“Good for you. You should put those in some water, so they don’t wilt. I heard if you pour some lemonade mixed in with water, your flowers last longer,” Nurse Byers said as she walked off.
“Hmm. Lemonade, huh?” I headed to the staff room.
Chalk called.
I answered with a smile on my lips. “Hi, how are you?”
“I’m good. You sound happy.”
“I am, I just got flowers.”
“I have competition already?” Chalk chuckled over the phone.
“Hmm, if you consider it competition against an 88-year-old with a broken hip, then I guess you do.” I laughed right back.
“Whoa. Ha! Okay, I’m going to give him a pass. He can have you during the day, and I will have you in the evenings.”
“Funny man. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just called to say good morning is all. Sarah says hi.”
“Hi Mom! I’m going to school,” Sarah yelled in the background.
My grin just got bigger and bigger. “Thank you, you’ve made my day even brighter.” My heart was full and the day was getting better by the minute. “Hey, I wanted to ask…do you think I can take Sarah for the weekend? I want to spend some Mommy-daughter time with her, and I think it might be a good idea to work her into a routine of coming over to my apartment. What do you think?”
“Umm, I think we should just take things one step at a time. Maybe for a few hours? I think we should play things by ear.” He sounded reluctant.
My excitement drooped. He still didn’t trust me completely. I knew it was valid, despite our declarations. I would have to build trust again, with him and my daughter. “Ah sure. I can understand that. Just one night then.” I knew I had a longer road to get back in their good graces.
“Any particular time you want her to come to you?” Chalk asked, breaking through my thoughts.
“Umm, after nine is good. Work for you?” I asked nervously as I played with my stethoscope.
“It does as long as I get to come in for a coffee,” he quipped in a flirty tone.
Not all hope was lost.
“I’ll have one waiting for you. I don’t wanna cut you off, I have my first patient on rounds and they have medicine they need to take on time. See you and Sarah on the weekend.”
“You will, bye and have a great day.”
“You too, Chalk.”
And so it goes…While I work at building my life again.