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“Yeah. We…had some good times, Marlow,” he says.
I’m shaking my head, the anger too thick to say anything.
“Those early days when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other—”
“I’m not going down memory lane with you, Cash. And you know what? Our times weren’t that good. Sign the papers, preferably as soon as you get off the phone. Okay? Thanks, bye.”
I hang up and try to take a few calming breaths, sounding like an asthmatic as I sit and fume. I close my eyes and breathe in the mountain air, and the summer breeze lifts the hair away from my face, calming me. The heat in Texas would be unbearable right now. This feels like my dream weather, and as I think about Pine Community Hospital, I hope that this will also be my dream job.
I open my eyes and Wyatt is standing there.
All I can think of is Sofie’s fake-swear that she pulled out of her hat in front of Dakota and it’s stuck ever since,dammi-dalmatian.
“How long have you been standing there?” I ask.
“Long enough to wonder if you’re all right.”
I lift a shoulder, surprised by his bordering-on-kind tone. He hasn’t used it with me before.
“I will be,” I finally say. I shake my head slightly. “No, Iam.I’m better than all right.”
He assesses me carefully and I shiver, rubbing a hand over my arm. His eyes track the movement before he swallows and lifts his hand to adjust the collar of his button-down shirt.
“Good,” he says simply. “I’m glad.”
He says it like he genuinely cares and for some reason, the kindness brings tears to my eyes.
I look down to my bag and reach inside for the stress ball I’d dropped back in there, anything to keep from crying.
“You play ball?” he asks, his voice almost playful.
I shift my lips to the side as if I’m annoyed, but I’m just biding time because I don’t know what to do with myself around an almost nice Wyatt.
“If squeezing the bejeezus out of stress balls counts as playing ball, then yes.” I squeeze it as tight as I can and can’t hold back the smile when he winces.
He clears his throat and nods. “I’m surprised the ball hasn’t exploded by now.” His eyes widen and his mouth parts. “That-I…” He points behind him. “I better get to work.”
I laugh as he stalks off. That was…interesting. I didn’t expect to see that side of Dr. Wiseass today. Or ever. But as embarrassing as that whole exchange was, it got my mind off of Cash before this interview.
Dr. Langley is actually the one who told me about this job opening when I saw her last week for Dakota’s follow-up visit. When she found out I planned on staying in Landmark, she offhandedly said, “Well, we have a few openings around here if you need a job,” and I jumped on it immediately.
If I don’t get the job as the front desk receptionist, I’ll apply for the cafeteria. I’m not picky. I have some savings left from my grandparents’ estate, but I don’t really want to touch that any more than I have to. I hope I don’t have to see Dr. Wyatt much, but I really need the job.
I walk into the hospital, my heels clicking against the floor and I stop at the front desk, smiling at the elderly lady sitting there. I recognize her from Grinny’s party, but I didn’t meet her that night.
“Hello, I’m Marlow…” I pause before saying my last name. I’d really like to change my name back to Walker, so I don’t want everyone here getting used to Hennessy.
She smiles and her curly hair lifts with her smile. “Hello. Sofie told me about you. I’d hoped to meet you at the party, but it was so crowded…crowds aren’t really my thing.” She laughs. “I’m Helen.” She stands up and motions for me to follow her. “I hear you’re interviewing for this job. I’ve been filling in when I can since Naomi left. Before she came, I worked here for thirty years…” She shakes her head and I fall into step beside her. “Looks a lot different now than it did back then.”
I admire the tall ceilings and the piano we pass beyond the front desk. It opens into an atrium, couches and small tables set up to enjoy the music and the view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“It’s the prettiest hospital I’ve ever seen,” I say.
She nods, pleased. “Isn’t it? Dr. Wyatt oversaw the renovations for this place. He really had a vision for what would be a healing environment.”
The man is just full of surprises.
Once we’re past the atrium, we go down a hallway and she stops at the first door.
