Insecure

Chapter 21:

The next morning, Miss Russell woke up around 6am to get ready for her early shift at the hospital. She slowly unrolled herself out of bed and grabbed clothes for a shower. She walked into the bathroom and looked at her reflection. Clear but tan face with freckles along her cheeks, close to the dimples that appeared when she smiled. She ran her fingers through her long curly hair as she stepped into the shower. She let the warm water run down her body as she poured shampoo in her hand, and she ran it through her hair.
Ten minutes later, she got out, using a towel to dry her hair. She slipped on her slacks and coat before heading out the door. It was really cold out, so it was smart that she didn't walk out with wet hair. Her hair would've freezed and probably fall off her head. She laughed to herself as she plugged her phone in her car to charge since it was at 38 percent. That would not be enough to last her through the day. As she began pulling out of her driveway, her phone started going off on the charger.
She looked down and sighed as she picked it up, still pulling out of the driveway. Since she had a newer car, she can make calls through her car which came in really handy so she could talk and it could charge at the same time. "Yes, young brother?"
"Didn't we agree I was older?"
"You might be older according to your birth certificate, but I'm more mature, obviously." She was on the road now, looking at her clock, seeing that she has 10 minutes until she would get to the hospital.
"Whatever, but where are you?"
"Heading to work."
"Right, you got brainwashed into getting a job. Eh, I hate that word."
"I have to keep a roof over my head somehow. Did you need something? I'm trying to drive."
"Just checking up."
"Okay, I'm good. If you're good, I would like to hang up."
"Talk to me around noon."
"Whatever Russell."
"What's with the formal stuff?"
She didn't answer, instead she hung up. When she pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, she was greeted by another nurse. "Hello Mrs. Lane, how are you?" She closed her car door and started walking with Mrs. Lane into the hospital so she could check in.
"I was sent out her because Miss. Wayne wanted to speak with you."
She nodded and walked with her into Miss Wayne's room she was working in. "Good Morning, Miss Wayne.
"Good morning, please sit."
Miss. Russell did so, and took a deep breath waiting for Miss Wayne to speak. "I just wanted to see how things were going. We haven't really spoke to each other after my divorce with your..." she cleared her throat. "Brother."
Miss Russell nodded. "Yes, well, things are going pretty good for me. How about yourself?"
"Pretty good. Just bought a new house after my break up with another guy," she said, laughing at herself, running her fingers through her long blonde hair.
"Wow, another guy? What was wrong with that one?"
"He wasn't ready for a serious relationship. He cheated on me many, many times."
"Damn. That's rough."
She shrugged. "I'm not that great at picking guys."
"Sounds like it, but you'll find him."
She laughed. "Aren't you single?"
"Hey now, this is about you!"
Miss. Wayne smiled and sighed. "Well, I just wanted to catch up a little, you can go if you want." She stood up from her desk to shake Miss. Russell's hand.
Miss. Russell sat up in her chair. "Actually...I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to eat with me tomorrow since we both, luckily, received a day off."
Miss. Wayne looked at her, surprised. "Well...Um...Sure, why not? What time should I stop by?"
"How about we make it noon?"
"Sounds like a plan."
They both exchanged numbers and smiled before Miss Russell left for her busy shift. Things are going as planned, she thought to herself.

~~~~

It was around noon that next day when Miss Russell found herself waiting for her brother's ex-wife. Ex-wife. It was hard to function through her mind that they weren't together. She remembered when he came home after his first date with her; he was so happy. She missed that. Missed him being happy and just being the brother that she knew and loved. Now, he was in this mess just because he was dealing with heartbreak. Love makes you do crazy things. She laughed at herself. Crazy enough to disturb someone else's life? That's some interesting love. No, it was just crazy. He wasn't handling this in the right way, and she would do anything in her power to make him realize that. She would make him realize what he is doing is wrong, and hopefully, he will take responsibility for his actions.
It was ten minutes past noon, so she started to wonder where she could be. After waiting a few more minutes, she dialed Miss. Wayne's number and put the phone up to her ear. She thought she wasn't going to answer until she picked up on the last ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, are you still swinging by for lunch?"
"Oh yes, of course. I'm just running a little late because I had a late start. I should be there any minute."
"Oh okay. Sorry for bothering you, I was just getting worried you ditched me."
"I would never have done that. If I couldn't make it, I would've called ahead of time."
"Thanks, well I'll wait outside for you since we'll be late. I want to get to the restaurant on time as much as possible."
"Got'cha."
After Miss Wayne and her hung up, she grabbed her purse and ran out the door as she saw a car pull up. "Hey, I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's fine. Let's just go and enjoy a nice lunch."
"You're nice. Nicer than...." she stopped herself before she said the word. She cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"Where are we going to eat anyways?" Miss. Wayne asked, running her fingers through her curled blonde hair as she pulled out of Miss. Russell's driveway.
"It's a fast food restaurant, if you don't mind going..."
"I love them. They have good food, but it's nasty on the body," Miss Wayne said, glancing over at her then back at the road.
"Exactly, that's why I don't go as often as I used to as a kid."
When they finally arrived at the restaurant, they walked in and sat at a booth in the back. They both ordered a small meal, so it shouldn't take long for the worker to call their name to pick it up from the counter.
"So, have you found anyone to settle down with?" Miss Russell asked.
She smiled and shaked her head. "Not really. It's like ever since I divorced your brother, I can't find anyone else. It's crazy."
"I bet."
"I don't know. Sometimes...." she shaked her head. "Nevermind."
"What?"
"It's just... Sometimes I feel like I didn't give it enough time. I kind of wish we could've made it work."
She nodded. "Do you still have feelings for him? I know things got a bit crazy when you left."
"It's been forever since I have seen him, so I don't know."
"Fair enough." Before anyone could say anything else, their order was called out. "I got it," Miss Russell said, standing up. Miss Wayne nodded and took some sips of her pop while she waited for the food to come back to the table. She heard a sound of a chair move, so she thought she was back already. She looked up and saw a face she has not seen in five years.
"Oh my..." she stood up, but didn't get close to him.
"Hey Jeanette. Can we talk?"
She took a deep breath. "I'm not sure, I'm with your sister, so I don't know if we have time..."
"She wouldn't mind."
"Russell, I can't."
"Come on."
"Maybe later..."
He stepped closer to her and went to touch her arm, but she pulled back. "I need to talk..."
"And you will, just not now," she snapped.
Mr. Russell nodded, and backed away. "Call me later then?"
"Maybe," she answered, hesitant.
"We need to talk."
He turned and left the restaurant. She looked out the window, slowly sitting down in the booth again as she barely heard the tray of food hit the table. She heard her name being called many times, but she was so focused on her ex-husband that she couldn't hear her until she saw fingers snap in front of her face.
She looked at Miss Russell. "Oh sorry, I was just thinking."
"Well, okay. Here's your food." Miss Wayne took it and slowly started eating, not feeling much of an appetite which caused her to leave much earlier than planned. How did he know I was here? Did I post something? Did it just happen to be a coincidence? Did his sister tell him? No, that wasn't likely. Him and Nurse Russell haven't been on good terms in awhile; there's no way. No way.
Jeanette never noticed, but Nurse Russell was smiling, all giddy. She saw what transpired here, and she knew that they were onto something. Something good. She saw them and the tension. Him wanting her, her wanting him but to scared to admit it. Things were slowly going as planned. She knew when she got up to leave shortly after that that something was going through her mind. Should I go after him? Should I talk to him?
Now, it was just time to wait.
This problem would be fixed soon, and she couldn't wait! She wanted to handle this situation, so Laura could be happy with her baby and future. But, that wasn't the only reason. She wanted things to be solved because she needed a break from everything to focus on herself. For the past few years, she has had to deal with Russell, complaining and nagging. Why did she leave me? Why won't she call me? I did everything right! What's going on. Help me! Shaking her head, she threw away her trash. She looked out the window, and Jeanette's car was gone. It was turning in the direction of Russell's house. She knew this because if she was going home, she would've turned the opposite way. It took everything in her not to jump through the ceiling, singing, "Hip hip hooray!" This was so exciting; she couldn't contain herself.
"I have to tell Laura." She raced out to her car with ants in her pants having a fiesta. She dialed her number and waited.
She picked up on the 2nd ring.