John laughed. “That’s what women do, George. They complicate things that should be simple.” He let out a roar and must have grabbed up one of the kids because the squealing and giggling got louder. “Sorry, man. I don’t have any super-secret information for you. But if I have to go to this thing, you better be there, too.”
George pulled into the parking lot of the clinic and parked in the back. “Yeah, I’ll be there. See ya.”
He hurried into work, knowing his first patient would probably be waiting for him.
Lois and Jane were at the desk running through the morning scheduling routine. Hopefully, by the end of today, Lois could return to her billing desk and leave Jane to handle things on her own up front. They didn’t look any happier to be sitting next to each other than they did yesterday.
George listened to them talk as he studied his patient’s case history.
“Why did you move here?” Lois asked. “Dr. Perry said you had a good job in Sacramento.”
When Lois got comfortable around people, she’d start asking pointed, personal questions of them, and follow those up with questions meant to trap the person in their half-truths. Nobody told Lois the full truth about themselves. She didn’t invite that kind of candor.
Dr. Perry flat out told the woman to mind her own business when she tried it on him. Lois only cackled in response. You couldn’t offend her on purpose. If she wanted to take offense, it had to be on her terms.
Jane shifted in her chair. “I did have a good job. It was just time for a change.”
Lois scoffed. “People only say that when things go wrong. Nobody wants a change from the good things in their life.”
“Good point, Lois.” The dry humor in Jane’s voice indicated that she was about done on the subject. “Am I supposed to click anything here before I go back to the main screen?”
“Yes, you have to save all this.” Lois took over the mouse and demonstrated. “So, what went wrong?”
“With what?” Jane asked.
“With Sacramento. Was it family problems? A vengeful coworker?”
“Are you planning on being a vengeful coworker?” Jane asked.
Lois let out a huff. “No, I was being hypothetical.”
Jane was good at deflection, he had to give her that. His patient came up to the desk with paperwork, and Jane was saved from further questions. For the moment.
George remembered what Betty had said about it, that Jane left a bad relationship to move here. She deserved to keep that to herself. He certainly wouldn’t be sharing the little information he knew.
“So, why did you need a new start?” Lois asked when the patient sat back down in the waiting area. “Money problems?”
George slid over in his roller chair. “Lois, could you check and see if the new insurance covers the generic or the name brand of these three medications listed here?”
She gave him the stink eye, knowing it wasn’t urgent, but not quite insolent enough to challenge him on it. “Of course, dear.”
Jane sent him a grateful look, one person with secrets to another. Lois liked to interrogate George about his dating habits from time to time, always with disapproval and unwanted suggestions, regardless of whether he had a girlfriend or not. He’d found it was better to avoid answering at all.
Chapter 8♥A Small Loveseat
George held out a spring flower bouquet to a delighted Betty and came into the tiny apartment. A smiling Mrs. Bates was sitting at the table, and George felt horrible for ever trying to duck out of coming to dinner. Anything that motivated the little old lady to get out of bed was worth a little awkward dinner conversation.
“Jane, he’s here.”
The sing-songy way she said it had George worrying this was some kind of date set-up, but Jane came out of the back bedroom with a guy in tow, and George was both relieved and concerned all over again. There was a reason the community was strict about their age requirements for residents. The mystery of why Jane wanted to live in this retirement villa and be bullied by Lois all day was still beyond him.
“Hey, I’m Finn Churchill, Jane’s friend.” The guy swiped a lock of his overgrown, sun-bleached hair out of his face and held a hand out for George to shake.
“George Knightley. Nice to meet you.”
“Come sit down, you two.” Jane motioned to the chairs on either side of her, and they complied, sandwiching George between Jane and Betty.
“Finn surprised Jane today with a visit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more surprised. Would you agree, mother?” Betty patted her mother’s hand, and then, noticing the straw for Mrs. Bates’s water cup was still in its wrapper, she tore it open and helped her mother take a small sip with the straw.
