Page 24 of Whiskey Wednesdays

“Nope. And I didn’t make any friends at first. I was sad.”

Her face fell. “Oh.”

Connor scowled at me.

I ignored him. “But you know what I finally did?”

“What?” she asked.

“I went up and asked a few kids to be my friends. And I gave them each one of these.”

Pulling out a small origami crane from my pocket, I handed it to her. “My great grandma showed my mom how to make little animals and birds out of palm fronds. But we don’t have palm trees in Seattle. So my mom taught us how to do it with paper. It’s called origami when you use paper.”

My brother had branched out even further into what I called “pornigami” and sometimes created little paper breasts, penises, or butts. Mom was not amused.

Elodie took the little orange paper crane out of my palm. “Ooh, that’s so cute.”

“It’s a crane, and it symbolizes a few things, but also friendship.”

“Did they like them?”

“Yes. And I still make them for a few of those friends, and send them on their birthday.”

She set the crane down. “I don’t know how to make these.”

“Then I’ll teach you. We can make some together, and we’ll start with some simple animals.”

“Were you scared?” She asked softly.

“Yeah, I was. But after I got my first friend I wasn’t that scared anymore.” I pushed the crane over to her.

“I guess I can do that.”

Connor put his hand on her arm. “One thing did come up. You need a couple of immunization shots, El.”

“Shots?” Elodie’s voice rose.

“Isa likes to call them injections, not shots.” Dad glanced at Connor meaningfully. “Maybe we can get Isa to give them to you.”

I nodded. “I can do that.”

“When do you start interning at the pediatric clinic?” Dad asked.

“Not until next week, but I’m sure they’ll work with me.” I turned to Connor. “Have you signed Elodie up with a pediatrician yet? The pediatric clinic where I’ll be working is great. They aren’t taking new clients right now, but I think I can get her in if you want.”

Connor’s eyes bounced between Dad and me. “What are you two talking about?”

Dad pointed at me. “She’s finishing up her physician assistant master’s program this winter. She’ll be a full-fledged PA in April.”

“How come I didn’t know that?”

If Elodie hadn’t been there, I would have told him because it was none of his business.

Instead, I shrugged. “I still need to pass the exam. Besides, when would I have told you? When you asked me how I got on your property the first time we met, or when you accused me of stealing from you?”

Connor narrowed his eyes, and Elodie froze in her seat. Damn it, I hadn’t meant to say that in front of her.

Dad waved his hand. “We’re moving past all that, remember? Isa, you told me the pass rate for the exam is above ninety-five percent. You’ll be fine.” He turned to Connor. “She’s on the dean’s list, and most of her clinical placements have offered her a job.” His chest puffed out a little.

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