Maybe it was that happiness that made my mouth form words before my head had quite caught up.
“Do you want to go out to see my grandparents with me on Sunday?”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry?”
I glanced around us. The shift was changing, so most everyone was either giving or receiving reports or leaving for the day. Still, I lowered my voice a little.
“I’m going out to the farm on Sunday to spend the day with Gram and Pop. I like to help him out whenever I can, and I try to make Sunday dinner as often as possible. Do you want to go with me?” I coughed a little. “It’s okay if you don’t. I just thought . . . might be fun.”
She tilted her head. “Do your grandparents know about us? Have you mentioned me to them?”
“Ah . . .” I tried to remember. “Not specifically. I mean, they know about you as a person, in terms of our work here together. But I haven’t come out and told them that I’m seeing you. That we’re . . . together.”
“Okay.” Emma didn’t seem to be offended by that.
“But if you go with me, I’ll be introducing you as my girlfriend. You should be aware of that. I’m always honest with Gram and Pop. I don’t necessarily tell them everything going on with my life in excruciating detail, but I don’t lie to them, so if you come—we’ll be outing ourselves. At least to them. They don’t gossip, though. They’re very discreet.”
“Deacon.” Emma rolled her chair closer to me and bent her head near mine. “I’m not ashamed to be dating you. I know why we’re careful here at work, and I know why we don’t go flaunting ourselves around Harper Springs. It’s smart. But I have no problem with letting your family know what’s going on.”
“Okay.” I relaxed a modicum. “Do you want to go with me, then?”
She brushed the merest whisper of a kiss over the side of my jaw. “Yeah, Deacon. I really do.”
My entire body went on high alert, more than ready to respond to her touch. Taking a deep breath to rein in that reaction, I nodded. “All right. Good. I’ll pick you up Sunday morning around nine, if that’s okay. Dinner’s at one, and I like to get in some work with Pop before we eat.”
“I’ll be ready.” She smiled.
I was more than ready, but what I wanted wasn’t going to happen at my grandparents’ farm. I needed to figure out where it could. And fast, before I spontaneously combusted out of thwarted desire.
14
Deacon
Sunday was one of those rare Florida early fall days when I remembered that being outside could actually be enjoyable. When I stepped out onto my patio with the morning’s second cup of coffee, I smiled. A cool breeze wafted over me, carrying with it the scent of oranges, thanks to the small tree I’d transplanted from the farm into my yard. The sky was a vivid, endless blue, and the sun was shining bright.
As I showered, I thought about Emma and what the day might hold. As if by tacit agreement, we hadn’t seen each other since Friday night when we’d left the hospital. We’d both worked on Saturday, but while I’d gone in early to round on my patients and catch up on charting, Emma had come in later, covering the evening rounds. She’d sent me a text on her way in to St. Agnes.
Emma:What’s the update on Donnie?
Deacon:They isolated the type of pneumonia and focused the meds. He’s holding his own, but even so, I think they’ll have to vent him either tonight or tomorrow. His body needs that help.
Emma:I wish it weren’t true, but I understand. I’ll go up there to check on him once I’ve finished on our floor. I want to meet and offer support to the other resp therapist, just in case.
Deacon:Good idea. I saw Donnie last thing before I left the hospital. He was in decent spirits.
Emma:I’m happy to hear that. Okay, I’m about to go inside. We’re like two ships passing in the night. I promise, I’m not avoiding you. ;)
Deacon:I didn’t think you were. Splitting the Saturday shift makes sense. If I wasn’t going to see you tomorrow, I’d come pick you up there when you were finished.
Emma:Would you? And just what would you do with me once you had me?
Deacon:Anything I wanted.
Deacon:Emma? You still there? Did I freak you out?
Emma:Umm, no. I was just trying to recover from the puddle I melted into when you said that. Warn a girl when you’re going to get hot and mushy, okay?
Deacon:Then it wouldn’t be as much fun.
