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I knew it was going to be an unusual day. I knew it the moment I woke up. It was mid-October but we were experiencing a warm spell where it was chilly in the shade but the sun could still burn your skin after fifteen minutes.
I thought we were already settled in to wearing overcoats but today was too hot for one.
I waited for the toast to cook and couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It was almost like maybe I had a bad dream but could not remember the details.
Sandy was at the table reading his anatomy book and writing notes before he caught my eye staring at him. “Alec?”
“Mhmm? Oh, sorry, my dear, I just got distracted for a bit.” I looked back at my toast that barely turned brown yet.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel strange like something doesn’t feel right.”
Sandy smiled. “It’s probably the weather.”
“Think so?”
He nodded. “Remnants from some hurricane near New York is making its way up here. Come on love, sit down, and I’ll finish making breakfast.”
I sat down and poured some tea. “I suppose you’re right. I hate when the weather goes up and down like this. If anything, bring on the cold already and stop with the teasing.”
“Well it’s better than rain. Ireland will probably get the brunt of it. In the meantime, we get the sunshine and warmth.”
I parked my car and gathered my things ready for a long afternoon. The hospital is always so hot on days like today and there was nowhere to cool down.
I trodded along until I saw Ralph come out with a certain lightness in his steps.
“Hello Ralph. Fancy seeing you here at this hour.”
“Alec! How goes it?” He was beaming. We stopped on the steps.
“I am here for the evening shift.”
“Nice. I just dropped off Spud. We got back about a half-hour ago.” He couldn’t stop smiling. He had a faint dimple that would come out when he was genuinely happy and it’s been awhile since I’ve seen it, but there it was.
“That’s good. I take it the wedding went well? Um, other end, Ralph.” He was starting to light the wrong end of his cigarette.
“Oh, Christ.” But he just laughed and shrugged and said, “Sunday’s.”
I gave a half-smile. What else could I give? “Anything else happen?”
“Not much. We went to the reception and then Spud showed me where he grew up. We stayed there for the night.”
“Oh that’s good. And how was that?"
“It was… you know…” he was so giddy. I had only seen him once or twice like this and one of those times alcohol was involved.
“It was…?" I knew the second he came out those doors but I played dumb. "Oh, wow. Oh, I see. Okay." I nodded my head and stared at him.
He laughed and bloody blushed and dragged on his cigarette.
“And how did it go?”
“Good,” he said biting his lower lip before cracking up with laughter.
“That’s great. I’m glad it was good.”
He finished his cigarette and tossed it away and leaned against the railing like a smitten schoolboy. “I mean there’s still some things we’re working out on but, you know, it was…” he sighed.
I leaned against the railing next to him. “Okay that’s making progress. That’s good." I stared at him while he looked off into the distance daydreaming and I thought he might have forgot I was there.
"Can I ask you something?”
He nodded.
“How many times?”
“Alec!”
Think what you want, but I had to know.
Nonetheless, Ralph showed me the number using his fingers.
And, fuck, he was in love.
I nodded. “Do I need to go in there and examine anything?”
“Okay, you know what, I have to go to the station. I have a lot of work to do.” He said abruptly but still in good spirits. “I’m going to call back here in a bit. I’ll see you later Alec.”
He touched my arm before leaving. And then he was off. I watched him in his uniform go to his car. He was still handsome and I suppose some past memories began to creep into my mind but I couldn’t think about them. Not right now. Laurie was lucky but I always felt whoever got Ralph was lucky. Yes, he had his quirks but he was devoted like a disciple.
I smiled and then went in and set my things down. The building wasn’t as hot as I thought it would be. Maybe I was distracted. I went to the water cooler and looked around at the other doctors and nurses. Yes, life does carry on even in war. People have petty fights with relatives, people fall in love, and students stress about exams and have homework to complete. I put that down on my mental list. I’ll see Laurie and then around nine I’ll get some reading done.