AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, right!” Michael shrugged and watched suspiciously as she cleaned up his knees for him before she took a fresh wipe from the open packet and gently wiped around the wound on his forehead.
“That was quite a knock you took. You know your mom might want to take you to the hospital to get you checked out.”
“No, she won’t.”
“Well, maybe I should talk to her about that,” she suggested.
Michael shrugged. “Okay, if you wanna. I live next to Paddle Brook Way, come on.”
The two walked companionably up to the top of the road, passing Carmichael Drive on their right. When they reached the Mini-Mart, Michael begged Josie to let him go inside to buy some candy. “Look, I have money, I was only supposed to come here to buy my candy and go home again. I have to have the candy. My kid brother, Buddy, wants liquorice sticks ‘cos he loves them. Plea-se, miss!”
Josie sighed. “All right, we’ll go in for candy, but you need to be quick.”
“Thanks, you won’t tell that I was that far down the street, near the Dome, will you?”
“Only if you promise me that you won’t go that far down the road near the Dome or the car park again, deal?”
“Deal!” Michael stuck out his hand and Josie shook it with a grin.
She waited in line with Michael until he’d paid for his candy. Josie noticed a woman come in the door. She waved frantically, trying to attract Michael’s attention. When she failed, she dodged around the customers, hurrying over to them.
“Michael, what happened to you?” she asked, sounding anxious. Michael appeared startled by her arrival, his expression turned guilty. The young woman swung around to glare at Josie.
“Who are you and what happened to Michael?”
Josie moved forward and put her arm about Michael’s shoulders.
The young woman became more agitated. “Who do you think you are? Take your hands off my son!”
She dropped her arm from around the boy, immediately stepping away from him. “Hey, it’s okay! My name is Josie Carter, I helped Michael when he fell off his skateboard just now. I was seeing him safely home, is all.”
The young woman visibly relaxed. “I see. I’m sorry, it’s just that I panic when any of the boys are hurt. Are you really okay, Michael?”
“Yeah, Cadence, I’m fine!” Michael shrugged. Josie cocked her head and gave a meaningful cough. Michael and Cadence glanced at her.
“Michael?” his mother asked questioningly.
Josie put a hand on her arm. “I’m a pediatric nurse. I think Michael should be seen by a doctor because he banged his head quite hard, on a lamp post.”
“But I feel fine, Mom, there’s no need to call Dad,pleasedon’t tell him!” Michael interrupted.
“You know it’ll be me who pays the price if Idon’tcall your father. This nurse said you need to see a doctor.” Cadence turned her sharp-eyed gaze back to Josie. “Youarea nurse at the Corbin’s Bend medical hospital, right?”
Josie smiled and nodded in what she hoped was a reassuring manner.
“You’ll know my husband then, Doctor Marcus Devon? I’m his wife, Cadence, and this is my step-son, Michael.”
Josie blanched. Oh shit, could this day get any better? She held out her hand and Cadence shook it, giving her a friendly smile.
“Hi Cadence, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Josie Carter, my partner Max and I are moving to Corbin’s Bend and I am staying with my grandparents, Liam and Nicky O’Donnell. At least until our application is processed.”
“Ah yes, I know Liam and Nicky. I’ve heard them talking about you so often. You’re going to be working up at The Medical Center then?”
Josie frowned and Cadence asked what was wrong.
“I guess you could say I might be, although your husband and I didn’t exactly hit it off today. In fact, to be honest, I don’t think he liked me very much.” She grinned sheepishly.
“Yeah? Well that sounds like Marcus; he’s a major alpha, alpha male! Always the stickler for everything being just so and correct, most especially at work, but believe me, he’s very kind.”
