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“I’ve always taught older kids, fifth grade, but when I moved, I wanted a challenge, and let me tell you, I sure found one, but I love it.”
She turns around, just enough to start on the head of lettuce sitting on the countertop.
“And I assume you’re a nurse, like Bridge?”
“Yeah, I find passion in that, too, along with being a mother.”
I’m about to say something, anything about seeing her again, when Simon appears in the kitchen out of nowhere.
“Oh, good, Gibs, you’re up. Would I be able to get your help out in the garden?”
I don’t take my stare off of Charis. “Yeah, just give me a second. I’ll be out.”
“All right then.” Simon pauses, as I hear the creak to the back of the door. “Hey, Charis,” Simon begins, “I’ll see you later. I know your date’s excited, too.” Simon reveals a lot in the little amount of time he’s been in our presence.
Yeah, leave it to the doctor to be rooting for another doctor, his mate. Damn them all. I don’t want to go out in the “garden” and help, and only want to continue talking to this interesting and, for bonus points, beautiful person in front of me.
“Well, duty calls.” I turn around, only to do a complete 360, facing Charis again. “Um, this may be shitty timing, and I might be way out of bounds here. But I’d love to take you out one day, soon, actually.” Oh, fuck, I’m coming off like a stalker.
A response isn’t forthcoming, not at all, and I decide to tuck my tail between my legs and make haste.
She pulls at my arm to stop me. “Yeah, Gibson, I’d like that, but I’ve got to warn you, my fucking life is a mess right now. So, if you can accept that, I’d love to catch dinner or a movie or both with you one night.”
I’m glad I gave her a second to respond. “You know what, Charis, drama never bothered me. I look forward to it. I’ll catch you later today.”
And just like that, the sour mood the Irish doctor put me in last night is gone and replaced with hope.
* * *
“DoesSimon’s best mate have competition?” Bridget has snuck in behind me, as everyone begins to arrive for their big to-do of a barbeque.
I know she’s trying to dig. I’d do the same thing if the shoes were reversed. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mrs. Nosey.”
Her hands find her hips immediately. “So will this cause the war of the worlds between my husband and me, as I root for my best mate and he roots for his?”
“I’m your best mate?” I ask, my impression of an English accent being murdered at the same time.
“Yeah, Gibs, you’re my best mate, you know that. And Charis, well, she’s like a younger sister to me. I’ve been pushing her to Stone for so long, I never thought of you. And the whole gun thing. I’m still absolutely astonished over that.”
Her words don’t hit me at first, not when Simon’s in the entryway of their house, greeting the guests and a familiar accent, not Simon’s, carries into the kitchen.
“Um, Bridge, what did you say?”
She’s found her way over to several of the side dishes, placing spatulas and spoons in them. “Oh, the gun thing. I wish I could have seen it all, along with the look on Jimmy’s stupid face.”
The accent grows closer. “No, not that.” I’m a little annoyed because can’t she understand where I’m going with this? Okay, so I’m being a little unrealistic. “No, Simon’s best mate. What did you say his name is?”
“Oh, it’s Stone O’Leary. You may know him. I believe his son is a student at your school now that I think about it.”
Stone O’Leary is Charis’s doctor date. My Stone, the one who rocked my world just days ago. And if this isn’t a blow to my system, in walks Charis, holding the hand of the doctor, my doctor. His eyes reach mine, and by the look on his face, he’s just as surprised as I am.
