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Getting attached and going months without seeing each other would be unbearable. It was best to cut things off before they could progress any further.
“I got a call this morning from one of the doctors I know at the hospital,” I said, hating myself for lying to him. “She asked if I could shadow her for the next three weeks. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
I waited for him to say something, but there was only silence; it was deafening. Jensen wasn’t stupid. Even though it was a good lie, he could always see right through me. I wasn’t the type of girl to run from a sticky situation. Usually, I bolted headfirst into them, but I couldn’t do that this time. I didn’t want to deal with my feelings, not when I had more important things to worry about.
Jensen let out a sigh, and it made my chest tighten. “You do what you have to do, Everleigh,” he said. “But I want you to know I don’t regret last night. I’ll be here when you want to talk. Just call me when you’re ready.”
“I will,” I whispered softly, barely able to get the words out. “Goodbye, Jensen.”
I couldn’t bear to hear him say goodbye to me, so I hung up before he could. But then, the tears started flowing freely as an avalanche of emotion came crashing down on me.
Was I ever going to be ready to talk to him?
One day, I would be . . . but it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
2
EVERLEIGH
TWELVE YEARS LATER
Sunlight.
Warmth.
The sun glinted off the ocean’s surface, glimmering like a million tiny diamond shards. I stepped onto the beach and felt the granules of sand move beneath my feet as the waves lapped against my toes.
A gentle breeze blew back my hair and carried with it the distinctive smell of saltwater mixed with the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle from my grandmother’s garden. It was a scent that had come to represent home to me. I breathed it in deeply, feeling nostalgia wash over me.
Standing by the water’s edge, I took a moment to take in the sight before me—a vast blue expanse shimmering under the rising sun. I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face as I thought about how amazing it was going to feel to walk in my grandmother’s garden again soon, to see the beautiful flowers and enjoy the tranquility.
When I was a kid, I spent hours helping her with all the planting she wanted, including digging the massive hole for the man-made pond she just had to have. I was happy to do it, though; I cherished the memories with my grandmother and our talks about love and life while sitting by the honeysuckle bushes. It won't be long until I am able to see my family again.
“Dr. Abbott?”
I was lost in thought when the sound of my name jolted me back to reality. I didn’t even realize I was standing by the sink with the warm water running over my hands. I had been yearning to escape the four walls of the hospital locker room, an area I had spent many days and long nights in. This was where I changed into my scrubs, prepped for surgeries, and sadly mourned when some patients didn’t make it. Despite knowing that death was inevitable, it still hurt deeply. I hadn’t allowed myself free time to contemplate anything except my job as a doctor for years—until now. Thoughts of vacations had slowly crept in and captivated my mind, preventing me from realizing where I truly was.
“Dr. Abbott?”
The voice reminded me that I wasn’t off the clock yet. I stepped away from the sink and shut off the water, stealing a glance at my surgical tech as she gazed upon me with amusement in her crystal blue eyes.
Mera was thirty, only four years younger than me, with deep chocolate-colored hair that she always wore up in a bun. Her light blue scrubs matched her eyes perfectly. We had just completed a pituitary tumor removal—the last of my surgeries for the day—and it was also the last one I’d be doing for two months. I had requested the entire summer off, and that vacation was set to begin tomorrow morning.
Mera tried to mask her smile, but it was no use. She wasn’t just a nurse, she was a friend. The way we moved together during surgery felt like magic; I swear Mera could read my mind sometimes. During critical moments, we were quick and efficient, which was what you needed when someone’s life was on the line. When Mera and I first met, an instant connection was born between us. Mera stepped closer to me, her lips twitching in suppressed laughter.
“I turn my back for one moment, and you’re already off in la-la land,” she said, releasing her bun and running a hand through her short curls.
“What can I say? That’s the life of an overachiever,” I replied with a laugh.
Drawing out a paper towel from the dispenser, I dried off my hands and thought about my path so far. I had never taken a truly long vacation since I finished high school sixteen years ago; it had been college straight into residency and then working as a neurosurgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. It was a dream come true—just like my dad had always hoped for me.
Feeling a surge of excitement within me, I met my gaze in the bathroom mirror. My caramel-blonde hair had grown past my shoulders, framing my heart-shaped face, and there was joy sparkling in my hazel-green eyes.
“And now I’m taking the whole summer off to show my grandmother around the world,” I added happily.
I barely had time to spend with her since I finished my residency two years ago. Even my parents see very little of me due to the long hours I worked each week. However, they did make it a point to fly up and visit occasionally.
The moment I returned home, though, I was ready to take Grammy on an adventure to the Caribbean. My parents planned to join us in Aruba in a couple of weeks.
