Till Dark

A few minutes later, when she returned she found a tray with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a ham and cheese sandwich sitting on the table next to the bed. Hungrily she began to eat, savoring every bite as if she had not eaten in days. A few minutes later Andy returned with some clothes for her. "Here put these on." He said tossing a pair of gray jogging shorts and a white T-shirt on the bed. "I pulled some clothes out for you so that you do not have to walk around in that gown." "Where are my clothes, and when the doctor is coming so I can get out of here?" "Relax he'll be here this evening." "What!" Jordan wailed. "I'm not waiting around all day for some doctor. Now if you'll excuse me I'd like to get dressed and be on my way." "I really think you should..." Andy began to object but Jordan didn't give him time to even complete that thought before she held up her hand. "I am not concerned with your opinion Mr. Nichols. I am fully capable of taking care of myself." Anger flashed on her face and this time he saw something he didn't see the first time; strength. "Well if you insist, I guess I have no choice but to call the doctor back and tell him not to come here. So where should I tell him you're staying so that..." Again Jordan didn't give him the chance to finish again. "I am perfectly fine Mr. Nichols. If I have a need to, I will call the doctor myself." He wanted to reach out and smooth the wrinkles of stress from her face but refrained. He stuffed his hands in his pockets instead. "Jordan, at least go back for the final examination. Here is the number, if you want to go in give the guy a call." Absently Jordan took the paper that Andy had scrawled the doctor's name and number on. "Fine, now if you would please go so that I can get out of this stupid gown?"

Andy hesitated for a moment a few feet from the door and looked back at Jordan with concern. She raised her chin in defiance and matched his stare with stern determination. He turned back to the door and with a few easy strides left Jordan to get dressed. She quickly rushed to the door to shut and lock it before he had a chance to return. Exhausted she leaned against the door for a moment and let out a long slow breath; she could not understand why this man got under her skin like he did. All she wanted to do was get out of here and, as far away from Andrew Nichols as quickly as possible. Hurriedly she dressed in the gray cotton gym shorts and what looked to be a white undershirt that Andy had casually laid on the bed. The clothes were a bit big but Jordan tied the string on the shorts a little tighter and tucked the T-shirt in. Her beach bag was lying in a chair across the room; snatching it up quickly, she searched through the bag till she was satisfied that everything was still there. She zipped the bag up and casually tossed it over her right shoulder. Her flip-flops were on the floor next to the chair so she slipped them on with ease and with a few quick strides she covered the short distance to the door.