Whirlwind

CHAPTER 3

Rose? Rose.

The word echoed back and forth in his mind like a bouncing ball. He still couldn't believe he'd used that word. It was too intimate and, although he'd thought about intimacy since seeing her lying lifeless on that operating table, he wasn't ready yet to make a move that will lead him into being unethical.

"Hey! Earth to Brad!" Priska clapped her hands in his face.

What the...? "Mom! What are you doing here?"

Walking around the desk to sit on the chair opposite him, Priska looked elegant in her gray suit piece. "You weren't answering my calls. What was I supposed to do?"

Oh, no! Not this again!

"Mom, I have an emergency staff meeting in five minutes," he looked at his wristwatch.

Priska leaned her arms on the desk. "I just wanted to invite you for lunch on Saturday. Cody insisted on seeing you."

Cody had been a burglar at his house for as long as he could remember, until he married his mother. He'd been happy for both of them and loved them dearly — if not for their 'baby' talk.

With a resigned sigh, Brad settled back in his chair. "Okay, mom, I'll come for lunch on Saturday," he stood up looking again at his wristwatch. "But now I have to go."

Priska followed him out of the office, laughing coyly to herself.

• • •

"Err... Apologies to everyone for calling you at such short notice," Brad's baritone voice boomed in the hall and silenced everyone. "Most of you know that this hospital has become a huge part of me, just as you people have become my family. The time has come for me to leave this place." A hum of murmurs rose but he silenced them by raising his hand. "I've been transfered to the Stellenbosch Hospital and will be leaving in two weeks."

The hall was suddenly filled with an uproar. Some people nodded and shouted their congratulations while some looked down at their feet in sadness.

Brad had worked at the Memorial Hospital right after college, climbing the success ladder slowly but with determination. Although he had failed to help some people —including his father — he had always done his best to preserve people's lives. Now was the time for him to start afresh. New place. New memories. New life.

So why wasn't he as overjoyed as he'd been that day he'd gotten the email? It had to be one of the two reasons — he was attached to the hospital or he didn't want to leave Rosaline — or both.
Whatever the reason, he had to find a way to overcome it because opportunities like this one were rare and he had to grab it with both hands.

Next, he had to tell Rosaline and his parents. But how? His mother was sure to have a heart attack.

Dramatic old woman!

He walked back to his office after the meeting when Jennie intercepted him and gave him a form.

"That's Miss Paige's release form, sir. She's been cleared fit to leave the hospital but has to live under supervision," Jennie was walking beside him to ward 18C.

"Have you called Mary-Jane?"

"Yes, but she's off on a vacation with her husband to celebrate their anniversary."

"I'll talk to Rosaline." He stopped just outside the door. "Thank you, Jennie."

He slowly let himself in the ward and smiled back at Rosaline.
"You're awake?"

Somebody teach Brad how to start a conversation with a hot woman!

Rosaline smiled. "Were you hoping otherwise?"