I slump in the chair. Most days, I love my job. I really do. But this week has been especially brutal. Not having Sophie around means my mind dwells on patients instead of… well,not-workthings. I can’t relax.
Maybe I should get more yarn, even if Jordan doesn’t want to learn. If I end up with too many mice, well, I’ll just coax Jordan’s mailing address out of him and send him some.
The idea makes me squirm.
“What are you smiling about?” Ana asks.
“Nothing.” I twirl around in the chair. “Hey, do you have a library card?”
Ana wrinkles her nose. “Why would I have a library card?”
“To borrow books. You know, toread.People still do that, believe it or not.”
“I meant why would I have a library card if I don’t live here? David might have one.”
I flash David my most charming smile. “Do you have a library card?”
“Yes,” he says slowly.
“Would you let me borrow it while I’m here?” I clasp my hands together for good measure. “Pretty please?”
The older guy hesitates, then cracks a tiny smile before pulling it from his wallet. “Just don’t return the books late or I’ll hunt you down. And I need it back before next weekend. My daughter likes to go there when it’s her turn to stay with me.”
“You’ll have it back after tomorrow. Scout’s honor.”
After a few minutes, Ana logs off. “Well, not to rub it in, boys, but—”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re off.”
David stands too. “I’m off as well.”
“You’rebothleaving me?” I groan. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll just waste away dreaming about the books I’m going to get.”
Ana laughs. “Hang in there, Miles.”
“See ya.”
After tucking the library card into my wallet, I check the computer for updates on the patients. With nothing to do, I wander the wide loop of our floor to peek in the windows to see if anyone is awake.
Ruth is, of course.
I crack the door and smile at her. “Hey, hon.”
Ruth looks up as I enter the room.
“How ya doin’?”
“Oh, I’ve been better.”
I touch her shoulder. “Yeah? How’s your pain?”
“Same.”
“Did they do an ultrasound for kidney stones?”
I know they did, but I’m trying to see if Ruth is aware of what’s going on too.
“Yes. They didn’t find anything.”
