Page 27 of Just One Kiss

“They are,” Dara agreed. “I think they want to hire someone before I leave so I can train them and they don’t have to think about it.” She smiled.

“Makes sense.”

Dara squeezed Carly’s shoulder. “You’d be so great at it, Carly. I’m giving them my recommendation, but I don’t know what that’ll be worth.” She laughed. “Good luck today.”

Dara gave them both another smile, then walked off.

“You applied for a new job?” Jaden asked.

Carly shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a promotion, though, right? A step up?”

She nodded, hoping her insecurity didn’t show.

“They’d be stupid not to pick you,” Jaden said, then went back to his phone.

Huh. She wouldn’t have expected a nonchalant compliment from her son to have such an impact, but her heart swelled at his faith in her.

The door that led to the exam rooms opened and a nurse called Jaden’s name. At the same time, Josh hurried into the waiting area, a worried look on his face.

“Hey, Dad,” Jaden said.

Carly said nothing.

“Sorry. Way more traffic than I thought there’d be.”

“Tourist season,” Jaden said. “It’s started.”

Josh nodded. “I thought Chicago was bad.”

They followed the nurse into an exam room, where they crowded in, Jaden on the exam table, Carly and Josh in chairs against the wall. The chairs had been placed so close together that his knee pressed against hers.

She was keenly aware of it.

And she didn’t like that she was.

“You finish your diary?” Josh asked.

Jaden lay back on the table. “Yes.”

“Anything out of the ordinary?”

“No,” he said.

Josh glanced at Carly, who only shrugged.

Thankfully, the door opened and Dr. Willette entered. He radiated competency and kindness, which Carly found herself grateful for.

The appointment was uneventful. The doctor took the diary as well as the monitor, checked Jaden over and told them they’d have results for them in a week.

“What exactly are we looking for?” Josh asked.

Carly didn’t want to hear the answer. She already knew what they were ruling out. She knew all about arrhythmias, heart disease and every other possible outcome. What she didn’t know she’d researched the night before.

Still, Josh knew nothing about any of the possible conditions, and frankly, neither did Jaden. Was it too much to wish they could keep it that way?

“Maybe I could just fill them in?” Carly suggested.

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