Convenience and Compatibility (19 page)

I text him. “Have to work late. Maybe 30
minutes.”

He immediately replies. “OK I’ll park.”

I sit looking at my screen for a moment. I’m
at a loss to what I’ll say to Dean. I wish he wasn’t picking me up
today so I could have time to think before seeing him. Focus. I get
back to charting or I’ll be here all night. It’s a little after
eight when I walk down the hall, so happy to be done with work, but
sick to my stomach about my encounter with Jeanette. I expect Dean
to be outside in his usual spot, which is why I’m surprised when I
hear him call my name as I walk by the cafeteria.

I pivot and Dean stands, coming towards me
with his hands outstretched. My, he looks hot. I walk into his arms
and take a deep breath. His familiar smell calms me and I feel the
knot in my stomach slowly receding. I don’t think he wears cologne;
it must be a combination of his body wash and his deodorant. I pull
away and grab Dean’s hand.

“Come on, I want to get out of here.” I’m a
little nervous that Jeanette has stuck around to insult me some
more. We get to the lobby and I’m relieved that it’s empty. “Where
are you parked?”

“On the street, about a block away. The
garage was full.”

I nod and pick up the pace a bit.

“Whoa, what’s your hurry?”

“I’m really fucking tired, I didn’t get a
break and I’ve had very little food today.” I say it a little too
harshly – it’s not his fault that his mother is a bitch. “I’m
sorry. I….”

“It’s okay Mallory.”

Dean grips my hand tighter and I know that I
am forgiven. He opens the passenger door for me and I take my shoes
off immediately. Let my feet smell, I don’t care.

Dean gets in and turns to me. “Do you want to
have dinner out, or go home?”

“Please home. I just want a bowl of cereal
and go to bed.”

“Okay.” Dean is quiet. I feel bad; he must be
scared of my mood. I’ve never been in a bad mood around him
before.

Dean pulls into traffic and drives home the
way we came. “Dare I ask what happened today?”

“Honestly Dean, I’m not sure you want to hear
what happened. I’m also afraid I will cry if I tell you.” As if on
cue my eyes filling with tears. I turn my head to look out the side
window, not wanting Dean to see.

Dean is quiet and I feel bad I said anything.
We stop at a light and I look at a gas station out the window. It’s
blurry with my tears, which are now running down my face. I let
them glide down my cheeks, knowing that if I wipe them away Dean is
sure to know I’m crying. Dean’s voice surprises me. “Look at me
Mallory.”

“No.”

The light must have turned because we are
driving again. I see we are almost in Madison Park and will be
turning onto the windy Arboretum road soon. We’re under the canopy
of the bare trees now and I look into the woods, it seems so
peaceful. Dean suddenly pulls into one of the gravel parking areas.
I turn to look at him in surprise, forgetting my tears.

Dean parks and turns the car off.

“You’re crying. What is going on?”

I decide to be honest, he deserves to know. I
sniffle and Dean hands me the box of tissues from the backseat. I
wipe my nose and tears from my face before I begin. “Your mom came
to my work today.”

Dean raises his eyebrows and presses his lips
together.

I continue, “She said she knew about our
engagement and tried to pay me to walk away from you.”

“Really?” Dean’s voice is quiet and suddenly
I’m scared. He looks mad, really mad. His jaw clenches and my tears
stop as my focus quickly has changed to Dean.

“I’m guessing you told them today?” I wipe my
nose again and put the dirty tissues in my purse.

“Yea, I went to the house to get
something.”

Dean looks ahead and grips the steering
wheel. “How much?”

“What?” I’m confused now.

“How much did she offer you?”

“A million dollars,” I whisper.

Dean turns to me. “What did you do?”

“I said goodbye and walked away.”

Dean looks ahead and starts the car. He
drives like a man on a mission back to the house, white knuckles
all the way. I hold onto the handle near my seat as he drives like
a mad man, I’m guessing at least thirty over the speed limit. His
anger is scary, and I’m afraid he will do something rash. We drive
into the garage and Dean turns off the car.

“Mallory, go inside. I’ll be back in a
bit.”

“No Dean. You’re upset, I don’t want you
driving.”

“Seriously Mallory, get out of the car.” His
voice is a little louder and I have to admit that I’m a little hurt
and scared at his tone.

“Okay.”

As soon as I’ve shut the car door Dean speeds
out of the driveway and down the street. I look at the spot where
his car was just moments ago and pray he will be safe.

I close the garage door and find some yogurt,
spooning it into my mouth as I walk up the stairs. Mentally and
physically exhausted, I take a shower and wrap a towel around me
when I am done. I look out the bedroom window to see the rain
coming down in sheets. There’s a steady stream of water running
down the edge of the road and down the hill, probably ending in a
water-logged mess on some waterfront estate. There’s a knot in my
stomach knowing that Dean is out there in this weather – upset. I
want to climb into bed and pull the covers over my head, but
instead I walk to the closet to get dressed.

My suitcase isn’t where I left it when I left
this morning. Where did he put my clothes? I look around and see
some of my shirts hanging next to his clothes – he must have put
them away. I open drawers, looking for my things. Why does he have
so many drawers? I wonder if Amanda was living with him when he
renovated the house? No man would have a closet this big unless he
was really into clothes, and I’m pretty sure that’s not Dean as the
closet was half empty before my things were placed in it. I find
the grey silky nightie in a drawer full of negligees – Dean must
have gone shopping. I throw something new on, an elegant black
spaghetti strapped nightie that is just a little too long.

I pull the hem up and walk downstairs,
getting a bowl of cereal and plopping myself on the couch. I sit in
the dark and watch the rain come down in sheets outside, wondering
where he has gone. It’s only been forty-five minutes, maybe he just
wanted to go think somewhere. I hope to God he hasn’t gone to his
parent’s house. The thought of him over there makes me want to
throw up – they are the enemy now. I can’t eat anything else and
throw the rest of the cereal away and clean up.

I brush my teeth and climb into bed. I turn
on the TV in the bedroom and try to get lost in some reality show.
It’s been over an hour now and I know that I need to go to bed.
Should I text him? Does he want me here, should I go home? I turn
the TV on low and lay down. How am I ever going to get to
sleep?

Sleep does find me but
I’m woken at
five-thirty by my phone’s alarm. I turn it off and remember Dean.
Dean! I roll over and there he is, snoring lightly next to me. He
looks so peaceful lying there, unlike the last time I saw him. I
want to run my hands through his hair and kiss him, but hesitate.
No, I’ll just creep out and see him tonight.

As quietly as I can, I get dressed and put my
makeup on. I grab my purse and shut the door behind me, it locks
quietly.

I walk to the bus stop cursing myself for
leaving my car back at the apartment. It is way too early for a
hike. I finally make it to work and shift report is normal with an
okay day ahead of me. Thank the nursing gods, Jasmine is the charge
nurse again and I go into her office when I have a free moment.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Jasmine nods and I continue. “I don’t think
she will, but if she does comes back, I don’t want to see her. I
don’t care if she’s on the Hospital Board.”

“Okay Mallory. Is everything okay?”

“Yea, thanks Jasmine.” Jasmine and I are
friends but we’re not so close that I want to air my dirty laundry
in front of her.

In the afternoon Jasmine relieves me and I
head to the cafeteria to find something for lunch and to take my
shoes off. I get settled with my salad and fries and look at my
phone. I’m disappointed when there has been no activity on the
screen; just the same old screensaver of Tara and I taking a selfie
on a hike last year. My heart drops as I had expected Dean to send
me a text or call me by now. I have a sinking feeling that he wants
to break up. If I don’t hear from him by the time work ends, I’m
not sure if I should go back to his house. I remember that I don’t
have a key to Dean’s place – yes, I’ll go home.

The day is over before I know it, but I’m not
looking forward to the evening. Dean hasn’t contacted me all day
and my stomach is in knots as I walk down the hall towards the
exit. I peek into the cafeteria and scan the patrons – no Dean.
With a heavy heart I walk a little slower. This is a bad sign.

Walking out the double doors I turn to Dean’s
bench – no Dean. I feel tears forming in my eyes as I walk down the
hill towards my bus. The sidewalk is dark but there are lots of
people about, like me – walking to the bus to go home. I keep my
head slightly bowed so I don’t have to see the pity of people as I
walk by, tears falling from my eyes. I walk over I 5 and see that
traffic is already backed up. It’s loud over the freeway, but I
look behind me – did I just hear my name? I don’t see anyone and
turn back around to continue on my way down the hill.

I get over the freeway and hear the slap of
feet hitting the pavement behind me.

“Mallory!”

I whip around and see Dean running toward me
- my heart skips a beat. I quickly wipe my eyes and smile, waiting
for him to come to me. Dean has a big grin on his face and nearly
knocks me over as he plows into me. He holds me tight and presses
his lips to mine. Dean pulls away and smiles down at me. “I am so
sorry I’m late baby. Come on, I’m parked over here.”

Dean puts his hand around my waist and guides
me back up the hill. I’m silent until we get to the privacy of his
car. “What happened?” I ask.

Dean looks incredibly happy so I’m guessing
there was some sort of reconciliation with his parents. “Well, I
got back late last night and then I slept too late. Why didn’t you
wake me up? I would have taken you to work?” Dean is talking so
fast and he doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Then I called John and
we spoke for a couple hours. Poor guy, he was so jet-lagged. Then I
had a couple things to do and then I came to get you. I’m sorry, I
called but you didn’t answer. Are you upset?”

What I am is blown away by all of this. I
notice Dean omitted where he went last night. “No. I’m not upset. I
was just confused. When did you call? And where were you last night
Dean?”

“I called just now, after I parked. And I
went to my parent’s house last night.”

I frown. I thought he may go there. “What
happened?”

“We’re done with my parents. Disinherited,
everything.” He throws his hands up and I stare at him, my mouth
agape.

“I don’t want you to do that. Are you
sure?”

“I’m sure Mallory. You are my life now. Let’s
go home.”

Dean’s hand is on my leg again on the way
home. He turns on some upbeat music and starts to sing along. I
look over at his profile and I’m pretty sure he has some serious
denial issues. I’m so happy that he is no longer sad, but also
saddened that he cut off his family. This isn’t right. Dean
surprises me when he pulls over at the arboretum in the same spot
as last night.

He looks over at me. “Up for a little
walk?”

I give Dean a look, “Okay.” Doesn’t he know
that I’m tired?

“Stay here.”

Dean jogs around and opens my car door. He
takes my hand and we walk into the dark trees. I’m pretty sure the
park is off limits after dark, but I feel safe holding Dean’s hand
and decide to just go with it. We walk in enough that I can no
longer see the car. I look back and raise my eyebrows at him; this
can’t be safe or legal. Dean laughs and squeezes my hand. He stops
abruptly and turns to face me, reaching into his coat. He gets down
on one knee and holds a ring up to me.

“Mallory, you mean the world to me. Will you
marry me?”

I’m speechless, and overwhelmed. I had no
idea he was planning this. “Yes. Of course. But are you sure? What
about your family?”

Dean puts the ring on my finger and gets to
his feet. He leans down and kisses me. “Forget about them. I’m so
happy. Come on, let’s head back.”

Dean holds me close and we walk a little
faster to the car.

“I was so nervous that I didn’t realize how
dark and isolated it was out here.”

“Why were you nervous? I’d already said
yes.”

Dean shrugs, “I guess I was worried that you
changed your mind. After yesterday that is. I am so sorry that my
mom did that you.”

I do have my misgivings, but I don’t mention
it to Dean now. I don’t want to ruin the moment. “It’s alright
Dean. It’s not your fault. Anymore surprises tonight?” I ask as we
are driving home.

I look over at Dean and can see him smiling.
“Maybe.”

“Oh?”

“Are you one of those people who hates
surprises?”

“No. I love them really.”

“Good.”

Dean opens the garage door and I’m surprised
to see my car parked on the right side of the garage.

“You can have that side. If you want it, that
is.”

“How did you do that?”

“I snooped a little and found your car keys.”
Oh.

We park and Dean turns off the car.

“There’s also this.” Dean holds up a key ring
towards me. “Yours.”

I take it and recognize my car key and
apartment key. I touch another key that I haven’t seen before.
“Your house key?” I guess.