6. Impressing The Boss

Johanna

A fter the conversation with Ali, Jo was determined to show Ali how wrong she was. And she wanted to prove it to herself. If Ali got all that from one lousy resume, she didn’t want to give her more ammo. She couldn’t look like she was the failure that Ali assumed she was.

She made sure to come to work early for the next week, even before Ali showed up for the day. And she stayed later than any other nurse in the ward. That would show them she was a woman not to be messed with.

After doing that for a week, she arrived at the front door at the same time that Ali did. They met each other’s eyes, and Jo gave a quick smile before pushing through the door. She held it open long enough for Ali to enter before hurrying off the elevator. The quicker she got up to the floor and prepared herself for another hectic day, the quicker she could get her out of her mind .

She couldn’t even lie. There was a moment of hesitation when she would catch a glimpse of Ali. The attraction remained despite her feeling that Ali had put her in a bad spotlight. She pushed the button for the floor and stared at the elevator, mentally wanting the door to open so she could escape inside.

“It’s true what they say.” Johanna quickly glanced to her right at Ali. “When you want something to go fast, it never does.”

“They say that?” Jo asked, arching an eyebrow.

Ali snickered and shrugged. “I heard something like that. My grandmother always said a watched pot never boils; I just paraphrased.”

Now, in that moment, the confusion crept deeper into Jo’s mind. She seemed so human. Yet, there was always another side to a person, and Jo had seen both of Ali’s sides in a matter of weeks.

The elevator dinged, and they stepped inside. Jo stepped back as Ali pressed the button for their floor. “You’re here early again!” Ali replied.

“Something my grandmother always said, the early bird catches the worm.”

Ali nodded. “I’ve heard that one, too.”

“Hold the door!” Ali put out her foot and caught it just before the door was about to close. Nolan came running into the elevator and sighed with relief as he fell against the elevator wall. “Just in the nick of time,” he said.

“Like always.” Ali winked, then pushed another button, then the door closed them in.

Suddenly, Jo was a third wheel in the moving metal box, and she felt this overwhelming awkwardness as Ali leaned in and said something to Nolan, and he laughed a little too loudly for Jo’s liking. Were they talking about her? It felt like it was an obvious sign. She attempted to look straight ahead.

If they didn’t come together, then they were definitely just a couple and not married. That didn’t soften the blow any. She released a breath and waited. But as Ali mentioned, the waiting was agony, and the awkwardness didn’t get any easier.

The door opened, which was Nolan’s floor. “See ya for lunch!” Ali blew a kiss in his direction, and Jo frowned. Didn’t they mention that employees weren’t allowed to have intimate relations? Maybe because he was on a different floor. That would be the only explanation that Jo could consider. Ali looked over. “Should have introduced you,” she said.

Jo shrugged. “Saw him at the conference, so I knew who he was.”

“Ahh, right.” Ali nodded and turned back. Then the doors finally opened, and Jo could release the pent-up breath that she had been holding. “We’ll meet up in the conference room this morning. We have a quiz and stuff to do. Just some basic stuff. Then, we’ll have our morning huddle. Get your bearings, then come to the conference room.” She walked off, and Jo shook her head and tried to get the image of Ali out of her mind. She was in a relationship, and it clearly was working for her. Besides, she couldn’t be with someone who was sweet one minute and copping an attitude the next. It just wouldn’t work for her.

She went to the breakroom down the hall, dropped off her purse, and then left the breakroom and went to the nurse’s station. Georgette looked up from the computer and smiled. “Hey there. Early again, I, see?”

Johanna grinned. She enjoyed working with Georgette. She seemed like a calming influence, and she appreciated that Georgette was always there to assist with her questions.

“Just trying to show that I’m dedicated. ”

Georgette laughed. “I don’t think anyone questions that.” She ran her hands over a layer of charts and groaned. “And today is going to be a busy one. I hope you wore comfortable shoes.”

“Always. I have a quiz to attend to, so hopefully, it won’t be too long.”

“Is Ali being cruel to you newbies? Do I need to give her a chat?”

Jo smiled. “Well, now that you ask…” Georgette’s eyes widened. Laughing, Jo continued, “No, I don’t want you to give her a chat, but she’s hard to read. When she’s focused on work, it’s like she’s in that zone, and I wonder if maybe I just can’t deal with that type of work influence.” Jo bit her lip. “I probably shouldn’t say anything. She is my superior, and I don’t want it to get back to her.”

“I wouldn’t say anything.” Georgette gave a genuine smile. “I’ll tell you this: Ali means well. If she comes at you, it’s just because she wants you to achieve bigger and greater things. You’ll want a person like that in your corner because CAPMed is no joke. Sometimes, she can come across as too much, and it may seem like she’s just trying to overpower you, but in the end, she’ll be a good driving force for anyone.” Georgette shrugged. “Sometimes it might take a bit to show her softer side, but it is there. I’ve seen it.”

Jo grinned. That was good to hear, and she had seen that softer side, even if it wasn’t always on show. “I better get going before I get the wrath of Ali.” She gave Georgette a wink and then hurried from the nurse’s station and to the conference room. The room was already filling up, and Ali glanced towards the door as soon as Jo entered. Jo weaved her way to the seat next to May .

“I was surprised you weren’t already here,” May replied. “You’re usually the first one in the room.”

“Had some things I had to do on the floor. It’s going to be a busy day.” She clapped her hands together, and May tilted her head. “What?” Jo asked.

“I don’t know. There’s just something different about you.”

“Might have gotten a little more sleep last night than usual. That’s all.” She shrugged it off, but the conversation with Georgette put a little pep in her step.

“Good morning, everyone. We will start the day with a pop quiz about the rounds you’ve been doing and some hospital protocol stuff. I hope you’ve been reading up.”

Ali started off with questions, and Jo’s hand shot up one by one to answer them. After the sixth question in a row, Ali shot her a look. Was it amazement? Irritation? She couldn’t quite decipher it.

“How many employees does the hospital currently have on staff?” Again, Jo’s hand shot up. “Anyone other than Johanna, perhaps?” She locked her gaze on Jo, and Jo slowly withdrew her hand. Was she being too eager to answer? “Rebecca?” Ali cold-called on a smaller woman toward the front left of the room.

“Two thousand?” Rebecca quietly replied.

“That’s very close,” Ali commented. “Anyone else?” She glanced around until her eyes landed back on Jo. “Ms. Vialdi?” It was so formal.

“Two thousand two hundred and twenty-seven.”

“That is correct.” Ali rifled through the cards before setting them down on the table. “I think that should be it for now. You are all released to meet up with your preceptors. Before you leave, Johanna, may I talk to you? ”

Ali stood up and turned to May. “You’re going to get some reward or something, probably,” May replied.

Ali shrugged. “Guess we’ll see.” She was a tad nervous, especially when she already knew how awkward things could get between them. And the last time they had a meeting, it didn’t end so well. There was nothing that said this meeting would go any better. “Have a good morning. I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Yep. See ya!” May headed off. The room cleared, and Jo walked up to meet with her.

Ali nodded. “Quite a display today at the quiz. I had another twenty questions to go but didn’t think anyone needed to see the Johanna show.”

Jo felt her cheeks burning, and she quickly looked down. “I didn’t mean to be so quick to answer. I guess I just wanted to…” She shrugged.

“I know what you wanted to do. I see what you have been doing. Coming in early. Staying late. I get it. You are determined to prove your point. But if you get burned out, you’re not helping anyone. Just remember that.”

Jo nodded. “Am I free to go?”

Ali nodded, and Johanna turned to leave. “Jo?” Johanna looked over her shoulder, surprised that Ali had called her that. She didn’t object, but it was different. “I do appreciate your enthusiasm. The hospital needs more people like that.”

Jo left the room, feeling even better about the situation. She wasn’t scolded like she feared. She could go to work feeling much better about where things were headed and excited for what the weeks would bring.

After another week, they weren’t required to have many more meetings in the conference room. They focused on the hands-on experiential training, and Jo felt more secure handling her work with the patients than being in the training room environment. Georgette allowed her more moving room, not making her shadow, so she could do things unattended. It was freeing and gave her more of a sense that she truly belonged.

And as for Ali, Ali did seem to have a few more moments where she would smile. It would once again get in Jo’s way of thinking that things might not have to be so strict between them. She could open herself up to and even share a smile or two with her.

“Ready to head to lunch?” Johanna asked May as she slid her pen into her pocket and dropped her stethoscope off behind the nurse’s station.

“Yep. Just finishing up documentation.” May hit a few more keys, then got up from the computer, and they headed to the elevator. “How’s work been?” May asked as they stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the basement.

“Good. Georgette is allowing me more freedom, and I don’t feel like I’m simply her shadow. You?”

“Same.” Georgette released a yawn. “Which means it’s also a bit more draining.” She shook her head to get rid of the yawn. “I don’t know how you do it. You always seem so put together, like nothing phases you. While I’m a hot mess.”

Jo’s jaw dropped. “Believe me, that’s not the case. And I can share a few stories that would leave you reeling. Trust me.” They got off the elevator and headed to the cafeteria.

May snickered. “You have me fooled. But what did you do? Get upset when someone leaves a mess on the train.” She rolled her eyes. “I bet you’re just trying to be nice. ”

Jo sighed. If only May knew. Sometimes, she thought she would love to have a friend who she could fully confide in, someone she could share these stories with. As they entered the cafeteria, she saw Ali standing at a table. Ali glanced in her direction, and Jo started to wave when she noticed Nolan pop up behind her. He rested his hand on her shoulder, and a pit formed in her stomach.

“Johanna? Everything okay?” May waved her hand in front of Johanna’s face.

Johanna forced a smile. “Of course. I’m going to grab some pizza. Something nice and greasy. Meet ya outside? I could use the fresh air.”

May shrugged. “Sounds good to me.” They parted ways, and Jo quickly took a path that would not go by the love birds. The last thing she needed was another reminder that her attraction to Ali would go nowhere. Not that it would, even if she was single. Rules, remember?

She quickly moved towards the pizza station. She always thought maybe rules were something she could conveniently get past, as long as she didn’t vocally tell everyone she was in relations with Ali. Stupid; she was well aware. She paid for her pizza and drink, then went outside and grabbed the first table she came to.

She was already one slice of pizza in when May exited the hospital and joined her. “Salad? Must you always be healthy?” She made a face, and May laughed.

“I’m not always healthy. Just felt like a salad today. The pizza does look delicious, though.” May licked her lips, then dug into her salad. “So, you were about to tell me what crazy things get you miffed.” May laughed.

Jo looked down at her pizza; she picked a pepperoni off it and popped it into her mouth. “You would probably be surprised. Or wouldn’t even believe me if I told you.” Her tone turned sad, practically weepy.

“Try me. That’s what friends are for, right?” May took a bite of her salad and kept her eyes on Jo.

“My previous job, I left rather quickly.”

May shrugged. “I think I heard you mention that once before. Who cares? No biggie! Is that the worst that you’ve done? People change jobs. It’s not the end of the world.”

Jo sighed. “Not usually. But what I didn’t mention was the reason I abruptly left. You see, work got to be too much to handle. Uncontrollable, really. I struggled with stress and depression, and things got so overwhelming that the anxiety literally took over my life. So, when you say that I seem so put together, it makes me want to laugh. I haven’t always been that way, and I have to manage my body with medication and therapy. You can bet I would be right back where I was if I didn’t.”

“Wow!” May took a sip of water. “I really never would have guessed. How are you doing now? Coping and everything, I mean?”

Jo shrugged. “Many days are great. Some remind me that at any given moment, I could be right back where I was before. It was a dark place, and I never want to get back there.”

Jo shifted her gaze to the hospital doors, where she spotted Nolan and Ali leaning against the window and just chatting. Anything could cause her to snap. That’s why she had to remember to go to therapy and not allow her stress to overwhelm her.

“I guess I really shouldn’t have teased you,” May replied. “Just know, it really was me teasing. I have enjoyed getting to know you and don’t want anything to hinder our friendship. ”

Jo grinned and shook her head. “And it won’t.” May was one bright spot when it came to thinking about her future. She was glad to have a new friend to share thoughts about, and May was always ready to listen.

“You know, Jo, you and I aren’t really all that different. I’ve struggled with anxiety myself. Mental illness is truly no joke. I get it.” Jo sensed that May was only being sincere, and she appreciated the affirmation. “You need someone who can help you always keep you balanced.”

“Someone?” Johanna inquired, arching an eyebrow. “Like a romantic partner?”

May laughed. “I wasn’t even going that deep, but it probably wouldn’t hurt.” She gave a wink and then giggled. “I was thinking something more along the lines of a dog.”

Jo frowned. “A dog?”

May’s eyes bugged out. “Don’t tell me that you don’t like dogs. That might just be the dealbreaker for our friendship.” She shook her head. “I can’t fathom being friends with someone who scoffed at the idea of getting a dog.”

Jo laughed. “I wasn’t scoffing or any such thing. Just hadn’t thought of a dog.”

“That is your first problem.” May reached into her pocket and pulled a paper out of it. She unfolded it and pushed it towards Jo. “I got my dog Iggy at this adoption event. They have shelters from all over, and the moment I saw Iggy, I just knew. Maybe you should go check it out. The event is next weekend.”

Johanna looked down at the paper and then back up at May. “Do you just keep this flyer handy in case someone just happens to be in the market?”

May snickered. “You just never know.” Jo rolled her eyes incredulously. “Not quite that convenient. I just came across the flyer when I got off the train this morning. I thought I stuck it away in my purse, but voila! The universe must’ve known I needed it for a special reason.”

Johanna looked down at the flyer. She hadn’t contemplated getting a dog, but perhaps she should consider it. She just never knew what motivation was out there for her.