“Ah, I see you’re awake,” A deep male voice said from the doorway. “Good.”
Destiny lifted her head to see a tall man around her age walking in. He wasn’t familiar to her, and over the past few months of being here, she knew just about everyone. “Who are you?” she asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I’m Dr. Barnes.”
Something about that name sounded familiar to her. Destiny looked him over. He had a military look to him. Wait a minute. “Carter Barnes?”
Dr. Barnes looked startled hearing his first name. “Have we met?”
“No, I’m Destiny. I’m dating Mike.” And she had every intention of continuing to do so once she saw him and talked to him.
Recognition instantly lit in his eyes. “Ah, I’ve heard about you.”
Well, that was a first.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” He smiled warmly.
Now Destiny remembered Mike telling her he volunteered at the hospital in his spare time.
“You too, though I thought you volunteered at a local hospital near the base.”
“Normally I do, but a friend called out and asked for a favor. Not that I mind. I got to finally meet you.”
“I’m glad to finally start meeting you guys, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” First they thought she was a criminal and planned to interrogate her and now her grandma was in the hospital.
“I agree, but I come with good news.”
“I can go home?” Grandma asked hopeful.
“Grandma, you had a heart attack last night.” Honestly, this woman would be the death of her. Only her grandma could have a heart attack and be ready to get on with life the next day as if it never happened.
“Not quite. It was an angina attack.”
“Felt like a damn heart attack to me,” Grandma muttered.
“It’s similar with the chest pain, which is why I’d like to do some blood work and keep you here for one more day.”
Grandma sighed heavily. “I thought you said you had good news.” Destiny had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.
“The good news is that it wasn’t a heart attack, and you can leave as soon as tomorrow if you remain well.”
“It will be your shortest stay,” Destiny said, trying to look at the bright side, but Grandma didn’t appear to share the same sentiment.
Grandma shook her head. “Just like your grandfather, thinking you can spin gold out of centaur shit.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Destiny’s grandpa was a brilliant man who always tried to see the good in every bad situation. His sage wisdom had come in handy more times than she could count. She wished he were here now. He knew how to ease grandma’s anger.
“You would.” Her lip twitched, a sign she was trying not to laugh. She was probably thinking about Grandpa. She got that look sometimes when she thought about him. They’d been married for forty-eight years before he passed away. She still wore her wedding ring. “Do whatever you must so I may go home tomorrow.”
“Thank you, I’ll have the nurse come in to draw blood here shortly.”
“Thank you, Dr. Barnes.” Destiny meant it. Grandma wasn’t always the easiest patient, but he made her feel like this was part of her choice instead of just telling her what he was going to do.
“Carter, please, and you’re welcome.”
“If I were forty years younger,” Grandma said when Carter left.
“Grandma! He’s dating an ex-FBI agent.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to defend Carter. It wasn’t like Grandma had a chance with him.
