Page 177 of Enthrall Ecstasy
“I regret making you leave this place, taking you back to Majestic that day. I’m not sure what I was thinking.”
“It was the right thing to do.”
“Was it though?”
“I signed up to be there.” She went to say something and then held back. “It’s fine.”
“Have you heard from Carrie?” I watched her reaction.
“She’s left me a message to call her. I will.”
“Want me to handle that call for you?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“You don’t have to go back after this, Rue. You know that, right?”
She gave me a wistful smile. “Thank you for this. It’s helping me regroup from the burnout I didn’t know I had.”
“You’ve not been a nurse that long.”
“I bond with every patient. My colleagues tell me I must toughen up. That it gets easier. But I went into nursing because I care about people. I think about them after a shift. Wonder how they’re doing.”
“That’s admirable.”
“It’s also why I’m frazzled.”
“You’ve got to learn how to manage your emotions,” I said.
“I don’t want to end up hardened.”
“I think that’s hard to avoid if you don’t want to end up depressed.” I gave a shrug. “Well, you can stay here for as long as you want.”
“Thank you.”
“I won’t let you out of my sight again.” I flashed a smile.
“I won’t let you out of mine.”
She tucked her feet beneath her. “This morning was fun.”
“Your dad must have been a great surfer. He was the one who taught you, right?”
“Yes. I thought I’d never feel like that again.”
“Like what?”
“Happy.”
“I’m glad.”
“Where did you grow up, Shay?”
“San Diego.”
“Are your parents there?”
“Just Mom. She still lives in the house I grew up in.”
