Meghan was running late. Rick would be here in a little over an hour to pick her up, and she was still standing in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear. She finally decided on a pair of soft black palazzo pants and a pale pink button-down shirt. She laid the clothes out on her bed and hurried to the shower, taking the time to wash her hair. Hopping out of the shower, she dried off, blew her hair dry, and arranged it back in simple barrettes before dressing. She added earrings and a simple necklace with a star-of-life pendant.

When Rick came to the door, he smiled. He could see that she wasn’t much for dressing up, but still was pretty good at knowing how to make an impression. He thought she looked gorgeous!

“You look really nice tonight, Meghan. Shall we go?” he offered her his arm after she locked her apartment door. She looked at it for a moment, then wrapped her arm in his. They made their way down the stairs to his car. He opened the door for her, shutting it only after she was in and situated in the seat.

As they drove to the restaurant, the conversation wasn’t exactly flowing, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Meghan, who had been looking out the window, turned to Rick. “So where are you taking me for dinner tonight?”

Rick glanced at her and then back to the road. “Well, I was thinking first of barbecue, but I remember my mother pounding into my head that messy food is never appropriate for a first date.” Meghan laughed, and Rick continued. “Then I thought about a nice Italian meal, but didn’t want to seem as if I was pushing for a relationship too fast, too soon.” Meghan chuckled but nodded. “I thought of burgers and fries, but then I thought that would seem too high-school.” Meghan just shook her head. “So what did you finally decide on?”

“This,” he said, as he pulled into the parking lot of a Brazilian steakhouse. “You struck me as a carnivore, so we can have as much meat as we want, plus as much or little of the healthier stuff.” He parked the car and made his way over to her door to open it for her.

“Good choice,” Meghan agreed, accepting his hand out of the vehicle. “I’ve not been to this particular one, but I’ve been to a couple of others and leave absolutely stuffed and wanting to come back.”

Rick inwardly sighed in relief, but smiled and offered her his arm. He gave his name to the hostess, and they were soon seated at a nice table close to the buffet. Rick offered to get them a bottle of wine, but Meghan preferred not to drink this time. “Have you ever tried the Brazilian lemonade?”

He cocked his head. “Brazilian lemonade? I don’t think I ever heard about it.”

She grinned. “Trust me, it’s delicious. Let’s have some, and save the wine for when you want to take me to that intimate Italian place.”

He smiled back and nodded. “Brazilian lemonade it is, then!”

Soon, they were filling plates with various choices from the salad bar and turning the little indicators to green. Waiters with long swords loaded with meat started making their way to the table, and Meghan and Rick selected different cuts of meat.

As they ate, they conversed. Rick had been out of residency for 12 years and enjoyed a good practice at County Medical. Meghan had gone into EMS straight out of high school. There was 15 years’ difference in their ages, but neither one seemed to care.

Meghan finally pushed her chair back a bit from the table. “One more bite and I’ll burst! I’ll have to drag Mitch and Kelsey over here sometime – I think this is the best one I’ve eaten at. Thanks for bringing me, Rick.”

Rick leaned back in his seat and placed his napkin on the table beside his plate. “Yes, this place can’t be beaten. And that lemonade is delicious! I’ll have to remember that for next time.” He paid for the meal and stood. “Anything else you’d like to do? A movie, perhaps?”

Meghan stood and slung her purse over her shoulder. “A movie might be good. I have no idea what’s in the theaters, to be honest.”

“Well, there’s a nice theater nearby. Let’s drive over and see if anything is interesting to you.”

At the theater, the latest Hobbit release was out, so Rick bought tickets and drinks, both of them opting out of the popcorn. Meghan was entranced by the movie, and Rick spent his time enjoying both the movie and Meghan’s reaction to it. He was pleasantly surprised when she buried her face in his chest when the scene with the spiders played out across the screen.

On the drive home, Rick cleared his throat. “So, ah, Meghan, did you enjoy yourself tonight?”

“Oh, yes! It’s been a wonderful evening, Rick. I enjoyed sharing it with you very much.”

“Good! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed sharing it with you, too.” He pulled into the parking lot outside her apartment and shut off the engine. He undid his seatbelt and shifted in the seat so he could see her better. “Meghan, would you be interested in going out with me again? Maybe we could find a Saturday or Sunday and go do some sightseeing or shopping. I know a few shops that are kind of quirky and just fun to poke around in.”

Meghan smiled. “I’d enjoy that. I rarely get an opportunity to just browse through stores for the fun of it. Make one a good bookstore, and I’m sold!”

He chuckled. “I’ll make sure books are on the list,” he promised. “Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll try my hardest not to be on call that weekend.”

Rick saw Meghan to the door of her apartment and safely inside, accepting a farewell hug. He smiled as he headed back to his car. The first date had been successful, and the future looked promising. He was going to enjoy getting to know her better.

Meghan reflected on the date as she got ready for bed. The company had been great, and she had enjoyed both the meal and the movie. She liked Rick and wanted to spend time with him again to see if a relationship would be possible, but she was a little concerned about the 15-year age difference. Maybe I should talk to Kelsey and Mitch, see if they have anyone else they’d like to introduce me to. Nothing against Rick, but I haven’t exactly dated since high school. I don’t want to settle for the first man that comes my way when someone better is out there. Having determined to talk to her sister about it, Meghan lay down and closed her eyes.

That opportunity didn’t come for several days. Meghan, having held over to work a double shift to cover for another medic, plus her class schedule, didn’t find herself with free time until almost a week later.

Kelsey welcomed Meghan into the house and led the way to the kitchen. “Want some coffee, sis?”

“When do I turn down coffee?” Meghan joked, taking a seat at the bar. Soon, the sisters were catching up over the hot brew. Mitch, having followed the smell of coffee, soon wandered in from his office.

“Hey there, Meghan! Long time, no see.”

“Yeah, it’s been a hell of a week,” Meghan groaned. “Someone please remind me what sleep is.”

“Ugh. That rough, huh?” Mitch sympathized.

“Two double shifts mixed with class nights. I don’t think I got 4 straight hours while on duty, and class nights wind up being shorter sleep nights. I’m hoping to pass out this evening early.” Meghan took a large gulp of her coffee.

“I forgot to ask: how was your date the other night?” Kelsey asked.

“It was good. I had a lot of fun. Rick took me to that new Brazilian steakhouse over on Maple Drive, and then we saw the new Hobbit movie.” Meghan smiled as she remembered the date. “By the way, sis, you said earlier that you could hook me up with some of y’alls doctor friends. Would you be willing to do that?”

Kelsey looked at her askance. “Uh, am I missing something here? I thought you just said you had a good time with Rick?”

“I did,” Meghan said. “That being said, I don’t want to limit myself just on the basis of one date. I’d rather meet a few guys, go out with them, and then start narrowing the list. Rick is on the list, don’t get me wrong. I’m just not ready for him to be the only one on the list,” she finished awkwardly.

Mitch smiled kindly and nodded. “I understand what you’re saying. He’s my best friend, and I think he’d be a great person for you, but this is a choice you have to make for yourself.”

Kelsey nodded in agreement. “Give us a little while to think it through, but we’ll start making some introductions.”

Meghan smiled, then winced. Mitch picked up on the grimace. “Okay, now how about you tell me how you’re really feeling?”

Meghan’s face showed she was caught. “Pretty good, but I’ve got a headache. Lack of sleep brings them on. That’s it, I swear.” She held her hands up in surrender.

“Hmmm.” Mitch frowned at her. “C’mon, kiddo. Let’s get you fixed up.”

“I just need some Tylenol,” Meghan started to protest, but Mitch fixed her with a look. “Okay, fine. But don’t take long – I don’t want my coffee to get cold.”

Mitch laughed and gestured toward the medical suite. “I’ll try to get you fixed up and back in just a few minutes. Otherwise, I’ll brew a fresh pot, deal?”

Meghan rolled her eyes, sighed, but replied. “Deal.”

Mitch led the way to his exam room and patted the exam chair. Meghan took a seat and watched him as he dug out a blood pressure cuff and pulse ox. She held out her arm for the cuff and sat patiently as he took her blood pressure, having already placed the pulse ox probe on her other hand.

“Still a little low, there, Meghan. Has anyone looked into why you seem to have a chronically low blood pressure?” He removed the cuff and the probe, setting them on the counter.

“No, it’s never been checked out. I just figured it was my personal normal – just like some people have a normally lower body temperature. Really?” She gave Mitch a look as he turned back to her holding a rectal thermometer and a tube of lube.

“You know my temperature protocol here.” Meghan sighed, but stood, undid her pants, and lay down on the exam chair on her stomach. She lifted her hips enough to slide down her pants and panties and waited for the inevitable. Mitch quickly got the thermometer inserted in Meghan’s rectum and registered. He removed it from her bottom and she sat up, pulling up her underwear and pants. “Leave them unbuttoned. I’ll do a quick exam.” Meghan rolled her eyes again but complied, sitting back down on the table.

Mitch listened to her heart and lungs, did a quick probe of her abdomen, and looked at her eyes, ears, and nose. “Looking good. Let me get something prepped for you for that headache.” He stepped away from Meghan’s side, heading to the cabinets and pulling out medications and syringes. He soon returned to her side with two syringes.

Meghan frowned. “What’s that?”

“Toradol for the headache, and B-12 to keep you going. We just got you well – don’t want you getting sick again.” Mitch smiled kindly.

“True,” Meghan agreed. She looked at the syringes. “Do you need an arm or a hip?”

“Hip,” Mitch confirmed. Meghan pulled down her pants and underwear enough for Mitch to access her left hip, lying on her right side on the exam chair.

Mitch cleaned her hip with an alcohol pad and administered both medications. Meghan winced but didn’t say anything. She turned down his offer of a band-aid, pulling her clothes back into place and sitting up. “Thanks, Mitch.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, as he disposed of the syringes and trash. “I’m thinking our coffee should still be warm.”

Meghan chuckled. She made her way back to the kitchen, where Kelsey was brewing another pot of coffee. “I thought I’d better make more, just in case.” Mitch joined them a few minutes later and poured refills for everyone.

“Mitch? Could low blood pressure be a sign of something more serious? I mean, I know it’s a sign of shock or cardiac issues, but is it a sign of other health issues?” Meghan asked after a few minutes.

“Well,” Mitch said thoughtfully, “low blood pressure can be typical with shock and cardiac issues, as you mentioned, as well as in pregnancy. It’s also common in dehydration or with a severe allergic reaction, as you well know. But it can also be common with certain vitamin deficiencies or with some endocrine disorders, such as Addison’s disease. But then again, some people also just naturally have a lower blood pressure.”

“Hmmm. Well, I feel fine, and I know I’m not pregnant,” Meghan giggled.

Kelsey and Mitch laughed. “That’s good to know, sis!”

“Well, it’s the truth! Now, if I settle down with a handsome husband that might change. But for now, that’s how I want it to stay!”

Kelsey smiled. “Well, maybe I need to see about hooking you up with someone. I wouldn’t mind a niece or nephew to spoil and send back home!”

“Speak for yourself, sis!” Meghan bantered back.

Mitch just laughed. “Back to your question, Meghan. It’s not urgent to medically check on that blood pressure of yours. But if you keep having problems – like more fainting spells – I’d recommend getting it checked out, just in case.”

She nodded. “I’ll keep it in mind.” She took another drink of her coffee.