When We Meet Again

Meaghan crept to her office and made herself a cup of coffee with the tiny kettle that she kept for just that purpose. Either she was going crazy or the entire medical staff was. Either way she didn’t feel comfortable being out there. However, she had medical rounds to conduct regardless of her personal feelings.

Somehow she got through the day but the giggling and nudging and greetings without blowing a gasket and going absolutely crazy. Finally the day was over and her shift was done. She heaved a sigh and prepared to leave after writing up her reports. She opened her office door to find Janice and two other nurses she knew in passing blocking her way.

“Er,” she said.

“Hi,” Janice said grinning broadly, “We are here as your escort.”

“My escort to where?” Meaghan asked.

“Follow us,” she said turning around and waiting for her to follow. Meaghan sighed inwardly and followed. They led her up right to the roof, opened the door and left her there. The entire rooftop was lit up with candles and there was a side table on which sat various dishes. A serving man was wiping wine glasses near a table filled with several bottles of drinks. In the middle of the roof was a table at which Dean sat in his wheelchair. He smiled as her eyes fell on him.

“I would stand but…” he said.

Meaghan walked slowly toward him noting the magnificent flower arrangement that sat in a pot next to the table. The table was bare of anything except cutlery and plates. Meaghan pulled out her own chair and sat down.

“I take it the entire hospital was in on this operation?” she asked.

“What makes you say that?” he asked grinning impishly.

“Oh I don’t know; maybe it was all the giggling and laughing and nudging,” Meaghan said.

“Yeah it’s true what they say about keeping secrets,” Dean said wryly.

The serving man came by to inquire what they would like to drink.

“What white wines do you have?” she asked. The serving man rattled off a variety of wines that Meaghan had barely heard of.

“If you will allow me?” Dean said coming to her rescue. Meaghan nodded her agreement and Dean gave the waiter his order.

The wine was poured and then the waiter brought the entrée. Mushroom soup with croutons.
“So. Dean. What’s up?” Meaghan asked.

“What do you mean what’s up?” Dean asked.

“Well, you say you wanna be friends but I have friends and they don’t arrange romantic candlelight dinners on rooftops for me. So tell me Dean, what’s really going on here. And before you try to prevaricate again let me just remind you that you might be in a wheelchair but there’s nothing stopping me from walking away from here.”

“Wow. Harsh,” Dean said.

“Honest,” Meaghan replied.

Dean looked away and then back at her before looking down at his soup.

“Okay maybe this goes a little beyond what a friend would do. Maybe I’ve liked you a little since you spread that home-made ointment of yours all over me in high school and made my skin tingle with your touch. Maybe I’ve been curious ever since, whether that was an anomaly or…”

Meaghan stared at him incredulously, “You have a girlfriend!” she said at last.

“I do. And that’s one of the reason why I’m an asshole,” he agreed.

“And you thought that a little candlelight was all that you needed to get into my over eager pants didn’t you?” she finished for him.

“No. Yes. Maybe,” Dean said.

Meaghan just stared at him.

“Again. I’m an asshole,” Dean said.

Meaghan shrugged. “Well let me just let you know right now Dean Wesson. The only way you’re finding out if your skin still tingles is if you’re an entirely free man.”

Dean stared at her, “You drive a hard bargain,” he said.

Meaghan tilted her head to the side. “Do we have a deal?” she asked.

Dean stared into the middle distance, deep in thought. “Yes, we do,” he said.