Michaela found a few stolen moments to herself. She went to her office to rest her aching back and feet. Her patient load had doubled since one of the physicians had to take a sabbatical. She loved her job and loved both the predictability and variability of medicine. She loved helping those in their times of need but she was feeling the strain of trying to balance her professional and personal life. Her job always came first much to the chagrin of her family and friends.
She dropped her charts on the coffee table in her office, sat down on the sofa and kicked her shoes off. She felt immediate relief. She sat back on the couch and closed her eyes. She drifted off to sleep quickly.
There was muffled noise in the hall outside her office. She was in a light state of sleep but she thought she heard someone walk up to her door and heard a voice. She didn't hear any further sounds so she drifted back off to sleep.
Dr. William Burke had been on his way to Michaela's office when he noticed her door shut. As he approached her door, his phone rang. He stopped and stood next to her door and took the call. He glanced down at the phone to see Preston Lodge on the caller ID.
"I thought I told you not to call me during the day?" William demanded.
"Yes, I am aware of that but I have some more information to tell you about our opportunity."
"I can't talk about this now, I will call you later after I have spoken to Michaela."
"Does she know anything yet?"
"No, I am planning to talk to her tonight."
Michaela woke up at the sound of her name. She sat up, confused, on who was outside her door. She strained to listen but couldn't hear anything else. She quietly walked to the door and opened it. She found William standing outside the door with his hand cupped over his mouth and talking in an agitated voice. She was curious but decided to let William tell her rather than ask.
"William, what are you doing out here?"
He jumped at her voice. He didn't think she was still at work.
"Michaela!" you startled me. He feigned shock.
"Preston, I have to go," He quickly hung is phone up and turned to her.
"Would you like to meet me for dinner tonight at Grace's Café?" He asked.
"Yes, that would be fine," she eyed him, waiting for him to explain his presence, but that didn't happen. "If you'll excuse me, I am going to head home." And she left in a rush, starting to feel upset.
Michaela admitted to herself that William did fit neatly into her plans that she had laid out for her life. He was a physician at Boston General and worked on the same floor she did. They shared the same friends and were in the same social circles. Everyone knew they were destined to be together forever.
They had been dating for about a year and she wondered if he was planning on proposing. She had invested a lot of time into their relationship and didn't want to give up on it. Perhaps tonight was the night and he and Preston were working on the details together. On the way home, her mind drifted to what he was going to say and what she should wear for tonight.
OOO
William and Michaela rode to Grace's in companionable silence. The butterflies were quickly building in her stomach, she hoped she had an appetite when they arrived. He had reserved a private table in the back of the restaurant. William hoped that she would be receptive to what he was going to ask her.
Michaela noted that their table was nestled in a romantic corner with only candle light to illuminate their table. She tried to calm her nerves as she took her seat across from William. She hoped that he didn't notice her anxiety.
William held his jaw tight in anticipation of how Michaela may respond to his question. Little did Michaela know that this night would turn her life upside-down.