Page 30 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"It does."

She gave me a warm smile and turned toward me.

"So..."

She took a sip of her coffee.

"I came for two reasons."

"What are they?"

"First," she said, pointing at the cup in my hands. "Coffee."

"And the second?"

"I want to hear your story, the real one."

I wrapped both hands around the cold cup.

For a moment, I wasn't sure how much of myself I was ready to share.

"Come on, let's go to my office."

Simone smiled, and we walked back into my office. She let her fingers glide over the floating shelves, pausing at the framed nursing pin next to one of my favorite books.

"You’re a nurse?" I smiled faintly.

"I was. In the emergency room."

"Was?"

I glanced down at my coffee.

"Yeah."

"You don't miss it?"

I answered before I could soften my response.

"No."

The word lingered between us longer than I meant. I cleared my throat.

"I loved taking care of people."

That part was true.

"I just couldn't handle the emergency room anymore."

Simone nodded softly and waited without pressing me.

"Some shifts," I said quietly, "stay with you even after you leave."

I ran my fingers around the rim of my coffee cup.

"And eventually, you realize they never really go away."

We sat in silence for a moment.