“Not for all the salsa in Mexico,” he said.
He drove, and I respected his wishes not to bring my smoothie into his car.
When he parked, he groaned. “The mall?”
“Yep.” I got out of the car and led him into a department store.
“What are we getting?” he asked.
“Oh, this and that. Follow me.”
I picked out a beautiful silk scarf that was a deep ocean blue and got a gift box for it. Dr. Medina didn’t say much while I browsed the store. We made our way to the makeup counter, and I got a coral-pink nail polish and a cream blush that complemented the nail color. It was only three items, but I had spent two hundred dollars, and it was worth every penny.
“Okay,” I instructed. “When we get to the hospital, you can’t be in the room. We will need privacy. But if you want to, in about half an hour, find yourself at the nurses’ station by Valentina’s room. You’ll see what the Mary is.” He nodded, parked his car in the parking garage, and we parted ways.
Sara metme in the locker room. I changed into scrubs and followed her out, Valentina’s gifts in my arms.
Sara walked into her room first, pushing a cart in front of her. The top of the cart was hidden from view with a towel draped over it. Valentina smiled at us weakly.
“Good morning,” she said. I shot her a wicked smile.
“What?” she asked.
I didn’t answer. I placed all the items on the counter and hooked up a speaker to the wall. I brought my phone out and playedGirls Like YoubyMaroon 5/Cardi B because Cardi B was life and she could make any woman feel like a boss bitch. Valentina needed to feel that power.
I turned to Sara, who was already half dancing, half jumping around the room. I couldn’t turn the volume too high, this was still a hospital, but I let the lyrics seep into the hallway just the tiniest bit.
I walked up to Sara and bounce-danced with my two left feet right next to her. It’s a complete stereotype that all Mexican-American women know how to dance. I didn’t care if I looked silly, though. Actually, if it cheered up Valentina, that was even better.
Valentina threw her head back with laughter that we hardly heard over the music. She was hooked up to an IV and too many wires to get up and join us, plus she wasn’t strong enough, but she adjusted her bed so she could sit up. She bobbed her head and shoulders as Sara and I made complete fools of ourselves.
Our patient couldn’t help but grin every time a nurse walked by the room, poked their head in, and belted a single line of the chorus before walking away again. I didn’t miss when one of the residents popped his head in and sang the line as he locked his eyes with hers, and she blushed in response.
He wasn’therdoctor, so I decided to look the other way and not say a thing about it. I wouldn’t be the one to take any further happiness away from her. Some other doctor would have to say something if anything more came of that exchange.
Next on my power playlist was Cardi B’sI Like It.Sara and I stopped dancing. She removed the towel covering the contents of the cart, and Valentina winced at the sight of the hair clippers but then nodded at her.
I grabbed the nail polish and sat at the end of her bed, cross-legged. I brought her feet up to my lap, and I started painting her toenails in the bright coral shade. She smiled at me, though her eyes glistened with tears as Sara began working on her scalp.
When Sara was done with the clippers, I handed her the nail polish, and she got to work on Valentina’s manicure. I brought the volume down so we could talk over the music. I wrapped the beautiful scarf around Valentina’s head with a bow at the back. I smudged a little bit of the blush on her cheeks, and even as thin and pale as she’d gotten, she was still absolutely beautiful. At least to me. She smiled up at me and squeezed my hand as if to saythank you.I squeezed back.
The next part of the Mary was to talk about boys in general.
Sara jumped in first. “Did you guys see thatThormovie?” She was still finishing up her manicure as she asked. “That Hemsworth kid. Mmm.” She sounded like she was enjoying a juicy hamburger. Valentina and I eyed each other and busted out laughing.
“I don’t know,” said Valentina. “I kinda like my men nerdy.” I gave a side-glance toward the door, trying to remember the resident who had made her blush. Sure enough, Dr. Dennis was a bit on the skinny side, had huge glasses, and bright red hair. I said nothing, though.
“Oh,really?” Sara said.
“Absolutely. I like me a big brain on a guy,” said Valentina.
“Justa big brain?” Sara asked, and we all giggled like crazy at her suggestiveness.
Valentina asked Sara, “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“I do,” she said without looking up from the hand she was working on.
“What was that?” Valentina asked me.