Page 103 of Clara Knows Best

“What?” Clara cried.

“Charlie proposed!”

“Who the heck is Charlie?” Clara demanded.

“You met him! He came in last week with Mrs. Nuñez.”

“Charles?” Clara gasped. “You met him six days ago! I didn’t even realize you were seeing him!”

“We’ve gone on six dates. I met his mother yesterday morning, and he asked me to marry him over dinner last night. When you know, you know.”

“Wow,” Clara was saying when Jesse returned to the front waiting room. “Jesse—”

“I heard. Congrats,” he said to Yoli.

“Thank you, Dr. Flores!”

“Yes, congratulations!” Clara added quickly, getting up to give her a hug. “Wow! Married! That’s great!”

“I want you to be my maid of honor, of course. The wedding is next weekend—”

“Next weekend?” Clara’s voice was very close to a screech. “Like, in five days? Or in twelve days?”

“Twelve days,” Yoli assured her. “I’m notinsane.”

“I’ll leave you ladies to it,” Jesse said, backing away. “Oh, hey, isn’t that high school job fair this morning?”

“Yes,” Clara said, glancing at the clock. “Shoot, I have to get going. You’re in charge of Greer while I’m gone. Yoli, text me everything you know!”

“I will,” Yoli promised.

Jesse felt so charitable towards Yoli for taking Charles the bodybuilder off the market that he asked for the proposal details, which she was thrilled to share.

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Clara had over-prepared for the job fair in her eagerness to find her replacement, and she was determined not to let Yoli’s news distract her from her sales pitch. She had a display set up at her table beside the other vendors, and had printed pictures of the very aesthetically pleasing medical office, reception area, and kitchen, even going so far as to list among the perks of the job the high-quality, unlimited snacks and cokes available to all employees. The starting wage was competitive, the hours flexible (due to her willingness to hire a full-timer or several part-timers), and she was even offering a wardrobe stipend to help them meet the dress code.

Competition was not fierce; there wasn’t much of a job market to speak of in Romeo. Unfortunately, most of the seniors were planning to leave town after graduation, whether for college or to find better job opportunities and social lives in El Paso or even farther away. It was the curse of the small town. The few who did stay would have to choose between a life of substanceabuse and government assistance, or making an honest living for themselves. Clara was looking for the latter demographic.

“Clara!”

“Oh, hi, Asher,” she greeted her cousin. “Any interest in working for my mom and Dr. Pike? Pay’s pretty good. You could buy stuff for your truck.”

“Nah, I’m going to join the police department,” he said. “Their booth has bubble tea!”

Clara looked down the row. Jordan stood behind his table, looking smug about the line of students he had attracted. He smiled at Clara and waved.

“Dang it,” she muttered. She turned back to Asher. “You think your dad will let you do that?”

“He can’t stop me, can he?”

“Right. Good point. Do you happen to know any girls who aren’t planning to leave for college, but they’re kind of responsible and smart? You know what, it could be a guy, too, although I personally think they’re way less mature at this age and working at a doctor’s office requires sensitivity and discretion.”

“I’ll think about it,” he said, noncommittal. “Maybe you should be giving out bubble tea.”

“I’m realizing that. Do you know anyone who’s getting married?” she asked as she thought of it.

“Yeah,” he said suddenly. “Taylor and Baylor are going to get married when Baylor turns eighteen.”

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