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And I know it’s not a medical discussion, but it’s Grayson I want to talk to about it all.
“What’s bringing you joy right now?” Wanda asks.
“Dates cut short by medical emergencies.” The words come out fast, and I surprise myself by laughing. It’s not elegant, this laugh. My breathing is still altered by my crying jag, and there’s some gulping for air, but Wanda watches me and waits for details, the hint of a smile raising her lips.
“I’ve been out a few times with Grayson Mercer,” I say.
A smile grows on my face big and fast—Jack’s beanstalk big and fast. Wanda’s smile almost matches mine.
“You approve?” I ask, although it’s clear she does.
Wanda nods. “Nothing delights me more than to see our Chamberlain employees happy.”
I wipe my eyes again, pretty sure I’m finished crying. “You mean nothing makes you happier than matchmaking?” I ask. “When I was a student here, we were pretty sure you were setting teachers up.”
Wanda puts a hand to her heart, makes a sound of protest, and laughs. “I could deny it, but what would be the point? It’s my favorite unofficial capacity.”
I nod. “And this is why you can never leave. We need you. For all the happiness that comes from your unofficial capacities.”
Wanda shakes her head and gives me a teasing grin. “There are one or two other things I oversee here, you know.”
“Oh, I know,” I say. Do I really have any idea what’s involved with running the Chamberlain trust? No. Do I believe it’s a massive undertaking? Obviously.
Wanda reaches into her purse and pulls out a small card. “Will you please reach out to Theodore B. Halverson?” she asks.
I glance at the writing on the card. It has a name and an email address in Wanda’s handwriting. I realize she could have made this much easier on herself by simply forwarding the email to me. Or by having Michael Carraway do it. But she wanted to speak with me. To sit with me and share a cup of tea. I bet she wasn’t planning on this visit being such an emotional punch, but I appreciate the time. And I love her for making me feel like I’m worth her effort.
But can I promise her I’ll call him? Can I take that step? I know it seems small to her, but it feels enormous to me.
She must see the stress-fear cross my face, because before I can say anything, she speaks again. “Just a message. A digital conversation. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
I’ve heard those words in a lot of scenarios in my life, so why is this moment so comforting?
Maybe it’s because she doesn’t need me to make this concert happen. It’s already in the schedule. Maybe Wanda just has magic vibes that make life better for everyone in her orbit.
What I know for sure is that I feel better now than I did ten minutes ago.
I can take steps that are the right thing to do even if they’re scaring me.
And Wanda Chamberlain is on my side.
14
GRAYSON
It’s Friday morning. I saw Sage yesterday. Right here in the clinic. Right over there under that tree that now has a broken limb. Right in front of her apartment where she ran out and kissed me on the cheek.
But I want to see her again. And I don’t want to wait until Sunday.
I send her a text when I have a few minutes between patients.‘How do you eat dinner when you work evenings?’
I guess I should have started with something about how she feels today, or if she’s having any leftover shock symptoms. Oops. I hope she’s not offended that I’m not being sensitive to last night’s trauma.
‘The regular way, I guess?’
Is she making fun of me? I mean, I deserve it. And if she’s joking, she must feel good. Or at least not-awful.
‘I mean, do you get a break? Leave the library?’
