The Dilemma | Weekend Freewrite: Days 1912 & 1923 | Prompts: Have I seen her / private nurse

Blind date night. Judd could feel the blood pulsating through his veins. How could he give his utmost attention to someone when his mind was elsewhere, foolishly looking into the eyes of the woman he'd met while jogging?

Pleased at the ambience of the restaurant bar, he proceed to look for his blind date.

His eyes locked on one particular female. From the back, long and shiny, voluminous straight dark hair, precision cut from one side of her shoulder to the other, covered her small frame. Before she turned toward him, he could tell she was the one.

Surprised that, for a moment, he forgot about the woman he'd met while jogging.

His blind date turned around on the bar stool.

Judd almost fainted. He shrunk back from her, trembling and unable to speak.

You see, last Friday evening, he was in a foul mood leading up to that day with two work deadlines looming. He resolved to complete his tasks that weekend. His approach was to mix a cocktail, then settle into his home office, hoping to clear his head. However, with feet resting on the chair and head leaning back, he dozed off.

A ping stirred him as he rose and caught a mail notification flash from the corner of his screen. He rolled his head around several times attempting to relieve the stiff muscles in his neck. No sense putting it off. Probably another applicant from his recruiter waiting for his approval, he thought. Grudgingly, he spun around, then opened the correspondence.

He'd delayed this task long enough.

Uncovering flawless resumes was exhausting. Recommendations from the agency was only the first step. Now, only he could decide the person he'd place in charge of his father's well being.

He solicited his sister for assistance, but she moved overseas several months ago with her military husband.

Finished, he gulped the last of his drink and smiled. The perfect outcome. This last applicant met all his requirements as a private nurse. Convinced he'd solved the first crisis, he moved on to his mom.

If only they lived together like the old days. His job now would be less complicated.

Caring for elderly parents in different cities than his own stretched his capacity. Tired from research, he shut down work and crawled into bed.

Now, another important personal deadline loomed.

Tomorrow, he promised, he'd check out the woman's photo his best friend sent him as a possible candidate for a blind date.

It was cheating to peak. However, Roger knew he needed help with his personal life this past year as business consumed his time. Traveling monthly didn't ease his situation.

There wasn't cause to fall into a monstrous nightmare over care taking and a blind date, but his mind hadn't sorted either out yet. Dealing with his mom's issues was another challenge. Suffice it to say, his dad was the easy-going parent.

He woke to an equally monstrous headache. Time to start his weekend exercise routine. He hated to carry heavy thoughts along, but didn't have a choice. Perhaps fresh air could help resolve them, he hoped.

His jog took him off course that Saturday morning as he gave in to the urge for a strong dose of caffeine. The nearby coffee shop was situated a block from his jogging trail.

Deciding to finish his coffee outside, a nearby bench offered the perfect place. The area was quiet. He rose to leave. Searching for a trash bin, he didn't notice two individuals strolling down the walkway approaching from the opposite direction.

The impact was sudden.

Shocked he almost tumbled them, he looked and saw a couple with arms locked. Apologizing profusely, he didn't notice at first that the woman was younger and holding securely on to a senior citizen.

She spoke. The older woman faded into the background.

Judd's heart melted looking deep into her eyes. The most beautiful young woman he'd meet so far by accident. He froze. He couldn't understand this foreign feeling as he swallowed hard. He stammered while again apologizing.

^Source

Ensuring the senior citizen wasn't harmed, Judd walked backward as he said goodbye to the young woman, unable to command his stare break free.

Returning home, her eyes haunted him. Judd wasn't sure whether he wanted to keep his commitment for that blind date the next week. But his parents taught him otherwise, no matter the outcome.

Now, his blind date...or rather the woman from his jogging sat looking stunning, staring at him, puzzled and probably hurt by his strange reaction backing away from her.

"A horrible first impression, I guess. Hello. My name is Jacqueline. Apologies if I didn't meet your expectations." She gracefully tucked her purse under her arm and slipped from the bar stool.

Judd tried to disguise his astonishment by covering his face, realizing how his first impression and response must have appeared. But most importantly, how did she and Roger, his best friend, know each other. He cursed at not peeking at her photo Roger forwarded. A thousand questions bounced between his ears.

He extended his hand. "I truly apologize. My name is Judd. I'm just shocked that my best friend would set me up with someone on a blind date that I met by accident on my own." Now he was smiling broadly.

"What do you mean? Do I know you?" Now she was confused.

"Let's move to a table, if you don't mind?" He offered his arm. She accepted.

"It's only been a week, and you've forgotten me already?" He managed a nervous laugh before continuing, "because I've not been able to stop thinking about you since I almost toppled you and your companion on the walkway while jogging." He waited for her response.

"Oh, it's you! I've thought about that day, but been busy with a heavy nursing schedule, plus volunteering at the local assistant living complex. I was off duty the day we met."

"You're a nurse?" Judd's interest peaked.

"Yes, Registered. but I'm considering a career change. Burned out, so I was thinking a private nurse with perhaps one or two clients would be perfect."

They talked for two hours before ordering dinner. Her resume was outstanding. The more they talked, Judd's head started swimming. His eyes widened as ideas chased each other. If he chose her, he could solve both his parents' dilemmas of wanting to remain at home.

Suddenly, he realized that she'd be perfect as he hung on her every word.

But perfect for what position?

After dinner, they exchanged contact information. He couldn't believe the incredible evening he spent with Jacqueline. The experience was akin to talking to his best friend.

Judd definitely wanted to see her again. He'd agreed to the blind date not to find a companion for his parents, but hopefully to find one for himself.

The next week, he mulled over whether to consider Jacqueline for the position of private nurse. However, he'd already chosen two candidates for his parents. But he had to admit that she was more qualified than either of them.

Then, he wondered why was he even thinking of her as a replacement?

Judd knew that he always put his parents' needs before his. And he wasn't about to stop now. He just needed to decide for which parent she was a good fit. His dad would be ecstatic with anyone that he chose.

Mom, not so much with her offhanded prodding, "have you seen her yet?" I laughed at her attempt at subtle probing. I couldn't understand why she just didn't move back with dad. It would certainly make his life easier, Judd reasoned.

Have I seen her? He didn't want to answer that for his mom that she was breathtaking; nor that he couldn't stop thinking about her; nor that he wanted her for himself. He couldn't imagine her occupation as a private nurse to anyone other than himself.

He needed his dad's advice. Once there, he paced back forth telling him about his dilemma.

"Dilemma! I really don't understand young people sometimes. Just make a decision and be done with it. Now if it were me having to choose a possible future mate and a caretaker for my parents, I'd ensure my love life first. In your situation with Jacqueline being a nurse, if she's willing, allow her have input into the selection of our care. By your description of her character, I don't believe she'll disappoint you. Can't wait to meet her. And don't worry about your mother. Just threaten to move her back in with me!"

A dilemma indeed!

Judd looked at his dad and laughed. He always made perfect sense.