“What’s wrong with that? In my thirties, I’ll have my career going and I’ll be more mature.”
“All the good ones will be gone by then,” Grace quipped.
Ben observed the exchange in silence, but he couldn’t help grinning.
Olivia gave his arm a playful punch. “What are you smiling about?”
“I was thinking I might enjoy having a sister.”
*****
“Don’t worry, Grace. You look fine,” said Ben.
She pulled her hands down from her hair and held them at her sides, her hands balled into fists. She wasn’t ready to see Brad yet. Why had she agreed to go with Ben?
“Could you slow down a little? My legs are a lot shorter than yours.”
“Oh, sorry. I promise he’ll be so glad to finally get to talk to you, he won’t care about anything else. In fact, I’m hoping he won’t even ask me to explain my story.” Ben shortened his stride as he patted her on the back.
“I don’t know. What if he’s mad? I didn’t talk to him for a long time. I know I had a good reason for it—or at least it seemed like a good reason at the time—but he doesn’t know that.”
“I’m telling you, he won’t care. Stop worrying.”
“Maybe I should wait until he’s released from the hospital.”
“No, I already told Josh I was bringing you. Brad will be disappointed if you don’t come.”
She rubbed her sweaty palms on her pants and followed Ben through an open door. Josh was sitting in a chair talking quietly on his cell phone. Then her eyes fell on Brad, and her heart clenched. There he was lying in a hospital bed, so still he almost looked dead. And he’d hurt himself trying to protect her. Within seconds, her eyes were swimming.
“Hey Grace. Come here, baby. I can’t lift my head.”
“Why not? Is your neck broken?” She moved to stand beside him.
“No, I had a spinal tap, so I need to lay flat on my back to prevent a bad headache. Well, in this case, to prevent my headache from getting worse.” He reached out to take her hand, pulling her fingers to his lips and pressing a tender kiss. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m sorry you’re hurt.” She squeezed his fingers.
“I’m just glad you didn’t mess up your face.”
“Eh-hem,” Ben cleared his throat. “Looks like you don’t need me. I guess I’ll leave you two alone.”
“No you don’t,” said Brad. “Why would you tell me she had a stalker when it wasn’t true? You knew how upset that would make me. Why would you make up something like that?”
Ben chuckled. “I thought by now you wouldn’t be so gullible. No, wait—I’m kidding. It was Grace’s fault... She wouldn’t let me tell you the truth. I had to do something. And the way I see it, you should be grateful. My story was ultimately what brought you back together.”
“Are we back together?” asked Brad, his eyes searching hers. “I still don’t know why you broke up with me again. I told you I wouldn’t push you or say the L-word anymore.”
“It seemed like the only alternative at the time, but well... After I talked to Mom I realized I was trying to control things.”
“What things? What were you trying to control?”
She glanced at Josh who was still concentrating on his phone conference with intense tones. Good—he wasn’t listening. She lowered her voice.
“I didn’t want you to stay in New York for me. I knew you were wearing yourself out working here, and you couldn’t move to a better position as long as you stayed here.”
Brad frowned. “I’m not wearing myself out here. I love my work, and the hours aren’t that bad. I need the experience before I can hope to head up an emergency medicine department anyway.”
“But I think you’re working too hard. You hadn’t been sleeping well, and you looked really tired.” She didn’t want to bring up the fact Josh would be in line to get the department head position.