Debbie didn’t know what to say, so she let Lisa get it all out of her system.
“What will I do with the gifts?”
“I’ll help you return them. Please, Lisa, try to calm down. No man is worth so much grief. You’ll be fine. Probably—not probably—for sure, better off without him.”
“Why did he wait until the night before? I’m sure he never intended to marry me. That’s why he never found an apartment. He probably wasn’t even looking for one.” She fell to the couch crying.
Debbie sat beside her and rubbed her back. “He probably thought he did want to marry you, Leesy. You’re a beautiful, sexy woman. I don’t know who this other woman is, but I doubt she’s the sweetheart you are. At least he ended it before the wedding. I know you are hurt, but stopping the relationship now is better than having to go through a nasty divorce.”
Lisa had taken the week off for a honeymoon trip to Bar Harbor for a couple of days. Now she spent those days at Debbie’s apartment, mostly crying and trying to figure out what to do next. She constantly told Debbie she was going to quit her job and go elsewhere, too embarrassed to face everyone at the hospital. Debbie reassured her everyone would support her and she had nothing to be embarrassed about. He was the jerk; she was just a victim.
The Monday morning before she was going to return to work, Debbie woke up about four o’clock and heard Lisa sobbing loudly in the other bedroom. She went to comfort her.
“Leesy, you have to stop crying and get over this.”
Lisa hugged Debbie closely. Her heart was surely broken, never to be mended. She tried to forget Curtis. In fact, now she really didn’t like him, but she was still hurt. That feeling of not being good enough went so deep. It was like her whole self was hollowed out. If he had taken out a gun and shot her, she didn’t think it could be any more painful.
Lisa turned onto her back, breathing hard from the crying. “I don’t know where to go.”
“Go? You can live here as long as you want. It’s worked out pretty well; I’ve enjoyed having someone to go to work with and… well, fix dinner, go out to eat. It’s all good. Stay here for a while.”
Lisa reached back over and hugged Debbie. Then she pulled her head back and kissed her on the lips. “Thank you for helping me. I don’t know what I would have done, not only this last week, but before with all of your help.” She put her hand behind Debbie’s head and kissed her again, this time putting passion into it.
“Lisa…”
“I love you, Deb, I really do.”
Debbie swiped a few wispy red strands of hair from Lisa’s face. “You are going through a traumatic time.”
“No, I’m in love with you.” Lisa squeezed back close to her.
“You’re not in love with me. Lisa, you’re straight.”
“Not anymore. No one has treated me like you do. I love you.”
“Okay…” Debbie held the fragile feminine body close to hers, caressing Lisa’s back. “Stop crying and try to get some sleep. We have to go to work in a few hours.”
Debbie stayed in the room, wide awake as Lisa slept. The kiss had taken her by surprise. She had had feelings for Lisa, sexual at first, but through the years, she had discovered Lisa was very insecure, innocent on so many levels. Debbie had never liked Curtis. He was shallow, a flirt, insincere. She felt from the beginning that he was stringing Lisa along so he could have a bed partner, though she sensed he knew a good woman when he saw one. He just couldn’t commit, or be responsible. Lisa did whatever he asked, trying so hard to please him, yet his affection was capricious and based on his mood. He never responded to her. They’d had many talks about Curtis, but Debbie never could convince Lisa he was no good. Him walking away was the best thing that could happen to Lisa. But now, this kiss—no, no. Lisa was just vulnerable. She didn’t know what she was saying. A feeling of nurturing—that of a big sister—rolled over Debbie. The kiss meant nothing, and she would stand with her friend until Lisa’s broken heart was mended.
Robert Young lived a quiet life—if a neurosurgeon could ever be said to have a quiet moment—in New Haven, Massachusetts. The Medical Center had almost doubled in the two years between Debbie being hired and Robert’s arrival. After he had completed his residency there, Dr. John Meyer recruited Robert—number one in his class at Harvard—as a lead surgeon, assigning his team to Robert. John had taken the position of Director of the Neurology Department. He would still be involved with patients but not on a regular basis.
Dr. Young was a certified neurologist and had a doctorate in psychology. Dr. Meyer was taken by his skills and his kind bedside manner. Robert would work well with Debbie; Maggie, the psychologist; and Aaron (a gentle-giant black man), the physical therapist: Robert’s new team.
The hospital became known as the top neurology center in the New England area, and both doctors were renowned for their exemplary skills.
After three years, two more neurology surgical teams were added to the hospital staff. All on Robert’s team worked well together, and they became good friends. John had taken Robert under his wing, and the two men became close.
The hospital was almost constantly being expanded.
