“Is she your girlfriend, Ben?” one of the teenage boys asked.
“Well, she’s a girl and a friend, so I guess you could say she is,” Ben said as he backed away from the table. He turned his attention to Amelia again. “See you later.”
“Yep.”
Ben knew that Julian had been right. This was a time for being Amelia’s friend. And he was going to be the best friend to her that he could be.
Once the clinic was over for the day, Ben returned to the table. They were going to Cole’s for another barbecue later, but Ben had a feeling that Amelia wouldn’t be joining them.
Still, it couldn’t hurt to ask her if she planned to.
“I don’t think so,” she said with a rueful shake of her head.
“If you’d like, I could pick you up and drop you off so you wouldn’t have to drive.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I’d be very good company.”
“I understand, but if you change your mind, let me know.”
“I will.”
Leaving her there at the school wasn’t easy, but she still had to finish her workday. It wasn’t until he was almost home that he realized he’d forgotten to ask her when it might be convenient to go for the testing.
He’d have to call her later. After the barbecue.
It was once again a fun time at Cole and Annie’s. Good food and good fellowship. Now that he’d gotten to know the men who helped with the clinic better, he enjoyed socializing with them.
A couple of the men had brought their wives and kids that week, so there were lots of children running around. Ben wished that Amelia could have been there too, but he understood why it hadn’t been possible.
When he finally got to his room later that evening, Ben settled onto the loveseat with his phone. He tapped the screen to call Amelia, hoping she wouldn’t mind that he hadn’t texted first.
It rang three times before Amelia answered, her voice soft and sleepy sounding.
“Did I wake you up?” Ben asked. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I was just dozing.”
“Are you feeling better?”
“A little. How was the barbecue?”
“It was good. Just like last week.”
“Are Cole and Annie planning to host a barbecue each week?” Amelia asked.
“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Hopefully, you can make it next time.”
“I hope so, because then that would mean I was feeling better.”
“Speaking of feeling better, I spoke to Julian last night about the tests for you.”
“Oh? What did he say?”
“He was wondering if you’d want to take a day or two off work to fly to New York for the testing.”
“New York?” she asked. “They can’t do them here?”
“Julian said it would be better there so he can work with his staff on the tests.”
