Lessons From the Professor

Chapter One

Sutton sighed as she sat down for what seemed like the first time in hours behind the front desk in the emergency room. It’d been a busy day in the ER, and having to finalize two last minute schedule swaps hadn’t lessened her load any. She loved her position as shift lead, but at times it could be overwhelming and exhausting. A few of the nurses had asked her to head over to the local all-night diner, like they always did, and she’d declined, as usual. The only thing on her mind right now was a glass of white wine, chocolate truffles, and a warm bubble bath in her garden tub.

For her, home was sanctuary, and tonight she was in need of a major dose of tranquility. After she finalized her paper work she turned to the nurse who stood to her right and gave her the run down.

“This should be everything you need, Mrs. Tracy. The rush has passed, and everyone’s all settled in. The people who are currently waiting have all filled out their paper work.”

“Sutton, I never have to worry about something being wrong when I take over floor duty from you. That being said, you work too hard. Please tell me you have plans to go out tonight.”

She smiled at the petite white- haired woman who held a special place in her heart. Despite being in her mid-fifties, Mrs. Tracey was gorgeous. Her clear skin was the color of walnut, and she had an even, white, smile that never failed to put patients at ease. With her take-charge attitude, wicked sense of humor, and penchant for meddling, she reminded Sutton of her mother. She’d lost count of how many nice boys Mrs. Tracey knew and wanted to introduce to her to. In retrospect, it was a good thing Mrs. Tracey and her mom had never met, or they’d double team her.

“I hate to disappoint you, but the only date I have tonight is with my bathtub. If it’s any consolation, there will be wine and chocolate.”

“Honey, you are too young and beautiful to be cooped up in that house of yours. You need to get out there and play the field while you have the chance. When I was your age, you couldn’t tie me down. I was a firecracker, getting it in all over the place, and answering to no one.”

“Mrs. Tracey, you’re still a firecracker.” Sutton laughed at the woman’s sly smile.

“How do you think I keep the Mr. satisfied?” Mrs. Tracey asked with a wink. “I was far from ready to settle down. Then I met my Howard, and no other man seemed to be able to measure up. That’s how you know you’ve met your match.”

A dreamy look crossed the older woman’s face, making Sutton smile.

“Howard must be one hell of a man to be your man, Mrs. Tracey.”

“He is, and I have a son just like him. It’s too bad he’s married, or I’d have paired you two up and made you a member of my family by now.”

“Heaven help me if you ever meet my momma. You have a good shift. I’m getting out of here before they find a reason for me to stay.”

With a quick wave Sutton made her way around the desk and down to the locker rooms to change into her street clothes. She had the next two days off, and she planned on taking full advantage of them.

Now all she needed to do was get out of these scrubs. In her mind the removal of scrubs was almost like hitting an off switch. It allowed her to go from RN extraordinaire to a civilian. It was something similar to what she’d seen her father, who’d been in the Army, do. His uniform came off, and he switched out of his role as a soldier to become a father and a husband.

The moment she opened the door and entered the beige sand-stone tiled room, lined with tan lockers she made a beeline for the back of the corner. Tension rolled off her shoulders as she stripped down to her skivvies, folded her light-blue scrubs, and placed them in her black book bag. The door swung open, and she heard the other nurses as they made their way into the room towards her.

“I don’t know why you waste your time asking Sutton to go out with us, Leigh. She never says yes. It’s like she’s got a major case of stick up her—” Sutton felt her face flush at the crude statement. She knew they thought she was too focused on her career, but there was no reason to get nasty.

“Hey! That’s my friend you’re talking about,” Leigh said. A smile flickered over Sutton’s lips. She could always count on her girl to have her back.

“All we’re saying is, Miss Priss needs a good dick down, so she can loosen up and let her hair down a bit.”

Sutton clenched her jaw as anger replaced her embarrassment. How dare they talk about her behind her back! She went out of her way to make sure their work environment was the best it could be. Sutton paused in mid mental rant to shake of her head. Jesus, listen to me. Even now what I’m upset about is the fact that they don’t appreciate my work ethics. They’re right. It’d been months since she’d gone on anything that resembled a date and much longer since she’d experienced an orgasm that wasn’t self-induced.

The reflection that greeted her in the four by four inch mirror attached to her locker seemed to mock with its spinster-like appearance. Her hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and her face was bare of make-up. If she was honest, the first word that came to her mind was austere. Irritated, she removed the pins from her bun and ran her fingers through her shoulder length brown hair, mussing it with her fingers. Much better. She reached into her locker, pulled out her black cosmetics bag, and went to work.

Ten minutes later she was ready to go with a light coat of gold eye-shadow, vintage-style cat-eye liquid eye-liner, pink blush, brown lip gloss, and a dusting of bronzer. Tonight she’d have a few drinks, share some laughs, and go home feeling less like a fifty year old matron and more like the thirty-one year old single woman she truly was. After the bitter end of her engagement to her college sweetheart, Sutton had thrown herself into her career. Life had been tough growing up as the eldest of five siblings with a widowed mother.

When her father had passed away from a heart attack she’d been the one who cooked meals and overs

aw homework and nightly routines while her mother worked two jobs to provide from them.

When she’d seen the rock and the hard place her mother was placed in without a college degree, she’d vowed to make a career for herself before she considered settling down to have a family.

“Enough,” she whispered.

She had all of the things she’d been working hard for. A condo, a paid-off car, and a good position at a steady job. It was time to relax and enjoy her accomplishments. Sutton shimmied into a pair of fitted dark denims, pulled her black tank top over her head, and slipped into a pair of low heeled black sandals. She grabbed her purse, and walked over to the bathroom mirrors where the girls were putting the final touches on their appearances.

“If the offer’s still on the table I think I’ll join you ladies.”

“Finally!” Leigh spun around and crushed her in an exuberant hug.

The impulsive move made Sutton laugh. She loved the free-spirited nature Leigh possessed. From the moment they met the two had been the perfect balance of opposites. Leigh had this infectious aura of energy and joy that surrounded her. It was one of the reasons Sutton enjoyed being around the other woman so much. It was easy to become burned out and give into negativity in the health care profession.

She did her best to avoid nurses “on their way out” because their pessimism could spread like a cancer through the crew. It was a phenomenon she’d seen one too many times.

“You picked the perfect timing. James is going to meet up with us later, and he’s bringing his best friend Sidney.” Sutton arched an eyebrow when Leigh looked at her expectantly.

“Remember, he’s the human behavior professor I always mention.”

“Oh! Him, it’ll be nice to meet. You know I find everything to do with that subject fascinating.”

“I know. I’ve e been trying to get you two together for ages, but you always pull the hermit act.” Leigh nudged her with a playful elbow to the rib.

“I was read the riot act by Mrs. Tracey earlier.”

“Then I guess I’ll keep my mouth shut for once.” Leigh looped her arm through Sutton’s as they made their way out of Bethesda South and across the street to the all night diner the staff often frequented.

****

Sutton wasn’t sure what she expected Sidney to look like. However, the dapper salt- and pepper-haired gentleman in fitted black dress slacks and a crisp white button down was not it. He was tall and sinewy, but what really caught her attention was the almost regal air he carried himself with. He glanced down, catching her appraisal, and she flashed him a small smile as she fought to contain the heat she felt creep up in her cheeks. It’d been ages since she’d reacted to anyone this way. Sidney possessed a swagger that pulled her towards him like a magnet. She lowered her lids and glanced over to Leigh, rolling her eyes at her friend’s smirk.

“Hush,” Sutton mouthed. She was unable to hide her smile as Leigh stood and embraced her husband, and Sutton followed suit.

“Hi, baby. Sutton and I are the only ones left. The other girls wanted to go dancing.”

“Hi, James, good to see you again,” Sutton said. She stood and leaned in to exchange a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She liked James. He might be twenty years older than Leigh, but they fit together well.