Page 30 of Meant to Be
Chapter Seven
Sydney rushedinto the locker room of the hospital and made her way to a shower stall to brush the rain from her coat and umbrella. She never understood why people shook their soaked clothing in an area where people would slip and fall. She then made her way to her locker to change into her scrubs.
She’d been rushing all morning. First, to help Patrick and Julia get on the road. She had planned to take Julia to the airport, but when the call came in that one of her patients was in labor, Patrick agreed to do it, even though it was a little out of the way from his trip to Washington. The labor happened to be a false alarm, but her hurried schedule continued. She received another call while returning from a trip home to pick up medical journals to lend to Jenny. Of course, in her hurry to get to her patient, she’d left them in her car.
“Hey, Doctor Preston.” Jenny opened the locker across from Sydney’s.
“End of your shift?” Sydney slipped the teal green scrub shirt over her head, envious that professional decorum dictated that she couldn’t wear the cute and colorful ones Jenny wore. Today it was Hello Kitty.
“Yeah. I’m sorry I won’t be here to help with Mrs. Alexander’s delivery, although, I doubt this will be her last. I don’t think they’ve figured out how to use birth control.”
Sydney laughed. The Alexanders were a nice couple, but Sydney agreed they were a bit simple. This would be their sixth child, which they insisted hadn’t been planned.
“Speaking of birth control, I saw you and Mitch in the Star Grove at the fair this weekend.” Jenny waggled her brows. “Mitch hasn’t brought anyone there since high school.”
“I wouldn’t read anything into it.” Sydney pulled her long hair back into a tie, trying to forget the scorching kiss Mitch had given her at the fair. She swore she could still taste him on her lips.
“Why not? I see how he looks at you.” Jenny cocked her head. “There’s something about you…”
Sydney wondered if Jenny would still be her friend when she discovered the truth about Mitch’s feelings and why. “It’s not what you think.”
“I wish it was. Mitch hasn’t been the same since he came back from the Middle East. He used to have this spark. I was hoping you’d give it back to him.”
After that kiss, Sydney might have been willing to try, except Mitch had made it clear that attraction or no attraction, he wasn’t going to forgive her.
“I know he has a reputation for being a hound dog, but he really is a great guy. He’s just had a lot of disappointment. It makes him gun-shy.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Sydney knew why Mitch carried animosity toward her, but she wondered if what had happened during his military service also impacted him.
“He seems the same on the outside, but those of us who know him can see he keeps everyone at a distance. Not his family or me or Kevin, but it’s like he’s lost his faith in people.”
Sydney swallowed her guilt that she contributed to his loss of faith. She had thought of him so many times when he was away, wanted to hear his voice, worried about his safety when she learned he’d been deployed to Iraq, and yet, she’d never reached out to him.
“He’s lucky to have family and friends like you.”
“Ain’t he, though?” Jenny smiled. “I’m heading home for a nap and then to study.”
“Oh, Jenny, I brought you a few medical journals but left them in my car.”
“That’s okay. I can get them later.”
Sydney reached into her purse and grabbed her key ring. “Here are my keys. The journals are in the backseat if you want to get them. Just put my keys in my purse before you leave.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Jenny took the keys. “Are you parked in the garage?”
Sydney shook her head and winced. “I’m across the street at the medical office lot. Did you bring your raincoat? It’s raining cats and dogs.”
“I’m in the garage so I can avoid weather.”
“Here, take my raincoat and umbrella. You can put them back when you bring my keys.” Sydney had no qualms about trusting Jenny with her things or leaving her locker unlocked. In New York, nothing of hers had been safe from strangers, even when locked. But Charlotte Tavern was one of those towns in which people left their front doors unlocked and windows opened. Sydney was sure she’d find a lasagna or pie in her house if she left her door unlocked.
“Thank you, Doctor Preston. I’ll put them right back.”
The door to the locker room opened. “Doctor Preston, Mrs. Alexander is pushing with or without you.”
“Right. I’m on my way.” Sydney closed her locker door. “Just drop the keys in my purse when you’re done.”
“Will do.” Jenny slipped on Sydney’s raincoat. “See you tomorrow, Doctor Preston.”
