ONE SHOT…OK…ALRIGHT…MAYBE A THREE SHOT…MAYBE… OH…WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES…OF A CHANCE MEETING!
SIMPLY TITLED:
LOVE AT MY FIRST SIGHT…MAYBE…JUST…MAYBE
ACT ONE: THE INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTERS
For as long as I can remember I have never liked flying in an airplane. Never liked anything about it…the take off…the landing…having a brother in the United States Air Force that flies fighter jets…for a living…just like our father used to do...during the Vietnam War…at the ripe old age…of eighteen…and now having our father fly commercial airplanes for Southwest Airlines…nope…cannot make myself enjoy one single moment about being on an airplane…but here I am…on this ninety minute flight from Baltimore to New York.
Then with one simple touch of a tiny human's hand…a soft glide of five miniature sized digits…over my wrist and forearm of my left arm…I open my once tightly closed eyes…to look into this beautiful little girl's soft green eyes…to first see there is no fear…no fear…in this child's face or in her eyes…when I hear her say to me…"Don't be scared pretty lady, we'll be landing soon". I sit up straight in my first class seat and focus my petrified attention on this little girl…when I ask the green eyed beauty…"How do you stay so calm during the flight little miss munchkin"? This little three foot cutie says looks deep into my eyes and says with perfect speech clarification "My brother and I have been flying to our grandparent's home in the Hamptons a couple times a year since I've been born. This is my brother Marc" as she points to the older boy sitting on the other side of me across the aisle and the young man smiles and nods his head at me. Then she continues to say to me "My name Hannah…and I am six years old…at least for one more day…then I turn seven".
By the time little Miss Hannah finishes her conversation with me I begin to notice people on the plane moving about and I realize that we have landed. Moving out of my seat to retrieve my carry on bag from the overhead compartment I feel a strong hand cross over mine and a much smaller hand tug at the bottom of my jacket. Then I hear the man with the strong hand above my head say politely ask "Please…let me get that for you…after all you kept my daughter engage in conversation for the last half hour…it's the least I can do". Letting go of the handle to my small piece of luggage I let this handsome man help me out. Then I once again felt the tug of tail of my jacket as my eyes venture from the handsome green eyed gentleman downward to the little cutie patootie and I smile at my new friend. I hear the gorgeous gentleman say to my little red haired green eyed airplane companion "Hannah please stop pestering the nice lady" as I gaze into the pretty smile and the bright white teeth of the gentleman helping me with my luggage.
The dark haired also green eyed brother of Hannah named Marc takes a hold of his sister's hand as the aisle begins to fill with standing passengers and I hear the young man who is a spitting image of the older gentleman say "Hey Han, bet Grandma Catherine is meeting us inside the airport". Then I hear little Hannah say "Bet your right Markie…at least I hope so". Then Hannah turns to me because I am now standing right behind her and Marc and in front of who I can only guess is their father when the young girl says to me "Where are my manners…I forgot to ask you your name so I could introduce you to our father Dr. Jackson Avery". I shake the handsome doctor's hand first then I turn my attention back to Hannah and her brother when I say "It is a pleasure to meet you all and my name is Arizona…Dr. Arizona Robbins". Next Hannah quickly asks "Robbins…is that spelled with two "B's"? I shockingly say "Yes…no one has ever asked me that before…why do you ask Hannah"?
Before Hannah can answer my question a short African American woman screams "Hannah Banana and Marky Mark" and the two children run off to confront the shrieking older woman in the airport waiting area. Dr. Jackson Avery turns to me and says "It's my wife's thing…Hannah's middle name is Robbin…spelled with two B's…something about an old college roommate…her last name was Robbins too". I stop dead in my tracks to now scream to Dr. Avery "Sir, what is your wife's name"? I desperately ask this handsome fellow but I am afraid he is out of earshot to hear my question. I watch him kiss the older African American woman that has swallowed up his two children in her arms. Then out of nowhere I hear this man full of good looks turn to say to me "My wife…her name is Dr. April Kepner…do you know her Dr. Robbins"? Now the crowd of people surrounding the five of us is so immense that I no longer see the idealic family that I have just met on my flight from Baltimore to New York…that has brought me to this medical conference…here in the Big Apple…and now possibly to an old friend that I have not seen in over ten years.
The limousine that my father has rented for me this entire week here in New York has just let me out in front of The Grand Marquis Hotel…one of my father's five star hotels…here in the downtown city of Gotham. My sister Aria comes running out of the front of the hotel to greet me as we both share a hug and a kiss. Then my cell phone begins to ring and my sister and I see the gorgeous face of my daughter smiling back at us. I answer my phone quickly as I say to my mija "Hey baby girl, are you getting ready for school? Is your Grandma Louise around"? Then suddenly Aria and I see the face of Sofia's grandmother too on my cell phone screen when I say "Good morning Louise, and how are you both this morning"? My sister and I listen as we both hear my daughter and my mother-in-law tell us about their morning together because Louise is watching her granddaughter for me.
Louise O'Malley…my mother-in-law…has been helping me take care of my daughter since her father died several years ago. George O'Malley died on his way to work on a sunny morning…he was waiting at an intersection near the hospital for the light to change…so he could cross the road…when a young auburn haired woman…a college student I think…as she was talking on her cell phone…and did not pay any attention to the many people standing…before her…waiting for that same light to change…when she suddenly stepped off the curb…and my husband…My George Kevin O'Malley…of just two short years…pushed her out of the way…of an oncoming city bus…but in his courageous split second chivalrous act of valor…his foot slipped off the sidewalk…and he tumbled into the street…and into the path…of the oncoming city bus…and died several hours later…at the hospital…the very same hospital…that he was waiting to walk towards…Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle Washington…where we both began our careers…and our married life together.
Louise O'Malley…lost a husband…and a son…at Seattle Grace Hospital…and now she devotes her entire life…to helping me raise…her granddaughter…Sofia Georgia O'Malley. With both of "my girls" as I call the two of them smiling and talking away to me and my sister while the two of us enter the lobby of our father's hotel…I tell my girls when they finish talking and Aria and I are just entering the elevator "Ok pretty ladies, I will call you both later today. Sofia you have great day at school and listen to your grandmother and I love you. And Louise thanks again for watching Sofia for me this week. You both have a great time together and I will call you both later…I love you both with all my heart".
With a round of goodbyes to me and Aria and have a good time together in New York and we'll talk to you later, my sister and I send kisses to my mija when I conclude our phone conversation. With the help of the bellman delivering my luggage into my suite Aria takes a seat on the enormously large sofa when I hear her ask "So sis, how much time do we have until I lose you to all the glamour and glitz of this medical conference you are attending"? I smile at my only sister when I say "Well as soon as I get myself presentable here in the next few minutes I have to travel back down to the main ballroom and register. Then my little sister…we have the rest of the day and tonight together. As far as the rest of the week goes I am pretty booked up with attending different medical seminars…but most of my evenings are free". Then my younger sister says back to me "Well, for the next six days…I'll take what I can get…now let's get the hell out of here…and go do some shopping".
Aria is taking full advantage of the free hors d'ouveres and free wine samplings being offered by the medical conference sponsors while she waits for me to complete the signing in process. Just as I finish the task at hand of signing in to all of the seminars I wish to attend I walk into another part of the ball room to see a colossal silk screen poster of the smiling face of Dr. Erica Hahn…with the words proudly stating below "World Renown Cardio Thoracic Surgeon". I simply smile as I think back to the last time I saw that face in the flesh…and that smirking smile that she is wearing in that picture…was not there as she was screaming at me…in the middle of the Seattle Grace Hospital parking lot. Then in an instant…she was gone…that was three years ago…after spending a better part of a year…with her being my girlfriend…my romantic girlfriend…and I finally concluded to myself…that I am a bisexual woman…and with one quick disagreement…she walked out on me for good.
I feel my sister gently touch my back as she glides the palm of her hand from in between my shoulder blades and down my spine when her hand opens up fully to come to rest on my lumbar region. I hear her softly whisper in my ear "You never told me that bitch…that she was going to be here". I place my hand and arm around the shoulder of my somewhat and sometimes very vulgar but very protective sister when I say to her "I did not know she would be here. She was not listed as part of the Cardio Thoracic surgeons in attendance". Then out of the corner of my eye I see the one woman that I have not seen in like forever when I hear her say "Callie Torres…how in the hell are you roomie". I release the hold I have around my sister's shoulder when I walk towards this petite sized Asian woman and say with such respect in my voice "Dr. Christina Yang…how the hell are you and how have you both been"? Then I make my way across the room to hug my friend and former roommate and her husband Dr. Owen Hunt.
Dr. Christina Yang was granted the opportunity of a lifetime after her first year as an attending physician at Seattle Grace Hospital. She went to Zurich Switzerland to present her clinical trial and her findings of her own idea to 3-D printing of a human heart. While she was there she ran into an old friend…her former fiancé…Dr. Preston Burke. During their reunion…Dr. Preston Burke…offered his former lover…her opportunity of a lifetime. With her husband Dr. Owen Hunt agreeing to step down as Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital and giving the reins back to the original Chief of Surgery Dr. Richard Weber and Dr. April Kepner taking over as the Head of the Trauma Department, Christina and Owen left for Switzerland earlier this year. Now I am holding my friend and former roommate in my arms when Aria and I hear her ask me "Who in the hell invited that bitch…and what the hell is she doing here"? Aria smiles and says "My feelings exactly".
Once I make the rounds of signing in to all of my required medical seminars I am attending this week I find my best friend Dr. Theodora Altman standing all by her lonesome in front of this gigantic poster of another world renown cardio thoracic surgeon like my friend. I walk up behind my friend Teddy when I say to her "Penny for your thoughts". Without missing a beat my best friend says crassly "Wonder who she had to fuck or sleep with to get her ugly mug plastered all over this fucking wall". "Theodora" I exclaim when Teddy turns to face me and says rather loudly "Well fuck Arizona, it's bad enough I have to present my clinical trial results up against the infamous Dr. Christina Yang…but now I have to show my work to the likes of this bitch too…she was not even on the original roster…the original program we all received…when we all agreed to come to this fucking shindig". I take two champagne flutes off the passing server's tray as I hand one to my friend and ask "Is it you sole objective this week…to see how many times you can say the Fuck in my presence Theodora"? My best friend from Baltimore…for the past eight years…simply looks into my dark ocean blue eyes and says while laughing a bit "Maybe".
Teddy and I conclude the required signing in process as we both journey back up to our hotel rooms to pack an overnight bag for our one night stay in the Hamptons. My father and mother have retired to a modest four bedroom home on the eastern shore of the Atlantic Ocean community and my best friend and I promised them that we would stay at least one night with the two of them. With my brother Tim and his wife Amanda along with their two adorable children, Timmy Jr and Jessica, are currently living only a few blocks away from my parents home there so Teddy and I will get to visit with my whole family tonight. After having a delicious lunch at the famous Shake Shack, my best friend and I board the train from Manhattan for the direct two hour train ride to the Hamptons. The scenic expedition is quite breathtakingly magnificent as the two hour ride time goes by promptly. Teddy, for the most part of our late afternoon passage, works out the kinks in her speech while I just sit and admire the awesomeness and beauty of our fun loving railway crossing through Long Island New York.
The non stop train from Manhattan to the Hamptons arrives at the station just as Teddy and I see my father sitting in the driver's seat of the golf cart with a small trailer hitched to the back. "The Colonel" stating proudly is stenciled over the top side of the canopy above my father's head while "The Colonel's Wife" is stenciled over the passenger's top side of the same canopy. Retired Lt. Colonel Daniel T. Robbins greets my best friend and me when we exit the commuter train. While my father demands respect from those around him…mainly because he is a military man…my brother Tim and I always call him "dad". I even get away with calling this grand man of stature "Daddy" every chance I get. Teddy on the other hand…being a military person herself…as she too demands respect...either calls my father "Colonel" or "Mr. Robbins". But when my mother is around she tries her damndest to get folks to call my father by his given name…his first name of "Daniel".
Teddy and I tie down our overnight bags on the small trailer hitched to the back of my parent's golf cart after we greet my father with some hugs and kisses. The short open aired ride to my parent's home is filled with a soft summer breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean as well as plenty of great sunshine. My father informs Teddy and me that my brother Tim has been called out for flight maneuvers and will not be coming home this evening. Before I can even ask my dad about Amanda and the kids I see my answer waiting for all three of us standing on the front porch of my parent's oceanfront home. Without any hesitation whatsoever and even waiting for the golf cart to come to a complete full stop I merely bolt out of the battery charged vehicle and run as fast as I can into their awaiting arms.
Daddy and Teddy bring our overnight bags into the house while I continue to hug and kiss my mama along with Amanda, Timmy and Jessie. The sitting room in the front of the house is filled with the seven of us just taking some quality time to have a conversation. With Amanda and Teddy along with my mama bringing in some ice cold sweet tea and some snacks for everyone to enjoy before dinner is ready, Timmy and Jessie are telling all of us about their upcoming summer plans once school has been competed next month. Timmy is planning on going to a football camp sponsored by the New York Giants mainly because his football idol Giants quarterback Mr. Eli Manning will be there teaching his professional quarterback skills to as many youngsters that will be in attendance. Jessie will be attending a summer camp in upstate New York for equestrian riders. My beautiful niece has been in love with horses since for like forever…she gets that feeling from her mother.
Timmy and Jessie set the family dining room table and fill everyone's glasses full of assorted refreshments while Teddy finishes the salad preparation and Amanda and I plate up the side dishes of food. My father is cutting the pot roast while my mother takes out two of her famous pies from the oven and hands the refrigerated condiments to her two grandchildren to place on the table. All seven of us take our seats as the hand holding commences and Amanda begins to say the grace blessing. My father begins to pass the food around the dinner table just like he has done all my life while everyone fills their individual plates. Then just like we were all doing in the sitting room earlier, the dinner conversation flows without faltering. We all take our turns talking about some certain subject matter when the back door flies open and there standing in his Air Force flight suit is my older brother First Lieutenant Timothy D. Robbins. Both my niece and nephew begin to jump from their seated position at the dinner table but then they both see my brother raise his index finger into the air and they both retake their seats without incident.
Tim says "Hello" to everyone at the dinner table and excuses himself to use the half bathroom to wash up. Then upon his arrival back into the dining room he places a kiss on his wife's lips and his children's foreheads then he kisses my mother on her cheek as he places a sisterly kiss on both mine and Teddy's cheeks and finally shakes our father's hand before he takes his seat next to his wife and children. The discussions begin again while we listen to everyone talk about what's on our minds. The eight of us clean up the dining room and kitchen after dinner while my mother begins a fresh pot of coffee so we all may enjoy some freshly baked desserts out on the back screened in porch and continue our conversation session.
Monday morning brings a cool ocean breeze throughout my bedroom as I lie in my bed and watch my summer curtains blow around in the wind. Staying up rather late last night just talking, playing cards along with some family board games and taking a stroll along the beach after the sun sets Teddy and I did not get to bed until after midnight. After sharing a hearty southern country breakfast with my family Teddy and I get ready for our trip back to the big city. The eight of us walk back to the train station together with my brother and nephew carrying our overnight bags…chivalry is not dead in this family…not by a long shot. With a promise of my family coming into the city Thursday evening for dinner…Teddy and I make plans on meeting them at eight pm sharp at the Tavern on the Green. With hugs and kisses being exchanged by all Teddy and I wave a final goodbye to my family as we board the morning train that will take us back to New York City…in two hours time. Just in time for our first scheduled medical seminar…of many…many…scheduled seminars…for the next five days…and who knows…maybe we both will find some new friends and acquaintances…to network with along the way…and maybe…just maybe…you'll never know…what else you might find…when you stop looking for it…maybe…just maybe.