Collecting Scars (3 page)

Chapter 3

“SO YOU AND XAVE HUH?” Joanie said flopping down on the couch beside Asha the next morning.

“Oh yeah, thanks for dumping me and setting me up like that,” Asha replied sarcastically before rolling her eyes.

Joanie nudged her with her elbow. “Well...spill,” she said expectantly with a mischievous grin.

“Nothing to tell Joanie,” Asha sighed. She kind of wished there was. “He dropped me off home is all, he was the perfect gentleman, which is more than I could say for some...'friends','' she said making air-quotes with her fingers.

“Well you do have to admit, he is pretty cute hey?”

Asha could feel her cheeks warming, “that may be so but I don't need setting up and if you think he's so cute why don't you go after him?”

“Well my dear,” Joanie flung an arm around Asha's shoulders. “I think you do need 'setting up',” Joanie copied Asha's air-quotes. “We've shared this house for what, a year now?  I’ve not seen you go out with one single guy in all that time.”

“Well I'm busy,” Asha defended. “I have a career! Do you know how hard I’ve had to work to get to where I am? Seriously?”

“Oh c'mon! What’s wrong with having a little fun? You're such a party pooper,” she pouted, before snatching the TV remote from the coffee table in front of her and proceeding to flick through the channels.

“Whatever,” sighed Asha mostly to herself, she didn't see why she should have to explain herself.

Deep down she knew her friend was right. It had been a long time since she'd had a boyfriend. In fact, it had been a long time since she had even been out on a date. But she really did not feel she was missing out. Her life was full. She had her career. She went out most Friday nights. There would always be time down the track. She always felt she would meet someone when the time was right. What was the rush anyway?

***

Sunday morning rolled around and as always, Joanie's parents did too. Asha had been called into work a clinical shift, as often happened on a weekend when one of the nurses had a big night out and called in sick the next morning. Asha didn't mind working a shift in the clinic. As a coordinator, most of her days were spent talking to people, either patients, doctors, specialists or other staff members. Always on the phone, emailing or writing reports. It felt good to do a clinical shift every so often, plus it kept her skills current, which was important.

She was just rushing down the footpath when Frank stepped in front of her. Oh great, she just really did not have time to deal with him.

“Sorry Frank,” she rushed out. “No time to stop and chat, I have to get into work.”

“I can see that,” Frank said eyeing her up and down in her pink scrubs. “How 'bout I give you a lift?”

Asha looked around helplessly for a second, trying to think of an excuse. Work was only two blocks away. Ten minutes if she walked fast, but she was already running late.

“C'mon girl I haven’t got all day,” Frank prompted.

“Oh okay, thanks, Frank.” Asha relented, it was only two blocks, what’s the worst that could happen?

She climbed into the passenger seat of Franks red Volvo station wagon. The heaters had been on and it was nice and warm. As Frank drove her the two blocks to work, he didn't say much, which Asha was thankful for. She thanked him when she arrived and hopped out of the car, and gave him a wave before heading towards the front sliding doors of the clinic.

The Arnolds were there today for Mrs Arnold’s chemotherapy session.  She was such a sweet lady and as always Mr Arnold stayed with her the entire time. He was always holding her hand, comforting her and asking Asha questions every step of the way.

She had five patients all up this day. All requiring various forms of chemotherapy to be administered. The Reinolds Centre was only a day clinic, so if any patients needed overnight care they were transferred to the hospital, which was on the same grounds. Luckily no one needed to be transferred today.

When her shift finished at six o'clock she set off for home. As she neared the last corner before her street, she felt a strange feeling wash over her. The kind you get when you feel someone is watching you, and goosebumps prickled her skin. Looking over her shoulder, she saw no one around. The streets were quiet and empty.

Lights were on in the nearby houses and the scent of home cooking filled the air. She wished she was a good cook. Sadly most of her meals consisted of something from the local grocer's freezer section unless Mary brought them something to eat.

Without warning, a black van came whizzing past. She felt the rush of cold air it left in its wake. Momentarily stunned, she stood motionless as she watched it slow and turn into her street. She was sure that it was the same one from last week that had slowed down to watch her as she was walking home and it gave her the creeps.

“Probably just someone that lives nearby,” she told herself, but still she could not shake that gut instinct that there was something wrong about it.

***

The week passed like every other. Friday night came around and as usual, the girls were planning a big night out. Asha went along, but her heart wasn't in it. When did her life get so dreary? She used to love going out, but these days, it had started feeling like a chore.

Xavier was serving at the bar again and gave her a friendly greeting. Asha made a mental note, not to get caught out again, so as not to find herself in the same position as last week. It was times like this she wished she drove.

Her dad along with his best mate had been killed in a horrific car accident when she was thirteen. It was then she swore she would never drive. The entire family was devastated. Her mum had turned to alcohol and brought home many men. It was obviously her way of coping, but Asha hated her for it.

Asha glanced at the time and found it was only around ten, early for a Friday night. But she decided she had enough and figured she'd order one last drink before heading off for the night.

As she approached the bar, Xavier was already pouring her next drink as he already knew what she wanted. So, he'd been paying attention. Didn’t that gave her a little thrill.

“Last one thanks, Xavier. I'm going to head off soon.”

“That’s a shame,” Xavier frowned. “Not wanting a lift home again tonight then?”

“No not tonight, thanks,” she smiled. She had to admit, the ride home with Xavier had not been as bad as she had expected. Maybe a bit awkward at first, not knowing where to put her hands to hang on, but he had reached around to her, grabbed her wrists and firmly placed her hands around his middle. She had been right about him being muscular. She had enjoyed holding onto him so much that when they pulled into her drive, she almost wished she lived further away so she could hold onto him for longer.

“What about Tuesday night?” Xavier raised an eyebrow in question.

“What about it?” Asha raised her eyebrow back at him.

“Would you like to come out with me? I mean I ah, have a thing, a work thing and need a date for the evening. Would you like to come? Be my date?”

He was asking her for a date? Asha was flattered but really, did she have time for dating? Was he really interested in dating her? Or was this just Joanie putting him up to it? They were obviously friends after all.

“I um...no,” a million thoughts ran through her head. “I don't think I can, sorry Xavier,” he looked a little surprised, she was not sure if it was genuine or he was mocking her.

“Oh, I'm sorry I didn’t think you were seeing anyone, ah awkward.” Xavier huffed out a laugh.

“No, no, nothing like that. I'm not seeing anyone.” Now she felt awkward. “Thanks for asking me, it's just I.....ah I... I'm um, not really up for dating anyone at the moment.”

“It's only dinner, I’m not asking you to marry me Ashy-girl,” he laughed quietly, causing Asha to blush. Maybe she had overreacted. Why couldn't the ground open up and swallow you when you needed it too?

“I’m sure there are plenty girls here that would love to have dinner with you,” she said looking around at all the girls in the club, many of whom she had noticed at least trying to flirt with him on both occasions she had come in here.

“Maybe,” he laughed softly, eyes twinkling. “Shame, though,” he shook his head. “Good night Asha.”

“Good night,” she gave him what she hoped was a cute smile, before heading back to her table to finish her drink and head home.

***

Asha worked again on Sunday. This time, she managed to get out the door early enough to avoid Frank. When she arrived home, she found Mary had brought quiche and left it in the fridge for her and Joanie. Some home-cooked food to get her through another busy week.

On Tuesday night, just as she was finishing replying to her last emails for the day, Gemma poked her head around the corner.

“Grab your coat and come out for dinner with me Asha?”

“Sure, why not? Where are we going?”

“Thought we'd try out that new bar and grill down the road,” Gemma smiled rubbing her stomach. “Don't know about you, but I'm starving.”

It had been a long day and not having to think too hard about dinner sounded like a great idea. Not having to walk home in the cold, also a plus. Gemma would be more than happy to drop her home after dinner.

As they were shown to their seats at the bar and grill, Asha noticed they had been lucky enough to get one of only two tables left. Being new, everyone in town was checking this place out. They had just ordered a bottle of Chardonnay when Asha looked up and caught sight of Xavier sitting with a large group of people a few tables over. He had a pretty young blonde woman sitting beside him. Asha noticed she kept leaning into his side and smiling at him, batting her long eyelashes.

A surge of jealousy flooded her veins, she wasn't sure why it’s not like she had any claims over him. In fact, she knew she had no right to be feeling that way at all, she had turned him down. Xavier had asked her out to dinner tonight and she had recommended he ask one of the other girls at the bar, in fact, she was sure she had seen that very girl hanging around.

“Hello...earth to Asha.” She could hear Gemma's voice in the distance.

“Oh sorry Gemma,” she apologised, trying to refocus on her friend across the table from her.

“Where were you?” Gemma looked over her shoulder, hoping to get a glimpse of who or what Asha had been staring at.

“Sorry Gemma, it's just been a long week is all.”

“I know right? And it's only Tuesday.” Gemma sighed “How was John today? He's been really down lately which isn’t like him at all.”

“Yeah I know, his baby is turning three soon and I think he is just realising all he is going to miss out on. Life can be so cruel for some people, it really isn’t fair is it?”

“Nope, it sure isn't,” Gemma shook her head.

As they finished off their meal and their bottle of wine, Asha tried to ignore Xavier and his date. Although she could barely help but to catch the odd glimpse in their direction. After their meal, they paid their bill and headed off home.  As they walked toward the door she had to walk past the table where Xavier sat, she pretended not to see him. Thinking all the while, she hoped she did not trip over and make a spectacle of herself or something equally as stupid. She was sure he spotted her, she could feel his eyes following her. “Don't look, Asha, don't look.” she chanted in her head. Anyone would think she was crazy.

***

Sure as the sun comes up, the alarm sounded at six am. Much like most mornings Asha rolled over and hit the snooze button, wishing she didn't have to get up.

As she trudged into work, she was sure she saw the van again, driving down past the crossroad. It must be someone that lived nearby, she was convinced now. They always seemed to slow as they went past her. Sometimes they seemed to go past several times and whoever was driving appeared to be staring at her. Not that she could make out their features, just the silhouette.

“Good morning Gemma,” she called out to her friend at the reception counter.

“Morning Asha.”

Asha headed into her office and started up her computer, checking her email and getting started with her daily routine.

Nearing the end of the day she answered her office phone to find her boss Maria on the other end.

“When you’re finished with your next patient could I see you in my office please Asha?”

“Oh sounds serious,” Asha joked. “Is everything okay?”

“Just come in when you're done please.”

Asha hung up the phone, wondering what that could possibly be all about. Sure she would find out soon enough.

“Knock, knock,” Asha called out at Maria's slightly ajar office door.

“Oh come in Asha, shut the door behind you,” she gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Take a seat.”

Tentatively Asha sat down on the edge of the chair, running her fingertips along the velour. She wondered what this could possibly be all about, Maria was not usually this formal.

“So,” Maria began, “I’ve had a complaint about you.”

“Me?” Asha asked with surprise, quickly replaying recent events through her mind, wondering what she could have possibly done wrong.

“Yes,” Maria said with a stern face, looking down and shuffling some papers in front of her. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been sending patients over to St Joseph’s hospital instead of sending them next door.”

“Yes, of course, I have,” Asha defended. “They are useless next door! I send referrals there all the time and most the time they don't contact the patients.  I’m forever having to chase up the referrals and then they tell me they have a huge wait list and the patients have to wait. For months!”

“Well that might be,” Maria said. “But they are responsible for most of our funding and we are expected to send our patients to them as often as possible.”

Asha's fingers dug into the side of the chair, she was starting to get angry but was trying to keep a lid on it.