“Good evening,” she said.
Instantly, he started to smile. “Hey. Will you come see me this weekend?” He could drain Isabella’s stomach, repair VSDs, study echocardiograms, and debate what to do about fixing a bad repair done by a hack. But in order to do all of those things, he had to know when he’d get to see her again.
“Actually,” she said, “yes.”
“What?” He sat up straight. “You will?”
She told him that one of the nurses who’d cared for her at Magnolia Avenue Hospital was willing to meet her tomorrow in Atlanta.
Thank God. “My apartment only has one bedroom,” he told her, “but you’re welcome to stay in it. I’ll take the couch.”
“I will not be staying in your apartment, I—”
“I’ll book you a hotel room, then. There’s a hotel across the street and a few doors down from my building.”
“I’m delighted to inform you that I’ve already booked and paid for my hotel room. It’s non-changeable and non-refundable.”
“Leah,” he groaned.
“I learned something from all those non-returnable gifts you sent us.”
“Tell me you’re going to get in the car right now and start driving.”
“I am not. I have to get Dylan squared away with Tess and Rudy tomorrow morning. It will take some time to bring them up to speed because I want to ensure Dylan’s prohibited from situations that involve red plastic cups and teens making out on furniture while I’m gone. I should be there by mid-morning tomorrow.”
“And you’ll stay in Atlanta until Monday?”
“Yes.”
Thank God.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Finally,” Sebastian said when Leah arrived at his apartment. She had on a gray collared shirt opened at the throat and patterned with polka dots bigger than quarters in bright pastel colors. Jeans. He took one long drink of the details of her—soft blond hair, defined eyebrows, gently sloping cheeks—before wrapping her against him. The side of her face came to rest against his chest and he set his chin gently on the top of her head.
He was ridiculously glad that she was here. The weather had been depressing so far today—wet and dark. But now that she’d arrived, everything was right and bright. Nothing could be better than it was in this moment.
For years he’d understood in a detached sort of way that he was lonely. But it was only now, with Leah, that he understood how deep his loneliness had been.
“Hi,” he whispered, drawing her closer to him.
“Happy Halloween.”
“Happy Halloween. Thank you for coming.”
“You’re welcome. Though I didn’t come for you, remember. I came to talk with Nurse Tracy.”
He looked down at her. “I don’t care why you came, only that you’re here.” Besides, no matter what she said to him or to herself, shewashere, at least in part, for him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be staying until Monday. She’d be heading back to Misty River today after her meeting with Tracy.
“I will concede,” she said, “that the opportunity to see you while in Atlanta is a nice perk.”
Her misty blue eyeskilledhim. They communicated so many things—wisdom and disappointments and commitments fulfilled.
“I’m determined to become the best perk ever,” he said.
“Impossible. I’ve already received the best perk ever—a bag of wookie cookies given to me by a student last May the Fourth Be With You.”
“I can be better than wookie cookies.”
