Mr. Brownstone nodded, and Clair noticed a slight trembling in his hands. “Yes, yes, I do. Hold on a moment, let me show you my card.” Slowly, the older man reached into his pants pocket. Presenting a wallet, he flipped it open to reveal an array of cards that were tucked neatly into the folds. He then tugged at his health insurance card, finally slipping it out. Clair reached to take the card from the patient.

  “Okay, excellent. Would you like me to fill this out for you?” Clair maintained eye-contact as she emphasized the words with her mouth.

  “Oh, that would be so lovely. Thank you, dear,” Mr.

  Brownstone gratefully replied. Clair gave a small smile and a nod while she filled in the information.

  “Any allergies, Mr. Brownstone?” Clair asked, referring to the inquiry on the second page of the form.

  Mr. Brownstone thought for a moment, looking confused.

  Eve then interjected, “Yes, yes, he does. He is allergic to antibiotics that contain sulfonamides. Please make sure to note that on the form, Clair.”

  Clair bobbed her head emphatically. “No problem, of course.” Mr. Brownstone smiled, seeming a bit lost in his own world. Clair felt a sense of responsibility to attend to

  this vulnerable gentleman. He looks so sweet and also a bit sad.

  I wonder what is going through his mind right now?

  Clair continued to assist the patient as Eve grabbed a few forms that were lying beside Clair’s keyboard. From the corner of her eye, Clair noticed Eve stack the documents neatly, securing them to her clipboard, before exiting the desk. Clair felt a twinge of disappointment. She wanted to converse with Eve before she left the station, but she knew that Eve had a busy afternoon, and besides, their responsibilities came first.

  “Bye, Mr. Brownstone.” Eve gave a quick wave and hurried o to her next set of rounds. Clair called out, “Bye, Eve! I’m sure I’ll probably run into you again.” Clair joked.

  Eve turned out and replied, “Very possible, indeed; one of the perks of working at the same hospital, right?” Clair wasn’t sure, but she thought she might have seen Eve wink at her. Was that my imagination? God, I wish I was better at picking up these signals. I really need to learn how to flirt.

  After a few short minutes, Clair had helped Mr.

  Brownstone complete his form. “Do you have anyone coming to get you?” she asked.

  Mr. Brownstone nodded. “Oh, yes! My son is coming to pick me up and drive me home. I am so lucky to have such a good boy.” Clair grinned, happy to hear that someone would be taking over so that this man would not have to travel alone. “That’s great to hear. You take care now, and Merry Christmas.”

  Once again alone at her desk, Clair continued to busy herself with administrative duties. From below her desk, she heard her phone buzz. Carefully, she bent over to check the message, when she noticed a text that her appointment at House of Hair was confirmed. Cool! I am so excited about this. I can’t wait to mention it to Eve the next time she comes by the desk.

  Clair tried to focus on completing the remainder of her assignments, but her mind was distracted. She felt as though she was waiting in limbo for her crush to return, and suddenly, she felt about twenty years younger. So this is what it’s like to be enamored by someone, to feel alive. Better late than never, Clair!

  3

  As Eve finished with her last patient of the day, she couldn’t help but replay the exchange she had with Clair earlier in the afternoon. Did I really wink at the medical receptionist? God, Clair must think that I am some kind of predator or something. How did I even let that slip? I don’t even really wink at anyone. Ugh, I am so embarrassed.

  A young woman in her early twenties asked, “So I need to take the pills for a week before it will prevent against pregnancy, right?” Eve had just administered the woman’s first set of birth control and was reviewing the details of the medication.

  “Yes, that is correct. Please be sure that you take it at the same time of the day— everyday—to ensure maximum e ectiveness. I do not advise having unprotected sexual intercourse until you have completed the first seven days.”

  “Okay cool, thanks so much. I definitely do not want to get pregnant, so I’ll make sure I take them as directed.” The young woman, whose name was Lucy, examined the cardboard packaging. “I’m actually in school to become a nurse too.”

  Eve stood and removed her latex gloves. “Oh, is that so?

  Good for you. What area of nursing did you want to get

  into?”

  Lucy thought for a moment. “Well, I am only in my first year of the program, but I am thinking about pediatrics or maybe an ER nurse. I love the idea of caring for babies, but the emergency room sounds kind of exciting.”

  Eve smiled knowingly. “Oh yes, the ER can be full of action and highly unpredictable. It’s a great role for people who can handle that type of action.” Eve handed the woman a slip of paper. “Here is your prescription. The pharmacy is just downstairs, adjacent to the lobby. Feel free to call in anytime that you need a refill.”

  “Awesome, thanks so much, Nurse Foster,” Lucy thankfully replied as she exited the o ce.

  Eve rubbed her temples, grateful that her shift had finally come to an end. It was nearing 9:00 pm, and she had been on her feet for close to thirteen hours. While Eve knew that long hours on her feet were just part of the job, she was always happy when it was time to go home. She retired to the employee sta room to change into her civilian clothes.

  She continued to ruminate on her earlier conversations with Clair. Normally, Eve was laser-focused during her job, and she couldn’t ever recall crushing on a coworker.

  However, she also chalked this up to the fact that up until six months ago, she had been in a long-term relationship.

  Using the sink, Eve splashed some water on her face, enjoying the cooling sensation against her cheeks. Wiping herself dry with a piece of paper towel, she stared at her face in the mirror. Maybe I just need to get laid? Hopefully, that would help me get my head in the game to stop putting my energy into co-worker crushes.

  While this seemed like a viable solution for some, Eve knew that she was kidding herself. Unlike other women she knew, Eve required some kind of connection in order to explore the pleasures of the flesh. Abbie was more the type to

  experience random, sexual partners, but it never felt right for Eve. She had a fair amount of Sapphic experience in the bedroom (and beyond), but for Eve, the best sex was always paired with emotional intimacy. If only it were that easy for me! Packing up her du e bag, Eve left the sta room and walked towards the front desk. She was pleasantly surprised to see Clair still at her desk. The energy on the ward had lulled, which gave Eve the perfect opportunity to make friendly conversation.

  “Hey, woman! Still working away?” Eve called out as she approached Clair’s desk.

  Clair looked up and gave Eve a huge smile. “That I am, Nurse Foster. I need to complete some checklists before I can finish up for the night.” Clair’s eyes glanced over Eve’s body and it wasn’t discrete, which gave Eve a small flutter in her stomach. “It looks like you are all packed up and ready to leave.”

  Eve shrugged and nodded, feeling somewhat shy. When she was in her uniform, Eve felt in control and assured of her role. However, outside of the scrubs, she was just a lonely, recently-single lesbian without her uniform shield of armor to boost her ego.

  “Yup! I can’t wait to kick o my shoes and relax. It’s been a long old day!” Eve suddenly noticed her hunger, which she was somehow able to ignore up until now. “Oh, wow, I am starving. I just realized I’ve barely eaten anything today.”

  Clair paused and looked at Eve, biting the corner of her lip. “Yeah, me too, actually. As soon as I am finished these checklists, I think I am going to sink my teeth into a burger from Mallory’s Diner.” Clair looked down and chuckled to herself. “I’ve been thinking about it for hours.”

  Eve thought for a moment. Should I? Hell, why not! We work at the same place, and it seems like we are both hungry. I don’t

  think it would sound too weird. Just go for it, Eve!

  Clearing her throat, she began, “Well, if you want, I could wait for you to finish up, and we could grab a bite together?”

  Eve then backtracked. “I mean, I don’t want to rush you or anything. I could grab a co ee from the cafeteria while I wait or something…” Eve’s voice trailed o as she began to lose her nerve.

  Clair perked up. “Oh, sure! That would be great. I won’t be too long at all.” Clair glanced around her desk, seeming to assess her duties. “Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes tops? I’d love to have some company.”

  Eve breathed an inward sigh of relief. Okay, good. I’m guessing I didn’t sound like a complete dork, so that is a good sign. Cheerfully, Eve replied, “That’s perfect. Why don’t you meet me downstairs in the main lobby by the pharmacy? In the meantime, I’ll head to the dining area and grab a quick drink.”

  Clair gave Eve a mischievous grin. “Okay, but don’t spoil your appetite! We’re eating out together, so I need a girl who can keep up with a burger.”

  For a split second, an awkward silence filled the space between the co-workers. Did she just say eating out or am I only hearing what I want to hear? Eve thought to herself.

  Clair quickly recovered. “I mean, I really hate when I make plans to eat with someone, and all they get is a salad, you know? Like, come with an appetite or don’t come at all.”

  Clair chuckled while her face blushed red. Freudian slip or not, Eve found Clair’s embarrassment absolutely endearing.

  In an e ort to smooth over the weirdness, she responded, bobbing her head in agreement. “Oh yeah, totally. Well, don’t worry, I am so hungry that I could eat like, five burgers!” Eve then looked around, feeling a bit self-conscious. She needed to escape before she said anything stupid. “Cool, okay, well, I will see you downstairs in a bit.”

  Clair grinned. “Yup, sounds good. See you soon!” Clair then quickly ducked her head and bustled about, avoiding further eye contact.

  As Eve made her way to the elevators, she cringed inwardly. Oh my goodness, I really need better game. That was seriously clumsy.

  Regardless, Eve was excited to get to know Clair outside of the ward. As the elevator plunged to the lobby, Eve decided to push aside her negative thoughts and enjoy the moment. Plus, she loved the burgers at Mallory’s. I feel this scenario was meant to be. So far, we have the same taste in food, so that’s a good start.

  The doors opened and Eve stepped out onto the main floor. If she was honest with herself, she didn’t need any more ca eine, so instead, she decided to wait across from the elevators for Clair to arrive.

  In the meantime, Eve let her mind relax as she watched people, patients, and hospital sta walk back and forth, heading in all sorts of directions. It was nice to take a moment and just observe, instead of needing to be on the move. Besides, her gnawing hunger was starting to make her weary, and she was looking forward to reviving her energy.

  Eve was almost grateful that she did not have the strength to feel nervous.

  AFTER

  APPROXIMATELY

  FIFTEEN

  MINUTES,

  the

  elevator

  doors dinged, and out stepped Clair, wearing a jaunty winter hat and a cozy, purple down jacket. Seeing Eve, she beamed.

  “Hi, there! Thanks so much for waiting. I hope I didn’t take too long.”

  Eve shook her head and grinned. “Not at all; it was nice just to stand and space out; it’s not a luxury that I can a ord

  often, so I should be thanking you.”

  Clair pulled out her winter mittens from her purse and motioned towards the door. “Shall we?” Clair then looked at what Eve was wearing. “My goodness, aren’t you cold?

  Where are your hat and gloves?” she playfully asked.

  Eve looked down at her wool pea coat. It was true; she had not exactly dressed for the weather. In her haste to get to work, Eve had grabbed the wool garment and nothing else.

  She shrugged helplessly and smiled. “I guess I forgot to bother. I was in a bit of a rush this morning.”

  As the pair headed towards the parking lot, Clair turned to Eve. “Oh, I should have asked. Do you drive? My vehicle is in the shop, so I had to take a taxi this morning.”

  Eve responded, “Oh, I can drive us there; that’s no problem.” Eve paused for a moment. “But how would you be getting home?”

  Clair waved her hand in the air. “Don’t worry, I can just take a taxi from the restaurant.”

  Eve shook her head. “No, that’s silly. I can drive you home if you like. Where do you live?”

  Clair replied, “I am just o Williams Avenue. Do you know where that is?” Clair then put her hand on Eve’s arm. “I really don’t want to be an inconvenience if it’s out of the way.”

  Eve felt a spark at the touch of Clair’s hand. “Nonsense, I live on Southview, so it’s literally on the way.”

  Clair smiled and looked down at the ground. “Well, okay, sure. As long as you don’t mind.” Clair looked at the mittens in her hand. “Do you want to wear these? They will keep your hands warm while you are steering.”

  Eve couldn’t help but feel giddy. What a sweet gesture! “Um, cool. Thanks! I’ll definitely give them back to you once I drop you o .”

  Graciously, Clair handed Eve the fuzzy woolen gloves.

  “It’s my pleasure. I mean, you are joining me for food and driving me home. It’s the least I can do, right?”

  Eve looked at Clair and smiled. They shared a moment of eye contact that seemed to shock Eve’s system. She fought the urge to grab Clair’s hand, although it seemed like the perfect moment to do so. As they walked across the parking lot to Eve’s white Honda Civic the snow started to fall, like stars cascading from the sky.

  4

  As Eve started up her vehicle, Clair couldn’t help but notice how cute her woolen mittens looked on Eve’s hands. Hmmm, maybe I will let her keep them. I could just say that it’s a lovely holiday gift between co-workers.

  Eve then laughed. “Hey? Did you hear me?” Clair didn’t realize that she had been lost in her thoughts. Turning to look at Eve, she replied, “Oh, I’m sorry! What did you say? I just spaced out for a second.”

  Eve replied, “It’s okay. Trust me, I feel like a bit of a space cadet too. I just asked if you were going to do anything over Christmas. I mean, I know we are all working, but do you have any plans in between shifts?”

  Clair shook her head. “Honestly, nothing too special. I live alone, so my place gets pretty quiet. I will probably spend Christmas Day with my parents. They are pretty elderly, but both are healthy, so I feel pretty lucky. Oh, and I might see a movie on Christmas Eve.” Clair looked down at her lap, suddenly feeling shy. “It was kind of a tradition of mine until I started working at Forest Vale. This will be the first in five years that I can actually attend.”

  Eve turned her head with interest. “Oh, really? That sounds nice. What movie are you going to see?”

  Clair faced Eve. “Miracle on 34th Street. It plays every year on December 24 at the Carlisle Retro Theatre.”

  As Eve drove down the street towards the direction of the diner, she suddenly paused and then said with surprise, “So, do you have both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day o work?”

  Clair nodded slowly. “Yes, I do; this will be the first time I will have a Christmas holiday to myself. I had to put in a request with Priya months in advance, but since I have gained some seniority, it all worked out.”

  Eve steered the car into the parking lot of Mallory’s; a classic 1950’s-style diner that featured a jukebox and large, red comfy booths. Clair noticed that the sky had turned into a blizzard, and the large parking lot was covered in a fresh white blanket of snow. Eve parked the car, and the pair ran for cover into the warm, brightly-lit restaurant.

  A young server greeted them, wearing a retro waitress uniform, and led them to an empty booth. The women discarded their winter coats and settled into their seats. Clair loved the energy at Mallory’s and how it always remained on theme. The diner had been around since before Clair was born, and no matter what outside evolutions were occurring, Mallory’s never changed. It was a comforting constant in Clair’s life.

  Clair sat across from Eve, and beaming she said, “Don’t you just love the vibe in here? It feels like we’re on the set of Happy Days.

  Eve glanced around, looking pleased. “Yes, it definitely does. It’s so cute and cozy here. Good suggestion; I’m glad we came here.”

  Clair caught Eve’s eye and replied, “Yes, me too.” The two women looked at one another, and Clair could swear there was something magical in the air. Suddenly, the cute server

  who had brought them to their seats reappeared, ready to take their order.

  Clair spoke first. “I already know that I want. I’ll take the Big M Burger with cheese and a small vanilla shake.” Clair thought for a moment. “Actually, I will take a side of french fries as well.” She looked towards Eve. “Promise you’ll share some fries with me?”

  Eve nodded, “Yup, deal!” Turning to the waitress, Eve ordered, “I will take the same thing, but please hold the cheese on my burger. Oh, and extra pickles, please.”

  The young lady grinned and hurried on her way. Looking at Eve, Clair suddenly got a little nervous. It was one thing to chat at work when they could talk about hospital-related matters, but now that they were outside their respective comfort zones, Clair felt a bit lost.

  Eve was the first to break the tension. “So, the reason I asked if you had both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day o was because I also got the same vacation days too! Isn’t that a coincidence?” Eve unrolled her knife and fork from the tightly wound napkin. “For me, the trade-o is New Year’s Eve and Day, but hey, I am not complaining.”

  Clair was pleasantly surprised. “Yeah, that’s pretty wild. I know the holidays are crazy at the hospital, so the fact that we were able to score prime days o is a miracle.”

  “On 34th Street, right?” Eve chimed, and Clair laughed, appreciating the zinger. “Yeah, exactly!”