Chapter 30 – Something So Right
After leaving Sam's place, Nick followed up on his invitation for Gemma to join him for dinner. He stopped at the local Chinese restaurant. Even though the expat community had noticed a sudden disappearance of the muttawas shortly after the invasion, and now it might be a little safer to be in public as an unmarried couple, Nick had decided that it would be better to have dinner at his place with the added benefit that they might have a few drinks as well. He also wanted privacy to tell her that he had been thinking about her during the last few weeks. Nick had found himself thinking about Gemma when waking up in the morning and as he was falling asleep at night. Nick wanted to let her know and see if Gemma felt the same way. He continued thinking about how he would express his feelings for her as he waited for his order. Once the order was ready, Nick left the restaurant for his apartment.
Gemma knocked on the door, and he greeted her warmly. They made their way to the table. Nick anxiously began the conversation.
"I'm happy that you are here. It's been too long since I've seen you alone. I've missed talking with you. It's been a long time since we've been alone. I've missed the sight of your beautiful face. Thanks again for being here.
He paused for a moment, looking at her.
"I have made some of your favorite wine. Would you care for some? Also, I have some of the scotch for later if you wish."
Gemma smiled and replied.
"I would enjoy some wine. Thank you. How have you been? I have missed talking to you and seeing you."
Nick responded.
"I'm glad that you missed me too. I feared you wanted to keep your distance for a while."
He decided to ask if Gemma had heard about the dog.
"I don't know if you heard about the incident with the dog, Marwan, and Faraj."
Gemma said.
"Not really; I remember someone mentioning a story about a dog. Please refresh my memory and tell me what happened."
Nick related the story of the dog, the X-ray problem, and Marwan's hesitation to treat the dog to her. He then added his thoughts, which had bothered him since the episode.
"Something has nagged at me since that day. I find myself getting angry at the two of them more and more as I think about their behavior. It finally struck me today as I was shaving."
He paused for a second time as his parenthetical comment formed and then continued.
"I realized that I might be re-living some of my arguments with my father when I was in college. I think I told you he was a preacher and somewhat of a fundamentalist."
Gemma spoke.
"Yeah, you did mention that a while back, but I had forgotten that issue, I mean, about the fundamental thing."
Nick continued.
"That is what came to me. I was angry about Marwan and Faraj's prejudice and closed-minded approach to helping the poor animal. It seemed like the same problem, a narrow-minded prejudice and adherence to ill-considered rules I had argued with my father. He could be as narrow-minded on some subjects as the two of them. The whole thing made me more angry than I have been in a long time."
Nick then turned the conversation to Gemma.
"So, let me ask how you are doing. I care about you and worry that the events of the last few months may have hurt you, and I don't want to see you hurt."
She replied.
"Work has slowed down a little bit. We still get a lot of vehicle crash patients, but the other surgeries have slowed down."
Their conversation turned back to current affairs, especially the threats of war. Gemma was curious if Nick had heard anything from Sam on the situation in Kuwait lately.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was at his place earlier today. I hadn't talked to him for a couple of weeks, but I did receive a cryptic invitation from him to come over to his place. He didn't elaborate, so I was curious."
Gemma responded quickly.
"That's Sam. Always being mysterious. Please tell me what that was about."
Nick quickly replied.
"He invited me to help him make a safe room in his villa."
Gemma was puzzled.
"What is a safe room? It almost sounds naughty."
Nick laughed.
"Not at all; it is serious. It is the place you are supposed to lock yourself inside in case Saddam sends Chemical weapons our way. He gave me a kit to make one in my apartment. Would you like to help me with the project?"
Gemma hesitated for a few seconds before responding.
"It sounds interesting, but did he say more about the chance of a chemical attack? The idea scares me! This whole thing has me frightened."
Nick reached and took her hand to calm her.
"I think we're all scared, but we try to put a brave face on for others. I hope the diplomatic efforts succeed and the Iraqis will withdraw from Kuwait."
Gemma agreed.
"Me too! I hope they can settle it soon."
By now, they had finished with dinner, and Nick suggested that they retire to the living room, and Gemma agreed.
Nick took the bottle of scotch out from a cabinet and retrieved two glasses and ice. He poured them both a measure of whiskey and settled beside Gemma on the sofa.
Nick paused momentarily before bringing up a subject he knew would be on her mind - Allison.
"So I have some good news from Sam. Lucky and Allison have begun a relationship, and he has taken her on a few dates. I hope that eases your mind about her. Now she's Lucky's problem, and I don't think he knows the Pandora's Box he opened. But he'll find out soon enough. You can never tell; they may be a match made in heaven."
It took Gemma a few minutes to digest the news, but when she did, she leaned over and kissed Nick.
"Thank you for telling me. I have to admit that I have been worried about Allison."
Nick had reached a point when he wanted to tell her what had been on his mind for weeks.
He turned to look into her eyes as he spoke. He spoke confidently.
"I must tell you I have fallen in love with you. I can't get you off my mind. I hope you care about me. I will do everything I can to show you how much I love you and how very serious I am about you.."
Gemma was happy that Nick shared his emotions. She was delighted to know that he loved her. It was something Gemma hadn't heard for a long time. She stood up for a second and then moved to sit on Nick's lap, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. When the kiss ended, she finally spoke.
"I have been waiting so long to hear those words, and you've made me very happy. Yes! I love you too."
Together, they moved toward the bedroom, and Gemma agreed.
Just as they reached the entry to Nick's bedroom, a loud siren sounded throughout the hospital.
Nick reacted quickly.
"What the hell! I'll call Captain Salim and find out what is going on."
Gemma was visibly shaken and scared by the sound, urging him to make the call and see if they were under attack.
Nick hurried to the phone in the living room, grabbing the list of numbers. As he did, his beeper started registering calls. He saw that one was from Captain Salim and quickly dialed the number on the display.
Captain Salim told him that this was just a drill and that there was no attack. It seems that earlier that week, the Colonel had decided to test the air raid system but failed to notify anyone ahead of time. As the sirens wailed, panic set in at the hospital until word came over the loudspeakers that this was only a drill.
Nick told Gemma what the Captain had said, but the damage was done, and she began crying. Nick held her, trying to comfort her. Her sobbing subsided, but she now told him that she wanted him to hold her for a while. They sat on the couch for a long time, holding on to each other with Nick continuing to comfort her. Eventually, they returned to the bedroom. Gemma asked that he hold her through the night.
The following day, five people submitted their resignations. It was one more confirmation that life was approaching the time when the existential threat could become a concrete reality.