan looked at Stacey and said, “Thank you both for coming. Here’s a picture of my mom that you can show to people. She was wearing a white jogging suit and a yellow baseball hat. We’ve got a map here of areas that are being searched. We are trying to go door to door in 6 block increments. Once those have been searched, groups come back for a different grid to search. You guys can canvas this area, grid 24. If you hear anything, please call.”
The sun had set and it made doing the search so much harder. Nick and Stacey went door to door asking people if they had seen Stefan’s mom. They had been walking the search grid area and Nick was telling Stacey another story of when he and Stefan were kids. “I wish you could have known her when Mrs. Spencer was young Stacey. They had the perfect family. You could tell that they were in love. And she was always doing things for all the kids in the neighborhood. She would whoop you just like you were her own kid. ‘It takes a village’ she would always say. It’s just so hard to believe that she has deteriorated like this. Not to know where she is has got to have Stefan scared witless.”
“He definitely has a hard road ahead with this illness,” Stacey added. “But she is in a good facility. Some of the nurses from the hospital moonlight over here. I only hear good things about this place, which is a blessing. I have heard nightmare stories about other places.”
“It has torn him up that this is what it has come down to. He never wanted to have his mother put away in a home. He says it felt like they were abandoning her. But his father who has loved that woman all of his life, thinks it’s best. And that’s literally all their lives. They met in the sandbox and have been together since they were toddlers. Stefan said they made the decision as a family to have Mrs. Spencer in a nursing home, but it was after much arguing with his father, Dave. In the end Dave had to admit to Stefan that she just needed more care than he could provide. Even being with her every minute of the day, there was always something that got neglected which would have been a detriment to her health. She has lucid moments when she understands why she’s there in the nursing home, but other moments when she doesn’t.”
Nick was silent and Stacey thought about what he said. She wondered out loud, “Nick what if she just left to go home?”
“Surely someone would have thought of that?” Nick said hesitantly.
“Well this is the last house in our grid to search. Why don’t we just go towards their house and take some back roads and see if we see her. She may have just wanted to go home and got turned around.” “Besides”, Stacey said, “I can’t bear to report back to Stefan empty handed. He just looked so worn out.”
“Yeah, I agree” said Nick.
Since Nick knew the neighborhood where they had grown up Stacey let him drive so that he could find the little nooks and crannies that Sophia Spencer may have ventured towards. They were driving slowly trying to see if there was anything to be seen, the darkness didn’t help. “Maybe we should get out and show her picture around here to see if someone has seen her,” Nick suggested.
Stacey turned to answer him and saw a flash of white behind them. “Stop the car Nick. I think I may have seen something.”
Stacey got out of the car and looked where she had seen the white. Nick was behind her. “What did you see?”
“Stefan said she was wearing a white jogging suit. I just thought I saw something white over behind this house, but I’m not sure.” Stacey went through the gate with Nick close behind her and saw a woman lying on the ground. Nick flew past her, “Mrs. Spencer! Are you alright?”
She was unconscious. Stacey knelt beside them and took her pulse. It was good and strong. She did a cursory examination and found a lump on the side of her head. “She must have fallen and hit her head.” Stacey pulled out her phone and called 911. When she hung up with them, she called Stefan.
“Stefan, it’s me Stacey. We found your mom. She’s ok.” Nick was smiling at Stacey as he held Mrs. Spencer and he shouted “Stacey found her man!”
“Thank you!” The relief in Stefan’s voice was evident. “Oh my God thank you. I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was just luck and a guardian angel, no doubt. Stefan. No need to thank me. The ambulance is on its way. I can hear the sirens already. We’ll meet you at the hospital.” When the EMT’s arrived Stacey gave them the update on her condition and they loaded her into the ambulance. Stacey turned to Nick and said, “Nick you should ride with her. Just in case she comes to, she’ll have a familiar face to see.”
He nodded and hopped in. Stacey got into her car. She was so relieved for Stefan. She was sure that Mrs. Spencer was going to be ok. She might have a concussion, but other than that she would be alright. It could have been a lot worse. You see so many reports on the news about elderly missing. Stacey was always sympathetic, but this just made such a deep impact on her. And Stacey didn’t even know her. But Sophia Spencer was connected to her Stefan, so that made her important to Stacey.
What’s with the possessive pronoun? Where had that thought come from? She really did need to get a grip on her emotions where this man was concerned. His mother was the priority right now. Everything else could wait. Her head was saying that, but her heart was just yearning to be alone with him. To make all of his worries go away. For them to be able to just focus on one another.
Stacey had watched his face when he was giving them instructions on where to search. He was just so closed off and scared. Stacey was hurting for him. He was doing the man thing. Being brave on the outside, but she felt that on the inside he was at a breaking point.
Her foot unconsciously depressed further on the accelerator. She was anxious to get to the hospital to check on Mrs. Spencer and to also see Stefan.
Once she parked her car, she checked with the head nurse to see where they had taken Mrs. Spencer.
Stacey saw Nick and Stefan in the waiting area outside her room. Stefan immediately pulled Stacey into an embrace. “Thank you so much for finding my mother.” He squeezed hard. “Nick told me how you spotted her. I will be forever grateful to you.”
“You’re welcome Stefan.” She was enjoying his embrace, but embarrassed by the praise. She never took a compliment well.
“How is she? Has she regained consciousness yet?” Stacey asked.
“Yeah, my dad’s in with her now. She doesn’t remember anything. The doctor’s say she has a concussion and they are going to keep her overnight for observation. But she’s going to be ok. And that’s thanks to you and Nick. Thank you again.”
All this time he hadn’t let Stacey out of his embrace and it made her nervous. She stepped away from the warmth of his lean body and felt his absence like a chill down her spine. She must have shivered because Nick pulled off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.
Stacey placed her hand on Nick’s shoulders to thank him for his thoughtfulness. At that moment Alyson walked by, caught sight of them and misinterpreted the situation. She stepped in front of Stacey and said snidely, “I thought you weren’t involved that way with Nick?”
Before Stacey could answer, both Nick and Stefan positioned themselves in front of her in a clearly defensive position. Stefan was first to exclaim, “Excuse me?” But Nick was quickly behind Stefan saying, “Whoa, Alyson you need to take it down a notch.”
Stacey stared at their backs incredulously. They were defending her. It would have been funny had they not been here under such terrible circumstances. She told Alyson to back off that now wasn’t the time, but both men kept their defensive stance in front of her.
Alyson looked at both men and turned around and walked off in a huff. As she retreated she mumbled, but loud enough for everyone to hear, “How does a nothing girl like that get two hot guys interested in her?”
Stacey was extremely embarrassed, but put that aside to make sure her little tantrum hadn’t upset Stefan. He already had enough on his plate. “I hope Alyson didn’t upset you Stefan. She is a little bitter about her break up with Nick.”
Nick turned to Stacey. “Well to be fair it’s not just me. She’s just crazy jealous of you. Surely you realize she is just green with envy?”
“What should she be jealous about?” She was clearly in the dark.
“Woman, you never cease to amaze me on how you undervalue your worth. You’re beautiful, talented and caring. Any woman would want to be you. All Alyson ever did was gripe about how you were too perfect and how you were the staff doctors favorite nurse.” Nick was shaking his head, “It’s the main reason why I didn’t continue to see her. Contrary to popular belief I do try to develop relationships with the women I sleep with. But for the 3 dates we had it was always Stacey this and Stacey that. I couldn’t take her always being so negative where you are concerned.” He lifted her chin and said, “Watch your back with her Stacey May.”
Stacey could feel Stefan watching them, but he made no comment.
Just then the doctor came out of Mrs. Spencer’s room with Mr. Spencer following. Mr. Spencer was speaking, “Thank you so much Dr. Weber, I really appreciate all you’ve done for Sophia.” The doctor and Mr. Spencer shook hands and Mr. Spencer walked towards us. He walked up to Stefan and embraced his son. They were the same height. They had the same dark coloring and build. You could definitely tell they were related.
“How is she doing dad?” Stefan asked.