Tremble

Azalea. I flinched as the bleach stung my skin. I was busy washing a pile of towels by hand since the only washing machine decided to give in this morning. It wasn’t a great start, but at least the manager agreed to have it fixed as soon as possible. “If they hand over more, I swear I’m going to run away,” Diane breathed, carrying a large pile of towels. She dumped it beside my pile and began working on it. Diane was also a nurse that worked at the Ketchikan care home. But unlike me, she already had her degree. She was the only person working here that made me feel welcome. “At least the water is warm,” I tried. Diane snorted a laugh. “There’s that. I can’t wait for the long week to be over so I can take a break.” “It’s only Monday,” I smirked. “Right? A whole of five days. It’s scandalous!” she waved her arms dramatically. “Anyway, what are you doing Friday?” I shivered when I dipped my cold hands into the warm water running from the tap. “I don’t have anything planned. Why?” “Since you don’t know anyone here, why don’t we go out and hang out at someplace?” she asked. “I have a few clubs in mind. I’ll invite friends over, and you can get acquainted.” “I don’t know—” “Oh, come on now, girl, you can’t hide in your flat forever. You need to meet people. It’s going to get lonely.” I sighed, dropping my shoulders. “Fine, I guess I can—” “Winona! Winona!” Mrs. Bobbins, the head nurse, cried out shrilly from outside the hallway. “Where are you?” It took me a moment to remember it’s my fake name the woman was calling out. I popped my head out into the hallway to find Mrs. Bobbins’ tight expression snapping in my direction. She was shadowed by a man double her size, and if I had to admit, shockingly handsome. I would have smiled if the man’s dark gaze wasn’t ridden with pure irritation. My face dropped, and I nervously asked, “Is something wrong?” “Yes, very,” Mrs. Bobbins spoke stiffly. “When are you planning to attend to Mrs. Lockwood?” “Who?” My brows furrowed. “I’m not supposed to tend to her. She’s not on my file.” Mrs. Bobbin’s one eye twitched as if she was fighting hard to keep her composure. “Can I see it?” I nodded, bolting down the hall to fetch my file. I double-checked the list of names while rushing back, and as expected, there wasn’t a Lockwood on that list. “See, no name by Lockwood.” Mrs. Bobbin’s expression turned apologetic as she glanced up at the man. “I’m sincerely sorry, sir. But, unfortunately, it seems the secretary made a mistake.” She forcefully shoved the file back at me. “Go tend to her, now, please,” she bit out the last word. In the short span of few hours I’d worked there, I learned that Mrs. Bobbins was as pleasant as taking a dip in a bath filled with ice during winter. I also knew that even though the mistake was the secretary’s doing, I was going to get an earful later. “I’m right on it.” When Mrs. Bobbins was out of sight, I nervously peered up at the man. “Sorry, but in which room is she?” “Twenty-three,” he bit out, his gaze narrowed on me. “This better not happen again.” “Of course not, sir,” I breathed out, turning toward the direction of Mrs. Lockwood’s room. “I’m really sorry about this mix-up. I never neglect my patients.” “Hmm,” was the only response I got from the man shadowing my movement. “Has...she eaten yet?” AI swallowed down the shakiness in my voice. “I mean, did she have anything to eat yet?” “No, not a damn thing,” he snapped, and I flinched. I could tell this man was as powerful as he was domineering and didn’t take well when people didn’t do as he pleased. Then again, I didn’t blame him. The poor old lady must be starving. “I understand. Again, I’m really—” “Stop apologizing and give her something to eat, damn it!” he barked, making me jump. “Right on it,” I murmured, making a beeline for the kitchen. “She likes her eggs sunny side up, and she prefers strawberry yogurt,” the man called after me. “And no sugar in her tea!” “No sugar.” I breathed a sigh of relief when I was finally alone in the kitchen. It felt like a predator had stalked me, and I just managed to escape its claws unscathed. I snorted to myself. “Honestly, Azalea, what’s the worst that man can do to you? Bite you?” And, not everyone was Barry, I reminded myself. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the man I just encountered could effortlessly snap Barry in two. He definitely had the body for it, I mused, feeling the heat blossoming my cheeks. Pity, I was the one his irritation was directed at. Sighing once more, I gathered Mrs. Lockwood’s breakfast, making an extra effort by placing flowers on the side of the tray and added a few sugar cookies to a small plate. When I was done, I headed for Mrs. Lockwood’s room, only to find the beastly man guarding the door with his arms crossed to his chest. When his eyes rested on me, he smiled. A flutter exploded in my belly as I cleared my throat. “Uhm, may I pass, please? I’m sure your grandmother is starving.” “Of course,” he stepped aside, but he held out a muscular arm covered in tattoos. “Look, I owe you an apology.” I blinked up at him, knowing confusion marred my features. “Okay?” “Turns out it was the secretary that messed up, after all. See, she’s packing her things as we speak.” My eyes bulged. “She got fired?” “Yes. Because let me make this abundantly clear,” he leaned so close that I could smell the sweet mint on his breath. “That old lady in that room back there is everything to me. So help anyone who messes with her or fails to take care of her.” I gulped, not sure how this guy thought that was an apology. “I understand. It is what we are here for.” “You also need to—” “For heaven’s sake, Dante, enough scaring the poor thing,” a woman’s gentle voice carried from the room. “Let her in. I’m famished.”