Love in the ER

CHAPTER 5

That evening, the Salameda family gathered for dinner around the large oak dining table. The atmosphere was warm and familiar, with the clinking of silverware and the soft hum of conversation filling the room. Oliver sat across from his little sister, Sofia, who was energetically talking about her day at school. His mother, Mrs. Salameda, smiled as she served roasted chicken and vegetables, while his father, Mr. Salameda, sat at the head of the table, listening quietly.

As they settled in, Mrs. Salameda turned her attention to Oliver, her eldest son, and asked with interest, "So, how was your first full day back at the hospital, Oliver? Did everything go smoothly?"

Oliver paused for a moment, setting down his fork. His mind flashed back to the day's events—specifically to the moment he bumped into Paris in the hallway. The unexpected encounter had stayed with him all day. He smiled softly. "Yeah, it went well. A lot of meetings, catching up with staff... busy, but good."

His father nodded approvingly. "That's what I like to hear. The hospital has been running well, but having you back is going to make a big difference."

Before Oliver could respond, his little sister, Sofia, who was only ten, suddenly perked up, her eyes shining with excitement. "Oli, did you meet Nurse Paris?"

Oliver blinked, surprised by the question. "Paris? How do you know about her?"

Sofia practically bounced in her seat, clearly thrilled to have a chance to talk about her favorite nurse. "She's the one who helped me when I was sick last year! Remember? I had to get that shot, and I was so scared, but she made it so easy. She's the nicest nurse ever."

Oliver looked at his sister, curious now. He hadn't realized Paris had interacted with his family before. "I think I might've met her today, actually," he said thoughtfully. "I bumped into her in the hallway."

Sofia's eyes widened. "You bumped into Nurse Paris? Did you talk to her. Please tell her I say hi when you bump into her again. I hope she will remember me."

Oliver chuckled at his sister's enthusiasm. "Worry not i will pass your greetings to her and ask if she remembers the girl who hates injections."

Sofia's face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "You should! She was so nice to me when I was scared. I didn't even feel the needle when she gave me my shot. She kept talking to me the whole time, and before I knew it, it was over. I wish all the nurses were like her."

Mrs. Salameda smiled fondly as she listened to Sofia's story. "I remember that day. Paris really was wonderful with you, Sofia. She was so gentle, and you barely cried."

Sofia puffed out her chest with pride. "Yeah! And you know how much I hate needles. But she made it so easy. I'm not even scared of shots anymore because of her."

Oliver raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Wow, sounds like she made quite the impression."

"She did," Sofia said, beaming. "You should be friends with her, Oli. I bet she's really cool."

Oliver smiled softly at his sister's suggestion. "Maybe I will. We'll see."

Mrs. Salameda leaned forward, looking at her son with curiosity. "So, tell me about this Paris. What was your impression of her?"

Oliver hesitated, recalling the moment he'd met Paris earlier that day. She'd seemed quiet, focused—definitely not the type to be swept up by the excitement surrounding his return to the hospital.

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Oliver hesitated, recalling the brief moment when he and Paris had collided in the hallway. She hadn't reacted like most people did—no flustered apologies or attempts to impress him. Instead, she had been calm, even a little surprised, but unbothered by his presence. He could still picture her wide eyes looking up at him, her soft laugh after the awkward bump, and the way her focus quickly shifted back to her work.

"She seems... different," Oliver finally said, choosing his words carefully. "Quiet, focused. She wasn't like most people I meet at the hospital. She didn't seem fazed by all the attention everyone was giving me."

Mrs. Salameda raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Hmm, that's interesting. Most of the staff are probably eager to impress you or get close because of who you are."

Oliver nodded. "Exactly. But Paris... it was like she didn't care about any of that. I mean, we only talked for a second, but I could tell she's not someone who's easily swayed by appearances."

Sofia, who had been listening intently, suddenly leaned forward. "That's because she's real!" she exclaimed, as if she had just solved the mystery. "She doesn't care about silly things like who's important or fancy. She just wants to help people."

Oliver smiled at his sister's innocent but insightful observation. "You're probably right, Sof. She definitely seems like the kind of person who's more focused on her work than the drama."

His father, who had been listening quietly, spoke up for the first time. "That's a good quality in a nurse. Especially at our hospital. We need people who are dedicated to their patients and not caught up in status or gossip."

Mrs. Salameda nodded in agreement, then looked back at Oliver. "It sounds like she made an impression on you too, Oliver. You should take some time to get to know the staff, especially people like Paris. They're the backbone of our hospital."

Oliver smiled, a little more thoughtfully this time. "Yeah, I think I will. She seems... worth getting to know."

Sofia, not one to miss an opportunity, grinned mischievously. "See, I told you! You should be friends with her."

Oliver laughed, shaking his head. "You're really pushing this, aren't you?"

Sofia shrugged, still grinning. "I just know you'd like her. She's nice. And maybe she can help you with stuff too, like when you're nervous."

Oliver smirked. "I'm not nervous, Sofia."

His little sister raised an eyebrow, her expression full of mischief. "Maybe not now. But you might be, later."

Their parents chuckled, clearly entertained by Sofia's boldness, while Oliver just smiled, shaking his head at her.

After a few more moments of playful banter, the conversation moved on to other things—his father's updates on hospital operations, Sofia's stories about her friends at school, and plans for the weekend. But as dinner continued, Oliver's mind kept drifting back to Paris.

Her name seemed to hang in the air, even as they discussed other topics. He wasn't sure why, but the memory of her lingered in a way that few things did. The day had been full of important meetings and responsibilities, but somehow, bumping into Paris had been the most memorable part.

As they finished their meal and cleared the table, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that Sofia was right. Maybe there was something about Paris that made her stand out, something that deserved his attention beyond just a passing encounter. Perhaps she was worth getting to know after all.