Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy) (9 page)

“
What does Jeremy want?”

“
It seems that Jeremy really loves to build flower gardens. You should see their house with all their flower beds they have all around. I have never seen so many flowers in all my life. Of course, they own the greenhouse. What I found out was that Jeremy designed all of them and they are beautiful.”

“
It seems that Jeremy has a natural talent. What’s the problem?”

“
The problem,” Nora responded, “is that Jeremy’s dad wants him to be a lawyer like him. Jeremy doesn’t like to do research and he doesn’t like to be stuck in a library all day.”

“
I see that can be a problem. His dad doesn’t want him to work with his mother?”

“
That’s not the entire problem.” Nora explained, “His dad says that if he works at the flower shop, he will be nothing but a day laborer working for pennies a day.”

“
Do you think you might have a solution?” he asked.

“
What do you think about Jeremy going to college to study horticulture?”

“
I think it would be interesting for Jeremy but what would his father say to him about going to college to be nothing but a farmer?” He rubbed his chin and scratched his head while he thought. “You might try putting this spin on it. How about Jeremy going to college to study business administration with maybe a minor in horticulture or even a double major? That way he would be owner and contractor? He would definitely not be a day laborer working for pennies.”

“
Thanks, Dad, I believe we may have the answer. He’s taking me out to a restaurant tonight at six. I will talk to him about this and see what he thinks.”

Nor
a was waiting for Jeremy wearing a yellow dotted Swiss dress with a full gather skirt. Her mom had helped her with her hair and piled it high on her head. She hoped she didn’t move too fast and it all would come tumbling down, but so far it still felt balanced.

Jeremy looked her up and down, whistled and said, “
You are more beautiful every time I see you.” He thought,
yea, tonight’s the night!

She smiled and gave him a curtsy.

He held the door for her as they went into the restaurant. They had to wait for the attendant to take them to their table; she had never been where they did that before.

As they were seated she saw all the tables covered with table cloths and cloth napkins to match. Real flowers in vases sat on each table with shiny silverware.

Jeremy watched her as she looked around with stars in her eyes.

“
It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“
I’m glad you like it. I wanted tonight to be special.”
I think I’m getting this right.

“
Thank you, Jeremy. You are so kind.”

“
Finally,” he teased exasperatedly, “I’ve been telling you that for a long time.”

She laughed as she teased back, “
I guess I let that slip. I’ll have to watch my tongue.”

After they were seated, Nora sat forward hoping he would like the suggestion her dad made,
“My dad and I talked about your little problem of college. I want to make a suggestion for you to think about, maybe it could be a solution for you.”

“
I like solutions. What did you come up with?”

“
If you went to college to get a degree in business administration and threw in horticulture as a minor or major with it. You would be a business owner and contractor. He couldn’t say you were nothing but a day laborer because you would have your own employees but yet you could contract and design landscaping, etc.”

Jeremy sat there thinking about
what she said. “I think I like it. I definitely will give it some thought.”

The waiter brought them their food. Jeremy ordered prime rib and Nora had ordered chicken cordon blue. The food was delicious.

After the meal Jeremy stood up and reached out his hand to her. “There is a garden behind the restaurant I want you to see.”
Surely I can make this romantic enough to get her to accept my class ring.

There were walkways through beautiful fragrant blooming flowers, pots full of plants, statuettes, and a wate
r feature humming with rushing water. Near the water feature there was a bench to sit and enjoy the scene. They strolled through the garden hand in hand.

Jeremy brought her hand up to kiss the back of her hand.

She felt a melting sensation inside her. She leaned toward him to receive a kiss. He brushed a light kiss over her lips. They walked over and stood in front of the water feature for a minute, then he directed her to the bench and they sat down. He still had her hand in his. He didn’t intend to let this moment pass. He tilted her head back to kiss her again and he felt it. A sprinkle of rain fell right on the back of his neck. He opened his eyes and Nora was wiping the rain off her face and arms.

In surprise they both burst o
ut laughing. They took off walking hurriedly for Jeremy’s car.
Nice try
, he thought,
there goes that
.

He started the car, thinking
, there’s got to be a way to salvage this. I want to give her my ring. I know. I’ll take her to the greenhouse.

He drove with
wipers swishing over the wind shield. He noticed Nora’s dress was a little wet and she was wiping the rain off her arms again.

He drove o
nto the driveway at the front of the flower shop this time and a light of recognition lit up Nora’s eyes. “Oh,” she said. This is where we bought the flowers for our flowerbeds. I guess I didn’t realize it the last time you brought me here because we came in from the alley.”

“
Neat,” was all he could think to say.
How can I get her in a romantic mood?

It
was still lightly raining as they walked quickly to the greenhouse. He unlocked the door and ushered her in. He began rubbing his hands over her arms to wipe the rain off. Then he put his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.

She pushed back because he was really m
aking her wet now. “Watch it, Jeremy, you’re making me wetter.”

“
Oh! I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
Oops, messed up there.
He went over and picked up a long stemmed red rose. He took it over to the counter and slipped his class ring over the stem and tied a big puffy yellow ribbon around the stem below the ring to keep it from sliding off.

This time I don
’t want to mess this up even though I’m having a hard time being romantic.
  He walked up to her and held the red rose. Do you know that red roses symbolize love?”

She nodded.

“I am giving this red rose to you because I want you to know that I love you in spite of the rain that seemed to mess up my romantic plans,” he said as he handed her the rose.

“
Jeremy, it’s beautiful! This is such a pretty bow you put on it!” She exclaimed as she inspected the rose and his workmanship. She curiously twisted the ring on it and asked, “This is an unusual ornament on it.”

Jeremy ran his hand through his damp hair. “
Actually, as far as I know, you are the only one who has ever received a class ring on a red rose. Definitely not mine,” he stated.

Nora raised big blue eyes to him. “
Do you want to explain what’s going on here?”

“
Nora, I have been trying for two nights now to ask you to wear my class ring. I want to go steady with you. Will you be my girl?” he asked imploring with such need in his eyes.

“
You have been trying for two nights?” she repeated incredulously.

“
Yes,” he answered, “every time I want to be serious with you I can’t seem to think and everything goes wrong. That’s why I joke so much with you. You matter so much to me, all I want to do all the time that I’m with you is hold you and kiss you senseless and right now I’m all wet,” he said sadly hanging his head.

Nora wanted to burst out laughing he looked so
pitiful. Instead she held it all in and reached up and touched his cheek, “Jeremy, I will be happy to wear your class ring.”
Even if you are all wet
, she snickered to herself.

Jeremy let out a big sigh and blossomed out in an ear to ear grin. “
Really?”

“
Really!” she laughed. She opened her arms to him and he grabbed her up and whirled her around.
They were both wet anyway
, she thought.

Chapter Eight

Monday after school Nora rode her bike t
o the hospital to apply for a job. After asking questions and reaching the appropriate desk she was handed an application. She filled it out and handed it to the woman, whose name was Mrs. Pinkerton, according to the sign on the desk and said, “Mr. Littlefield recommended that I put in my application.”

“
Oh, so you are that young lady,” she said kindly, taking her papers. “He told me to watch for you.”

“
Please, sit,” Mrs. Pinkerton said making a sweeping motion with her arm toward the chairs. She stood and left the room.

Nora sat nervously on the edge of the chair looking down at her hands which were clasped in her lap. She could hear the clicking sound of the
Mrs. Pinkerton’s heels as she went down the hall.

Finally, she returned and said, “
I’m so sorry, but Mrs. Williams, the director of nursing, has already left for the day. “If you would like I will make an appointment with her for you at this time tomorrow, would you be able to come then?”

“
Yes, ma’am.”

“
Alright,” she replied with a smile. “Have a nice evening and we will see you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow
Nora thought.
I have all night tonight and all day tomorrow to think about this appointment. I’m going to be a bundle of nerves.

At the evening meal she told her parents about her appointment the next day.
“I will be a bundle of nerves and have trouble concentrating at school tomorrow,” she complained.

“
Here’s what you should do. Think to yourself, I am a hard worker. I can do this.”

“
Dad, I know I’m a hard worker and that I can do this, but I’m not convinced that Mrs. Williams will think that.”

“
Yes, and since you know that,” he smiled and with a nod, “you can walk in there with your head held high and a confident smile on your face. Not only that, but Mr. Littlefield has vouched for you.”

Nora stirred her food
around in her plate and after a minute looked up at him with her usual self confidence restored.

“
Little girl!” he exclaimed coming around the table to give her a hug. “You have this job in the bag!”

“
Thanks for the pep talk, Dad,” Nora stood to receive his hug. “I’ll be alright now.”

Jokingly he shined his fingernails on his shirt and replied
as he sat back down in his chair, “That’s what Dad’s are for.”

The next afternoon Nora returned to the house after school to put on a fresh dress. Her Dad took her to
the hospital so she wouldn’t have to ride her bike. She walked up to Mrs. Pinkerton’s desk.

Mrs. Pinkerton recognized her immediately and stood from her desk and said, “
Mrs. Williams is expecting you.”

This time Nora followed her as she clicked down the h
all in her four inch heels to Mrs. Williams’ office.

After introductions, she asked Nora to be seated so she sat on the edge of the chair with her hands firmly clasped together.

Mrs. Williams seeing her nervousness smiled at her and said, “Tell me why you want to work at the hospital.”

Nora tried to speak but nothing came out, she cleared her throat and this time she said, “
I plan to be a doctor. I want to get as much experience as I can to start preparing myself.”

“
Do you understand that it takes years and years of studying and hard work to become a doctor?”

“
Yes, Ma’am.”

“
Why become a doctor?” Mrs. Williams asked. “Why not become a nurse?”

“
My father has a really bad heart. He has been told that he will not live long.” Nora said, “I also have a cousin with polio. I need to help them.”

Cocking her head to the side, Mrs. Williams asked, “
What can you do that other doctors can’t do?”

Nora frowned to the side for a moment while she thought, then sat up straight in her chair, “
That remains to be seen. I just know that if I study everything I can find; there will be something I can do to help these people in pain.”

“
You understand that a person has to take baby steps before he can run, don’t you?”