Learning To Trust Again

Rebecca searched his eyes, wishing she understood him more so she knew what was going on in his head. But not going to be put off by it she nodded and said ‘maybe not, but I’d like to. I’d like to be able to repay you somehow. It would ease my conscious for monopolising your free time and this is nothing, honestly. I have to cook anyhow. So how about dinner?’

‘Tonight?’ he asked sounding a little surprised.

Rebecca smiled. ‘I was thinking tomorrow night, you probably won’t need it redressed again today, unless you get it wet of course.’

Jake looked thoughtful ‘tomorrow?’ he repeated.

‘Yes, if you’re not doing anything’ she said, hope resonating in her voice.

‘I’m working.’

‘Oh’ she said, unable to disguise her disappointment as she lowered her eyes ‘well just come over and I’ll redress your hand and maybe we can do the meal another time.’

Jake was silent for a minute before he said ‘if you make it early, I can do dinner.’

Surprised Rebecca looked up and smiled. She said with enthusiasm ‘sure, that’s fine, how about five o’clock? Is that early enough?’

‘Sounds good’ he said as he rose to leave ‘see you then.’

‘Okay’ and her smile widening at the prospect, she issued an order, ‘and take care of that hand.’

Holding up his bandaged hand, Jake nodded and walked out.

As she watched him leave Rebecca put her hands on her cheeks. Lost in her thoughts for a minute, a silly grin lit up her face.  She’d been sure he was trying to put her off but she was so glad he hadn’t. Now she had to decide what to cook. If it was to be a gesture to repay him for his kindness, it had better be good. But as a door slammed in the corridor outside her focus was brought back to the present and remembering where she was and that she still had patients to tend to, she left the menu for later and got back to work. With a lightness to her step now, she packed up the things she’d used to dress Jake’s hand and after washing her hands, she hurried back into the waiting area to collect the next patient.