Page 91 of Clara Knows Best

As soon as they had rushed out again, not wanting to be late for class, Jesse reappeared.

“I guess you heard.”

“They’re getting out,” he said gloomily. “You need to get out of here, too.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” she wondered.

“Before you know it, you’ll be forty,” he warned her. “Still working for your mom, living at home, dating guys like Jordan and Charles.”

“Why are you so worried about my life all of a sudden? I can handle it on my own.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t want you to waste away out here. There’s no future in a little town like this.”

“Did you skip a tramadol dose?” she asked suspiciously.

“I’m not taking it anymore.”

“Well, it shows. Good grief. When I want life advice fromyou, I’ll ask for it.”

“Why do you say it like that would never happen? I have a great life.”

“No, you have a new condo,” she corrected.

He frowned.

“Look, you’ve obviously found your calling and I’m happy for you. But it kind of sounds like your job is all you have, and I definitely don’t envy you that. You want to talk about futures? What future is there for a brilliant surgeon in a big city? What happens after you make unit chief? More money, trophy wives, fancy cars, burnout, alimony, golf.”

“Harsh, Clara,” he said mildly.

She was a little horrified. “I know. I don’t know why I said that.”

“I did start it.”

“You did. I guess you hit a nerve.”

“I guess so,” he agreed. “Should’ve minded my own business. Sorry about that.”

She watched him go, regretting the whole conversation. She should go in there and apologize. Kiss and make up, figuratively speaking. Or literally. Whichever.

But she didn’t.

He definitely wasn’t going to join the practice, she thought. She needed to stop holding out hope when he clearly didn’t want to leave his career and couldn’t stomach the prospect of living in a small town. She didn’t want to hold it against him that it wasn’t what he wanted. But he’d basically ruined her for other men in a matter of eight to ten seconds.So excuse me if I’m not exactly looking forward to sending you back to Austin to meet your first wife.

It was very quiet in the office when Yoli arrived. “How’s the pooch?” she asked, first thing.

“Good,” Clara said, feeling her mood lighten a little. “Sleepy, but doing really well.”

“Dr. Flores pulled it off.”

“Yep.”

“We knew he would.”

“Yep.”

“Any chance he’ll stick around? Move back? We could sure use him around here.”

“No,” came his voice from the other room.

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