“You’re going to stick it in the envelope like that?”
She shrugged. “Yep. Maybe she’ll think I sent her an empty envelope for once and then bam, it drops out like a nice surprise. I’m sure she wouldn’t put stuff past me. I’ve wrapped earrings in a small box before, and placed it in multiple larger boxes. Then I gift wrapped that baby in duct tape.”
I chuckled, displaying a wide smile. She and her mother seemed to have the best relationship. I wondered if she got her happy-go-lucky personality from her, too. “Do you send her money often?” I felt like a shitty son all of a sudden. I’d thought I was good, because I’d always remembered to send birthday and anniversary cards.
“Yep. Every other week, when I get my paycheck. I started doing it when I graduated and began working. The first time, she sent the check back and wouldn’t accept it. I just about flipped on her.” Her infectious laughter rippled through the room. “She’s so used to taking care of me. It’s just a great change to take care of her.” She peered up at me with pride in her eyes. “I love my mama. She’s been through a lot.” Her voice trailed off as her smile dimmed. “Being a single mom is hard . . . and I’m just happy I can finally give back.”
Behind the counter, the older attendant with a full head of grey motioned for Kendy to step forward. I stood behind her as my jaw tightened, a slew of emotions filling me. There were so many facets of Kendy’s life I didn’t know about. Her cheery exterior was a façade, holding in a young woman who’d been through her own struggles in life.
When she was finished, she strolled out the door and, once again, I followed.
She went on as we walked down the crowded street. “My father left us when I was eleven. From eleven to seventeen, I waited for him to come back. It wasn’t until that psychic told me to stop waiting that I knew he was never coming home.”
A sad smile passed over her beautiful face. “It’s hard waiting and wishing and thinking that every day I might wake up and he’d be right there beside me.” She shook her head as her chin trembled. “I hoped and prayed he’d come back, just to mend my mama, who would not stop crying. I never told her I saw the psychic, though. I didn’t have the heart. I didn’t know which was the lesser evil, breaking her heart or letting her hope with no future.”
She dropped her lashes to hide the hurt. “The next week, just like Evangeline had predicted, I saw him with his new girlfriend at a county fair, one town over. Fucking bastard. He saw me and just turned away.” She nodded once and, as she lifted her head, I sensed a glimmer of hope pass through her eyes. “That psychic was the best thing that ever happened to me. I stopped waiting for something that was never going to happen.”
As I stared at her profile, I noticed she looked lighter. Like a little bit of her shell had broken off. I reached for her hand, locking our fingers. If anything, our connection made me feel better.
A tiny smile touched her lips. “Now I’m just waiting for this last prediction to come true.”
I nodded once, slowly coming to the realization and understanding why she needed everything she’d been told to come true. “It will.” I patted her hand to reassure her. What I said was meant to comfort her, yet it had an opposite effect on me as my stomach churned at my own words.
***
KENDY
I had rushed Brian out of my apartment in the early morning, hoping I could get a little shut-eye before my twelve-hour shift.
Today, the hospital was unusually chaotic. We had already treated two gunshot wounds, both cases I’d been assigned to. When my butt finally hit the seat at the nurses’ station, my whole body collapsed against the chair. I felt like I’d been on my feet forever. All I wanted to do was soak them in some warm water and get a pedicure.
My hand moved the mouse, bringing the computer to life. Once in the system, I typed my write-up for my last case. When I spotted Dr. Klein from the corner of my eye, I perked up, looking studious.
But remembering him walking out of the bar with that chick had irked me.
I pulled all my hair to the side, flattening my unruly mane, probably crazy from the long day. My eyes flickered discretely in Dr. Klein’s direction. He looked hot as hell, which eased up the annoyance a little.
Karen, the charge nurse, wheeled out Mrs. Calley from room two-oh-one. She had been admitted for dehydration and was on observation. The woman, no younger than seventy-five, brightened when Dr. Klein raised his head.
The scene broke my mood, the corners of my mouth pulling up as it unfolded in front of me. I could tell she had a little crush on a certain doctor as she smiled big and spoke fast. Her loud voice could also be blamed on her hearing aid, but it was more likely Dr. Klein.
Get in line, Mrs. Calley, I thought humorously.
“Adeline, I see you’re doing much better,” he said, easing next to her. “Looking good now. In a few days, you’ll be back to a hundred percent. You’ll have to keep drinking liquids and stay out of the heat.”
Her wrinkly hand patted his as she peered at him. “I’m just glad it wasn’t anything more serious. I could’ve fallen again and bruised my hip. That would require a longer stay.”
He chuckled lightly. “How is that hip of yours doing?”
“Better.” She nodded. “Still a little sore after that surgery, but better.”
Observing her cheerful demeanor, I wondered if she’d ask Dr. Klein to massage it. I would. Even at the tender age of seventy-five, I was sure my personality would never change.
He patted her hand this time. “Don’t worry. Nothing a couple of Tylenols and rest won’t cure.”
Her laugh was carefree, making my smile widen at her display of affection toward my doctor. Normally, jealousy would surface, but not when the woman with a full head of grey hair looked giddy staring up at his face. The woman reminded me of my own nana, my grandmother I had loved so much.
“Thank you, doctor,” she cooed, her eyes lighting up.
“You take care and do call us if you have any concerns.” He placed her hands back on her lap and smiled sweetly before touching her shoulder and sauntering my way.
I ducked my head back to the computer, pretending to type, which ended up with random letters and a word I didn’t understand on my screen.
I sensed his presence looming above me. When I looked up, there he was in all his handsome glory. My pulse quickened in my throat, and the insides of my palms formed tiny sweat beads.
Boy, was he dreamy; even more so up close.
Inwardly, I sighed. But I composed myself and peered up. “Hi.”
He leaned into me, like he wanted to be closer, and my whole body went into overdrive. “Did you do something with your hair?” There was this sly grin on his face. He was definitely flirting, and now it was my turn to play coy as I glanced down at the keyboard.
“Well, Dr. Klein, I didn’t get it cut or anything, if that’s what you’re asking.” I flipped my hair over my other shoulder, making eye contact. “But I did curl it today.”
The side of his mouth twisted into a half smile as he took a strand of hair between his fingertips, making me die of utter happiness. “It looks great, Kendy. You should curl it more often. Oh, and from now on, you can call me James.”
He winked then walked away, and I watched his perfectly sculpted ass move down the hall. My stomach stirred, full of butterflies. Holy hottie.
If he loved curls, I’d seriously consider getting a perm.
I scanned the area, searching for anyone who had witnessed the love fest that had just happened. Then I touched my cheeks, just like the kid in Home Alone, trying to get my pulse to return to a normal rate.
It worked.
I couldn’t believe it frickin’ worked!
The scheme to make him all jealous at the bar with Brian had gotten me noticed.