~ Transplanted Love ~

by

Sherry Derr~Wille

Three

"Just relax, Lori," the technician said, as she rubbed Lori’s arm with an alcohol swab.

"One little prick and it’s all over."

"Quit teasing, Beth," Lori replied. "Compared to those fifteen gauge needles they use in the dialysis unit, this is like a mosquito bite. You just don’t know what it’s like to have nails stuck up your arm three times a week."

Beth released the tourniquet and finished drawing Lori’s blood. "Will I see you next week?"

"No, I have clinic in Madison. Hopefully, they’ll let me start coming every other week. I’ll let you know what I find out."

"I’m certain it will be good news Lori," Beth assured her. "I can’t believe how wonderful you look. Compared to the way you looked on dialysis, it’s miraculous."

Lori acknowledged the compliment. Even after hearing the same words almost daily for the past three months, she enjoyed the sound of them. After four years of listening to the whispers behind her back about how terrible she looked, Lori basked in this positive note.

Pulling out of the parking lot, she turned her thoughts to the past two days. After Kent’s surprise arrival at church yesterday, she knew he would be at the Athletic Club tomorrow night.

Castwells appeared to her left and Lori fought the urge to stop and see Kent. As soon as the thought crossed her mind she dismissed it. How could she stop and see him when she didn’t even know which department he worked in?

I spent all day yesterday with him and I know next to nothing about him, she thought. It seems as though we only talked about me.

What about the transplant, her inner voice asked.

Lori refused to even think of an answer. She would tell Kent about everything when she thought the time right and not before.

With Castwells behind her, she turned down the street toward DATA INC. The morning shift cars already crowded the back lot as Lori pulled into her marked parking place.

"Good morning, Lori," Jayne Blake chirped, when Lori entered the office.

"Good morning, Jayne. What’s up? It looks like you have something on your mind."

"I do. Bill wants to meet with you at ten. He has some new ideas for the home entry department."

"New ideas? Like what?"

"You’ll see. Don’t look so worried. He’s got a new twist I think will work out well for everyone."

Lori hurried to her office to review the batches she would be sending out with the home entry girls.

"Sometimes I wish you’d be a clock watcher like the rest of the people around here," Bill Werner said, interrupting Lori’s concentration.

"Oh dear, the meeting. What time is it?"

"It’s ten thirty. I decided if I wanted to have a meeting with you, it would have to be in your office."

"I’m sorry, Bill. What’s going on?"

Bill pulled out the chair opposite Lori’s desk and sat down. "I’ve decided to have the home entry people bring in their work between eight and nine in the morning. That way we can transmit the batches by noon and have the next day’s work ready to go out by four. It would mean changing your hours to seven to four, though. Do you think you can handle it?"

Lori thought over the proposal. "You know, I think it just might work. We would have to give the girls some notice, though."

Bill handed her a piece of paper she hadn’t noticed earlier.

Effective one week from today, all batches will be picked up and dropped off between 8 and 9 a. m. Any questions, contact Lori Carter or Bill Werner.

"It looks like you have all the bases covered. Look Bill, I know you agreed to set this program up to accommodate my schedule four years ago. I’ve always thought we should change it around. With the noon pick up, we hit naptime for the little ones. I certainly don’t mind changing my schedule. I’m only sorry I didn’t suggest it sooner."

A light rap at the door interrupted them. "I’m looking for Lorinda Carter."

Lori glanced up to see a man wearing a shirt with the words Rossi’s Floral embroidered over the pocket. "I’m Lori Carter."

The man sat a crystal vase filled with a beautiful bouquet of assorted cut flowers on the desk.

Lori gave him a tip then studied the flowers. They were all different, yet each carried the fall colors of rust, yellow, gold and red.

"Lorinda?" Bill asked.

Lori ignored Bill’s question and took the card from its plastic holder.

Can’t wait until Tuesday at six. How about dinner and a movie tonight?

Kent.

She could feel a smile play itself across her lips as she read the message.

"I went on a blind date of sorts and we hit it off," she quickly explained. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a phone call to make."

Bill left Lori’s office and she could hear him chuckling as he went down the hall.

Ignoring the flyers she knew needed to be put in the batches, she placed a call to Kent.

"Castwells," the receptionist said, as soon as she answered. "How may I direct your call?"

"Kent Saunders, please," Lori said.

Canned music signaled the girl put Lori on hold. With a click, several seconds later, Kent came on the line. "Saunders here," he answered.

"Kent, it’s Lori, Lorinda. I just received your flowers. They’re beautiful. Where should I meet you?"

"How about your house?"

"You’ll have to meet my dad."

"The way I see it, if I have to meet him sometime, it may as well be tonight. I’ll pick you up at five forty-five. Don’t dress up. I feel like jeans and a sweater tonight."

When Lori hung up, she absently began to put the flyers in all of the batches. After putting them in the drop boxes for the girls, she went back to her office to call her mother.

"Hi, Mom," she said when her mother answered the phone. "I thought I should let you know, I won’t be home for supper tonight."

"You won’t? Why not?"

"Kent asked me out to dinner and a movie."

"Oh dear, are you sure you won’t be able to have dinner with us? Maybe Kent could join us. Your brothers and their families are coming over."

Lori sat for a moment, speechless. Why tonight of all nights did her mother invite the family over? "Any special reason they’re coming?"

"Your father and I thought we should all sit down and talk about your new young man. We think you should tell him about the transplant."