The runner laughs and stashes her phone, and I hang back to observe. The session is much the same, but with a focus on joint mobility and the unique type of stubbornness that comes with distance runners.
Lisa uses a completely different tone, lighter, almost joking, but with the same underlying certainty that the runner’s injury is temporary.
Between clients, Lisa gives me a crash course on how the clinic runs. Even though I won’t be working out of a clinic, it’s still valuable information to know.
“Everything’s about relationships,” she says. “You need them to trust you, or they won’t listen to anything you say.” She wipes down the table, discards her gloves, and gestures for me to follow her into a tiny office filled with textbooks, diagrams, and a whiteboard scrawled with half a dozen names and treatment schedules.
“You seem comfortable in here,” she notes. “Next week, I’ll let you take on a client solo.”
I swallow, not sure what to say. The only other place I’ve felt this instant belonging was on the cheerleading squad.
At the end of the day, Lisa walks me to the door, hands shoved deep in her scrub pockets. “You did good. Come back Tuesday.”
I nod, and then—because it feels important—I say, “Thank you, really.”
She shrugs like it’s nothing. “You were a good student, Sloane, and I’m all about empowering women. Get home safe. And bring coffee next time.”
Outside, the world is strangely sharp. I fish out my phone and dial the number for Mr. Porter.
“Mr. Porter? This is Sloane Bishop.”
“Sloane! Have you made your decision?”
I stare at the glowing sky over the parking lot. My hands are steady. “I’m calling to officially accept your offer. I want the job.”
19
Eden
My brain is trying to catch up with this morning’s events. I could’ve fainted when I opened the door to see my gran and grandad standing there happy as Larry with suitcases piled at their feet.
I didn’t get a chance to say much before Mum came down the stairs gasping and flinging herself at her parents. Jenna and Dad followed suit, and we ended up in the kitchen, where Sloane stumbled in looking sleeping and sexy as hell in my t-shirt.
Gran took over as the matriarch and we spent some time talking, but not actually getting to the bottom of theirimpromptu visit. Sure, Pia is the reason, but I suspect their decision to fly halfway across the world wasn’t just because we’d sent them some cute baby pics.
As soon as I see the back of Sloane’s car disappear around the corner, I head back inside. Jenna is talking to Grandad about football, and Mum is nattering to Gran at the kitchen island.
Instead of saying anything, I come up behind my gran and wrap my arms around her shoulders. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen her. Her hands cover my arms, and she squeezes me.
“It’s so good to see you both,” I say.
“Likewise, kiddo.”
Letting her go, I drop onto the stool next to her. “So, what’s with the visit? Not that I’m unhappy you’re here, because you know I’m over the moon, but cute baby pics didn’t have you packing your bags.”
Gran sighs. “Your mum told me about Pia’s parents. Bloody disgraceful. Plus, I’ve known that girl for years, and as far as I’m concerned, I just had a great-grandchild. Of course we packed our bags.”
Mum stands up and pulls out a fresh pan, ready to make more pancakes. “They’ll be down soon. I didn’t tell them you were here.” She grins.
I snort. “Pia is going to lose her shit!”
“Language,” Gran and Mum chorus at the exact same time, but Gran’s face is scrunched with laughter, her wrinkles bunching around eyes that have always looked like mine.
As if on cue, there’s a scraping up the stairs, a muffled clatter, and then Pia’s unmistakable shriek from the landing. “Todd, get out of the bathroom! My bladder is literally about to burst.”
A door slams, then a second later Pia, rumpled and bleary, rounds the bottom of the staircase in giant Ugg boots and a cloud of black hair. Her belly is still swollen, and she’s still waddling.
She nearly walks past the kitchen without glancing up until she registers extra voices. Peering in, Pia freezes as she catches sight of Gran and Grandad.
