* * *
The hospital was having a Fourth of July staff picnic. They did it yearly because, unlike most companies, hospitals never close on holidays. In fact, those are usually the busiest days. While people are supposed to be celebrating and relaxing, they end up doing some of the most life-threatening things. Alcohol leads to a lot
of madness on the Fourth. Putting too much lighter fluid on the grill and cooking part of yourself instead of just the meat. Shooting off illegal fireworks because you want to be the life of the party and blowing off a hand or finger, or taking out someone’s eye. Drunk driving while you’re cookout hopping. Getting angry over some bullshit and trying to kill someone who was one of your favorite people before the day started. It was a madhouse.
Since most of the staff had to work, or at least be on call, the picnic was held on the grounds under a big tent. We were able to invite people if we wanted. I would have invited Jemistry, if she were still with me. I started not to even go out there, but, sans a couple of assists in operating room C earlier that morning, I was sitting in my office twiddling my thumbs and catching up on news on the Internet.
Floyd barged into my office without knocking. “Get your ass out of that chair. You’re going out to the picnic with me.”
“Maybe I’m crazy, but that sounded like an order to me,” I stated with much sarcasm. “Who do you think I am? Courtney?”
“Whatever, man. Let’s roll out there and get something to eat. I heard they have some apple cobbler this year that is a must-have.”
“Man, I’m already eating myself half to death. Women aren’t the only ones who turn to comfort foods after a breakup.”
“Then that cobbler is shouting out your name. This weekend, we’ll hit the court so I can beat your ass in some b-ball.”
“I swear, Denial is more than a river in Egypt. You’re straight up hallucinating. You sure you’re not hitting up the narcotics cabinets on the low?”
We both chuckled as I got up and traded my white coat for my black pinstripe suit coat.
“Tevin, what the hell? You need to leave that jacket off. You’ll detonate out there in that heat.”
Floyd had a point. He had on a shirt, no tie, and had the first two buttons undone. It had to be at least ninety degrees outside and the tent might or might not make it worse.
I took my jacket off. “Cool. Let’s roll.”
I paused at the door. “Aren’t Courtney and the kids coming?”
Floyd slapped me lightly on the back and guided me out. “Now you’re the one hallucinating. I can’t let my wife be around all of these women enrolled in the ‘dick-share’ program with me.”
I shook my head without responding as we headed for the elevators.
* * *
The apple cobbler was indeed off the hook. They had Upper Crust do the catering. The sister, Karen Black Wright, who owned it, had a great reputation in the area and I’d always wanted to try out her food. Sibley went all out. In addition to hamburgers, hot dogs, and the regular Fourth of July food staples, they had grilled chicken, lamb chops, ribs, pulled pork, and all the fixings. For a second, I was predicting having to waddle back up to my office.
“You look stuffed,” a female voice from behind me said.
“Oh, man, that’s an understatement,” I replied.
She walked around and took the seat next to me at the table, without even asking if it was vacant. Floyd was off someplace doing God knew what with God knew whom. I had not seen him after the first ten or fifteen minutes of coming down there.
She held out her hand to shake mine. “I’m Magdalena Chavez.”
“Tevin Harris,” I said, accepting her hand.
“Are you a doctor here, or in the administration? I’ve never seen you around.”
“Actually, I’m a vascular surgeon.” I looked at her. She was definitely an attractive Latina. Long, black silky hair, a smooth, olive complexion, great teeth, banging body. But not for me because she wasn’t Jemistry. “What about you? You work here?”
“Oh, no, I’m with Lincoln Pharmaceuticals. I’m here quite often though, but most of the drugs I deal with are for the oncology unit.”
“Gotcha. That’s why we’ve never crossed paths.”
She eyed me seductively for a few seconds. “I’m not usually this forward, but I have to ask. Are you single?”
“Technically, yes, but I’m taking a hiatus from dating.”