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“Not yet. I know they’re going to open the application sometime this summer, but I doubt I’ll get it. Rebecca has seniority.”
“I heard she doesn’t want it.”
That caught her attention. She turned from the stove to look at him. “Where did you hear that?”
“In the hospital.” He grinned. “You’d be surprised how much the nursing staff gossips.”
“Actually, I wouldn’t,” she said with a laugh.
After setting a pot of water to boil and pouring oil into the wok to heat, she began chopping vegetables. But her mind wasn’t on the task. Truthfully, she hadn’t given a lot of thought to the head nurse position in the last few weeks, for good reason.
“Did Rebecca say why she didn’t want it?”
“Just that she wasn’t interested in the extra responsibility,” Steven said. “I also got the impression she’s not that ambitious. She seems happy where she is.”
“Hmm.” If Rebecca wasn’t planning to put herself in the running, Rose might actually have a shot.
“I also heard Dr. Myers say he thought you would be the best fit for the job.”
Rose stopped chopping and stared at Steven. “What?”
“You must have made quite the impression on him with all your double shifts.”
“Not that I had much choice in the matter,” Rose replied through gritted teeth.
“Sounds like I’m not the only one who needs to find a better work-life balance,” he teased.
She glared at him. “Not funny.” Returning her focus to the vegetables, she racked her brain for a change of subject. She didn’t want to get within even a hair’s breadth of an argument that evening. “How are things going with the home health aides?”
“Rather well. They’re always on time and insanely efficient.”
“That’s good to hear.” Though it did surprise her. While the hospital was understaffed, she’d heard the shortage of home health aides was becoming its own epidemic, particularly in rural areas. As the population aged, more people needed assistance in their homes. That had been one of her main concerns when Steven had insisted on leaving the rehab facility after only two weeks. Knowing he was being well cared for eased some of her worry.
“But I’m not sure I’ll need them much longer.”
Rose froze. What could he possibly mean by that? Clearing her throat, she focused on her chopping. “Why do you say that?”
“Dad and Lanie come by every day, and they help with food prep. The only thing I need the aides for is transitioning, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to do more in PT once this blasted cast is removed.”
The tightness in her chest eased a little, but she frowned as she dumped the chopped vegetables into the oil and stirred. Something about what he’d said didn’t sit right with her.
“The cast isn’t due off for at least another two weeks, right?”
“That’s what Marvin said.” Steven shrugged. “But that’s not that far away now.”
The pot of water was finally boiling, and Rose added rice to it. Then she removed chicken that had been marinating in teriyaki sauce and added it to the wok.
She glanced over at him and chose her next words carefully. “I would suggest tempering your expectations regarding your recovery. It might not be as swift as you would like.”
“It’s already slower than I want,” Steven grumbled. “But I’ve been doing some research, and once the cast is off, I expect to make a lot more progress.” He leaned his head back against his chair and stared at the ceiling. “And the sooner I do, the sooner things can return to normal.”
Warning bells went off in Rose’s head. He was so focused on his ability to walk, he seemed to conveniently forget his heart condition. Her desire to keep the peace between them clashed with her concerns about his health. She’d bitten her tongue multiple times that evening, and she wouldn’t be surprised if she’d put a hole in it.
Instead of responding, she busied herself with finishing dinner. She stirred the vegetables and chicken together in the wok and checked the rice. Everything was coming along nicely. If only she could say the same about her relationship.
She grabbed two plates and silverware before stepping around Steven and setting the dining room table. On her way back in, he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. She hoped her smile looked more genuine than it felt.
“What would you like to drink?” she asked.
