“You can’t say anything to my family about the seizures I’ve been having, no matter how worried you get. It’s my secret to tell,” she continues.
I furrow my brow. “I don’t like that rule.”
“Then think about it as doctor-patient confidentiality. You wouldn’t violate my rights if I were one of your patients, would you?”
“I guess not.” I sigh, although thinking about her as a patient isn’t a bad idea.
“Dr. Reed.” We’re interrupted by Dr. Broussard, one of the partners in the pediatrics clinic. He comes over to greet me with a smile and offers his hand. I shake it and nod politely before he introduces his wife.
“And this must be your …” he trails off as they all stare at me, waiting for me to speak. I open my mouth, but I freeze, unsure of how to introduce my unofficial new roommate.
“I’m Daisy,” she answers for me without missing a beat. I shoot her a look as she sidles up to me and ducks under my arm. “You must be one of the amazing pediatricians Landry’s hoping to work with?”
“Guilty as charged,” Dr. Broussard replies, already charmed by her. Meanwhile, I’m still squinting and trying to figure out what in the hell is going on.
“Camellia has the best doctors and nurses around. You’re all so nice. And I would know, since I’ve got a few of them in my family,” she rambles, scrunching up her nose and adding an appealing laugh.
“Well, you know, some of us doctors can be a bit quirky,” Dr. Broussard replies, and they all chuckle together. I stand there quietly, unsure whether it’s a dig at me or not.
“How did you get invited to this, anyway?” I blurt out, proving his point. Daisy nudges me in the side, and I clear my throat. “I mean, I didn’t know you were acquainted with my sister and her boyfriend.”
“We’re here for Nurse Tenley,” he says with a knowing smirk. “But Drake and Monica Bourgeois were good friends of ours, so we’ve known Blake and JD since they were … well, I guess I was their pediatrician when they were born,” he adds with a chuckle. “As well as yours. Heck, I’ve probably circumcised half of the men around here back when they were infants.”
His wife pats his arm gently. “Yet another reminder that it’s past time for you to retire, Steve.”
“Right,” I say shortly, trying to process while everyone laughs again.
“But I imagine that’s one of the reasons you’re thinking about joining us at the clinic?” he poses, referring to my recent job application. “You must be looking forward to working with Nurse Tenley, since she’s practically family.”
My nostrils flare at the reminder that one of my job duties would include checking out the newborn babies Tenley helps deliver as the town’s resident midwife—not that it would be so bad seeing Tenley every day. But it means I’ll undoubtedly see more of JD, too.
Daisy interrupts my thoughts when she jabs her elbow into my side, and I stifle a protest before I respond. “I’m really here for my sister, to help her with the twins.”
“That’s right. Congratulations on becoming an uncle,” the doctor replies.
I swallow hard. I am excited about gaining two new nieces, even if I’m not thrilled about the circumstances.
Daisy smiles genially when I hesitate to thank him. “Those baby girls will have him wrapped around their little fingers in no time, right?” She glances over at me, encouraging me to play along. “And Landry just couldn’t resist the opportunity to work alongside his old friends and family. There’s nothing like living in a small town, and Camellia really is the best community. I know I’m loving it here so far.”
“You’ve recently moved to town?” Dr. Broussard asks, raising his brow at me approvingly.
“We’re moving in together,” I blurt out a little too loudly. “In a house. You know, just the two of us.”
They smile at Daisy and me. “Congratulations, then,” Dr. Broussard says awkwardly. “We look forward to seeing you around, especially if we’re able to convince Dr. Reed to join our staff.”
“I sure hope so,” Daisy drawls, and Dr. Broussard bids me goodbye until our interview. She cringes as soon as they walk away. “I know we technically didn’t say anything untrue, but that definitely felt like lying. Do you think he assumed …”
“Yeah, thanks to you,” I say, taking my arm back.
“You’re the one who volunteered the information about us moving in together. In a house, you know,just the two of us,” she retorts, lowering her voice to mock me.
“I’m not the best liar, okay?”
“You don’t say,” she replies sarcastically.
“I guess it doesn’t matter, anyway, since no one would believe we were an actual couple once they got to know us,” I mumble. “You’re so nice. And I’m so … old.”
She laughs softly. “Oh, come on. We’re only, what, eight years apart? Besides, don’t all you doctors have a thing for younger women?”
