Fearless Fern
I tried to focus on the lubing task at hand, but my brain latched on to the vision of Fern’s mouth on mine and wasn’t letting go. Best friend’s sister. Best friend’s sister. “So what kind of nurse are you?”
“I’m a surgical nurse.”
I looked at her delicate hands with pale pink polish on her nails and imagined them saving lives. Kind of hot. “You like blood and guts, I take it.”
She let out a little hum that vibrated through my mid-section. “I do. It’s kind of my thing.”
“So, what’s the latest surgery nurse Novotny participated in?”
“That would be a heart valve replacement surgery last week before I flew home.”
“Impressive.”
Her hair fell over her shoulder as she looked up at my face, causing something to tighten that shouldn’t be at the sight of my friend Dave’s sis.
“Again, I’m really sorry about your eye. It looks sore.”
“It’s nothing. But it would be the first shiner I’ve been given by a lady.”
She winked, and I felt like a dopy pup. “I find that hard to believe.”
I looked over as her blue eyes twinkled at me. Ugh. You are the new and improved Gabe. Be a gentleman.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone a girl kicked your ass.” She lubed up another. “So, we know I’m here a few days early because I’m a horrible Maid of Honor. What about you? Did you want some quiet time before the party this weekend?”
“Something like that. It’s been a little crazy with the wedding happening during hockey season, but I get it. Ed’s grandfather isn’t doing well so they want to make sure he’s there, but it’s been a lot with games, practice, and wedding stuff.”
“I know, it’s tough, but Tawnee is so happy everybody’s on board. So I take it you just needed some chill time?” Fern asked.
“Yeah, I needed to escape my life for a bit.” I took a candlestick from the table. “I know you’re a busy nurse saving humanity, but I have to tell you, Dave is not happy that you’re off nursing around the world.”
“Yes, my mother has lost her marbles over this more than once. But I’m visiting all the places I’ve dreamed about. In the past four years, I’ve lived in Alaska, London, Hawaii, and more recently, England and Spain.”
I wanted to know if there was a Spaniard boyfriend I needed to find and destroy. “Have you always wanted to travel the world?”
“No. I went to nursing school at the University of Nebraska with plans of coming back to the cities to start a career. But then I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.”
I knew Novots in college, and I went away and played for the Dallas Stars hockey club for two years before coming back to Minnesota. It was during that time he called and lost it over the cancer his sister had. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“It was brutal, scary, and sucked. I was young and felt as if life had kicked my ass. So, after chemo, I decided I was no longer talking about someday. Someday is today. That’s when I joined a company that places traveling nurses. We get to select positions anywhere from three weeks to ten months, and I get to see the world while helping people at the same time. I know Dave and my parents want me closer, but I still see them every few months in person, and FaceTime my mother almost daily.”
“I came to the Wild just after you left. I remember Dave talking about how strong you are. I’m glad you’re living your dream.”
“Me too. You grew up in Minnesota, right?”
I nodded. “Yes. I met Dave at state hockey in high school, and then we played together in college.”
“Oh, how I remember Dave at State. I remember hearing about you, too.” She leaned over and grabbed a candlestick. “Do you see your family often?”
“No, I don’t really have a family.” There was a yank in my gut. “I was in the foster care system at age seven because my bio-mom couldn’t take care of me.” I could feel her eyes. It was the opposite kind of childhood she and Dave had. “I was in and out of foster homes and eventually landed with the most incredible single woman who adopted me and changed my life. She herself was an only child and had no kids of her own so it was just me and her. A one-of-a-kind woman. I was a little shit, but she got me under control and introduced me to hockey.”
My eyes were down and the room still when I felt her hand on my arm, and I met her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Fern said softly.
I shrugged. “We all have our stuff, huh?”
