Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 7- Dinner

Ava woke up early to get ready for her first day. Her stomach was a mess of neves between the first day at Mayo and the  dinner at Mr. Harris's tonight. Ava showered and curled her hair in the small bathroom, before walking in a towel to her dresser. She chose an outfit for dinner this evening and changed for work.

Ava got the train to hospital, watching the dark city pass her by.
"Hi, I'm here to collect my ID badge" she asked at the front desk, they had photos taken yesterday for them.
"Yes, last name?" The women asked.
"Bekker"
"Here you go" she handed her the lamtied badge.
"You can leave your bag in the Doctors lounge, or the office. Whichever you prefer"
"The office?" Ava questioned, she must have missed that on the tour.
"Your office, Dr. Bekker"
Ava was led through the CT floor to a quieter section where Admin were. And sure enough their it was on the door.

Dr. A. Bekker

"I'll let you get settled, you can pick up your pager at the nurses station down the hall"
"Thank you" She smiled as the women walked off.
Ava opened the door cautiously, stepping into the dark room. It was new, or it smelt new anyway. The air was stiff. The room had a large desk with three chairs, a sofa against the far wall and a bookshelf. Ava flicked on the light and stepped further into the room. She touched the back of the desk chair with her hand, feeling the leather under her grip. She took a deep breath and nodded, a faint smile on her lips.

*

"Dr. Bekker" she heard her name in the hall.
"I believe I own you a coffee" Connor up to her with a smile.
"I believe you do, Dr. Rhodes"
Connor could see her clearly, her hair tied back from her face in a bun. A pair of plain gold hoops hanging from her ears.

Connor walked them to the local coffee shop, being the gentleman he even offered to pay for the muffin Ava and been eyeing up. They walked back to the hospital, Connor carrying the small brown bag in his hand.
"You didn't have to" she took a sip from her cup.
"I wanted to"

Connors led them down the hall of the hospital to a door.

Dr C. Rhodes

"Dr. Rhodes" she smiled, "impressive"
"I presume you have one around here as well?"
"Down the hall to the left" she said say they stepped inside.
The room was a carbon copy of Ava's office, they sat together on the sofa nestled between the bookshelves.

Ava slipped her shoes off, tucking her feet under her as relaxed as through they were in his apartment. She took a bite from her muffin, her drink resting on the floor.
She offered it to him and he took a conservative bite from the untouched side.
"What about tonight?" She picked up her drink.
"I've never really had a family dinner before, it was always me and Alan. Even when my mum was alive she worked nights"
"Me neither" he said, realising it had been years since he'd sat down with his family to share a meal. Since long before his mother had passed.

*

They made there way to Mr. Harris's house that evening. They'd gotten the train, some residents who had cars had driven. As Ava walked up the drive way she spotted Connor, having seen him get off a different carriage earlier in the evening on her way here.
She didn't pick up the pace, just kept behind him.

By the time she made it in Connor was nowhere to be seen. Someone was there to take Ava's coat for her and her bag. She was lead through a foyer into a dining room with a long table.
There were a few doctors already present, finding her seat in alphabetical order she found comfort in spotting Owen's name tag on the plate next to hers.

The rest fo the team arrived shortly after, Mr. Harris being seated last.
"I hope you all had a pleasant first day"
"Have it be noted that Some of you are noticeably underdressed, please consider that next time- You may begin"
Ava didn't move at first, there was food, a lot of food. She wasn't sure she'd actually even seen so much out it, she didn't know where to start.
An elbow brushed hers and Owen offered her some mashed potatoes, a spoonful he had just taken for himself. She excepted, taking the roasted veg and carrots onto her plate as well. A small chatter picked up and she and Owen spoke in low tones.
"Dr. Bekker, is the meat not to your liking?" He asked, seeing her pick at the veg,
The room fell silent.
"Oh" Ava put her fork down, "I keep kosher, and I had the mashed potatoes, so"
"My apologises, I wasn't on your file you were Jewish"
"It's complicated" she shrugged.
"It's it always" he nodded knowingly. "My first wife was a devout catholic, always had to have a tree for Christmas, I always hated the mess they made"
"I never understood it either" she picked at her nail bed nervously under the table.
The conversation picked up and she exhaled, meeting Connors eye across the room.

As they left that evening Connor fell into pace with her, his hands in is pockets.
"So it's a no for Christmas trees"
"I just don't get why you would bring something that's meant to be outside, inside"
The gravel crunched under their feet in the dark.
"Good thing we didn't get one the last Christmas we had together" he chuckled, his face to the ground, his breath making a cloud around him.
"Did we not?" Ava tried to recall, it was some time ago.
"No, I think we were too busy between everything" he looked up.
Avas eyes fell to his wrist, his watch with the leather strap on his right wrist.
Right where she'd known it would be.