Chapter 10

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CARA

“You don’t talk to me that way,” I heard Dr. Newman say in a tone that chilled my bones.

I crossed my fingers, praying Bridgette’s attitude would not get over her. But as much as I wanted to tell her that, my mouth wouldn’t open.

“Did I offend you earlier, Dr. Newman?” I heard Bridgette ask.

There was a long silent moment that I nearly grabbed my things, drive to the hospital and pull Bridgette out of there. She was really challenging Dr. Newman.

“No, but I didn’t like your tone.”

“I don’t think--”

“Don’t try to reason out, Ms. Leonard,” Dr. Newman interrupted. “Your attitude suddenly changed and I believe it may have been caused by the accident.”

Bridgette gasped. I moaned in frustration. Why couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut? “Is this still about me going back to work? I told you I’m fit for work. I didn’t do anything wrong since I started my shift. If I have offended you in any way, then forgive me. It was not my intention.”

“You’ve never talked to me in such a manner before.”

“Well, I may have in my mind. Haven’t it occurred to you that I may have just had enough of your attitude as well?”

“Excuse me?” Now there was real anger in his voice.

“Well, you have always been mean towards me. Don’t think I can just tolerate that. I believe I have been doing a great job and I still do. I don’t need you to keep tabs on me every time as if waiting for me to do a little mistake on the job. I studied for this job. I’m through having people watching over me while I do it. If your sole purpose is to intimidate me, I might as well go back to school for that. It’s not your job to constantly threaten people with your presence.”

“You think I’m threatening?”

“Why don’t you ask other nurses? I’m sure they will agree. That is if they don’t fear losing their job by being truthful. My coffee’s gone cold so I need to get a refill. Would you like one or would you like to leave?”

Another long silence followed. I was at the edge of my seat. “Just make sure I don’t see you making one, minute mistake, Ms. Leonard.”

It sounded as a threat but Bridgette said, “Expect that, Dr. Newman. Refill?”

“No, thank you.” I heard the sound of a chair screeching against the tiled floor.

“He’s gone,” Bridgette whispered.

“What the hell did you just say to him?” I demanded.

“What he needed to hear.”

I was about to open my mouth when Bridgette’s other phone rang. She left it with me earlier. It was the phone she used for clients. I froze when I saw the caller. “Quinn’s calling.”

“Why is he calling at this time of day?”

“How the hell should I know?”

“Then answer it and find out.” When I didn’t answer, Bridgette said, “Cara, answer it.”

“Fine, fine. Don’t lose the line. You still have a lot to do before your shift ends.”

“Whatever.”

The phone continued to ring. I picked it up, swiped the screen and said, “Hello?”

“Bridgette?”

“Yes? What can I do for you at this time of day?”

“Tell me the truth. Did you plan this?”

My heart started to hammer. “Plan what?”

“You planning my wedding.”

“What made you think I have other plans other than planning your wedding?”

His voice was hoarse. He sounded tired. “You suddenly showed up. I haven’t heard from you for years and now you are planning my wedding. I don’t think that’s just coincidence.”

“What is he saying? Cara?” Bridgette was talking in my ear. I pulled the earphone out of my ear.

“What are you talking about? I am not planning anything against you if that’s what you are thinking.”

“Then why do I feel that I’m going through the same motion that happened ten years ago?”

My mouth was ready to talk, but no words came out. I wanted to tell Quinn the truth. I wanted to tell him what really happened ten years ago, but how would I explain it? He would think I am crazy.

“If you as much as ruin my relationship with Natalie, I will make sure you’ll wish you never met me.” I was hurt. I knew he thought he was talking to Bridgette, but still, I was hurt.

“Quinn, I’m only doing my job here. I’m as shocked as you to find out you are my client.”

“Are you in this with Cara as well? Because if you are, I will not be surprised.”

“If you really think that bad about me, you are free to find another wedding planner.”

“That’s Natalie’s job. My job is to make sure that you and your friend don’t ruin this for me…again.”

“No one’s going to go breaking another’s heart here, Quinn. Goodness, it’s been ten years.”

I wanted to sound like Bridgette, but I knew it wasn’t successful. My voice was filled with longing. Longing to travel back ten years and change everything. If I only could do that, I wouldn’t be in this situation. Hell, I wouldn’t even be trapped inside Bridgette’s body. Heck, I might be the woman Quinn was planning a wedding with!

My words may have also made him realize that a lot of years had passed since high school. Things changed. Well, at least for him and Bridgette. I never got over what happened ten years ago.

“I promise you, I’m not up to something here. I’m doing my job as a wedding planner. Just do your job and trust me on this.”

“If there are two people I’m not willing to trust, it is you and Cara, Bridgette. Just make sure Natalie doesn’t find out. I’m not planning to have another woman run away from me this time.”

God, I desperately wanted to shout and tell him how I felt about ten years ago. If he only knew, he might change his mind.

“That’s a deal then,” I managed to say with a croaky voice. I was about to cry.

The line went dead without him saying goodbye.

BRIDGETTE

I only heard Cara and by the sound of her voice and the words that she spoke, I knew something was not right.

“Cara!” I hissed.

“It’s okay. No one’s backing out of the contract, if that’s what you are worried about.”

“What was that all about?”

“Nothing.”

“It didn’t sound like nothing.”

“It’s really nothing. He’s might just be having second thoughts.”

“About Natalie?”

“No, about you…or me. I don’t know. But he’s not willing to back out of the contract because he doesn’t want to disappoint his fiancée.”

“Good. Because you almost gave me a heart attack when you offered him the back door back there.”

“I can handle Quinn, Bridgette. So make sure you handle Dr. Newman as well. No more attitude.”

“You know what?” I asked her with a wicked grin. “I think he’s enjoying this. He didn’t look that mad when we had our talk.”

“He’s always composed, stupid. You won’t know what he’s thinking by just looking at him.”

I rolled my eyes. “Trust me on this, Cara. I know a man when I see one and this one is enjoying the banter game.”

“Oh, yeah. Like you knew Quinn? Like when you thought he would enjoy what we planned ten years ago before everything completely went wrong?”

“Quinn is one of those guys who had a change of heart. This Dr. Newman seems like he doesn’t have one to change in the first place. Come on! Just give me this one to enjoy. Your work is totally hard and boring and I at least want something fun to go with it.”

She was silent for a whole minute before she sighed and said, “Just make certain my job is not at risk. And don’t go overboard, Bridgette. You don’t know that man that well.”

“I intend to know him better,” I said with a wink as if I was talking with Cara in front of me.

“I’m sleepy. You still have three more hours before the end of you shift.”

“Don’t you dare drink another cup of coffee, Cara. My body can’t handle that much caffeine.”

“I’m not drinking another cup of coffee.”

“Good,” I said, getting up for another refill. This night shift thing was racking my brain.

“You have to be prepared for the endorsement. The next shift will ask a lot of questions.”

“I know. My patients are asleep, their vitals are good as you’ve said, the doctors did not make their rounds except Dr. Newman and I’ve been weaning Mr. Scott for two hours.”

“And you have to go back and check on him.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After that second cup of coffee, I was back in the unit. Amy and another nurse were bending their heads, deep in conversation. When they spotted me, they looked up and smiled. I knew those looks. They were feeling sorry for me and I didn’t like it. Was Cara that weak for people to sympathize with her?

Well, they were in for a great surprise because inside this body was not Cara. It was Bridgette Finn, a winner and a fighter.

“Check your medications once again,” Cara said through the earphone.

I did as she asked.

“Go over your charting,” she ordered after thirty minutes. I did as she told me, my eyes drooping from lack of sleep. I was not used to staying up this late. I always made sure that I get enough beauty sleep for the next day.

“I heard Dr. Newman talked to you,” Amy whispered, sitting beside me.

I nodded. “He did.”

“And?”

I turned my head to look at her expectant look. “Nothing. No blood was shed.”

“Cara, you hit a nerve earlier and you expect me to believe he didn’t do anything about it?”

“He did. And I made sure I made my point. I’m done with him talking down on me.”

Amy shook her head. “What happened to you in that accident?”

“I switched soul with a great lady who no longer likes doctors talking or looking at her  condescendingly.”

Of course she didn’t take it literally. “Danica missed her shift tonight.”

I almost forgot who Danica was. “I didn’t notice.”

“She cried yesterday. She said you don’t want to talk to her. She blames herself.”

“Well, she was late for our meeting. If she weren’t, the accident wouldn’t have happened.”

“I’m not blaming Danica for what happened,” Cara cried in my ear.

“Well you should,” I answered without thinking.

“What?” Amy asked.

“Nothing. I said, she should blame herself for what happened.”

Amy was looking at me like I was someone she no longer knew. She was right. I was not Cara.

“I already told her I need space,” I told her.

“You did what?” Cara cried in my ear again.

“Once I get over what she did, I will talk to her,” I said more to Cara than to Amy just to keep her quiet.

“You better! She’s a nice friend!”

I bent my head and rolled my eyes.

“I just hope you guys will not make us uncomfortable,” Amy sighed.

“Yeah, we won’t. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her when I can,” I lied, standing up to get the medications. “I have to give medications now.”

Amy just nodded and she stood up as well. She went back to the nurse she was talking and they both looked at me with worry. I didn’t care what they were thinking. They better get ready for a whole new Cara.

As I walked to the room of my first patient, Mrs. Bloom, I checked the medications once again. They were all tablets so I didn’t have to deal a lot with needles.

“Good morning, Mrs. Bloom,” I announced my presence, waking the old lady up. She looked at me with confusion.

“Who are you?”

“Didn’t I introduce myself earlier? I’m your nurse, Cara,” I smiled my biggest smile.

“What do you want now? Can’t people get enough rest here?”

“I’m just going to give you your medications.”

“More of them?”

“Yes,” I said, setting down the tray of medications on her table. I took the small container with two white pills in them and handed it to her.

“What’s this for?”

Well, I didn’t know how to answer that. Cara, it’s time you talk, I said in my mind. But there was no voice. Cara…

“Well? What is this for?”

“Uhh…” Shit, how do I answer this old lady? I heard smooth breathing from Cara’s line. Is she sleeping? What the hell!

“What is this for?” Mrs. Bloom asked once again.

Okay, this might just be that moment where I need real help from Cara.

***I've been busy with another story, but I made sure I update this one. I'm as excited for Swap as I am for my next work! ComVo all you want, guys! ;)) 

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