She places her arms on her lips. “Don’t make me out to be stupid, boy.” The look she gives me hits me like Category 5 hurricane winds.
There aren’t many people I’d let call meboy, but I know better than to talk back to a strong Southern woman like Nadine or Aunt D.
“Okay, maybe I’ve been a littledistracted.”
“Distracted?” She scoffs. “I heard you tried to look inside a patient’s ear with the little flashlight thing rather than an otoscope.”
Rats. The nurses sold me out.
“Fine.” I huff. “I found out that Kelsey is sick this morning.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She caught a stomach bug.”
“Oh, that poor dear.” Nadine tuts. “She’s being taken care of, right?”
I shake my head. “She doesn’t have family nearby, and her friends had to work today.”
“You mean to tell me that sweet-as-pie girl is alone? She could be lying on the cold, hard ground as we speak, and we’d be none the wiser.” Nadine leaves my office with a dramatic flourish.
I hurry after her, finding her at the reception desk, typing on her computer. “What are you doing?” I ask incredulously, surprised at how spry she still is for her age.
“All but one of your appointments this afternoon canceled. Apparently, the kids are feeling better as the week’s gone on. The only patient coming in needs a strep test. Marcie can handle them and write a prescription, if need be.”
I don’t like to make a habit of giving my physician’s assistant my patients when she already has appointments of her own, but maybe I could make an exception today…
Nadine throws a pen at my head.
“Ow.” I rub my temple. “What was that for?”
“You looked like you needed some sense knocked into ya.” She throws a pad of Post-it notes at me, and I dodge them. A paper cut to the face doesn’t sound like fun.
She grabs a stapler and holds it back like she’s about to throw it too. “You better get over there before I hit ya where the good Lord split ya.”
I hold my hands up like I’m trying to talk down someone about to murder me rather than my overzealous receptionist. “Nadine, put down the stapler. I’ll go, all right?”
“Well, it took you long enough.” She puts the stapler back where it belongs and reaches a hand out. “Be a dear and pick up my favorite pen and paper.”
“You mean the ones you threw at my head?”
Nadine at least has the decency to blush. “You know what, on second thought, I’ll grab them myself.” She looks down bashfully. “Doc.”
I keep my laughter at bay until I’m back in my office. This is what happens when you have a bunch of headstrong women in your life…but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once I pack up my lunchbox, I grab my jacket and head back to the lobby.
“You go take care of our girl,” Nadine calls after me.
I’m not sure when Kelsey becameourgirl. All I know is that she’s started to wiggle her way into my heart, and I have this innate need to take care of her because of my growing affection.
If I can’t ask her on a date today, I can at least show up for her when it matters most.
Aches.
Nausea.
Pounding.
