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“Oh my God, look at that rock! Who’s the lucky guy? How did you meet him? I didn’t even know you were dating!”
When she pauses for breath, I tell her that Peter and I have been dating on and off for some time, but that our relationship wasn’t serious because of his job, which required a lot of travel abroad. Now, however, he’s going to be doing something else, so we decided to take the next step and got engaged.
“We’re not planning a big wedding,” I say before she can launch into the next set of questions. “Instead, we’re going to have a small ceremony this Saturday, and I would love it if you and your husband could attend. I know it’s short notice, but—”
She squeals again and hugs me. “Oh, thank you, honey—I’m so honored! We’ll definitely be there. Did you already tell Bill and Wendy?”
I grin at her excited face. “No, I’m about to.”
“Oh, then go do that. Right now. I can’t wait to see the look on Bill’s face when he finds out I was right.” At my raised eyebrows, she explains, “I bet him twenty bucks that a pretty girl like you must have a boyfriend.” And as I burst out laughing, she sticks her head out to the waiting area and says, “I don’t see your patient yet, so you have a couple of minutes.”
“Thanks, Annabelle.” I laugh as she makes shooing motions with her hands. “I’m going, I promise.”
I hurry to my bosses’ office before Annabelle can physically drag me there, and knock on the door.
“Wendy? Bill? Do you guys have a second?”
Wendy opens the door a second later. “Of course, my dear. How can I help you?” Her smile is as soft as the white hair puffing out around her kind face. Everything about the female Dr. Otterman is kind, from the gentle tone of her voice to the way she regularly calls her patients to check up on them.
Working with her is an absolute pleasure, even with her grouchy husband always at her side.
“Is Bill here?” I ask, then see him sitting behind her, chowing down on a sandwich nearly as big as his mustache.
He gives me his customary glare and puts down the sandwich. “What is it?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he hates me. But he’s like this with everyone, patients included, so I don’t take it personally.
According to the nurses, the more he glowers at you, the more he likes you.
“Well…” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Annabelle come up to stand next to me. She clearly can’t resist seeing the aforementioned look on Bill’s face firsthand. “I was wondering if you guys have plans this Saturday,” I say, figuring it’s best not to make a big deal of it. “I’m getting married in a small, low-key ceremony, and—”
“You what?” Bill’s grizzled mustache quivers as his gaze falls to my left hand. “You’re engaged?”
“As of yesterday,” I say, lifting my hand to display the ring. “I know it’s short notice, so if you have other plans, it’s totally—”
“Oh, no, we’ll be there, my dear. Congratulations.” Wendy beams at me and reaches out to squeeze my right hand. “Who’s the lucky gentleman?” She peers at my left hand. “That’s a beautiful ring he gave you.”
Bill’s mustache refuses to stop moving. “You have a boyfriend?” His glower deepens as he gets to his feet. “We didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
I smile and repeat my explanation about us being on and off and Peter traveling a lot before. “So now we’re ready to take the next step,” I conclude and glance up at the clock on the wall. “Oh, look at that. My patient is probably here now,” I say, and watch as grinning Annabelle hurries back to her post.
“Sorry, I have to run,” I tell my bosses. “So you’ll be there?”
“With bells and whistles on,” Bill says sourly.
I take that to mean he’s happy for me as well, and with a cheerful wave at Wendy, I hurry off, pleased that this part of my task, at least, went off without a hitch.
Now I just have to tell everyone else—and then explain it to my parents.
I have an appointment cancellation in the second half of the afternoon, so I use that time to start making the necessary calls.
Simon and Rory don’t pick up, so I leave them a voicemail to call me. Phil, however, must already be done with his workday at school, because he picks up on the first ring.
“Hey, there you are. We thought your mystery boyfriend might’ve carried you off,” he says, and I laugh, hoping he can’t hear the semi-hysterical note in the sound.
He’s joking, but Peter could’ve easily made me disappear.
That’s what I thought was going to happen when I left the bar with him.
