Page 110 of One Sweet Day I Found You

“Anyway, John and his men did the rescue on that job. Saved them all without incident. So Nick and one other young man handled the medical response. And he said most of the victims had only been overexposed to the elements, but one woman had gone into shock.”

Courtney heard Dr. Bingham’s interest. “Hmm.”

“John said Nick was a model of grace under pressure, and that the woman had some underlying conditions that made her worse, and Nick knew exactly what to do. He hadn’t ever worked with Nick before, although he’s known him since he was a teenager, so he was very impressed to see what Nick could do and how he handled a tough situation. He wanted to offer him a job right there on the spot, if he’d had any openings.”

It was obvious to Courtney that Josie didn’t want to see Nick leave Heritage Bay any more than Victoria did. She was laying it on thick.Go, Josie!

Still, Courtney’s heart went out to Nick. Why didn’t he ever talk about this stuff? What he did was amazing and fit the superhero persona she imagined in him.

“Dr. Bingham,” Josie went on, “if you could’ve heard John, you’d have been so proud of your son. John was beaming like a proud uncle that night.”

Kenneth sounded surprised, if not heartened by the sentiment. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Victoria broke in with her matter-of-fact tone. “He’s doing great work here. He’s so modest you’d never know it, but there are many people out there who owe their health and well-being to your son’s actions.”

Julia looked shocked. “Well, that’s wonderful to hear.”

Courtney heard her sigh. “Well, is he over his heartbreak from last year or is he still talking about that dreadful Regina? I’ve been so hoping he would move on.”

Kenny spoke up in defense of his brother. “Mom—really?”

Courtney’s eyes went wide.Oh, my goodness, Victoria’s going to say something!What should she do? The door to the basement and out the back beckoned, but she stood there, frozen, unable to tear herself away.

Just then, Courtney heard a shuffling from the entryway and another voice filled the room. “Holy smokes! Mom, Dad, what are you all doing here?”

Nick!

He sounded happy.

But, still!

Courtney’s eyeballs nearly bulged out of their sockets.

He came in the front door! Now she was really going to look horrible if she were found hiding there, eavesdropping. What should she do?

She had to go back in there—or leave now.Choose.

But if she left, it would make Nick—and her—look terrible if her name was brought up. They’d all realize she’d turned and run. She’d better just come up with a simple excuse for her ten-minute absence and return.

Courtney listened a little longer, her palms sweating, as Nick went about giving out hugs and stunned greetings individually to his parents, his brother, and Gloria before greeting Victoria and Josie. She heard him congratulate his brother and Gloria on their engagement. “So, what in the world is going on here?” he finally asked, sounding shocked. Still, Courtney could hear the warmth in his voice. “You all came up to surprise Victoria?”

His mother explained and then gushed over him. “We came to surprise you, too, honey. Nick, howareyou? You look wonderful. We’ve missed yousomuch.”

Courtney took a deep breath and let it out. She had really better go back in now. Otherwise, her behavior was becoming borderline creepy.

She crept back down the hallway and quietly made an entrance into the living room. Nick was sitting next to his mother on a love seat, her arm draped around his back, a look on her face that said she couldn’t bear to let him out of her sight. Courtney stopped at the entrance to the room and Nick’s eyes flew wide. “Courtney?”

* * *

What was happening right now?Nick watched, stunned, as his girlfriend took a seat on the sofa across from his parents and his brother, as if they were old friends.

“Oh, there she is,” said Victoria. “Where did you make off to, young lady?” she said jokingly. “I was beginning to worry.”

Courtney blushed and gave a little wave. “Hi. Sorry.”

Apparently, Courtney had already been here for a while. Well, this was awkward.

Nick caught Josie’s eye. Josie was staring at him. He stared back.What is going on?

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