Beth blinked. “Mr. Berry… when you said Betsy was gone, you didn’t mean out of town, did you?”
Walter smiled gently. “No. But you were so kind I didn’t want to correct you. It was nice, pretending for a couple of hours that she was coming home.”
He gathered his things with quiet dignity. “Thank you, dear. Goodbye.”
He kissed Beth’s cheek and walked out with a proud, if slightly limping, stride. It had been a sweet illusion—for a little while—that Betsy might be coming home.
“He was such a sweetheart. I hate knowing he’s all alone,” Beth whispered, her eyes misty.
“Give him a follow-up call in a few days. Invite him to church and lunch after. Maybe Pastor Steve and Tami can come too. I bet they’d hit it off.”
Beth smiled. “That’s a good idea. Thanks. And maybe they’ll know what a… slicker is?” she added, giggling at the unfamiliar word.
“We have smartphones for a reason,” Bryce pulled his out. “Slicker: someone who is smooth and persuasive but untrustworthy.”
He studied her for a moment, then gently reached for her hand, drawing her closer in a slow, sweet, endearing motion.
“If Mr. Berry isn’t the reason you were upset… what is?”
Beth’s sigh was heavy. “How did you know I was upset?”
“It’s in your eyes. In your smile—it doesn’t reach them. In how you reacted to my touch. So… what’s going on, Sweetheart?”
Beth looked down. “Let’s just say… I’m not the only nurse who used to call you Doctor Handsome. And apparently, some of them aren’t thrilled about the marriage.”
“Someone actually said something to you?”
“Not directly. But they’ve made sure I hear every rude and catty comment behind my back,” Beth sighed. “Well… Mae did say something. She asked how I could be a Christian and lie about our relationship.”
Bryce’s brows drew together. “Which one is Mae?”
“She was at the nurses’ station when you found me in the hall. About 5’3”, long brown curls, glasses, delicate features, early thirties. Pretty eyes.”
“Right.” Bryce nodded, “Did you lie to her about us?”
“No. Well… not exactly.” Beth rubbed her stomach, the nerves from earlier returning like a dull ache. Bryce’s eyes followed the movement, concern flickering across his face.
“She asked if I was interested in you—before Vegas—and I said no. Now she thinks I was hiding something.”
Bryce exhaled, watching her closely.
“I said something vague,” Beth continued. “That I hadn’t planned to date you, it just… happened. She got upset and walked off.”
A pause. Then, quieter: “And now I’m realizing how much worse it’ll probably be since we stayed in here with the door closed after our patient left.”
Bryce tilted his head, a hint of his usual mischief returning. “So what I’m hearing is… we should start making out. That way, at least the rumors would be true.”
Beth huffed a laugh, shaking her head—but she didn’t pull away when he reached out and brushed a finger along her arm.It wasn’t much, but the blush and the smile she gave him was real. Small, but real. Bryce didn’t push. Instead, he stepped back, hands sliding into his pockets.
“Will you stop by my office when your shift ends?” he asked, voice gentler now. “I should be in there by 7:30.”
Beth hesitated, then gave a slow nod. “Sure. I’ll see you then…Doctor.”
The teasing edge in her voice was faint, but it was there.
CHAPTER 29
The next hours dragged by, each one stretching longer than the last. Beth did her best to keep her head down, but the steady hum of whispered comments about her marriage to Bryce was impossible to ignore. Most weren’t said directly—just loud enough to make sure she heard. Some came wrapped in fake smiles and backhanded compliments. Others were outright cruel.
