Page 45 of Grumpy Sunshine

I nodded as we started down the hall, passing the three Claybornes in the hall as we did.

“For about two years now,” I answered.“Do y’all live here?”

“No, we live in Kilgore, Texas,” she said.“It’s about…”

“I know where that is.”I smiled.“I have a good friend that lives there.We met in high school when she moved here with one of her divorced parents.She didn’t like the big city much, though, and moved back home.But we’ve kept in touch.”

“Small world,” the woman replied, sounding tired.

“The surgery went well, I heard,” I said.“Bet you’ll be heading home tomorrow.”

“That’s what the doctor said,” the woman replied.

“Ashe,” the man warned.

“Dammit, Ford, that guy is a creep,” Ashe, the mother, replied.

“He is,” I agreed quietly as I headed for the stairs.“But he’s an excellent surgeon, which is why they keep him here.He may not be the nicest, or the most understanding, or even be able to control his mouth, but he’s one of the best surgeons in the state.Dallas Memorial had to fight to get him here.”

“Doesn’t mean that he can say what he wants,” Ashe muttered.

“Don’t worry, we left him with my parents.”Ford chuckled.

I kind of wanted to meet them if the man’s parents could make Dr.Marsh hesitate.

Another person that could make the asshole hesitate was Chevy.

I loved when the two of them locked horns.

Chevy always came out on top.

“This is the cafeteria,” I said.“Most people would send you to the restaurants, but this place is a hidden gem.”

And it was.

They had the best chocolate cake in the damn county.

I got it every eight shifts like clockwork.

I would get it more if I could afford a piece of five-dollar cake.

For some reason, once you ate in the cafeteria eight times, they gave you a free piece of chocolate cake, and today was my day!

An excited squeal had me turning to notice that Chevy and his family had followed us.

The excited squeal had the couple beside me looking over their shoulders.

“I can see why he’s so good with kids.”The mother sounded happy.“He’s got a cute kid.”

“That’s his niece,” I said.“His family comes up here all the time to visit.”

The couple went through the line and got their food.

I waited for them to get all the way through before I ordered mine.

I usually got whatever was cheapest, and sometimes the lunch ladies had leftovers from the day before that they’d share with me if I was alone.

Today was my lucky day, too, because my favorite lunch lady, Manuella, was here.

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