“Hey, Grams.” I’m slightly uncomfortable as I walk into a roomful of nurses who are all staring at me with questioning looks. “What's all the ruckus in here?” I place my bag down by the side of Grams’s bed and kiss her on thecheek.
“There is no ruckus,” Grams says. “These ladies were just keeping me company.” It seems to me like she was keeping themcompany.
“Mm-hmm,” one of the nurse’s hums. “Definitely.”
A second nurse hoots and slaps her hands against her thighs. “Yes. This isperfect.”
“So, what am I missing?” I ask, smiling withdiscomfort.
Without a response to my question, a couple of the nurses leave, giggling like school girls on the way out. “How was your date last night?” Gramsasks.
“It was nice,” I say, hesitantly, as I glance around at the others still standing here. Is that what this wasabout?
“Just nice?” Gramsasks.
“I guess you're feeling better today,huh?”
“I'm sore, but laughteristhe best medicine,” shesays.
“True, so whatcha laughing at, Grams?” I'm giving her a mirroring raised brow to the look she has always given me when I've been up to nogood.
“We saw Dr. Beck this morning—Jackson, if you prefer,” she says with a relaxed exhale. “What a breath of fresh air that boyis.”
“Oh, you did, huh? And what did Dr. Beck have to say for himself?” I am so scared to hear this response. I don't know him well enough to assume what he may or may not have said toGrams.
“Let me see if I can quote him correctly.” Grams pushes herself up a bit on her bed and winces at the stiffness beforecontinuing.
“Do you need something?” I ask her, reaching out tohelp.
“No, no, I’mfine.”
I fluff her pillow anyway, doing what I can to make her morecomfortable.
“So, he said, ‘Your granddaughter is the most beautiful woman I think I’ve ever laid eyes on, and it’s very rare that you come across a person who is as equally beautiful inside as they are outside. You are a very lucky woman to have so much beauty and love in your life,Amelia.’”
“That’s exactly what he said,” the nurse, who’s right behind me, agrees. “It was so, so sweet. He’s a winner. Whatever woman ends up with him is going to be one lucky lady.” I see exactly what they’ve been laughing about now—at my expense, of course. I assume Jackson gets a lot of attention from the middle-aged nurses here. “We’ve been trying to set him up with women for months now, but that boy does not bite the bait. Yet, your grandma comes on in and offers you up, and it’s like the clouds have parted their way to heaven’s golden gates for Dr. Beck. He was definitely floating on air thismorning.”
I can try and hide the warm blush I feel creeping from my cheeks to my ears, but I'm afraid my reaction has already been noticed by each woman in this room. “You’re welcome,” Gramssays.
I groan a little and pull a chair up to the side of her bed. “Grams.”
“Okay, ladies, I think I need to talk to my granddaughter alone, or I’ll never find anything out,” she tells the four nurses who are eagerly waiting for moregossip.
“As you wish, Amelia. We’ll be back to check on you soon,hun.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, sweetie,” Grams says tome.
“Why are you telling the staff about Jackson andme?”
“Oh please, don't even pretend like you didn't have the best night of yourlife.”
“I’m not saying I didn’t have a great time, but don't you think you’re jumping the gun a little, and that it’s mildly inappropriate to be playing matchmaker with yourdoctor?”
“It’s notforme,” shesays.
“Still, his personal life should probably be left out of theICU.”
“Life's too short for that, honey,” sheargues.
