"Achoo!!!" sneezed Richard. He sniffed and grabbed a Kleenex from the box sitting between him and
Caroline on the desk.
"Richard, are sure you don’t want to go home and rest?" asked Caroline looking over at him.
"You have quite a cold. You’ve used up almost the whole box in the past hour. Del can wait for the
cards for a while."
"No," said Richard in a stuffed up tone. "I’m almost finished. Besides we’re going to the
opera tonight, and I’d never feel right going to the opera after going home sick."
"Okay Richard," said Caroline reluctantly. They worked for a few minutes the silence
interrupted by Richard’s loud sneezes. "That’s it Richard," said Caroline after another sneeze, "I am
not going to let you kill yourself. If you insist on working, take a nap first. Maybe then you’ll feel
better."
"But. . . . ." started Richard.
"I mean it," said Caroline pointing towards the couch.
Richard realized that he didn’t have the strength to argue, "Besides," he thought looking at
the couch, "It will feel so good to lay down for a little while." He sighed and looked at Caroline, "I
suppose," he said. "Wake me up in an hour," he said and laid down on the couch.
Caroline worked silently for the next hour. She looked over at Richard’s empty seat and
realized how strange it was not seeing him there. "I even miss his comments," she thought to herself.
She buried her head in her hands and wondered, "What am I going to do with this whole Richard
situation. We’ve been dating almost three months and I’m still confused. He loves me and I care
about him, but I’m not sure that I love him the right way. He’s been so patient too. Del and I couldn’t
make it a week and it’s been three months and we still haven’t done it." Caroline looked over at
Richard as a small snore came out of his mouth. "This is just too weird. Life can be so complicated
sometimes." She looked at the clock and realized that an hour had past but as she looked at Richard
she didn’t have the heart to wake him up so she worked for several more hours while Richard’s quiet
snores continued. "I sure hope that he’s only snoring because of his cold," thought Caroline,
"Otherwise I’ll go crazy."
As five o’clock approached Caroline worked feverishly trying to get as much done as she
could before Charlie arrived. "Richard sure picked a great time to get sick," thought Caroline picking
up some of his sarcasm.
"Hiya Caroline," said Charlie loudly rollerblading in.
Richard stirred on the couch and slowly started opening his eyes. Seeing Charlie he
suddenly sat up. "What’s Charlie doing here!"
"Um, Richard, I’m doing my job," said Charlie. "I pick up the strips, remember."
"Caroline, why didn’t you wake me up?" asked Richard looking at Caroline. "You needed my
help."
"Richard, you’re sick," replied Caroline. "I didn’t have the heart to wake you up."
"How much didn’t you get done?" he asked.
"Too much," said Caroline looking down at the pile on her desk and sighing.
"I’m so sorry Caroline," said Richard getting up slowly and walking over towards her. "I knew
I shouldn’t have taken that nap."
"It’s okay," said Caroline. "Del can wait."
"Is this all Caroline?" asked Charlie looking down at them. "Boy, Del is going to be pissed."
"Tell him I’ll have the rest to him as soon as I can," Caroline said to Charlie.
"Okay," said Charlie, "If you say so."
"Why don’t you start getting ready Caroline," said Richard walking over to his side of the desk.
"I’ll work on some of these and then get ready myself. It won’t take me long."
"Sure," replied Caroline secretly relieved that Richard had suggested the exact same thing
that she had been thinking.
Richard sat down and slowly started coloring the strips in, his sneezes punctuating the
apartment intermittently.
A few minutes later Sarah breezed through the door. "Hi Richard,” she said seeing him at the
desk. "James should be here in a few minutes. He got stuck with a patient at the last minute."
Richard sneezed loudly and then said, "That’s fine."
"Richard," said Sarah looking at him, "You’re sick aren’t you."
"Actually I’m sneezing for the fun of it Sarah," said Richard sarcastically. "There’s nothing like
a good sneeze."
"Well I’m ready to go Richard," said Caroline descending the stairs. "You should probably get
ready too."
"Achoo!!" sneezed Richard loudly. "Okay," he said and started going upstairs.
"Oh no he’s not," said Sarah putting a detaining arm on Richard. "Do you have a
thermometer Caroline?" she asked.
"Somewhere," said Caroline looking at Sarah in surprise. "Why?"
"My guess is that he has a temperature," said Sarah as Caroline began to look through some
drawers in search of it. "Richard, why didn’t you say you were sick?" she asked accusingly.
"Because I want to go," said Richard sneezing yet again.
"Where’s James?" asked Caroline while she was rummaging through some drawers.
"A patient came in at the last minute and he had to take care of him," replied Sarah.
"Here," said Caroline handing Sarah the thermometer.
Sarah stuck the thermometer in Richard’s mouth and said, "If you’re as sick as you look like
you are, you shouldn’t go anywhere except to bed. Don’t talk," she said as Richard began to open his
mouth.
"Is he really that sick?" asked Caroline in surprise.
"The flu that has been going around lately has been really bad," Sarah answered. "And
Richard is acting really sick." She took the thermometer out of Richard’s mouth and looked at it.
"102!" Sarah exclaimed. "Nope, you aren’t going anywhere tonight."
Richard started protesting a little, but he soon realized that all he really wanted to do was go
to bed.
"I guess I had better go back and change back," said Caroline slightly sighing.
"Go ahead and go Caroline," said Richard looking at her. "Just because I’m not going doesn’t
mean that you don’t have to go."
"I’m not going to leave you alone when you’re that sick Richard," said Caroline seriously.
"Why don’t I just stay with him," said Sarah looking over at Caroline. "I’m the doctor anyway.
You and James can go together when he gets here," Sarah said handing Richard some medicine and
a glass of water.
"But. . ." Caroline started to say.
"Go ahead and go," said Richard after swallowing the pills.
"Yeah," said Sarah. "You and James will have enjoy making fun of the depressing plot
anyway."
"Uh, hi," said James hesitantly poking his head through the door. "Sorry I’m late. So are you
ready to go?"
"Actually it’s just you and Caroline," said Sarah. "Richard’s sick and I’m staying here to take
care of him."
"Whatever," said James in a tone of surprise mixed with pleasure. "Shall we go?" he asked in
a mock British accent.
"I don’t know," said Caroline still hesitating. "I just feel bad. . ."
"Don’t worry about it," said Sarah handing Caroline her coat. "Go ahead and go."
Caroline hesitantly left her apartment with James for the opera.
"So what opera are we seeing," James asked Caroline? "I kinda forgot," he admitted
sheepishly.
"Actually I’m not sure," said Caroline. "Richard wouldn’t tell me. He said it was a surprise.
We could look at the tickets.
"Why would we do that," said James with a little grin. "That would make sense." He and
Caroline looked at each other and started to laugh. Suddenly alarmed at what she was feeling
Caroline quickly looked away and changed the subject.
She and James were talking about his job at the hospital when suddenly a car ran a light at
the intersection and broadsided the car right in front of them. The taxi driver slammed on his brakes
and managed to slow down enough to barely nudge the car.
James immediately jumped out and ran to check on the passengers.
Caroline slowly got out of the car and stood around in bewilderment, obviously in shock.
"Caroline, go call 911," ordered James when he got a glimpse of the people in the car.
At the sound of his voice Caroline abruptly sprung into action, went into a nearby store and
called 911. When she got back there was a huge crowd around the scene. Caroline pushed her way
through the crowd to find James performing CPR on a girl around ten years old while a police officer
was looking at the other people. After a minute or two the girl started coughing. An ambulance then
pulled up. James talked to one of the EMT’s for a minute and then as the ambulance drove off he
walked back over to Caroline.
"Hey Caroline, is it okay if we stop by the hospital?" he asked eyeing her nervously. "We can
never make it there on time now, and I want to make sure how everyone is."
"Yeah, whatever," said Caroline bewilderedly.
"That’ll be ninety eight dollars and seventy seven cents," said the taxi driver when they got to
the hospital.
"You have to be kidding," said Caroline. "You kept the meter on all that time?" She was
about to argue when James threw a bill at the driver and practically ran into the hospital. Caroline
shrugged and followed him in. "It’s his money I guess," she muttered to herself.
Several hours later Caroline and James emerged from the building. "You were amazing
James," said Caroline. "You saved that girls life."
"I was at the right place at the right time," said James. "Besides, I’m a doctor. It’s what we
do."
"I’ve never seen a woman pick up a guy before when she hugged him," said Caroline slyly
looking at James. "She sure seemed grateful."
James grinned and then looked at his watch. "Well, do you want to go somewhere to eat?
I’m hungry and we still have a little while before anyone would expect us back."
"Actually I’m hungry too," said Caoroline. "I was so busy today at work I didn’t eat supper."
"Great. I know this nice little place only a few blocks from here. The neighborhood isn’t that
great, but as long as two or more people go, it should be okay."
Caroline and James sat down and ate. They talked about everything. . . . . . Caroline was
amazed at how fast the time flew by. They were about ready to leave when James’ beeper went off.
"Oh great," he said sarcastically. "Hold on a sec, will you." He walked over and talked to
one of the waiters who pointed him to the back of the room. A few minutes later he came back.
"Listen Caroline," he said, "I’m really sorry, but I got called in to the hospital. Do you mind taking a
taxi back by yourself? I’ll take you back if you want me too," he continued without letting Caroline say
anything, "But it would be easier if I could go straight from here."
"That’s fine," said Caroline. "Go do your job."
"Thanks," said James. They walked out the door and he hailed a taxi. As the taxi pulled up
they both hesitated.
"Uh, I had a nice time," said James.
"I had a good time tonight James," said Caroline at the same time.
They both laughed nervously and then paused and looked into each others eyes. Suddenly
James bent down and kissed her. Caroline was amazed at the response she felt. Then the thought
of Richard popped into her head and she pulled back.
"James please don’t," she said softly.
"I know, I know," he groaned. "You’re dating Richard. Listen I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help
myself, you were so, and I was, and, oh geez I’ve screwed everything up. Sorry." He abruptly hailed
another taxi and jumped into it leaving Caroline standing on the sidewalk staring after him.
"Oh great, now what am I going to do?" Caroline asked herself all the way back to her
apartment.
Continued in Caroline and the Breakup