Learning To Trust Again

‘So how do you know Ian?’ Rebecca asked willing her hands to stop shaking as she got out all the equipment she’d need.

‘From here mosly’ Jake said with a shrug. I seem to always get him patching me up when I come in. The first time he worked on me we got talking and it turned out I know his brother. He’s a cop.’

Rebecca nodded, now he mentioned it, she did remember Ian saying his younger brother was in the police force.

‘Oh okay’ she said and as she applied a dressing over the stitches and secured it with tape she made a mental note to ask Dr. Nichols about Jake when she got the chance. She’d love some insight on him and she trusted the doctors opinion. Unable to resist, now she had completed her task, she lifted her eyes to look at him and found him watching her. Looking away again, her breath evaporating, she moved the chair back to a safer distance and wanting to fill the charged silence she said ‘keep it clean and dry.’

‘I’ll do my best’ Jake replied ‘but that’s not always easy in my job.’

‘You carry gloves?’ she asked

‘Yeah’ Jake said.

‘Try to put one on if you are you are going anywhere near water. You’ll probably need to get it redressed anyway if you’re going to be working, sweat will lift the tape.’ Still not looking at him she added in a quiet voice ‘I could do it for you at home if you like, save you coming back here and maybe having to wait.’

‘I don’t want to put you out’ Jake said.

‘No it’s the least I can do’ Rebecca replied looking him in the eye now ‘after all you’ve done for me. In fact it’s not really enough to repay you for rescuing me and ensuring my safety on two further occasions’ and smiling she added in a teasing vein ‘not to mention returning my scarf.’

Jake gave her a crooked smile before looking away.

Pleased, she continued with her intended suggestion, ‘so how about when you come around for me to redress the wound, I cook you a meal?’

Silent for a minute, Jake was no longer smiling as he said ‘you don’t need to do that.’