CHAPTER THREE-A MESS ON MY OWN TIME

“So, that’s about the gist of it all, Mory. As you can see, the good people of Norway graced us with the best equipment money could buy, but finding qualified people willing to freeze their asses off all year long has been difficult. No one lasts long out here. I was hoping that someone with your kind of grit might be able to end that streak for me.”

As they walked down the Emergency Department hall to the automatic doors, Mory put on her gloves as James checked the time on his phone then put it in his pocket. “I’ll buy you dinner this evening. We can keep talking over at the pub.” Preparing for the blast of icy wind that was sure to come when the doors opened, Mory pulled up the hood of her parka.

When they got back outside into the frigid arctic air, James nodded towards the pub. “It’s mostly the simple stuff you’ll see every day, but since we’re the only medical center on this side of the island everything comes here first. Everything serious, you know your MI’s, CVA’s, complex fractures and what have you, get airlifted to the mainland. The miners aren’t much of a problem because their injuries are, unfortunately, almost always fatal right off the bat.”

Mory wrinkled her nose as she twisted her lips to the side. She and James grew up in a mining town and they understood the lifestyle. “Yeah, I expect that’s true.”

“Now, these young nurses are going to hate you. They’re hard-headed and careless, but Percy and Neville, those medics I introduced you to, they both served with the British Military and are excellent. Top notch. They’ll give you no problems at all. I figured since you all chewed the same fat over there, that you cold lean on them for support when you need it. I didn’t bring you here because you have a reputation for being nice, Mory. These kids need to be trained, well, if they have a chance in hell of making it here. I need to be able to depend on them. You do what you think is best to make sure that happens. I’ll support whatever decisions you make. Don’t be afraid to get tough with them.”

As they got closer to the Inn, Mory’s hands started to numb as a burning started again in her chest at the thought of being confronted with Haldir again. “I understand completely, Chief.”

James nodded to the couple leaving the pub that held the door open for them. As he took a seat on one of the green leather barstools, Mory removed her coat and hat. Looking over her static filled hair in the mirror, she removed her braid and smoothed it down with her hands.

The wavy cascade of dark hair fell down her back and Haldir could smell the warm scent of maple syrup from across the room as she shook out her locks. Just thinking about running his fingers through it made him shudder and gasp back a quiet breath.

Haldir needed to touch her, to know if the heat building in his chest was real. He sensed Mory was human, but then again, so was he once.

Mory could feel Haldir’s eyes traveling all over her. Refusing to give Haldir the gratification of another glance, Mory sat down as Garrett placed a pint of beer in front of her. “Thank you so much, Garrett.”

“I suggest you try the reindeer burger, Mory. It’s out of this world.” James took a drink of his pint then set it down. “You need me to find someone to show you the sights? I’m sure any of these men sitting around here would be more than happy to spend the day driving you around the island.”

Mory swallowed back a mouthful of beer as she set her glass back down against the smoothly carved teak wood bar. “No, that’s alright. I’m jet lagged as hell. I’ll probably just sleep for the next day or so.”

“So, uh, we talked about it a little bit before.” James scrunched his nose before he finished. “The jet lag and the lack of daylight can mess with your mind. Are you going to need anything for your nerves? I’m not trying to pry into your business or anything, it happens to the best of us.”

Mory curled her lips under and shook her head. “No, Chief. I’m squared away there. I’d just appreciate it if you’d limit my time in the peds clinic. I, uh, I’m just not sure I’m ready for that.”

James shot her a sympathetic smile. “We all got our Achilles heel when it comes to types of patients we feel comfortable caring for. I don’t like taking care of pregnant women for the same reason and usually get a mainland doctor to fly in once a month when I have one. It’s hard to lose a patient, especially when it’s someone so damn young and innocent. I know you saw a lot of messed up shit over in the desert, but it’s just not the same is it?”

As she rolled her neck from side to side, Mory sighed. “No, it’s not. I mean, I’ll do whatever you need me to, James. You don’t need to worry at all about my job performance. I can be a mess on my own time.”

James patted Mory’s back. “I know that. Trust me. I’ve been where you are right now, Mory. You’ll get through this thing. If you’re in medicine long enough, it happens.”

Mory licked her lips clean of the foamy beer. “Yes, sir. I know that. It was just my turn, I guess.”

From the corner of her eye, Mory saw Haldir approach in the mirror.

A shiver ran through her body as he grazed her back with his fingertips when he swatted her hair while he passed by.

Seeing her toss it around was too much of a temptation for Haldir. He wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked and smelled. “Sorry about that Morana,” he said softly with a throaty purr that made her feel breathless and touched her in places she’d long forgot about.

As the leftover soft hum from his touch vibrated through her, Mory swallowed hard then looked over her shoulder to him and met his eyes. “No problem at all Haldir.”

A side smile curled up on Haldir’s lips as he continued to watch her until he finally pulled the door open and left.

Mory looked up in the mirror to watch as he passed by the window. Haldir looked through the steamy glass and caught her eyes in the reflection. He paused briefly and pressed his hand against the window before he disappeared from her sight.

Still searching for her mysterious new admirer in the mirror, Mory flinched from her trance as Garrett brought the plates of food and set them in front of her.

James shook out his napkin and put it in his lap. “You have to go out on the glacier at least once and see the lights while you’re here. It’s just not the same as it looks from town. It’s colder than a witch’s tit up there, but it’s without a doubt worth it.”

Mory picked at the bun of her sandwich and nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I came for. The lights were on my bucket list. Working for you is just a bonus.”

James chuckled to himself. “Yeah, I bet it is. So, what brought you all the way up here to the arctic circle? You never really did say. Not that I’m not deliriously happy to have someone with your qualifications in this hellhole, but it seems like a strange place for someone like you to end up.”

Mory swallowed her bite of food and shook her head. “I don’t know. Just seemed right, I guess. I don’t have any family or anything else holding me back so why the hell not?” She sighed at how pathetic her life sounded, and truthfully, it really was. As she glanced away to the window again, Mory wondered if it would be crazy to just give in to whatever connection was there. She wouldn’t be there long anyway. “You only live once, right?”

James nodded as he looked at his burger. “That’s as good a reason as any. My wife made me come here. I hate this damn place.”

Slapping her hand over her mouth as she laughed, Mory tried to swallow her food. “Oh, damn.” As she finally swallowed it, she took a drink of her beer to keep from choking. “This is good, you weren’t lying.”

James took another bite and made the pleasured moans of satisfaction as he chewed. “Yeah, I told you. It’s the only goddamn thing in that diner worth a shit. Ingrid’s a lovely woman but she couldn’t cook her way out of a wet paper bag if her life depended on it.”

When she got back to her room, Mory looked at the thermostat as she crossed her arms and rubbed her hands up and down to warm herself. “Well, at least it’s not 110 degrees outside, Mory.”

She lifted her suitcase onto the bed then unzipped it and grabbed her makeup case and robe. Walking into the bathroom, Mory unzipped the case and took out a Ziploc bag with a prescription bottle inside then set it on the counter as she went through the rest of the case.

As she opened the taps and waited for the water to warm, Mory peeled off her clothes.

Taking all her bath items in with her, Mory placed them on the shower floor and then stood under the hot water. When she closed her eyes, she saw Haldir’s icy blue ones staring back at her. She put her hands up against the tile then pressed her forehead into them. “Why did you have to show up now?”

The memory of his fingers against her back made goosebumps erupt all over Mory. While she washed her body, she circled her nipples with her fingers as she recalled the sound of his deep, raspy voice. “You know, your timing couldn’t be any worse.”

Stepping out of the shower, Mory wrapped herself in her big fuzzy robe then stood in front of the mirror. As she wiped off the foggy glass, she looked at herself while the pale lavender glow shined down on her face from above.

Rubbing her fingertips over the pill bottle, Mory chewed on her lip and tapped her foot against the floor. “Not tonight, I guess. Got to see those lights first anyway.”

Turning on the television, Mory flipped through the channels until something came on in English then dug through her bag and found a set of pajamas. As she pulled the fuzzy pants up, she heard soft footsteps outside her door. Mory hurriedly put on her shirt as her heart started to race. Something in her gut told her that she knew who it was.

Standing outside in the hall staring at the door, Haldir rubbed his fingers over his lips as he contemplated knocking. He wasn’t home long when a vision came to his mind. His mental pictures had been wrong before and he hoped this was one of those times. It just didn’t seem right, not for someone like Mory.

Haldir put his hand against the door and blew out through his mouth then shook his head. He drummed his fingers across the door quietly then turned away and walked down the hall as he disappeared into a black mist.

When she heard his footsteps retreating, a wave of disappointment and sadness crashed in Mory’s chest. As much as she didn’t believe in the silly superstitions and legends about him, Mory, deep down, wished that it was true.

She laughed out through her nose at her own foolishness as she pulled down her blanket. “You can’t help me, Haldir. No one can. I’m already dead.”