Twist of Love (9 page)

“Now that you're here, why don't you order our cheeseburger? Or some pancakes?” Megan asked.

Josie knew that the cheeseburger would trigger even more memories. But what did it matter now? Josie had made her decision, and Blake was gone.

“Why not? Get me a cheeseburger.” Josie said in resignation.

She took a seat and wearily sat down. Alone with her thoughts and memories, Josie Steele tried to justify what she had done. But it was no use. Blake was gone.

“Here's your cheeseburger.” Megan said.

A hot and flavorful cheeseburger was handed to Josie on a plate. The aroma was exactly like the first burgers they’d eaten here.

“Does everything have to remind me of him?” She whispered.

She took the burger and took a bite. It still tasted wonderfully unhealthy and tasty. The wonderful taste of the cheeseburger was no comfort for the harsh reality of never seeing Blake.

'I'll never see Blake again. He's left me. No, I left him. And I... I... I miss him....’

Josie took another bite. As she ate the beef, an idea popped into her head. 'No. No! I can't keep moping like this. I left him so abruptly without giving him a chance to explain himself. I just listened to a gossip monger like Thad. This is all wrong. I can't let it end this way!'

Maybe it didn't have to be this way. Maybe there was still a chance.

24. The Last Presentation

Josie arrived outside the office of the principal. Her secretary did not look up at Josie, as she was busy with some forms.

“Yes?” She said, finally looking up.

“Hello. I would like to speak with Principal Pike.” Josie said.

“Regarding?”

“I would like to propose an idea to her. I do believe that it would help Fallston High School,” Josie said.

“You don't have an appointment, Miss? I'll have to set you up with one.”

“No, I know I don't. But please tell the principal that I'm Josie Steele MD. She'll understand.”

The secretary looked doubtful. But she couldn't just shoo away Josie. She pressed her intercom's button.

“Excuse me, Madam Pike? There's someone outside here to see you. She says she's Josie Steele, MD?”

There was a squawk on the other end of the intercom. The secretary looked surprised.

“Okay. Yes, Ma'am.”

She took her hand off the intercom and then spoke to Josie.

“She's just taking a call for a moment. But once she's done, you can proceed inside.” The secretary said. The secretary looked a little surprised.

Josie smiled. She remembered how she had saved a patient from a near-fatal heart attack some months ago and as it turned out the patient was the principal's sister. She remembered how the patient told her that their family would forever be grateful to Josie. And Josie knew that Principal Pike would remember as well.

The couch in the waiting area looked very comfortable and welcoming and just as Josie was about to sit down, the secretary called her.

“Miss Steele, the principal will see you now,” she said.

***

Josie entered the principal's office. It was very neat and everything was in place. The books beside the principal were arranged neatly, and beside them, her diplomas and titles were framed for easy reference.

Candice Pike had been the principal of the High School for over 10 years. She had given her best years to the job, and dedicated herself to the School. She was a kind-looking elderly lady who genuinely cared about the students. Candice had slowly worked her way up the education system until she’d become principal. For someone like Candice, education was of the highest priority. And she knew that Josie Steele was a respected doctor in Lenora. She and her sister knew. Her memory of Josie saving her sister was still very fresh.

“Miss Steele, how are you? Do you still remember me?” She asked. She offered Josie her hand.

“Of course, Madam Pike. How's your sister?” Josie said. She took the principal's hand and they shook.

“Making a full recovery. And it's all because of you.”

Josie smiled. “I was just doing my job.” she said.

“You're too modest. You saved my sister's life. I will never forget that. If you need anything, just ask.” Pike said firmly.

'Anything? Maybe you can ask one of your teachers, Blake Ingram, specifically, to see me again? Maybe you can ask him to forgive me? Because I miss him.' Josie thought.

She couldn't help but think so negatively. She had lost Blake because of her callousness. This was just some kind of a last shot at the moon for Josie. But she did not hold much hope. 'No? Well, I thought so.'

“Well, I just realized how much I love medicine. It's a great profession and it's rewarded me immensely. I was just thinking of promoting it here in Fallston High. I recently took a short leave of absence from the hospital, and so I was wondering if I could make some presentations about the medical field in your School. I've got more than a few days off from Lenora and my presentations could encourage the students to pursue a career in medicine.”

Josie finished up her proposal and she hoped it would please the principal. The idea had come to Josie the other day at the diner while eating the memorable cheeseburger. Josie thought it was a solid idea. Instead of moping around about Blake, at least she could put her days off to good use. She could encourage more kids to be doctors, and yes, maybe see Blake in school again. This was where he taught, so maybe one of his classes could hear her presentations and...maybe, just maybe, they could see each other again. Plus, her presentations could really encourage a lot of students to become doctors. Aside from chasing a man, maybe she could actually manage to do some good. 'Two birds with one stone,' she thought.

Principal Pike thought for a moment. Her forehead creased with wrinkles and she held her chin. She considered the doctor's proposal.

'Come on. You've got to accept. It's a solid idea. And I could even have a shot at seeing Blake again.' Josie thought desperately.

“Your proposal has a lot of merit.” Candice said finally. “I can see a lot of kids being influenced positively if you spoke out.”

“Thank you, Madam Pike. I just figured it was better to do something with my long leave of absence instead of just staying home.”

“Indeed. Any positive action is welcome here. I'll authorize you to do your presentations for the duration of your leave at the hospital. You'll just need to sign some papers with my secretary, keep things in order. And then you'll be good to go.” Candice said.

“That's wonderful. Thank you, Madam Pike,” Josie said. She felt like jumping for joy. This was her big chance to meet up with Blake somehow, and make things right. Still, Josie held her enthusiasm in check. It was better to just present to the kids for now.

The principal offered her hand and Josie shook it.

***

Josie immediately started her presentations on the following day. She had breezed through 5 classes in the day and lunch wasn't even served yet. Time seemed to be passing pretty quickly at Fallston High. Josie remembered what Blake had said about time moving much slower, and the schedule being more relaxed at the school. It was true, but she realized that it was still very fulfilling work. Josie was really enjoying presenting to the students and could really do this, even just part-time. If only she could just set her affairs of the heart in order first.

Josie had still not met up with Blake and was a little surprised by this.

'I thought he taught so many classes here. Blake always said that he was a local legend in the school. He couldn't have been exaggerating, could he?' She thought.

Josie checked her schedule. She had two more presentations to make after lunch. She set aside her doubts and readied herself for the next set. This was, after all, a job that she had volunteered to do. And Josie Steele did her work professionally.

After presenting her work to yet another class, she was starting to lose hope of whether the last class she would be presenting to was going to be Blake's class. She went to the bathroom for a short break and looked at the mirror. She noticed that her eye bags were starting to get deeper. It was impossible that the eye bags were from exhaustion. Josie had done a lot more grueling work at the hospital and come out stronger. Compared to her night shifts, these presentations were a breeze. No, this was from the stress and the disappointment of not seeing Blake at the school.

“Dammit, Josie, get a hold of yourself... where the hell could Blake be..? This is the last class I'll be presenting to today...” Josie let out a deep sigh. It was a long shot that this final presentation would actually end up being Blake's class. She fixed up her white jacket and took a deep breath. She was resigned to her fate and accepted the fact that she would probably not see Blake today. He’d probably resigned from teaching and moved to another town for all she knew... and after the things she had told him, she actually couldn't blame him if he had.

As Josie made her way back to the classroom, she caught some students loitering around the hallways. She wanted to reprimand them and to tell them to go back to their respective classrooms, but she also knew that she still wasn't a teacher here. She thought it wouldn't be her call to do something like that just yet. But maybe there was something she could do that was more useful.

“Excuse me, boys, but do you know a teacher Blake Ingram here?” She asked.

“Yes, ma'am.” one of the boys said.

Josie was a bit surprised that he was so courteous. Her first impressions of these kids were of noisy and rude youngsters. But maybe she was wrong.

“Really? Would you know when his class would be?” Josie asked.

“His next class is in room 3-G.”

The boy pointed towards the classroom. It was the last class that Josie would make her presentation today.

'Speak of the devil. So I will see him today....’ Josie thought. She wanted to jump for joy and rejoice. But Josie Steele held back. Nothing was sure for the moment. She had not yet met Blake today. And surely, he wasn't feeling very good.

Josie opened the classroom's door and caught a glimpse of the wide blackboard that was in front of the class. Written in different colored chalks and designs, it read: “English 10 & 11. Teacher: Blake Ingram.” Josie felt her heart skip a beat upon realizing that she had just set foot in Blake's classroom.

“Damn it. Calm yourself, Josie. You've faced life-and-death situations in the OR. You're just trying to meet Blake.” She whispered to herself.

Her heart was pounding now. Although the students were just about to gather in their seats, Blake was still nowhere to be seen. Josie actually felt relieved that Blake wasn't here yet. She felt like she wanted to ask for another 2 hours to prepare before having to see Blake again. She just wasn't sure what Blake would say when he saw her here.

'Would he humiliate me in front of the kids..? I couldn't blame him if he did...' Josie thought.

As Josie prepared the papers and the props she would use to present to the class with shaky hands, she checked the clock that hung just above the door.

'3:07... where the hell could he be..? Does he know I'll be here..?' She was starting to sweat nervously now. The room was cold and air conditioned, but still didn't help much in calming Josie down. The cold air had only made her feel much tenser than she already was.

Josie could hear the students whispering to each other. They were also curious as to where Blake could be. The kids knew that their teacher had never been late, not even once to any of his classes before. He had been absent for a few days before, and that was only because of Josie. But not once had Blake Ingram ever been tardy to one of his classes. She could hear one student whisper: “Where's Mister Ingram? It's not like him to be late...”

Josie gulped. She knew in that instant that Blake also knew that she would be here. Why else would he be late? He was probably making her go through the wringer for what she'd said to him.

Josie heard another student whisper: “Who's the doctor lady? Is she gonna teach us how to have sex?” The entire class giggled at the student's remark. Just as Josie was about to reprimand the rude boy, the door suddenly creaked open.

“Good afternoon, class.”

Blake's voice was emotionless, just how he sounded when he would appear in one of the many daydreams that had plagued Josie in the past few days.

“Good afternoon, Mister Ingram,” the whole class said in unison.

The boy who’d cracked the joke suddenly went silent. Everyone in the room felt Blake's business-like demeanor.

“Sorry I'm late, had to discuss a few things with your principal.” Blake said.

Josie could feel her legs shaking. She and Blake had met eye to eye, but Blake quickly looked away and sat at his desk. He placed some papers and books on the top of the desk then looked at the window, as if Josie wasn't even in the room. She fought the urge to cry.

The students could sense that something was wrong. They started whispering to each other again. Blake behaved like he didn't really care. He just kept his attention at the window and the grassy fields outside.

“O-okay... c-class... I'm... Doctor Josie S-Steele...” Josie said nervously. She knew she was stuttering, but she couldn't help it anymore. The previous presentations had gone better than this one. But that was because Blake wasn't around in the other ones.

Somehow, Josie managed to plod through the whole presentation. She had managed to recover her bearings and the presentation was finished as the bell rang. Blake was quiet, and did not even look at her. His eyes gazed outside the window, looking outside for the whole time.

As the bell sounded, Josie felt both relieved and tense. The presentation was over, but Blake was still in the same room with her.

“Thank you, Miss Steele.” Blake said.

The students were already beginning to noisily file out of the classroom. Blake was the last to leave the room, but as he exited the door, he felt Josie grab his arm.

“Please, we have to talk.” She said.

Josie fought back the tears as she stared Blake in the eye.

Blake stared at her for what seemed like eternity. Then he answered.