Page 62 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“I did the right thing then, I think,” Ginny said, dropping her head against the back of the sofa. “I just wish I knew if I was doing the right thing now.”
“Give her a few days,” Patrick said, his tone even and reassuring as always. “I think she’ll come around.”
Ginny hoped so, because she wasn't ready to lose someone else.
*****
AUSTIN WAS WORN OUTafter he saw his last patient, Daryl O’Rourke, out of the exam room and to his mother in the waiting room. It had to be close to seven, and he had told Marianne to go home after he escorted Daryl into the exam room over half an hour ago. All he wanted was to lock up, head upstairs and collapse on his couch, maybe watch a movie on his laptop.
“Hey, is there anything you need me to do?”
Ginny’s voice was soft behind him, but he jumped a foot anyway, spinning at the same time. Ginny sat at the computer, dressed in a pretty floral shirt with ruffles for sleeves and jeans. Her hair was free from its usual ponytail, and she wore a bit more makeup than he was used to seeing.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
She sat back in the chair, making it squeak. “I came in to let you know I quit the diner. I talked to Marianne and she said she can start training me tomorrow.”
His entire mood lifted, right toward the ceiling, and he couldn’t keep the grin from his face. “That’s awesome! How did Janine take it?”
Ginny grimaced and looked down at the keyboard. “Well, I’d intended to give her as much time as I could but she sent me home. So. Not well.”
“I’m really sorry, Gin. I didn’t want that to happen.”
She sighed. “No, neither did I. Part of me is really sorry, and another part of me is wishing I’d done this a long time ago.”
He propped his hip on the desk. “So are we banned from the diner now?”
She gave a dry laugh. “No, ah. No. I don’t think so, anyway. But I can’t be sure.”
“We can walk over and get some dinner.”
“Maybe we should go to Delgado’s. Just until Janine’s temper clears.”
“Probably a good idea. I don’t think she’d spit in our food but I can’t be sure.” He stood up and gestured for her to precede him out the door.
“There’s going to be talk,” she said as he locked up behind them.
“I don't think either one of us cares about that, do you?” He held the door to the street, then blinked as they walked out into the sunlight. One thing he didn't like about his office—no windows. He couldn't tell if it was day or night once he was inside, couldn't tell what the weather was doing.
Not that it changed all that much in West Texas.
After his eyes adjusted, he noticed something was different. A banner had been hung across the road, with the words, “Bronco Homecoming, This Friday.” He wondered at the lack of specificity, but saw the sign had been battered some, and faded. They probably used the same one every year.
Around the square, he saw posters and streamers in the school colors of green and silver had been hung on storefronts, including his own office.
He had forgotten what a big deal Friday night football was in Broken Wheel. He hadn’t been to a football game since he was in band, but he had enjoyed marching. He wondered if the band was still good.
“You going to homecoming?”
She lifted a shoulder again. “We’d talked about it. We usually go over for homecoming. Not the regular games, usually. Too far to drive for that, and most of us work Friday nights or Saturday mornings.”
“Well, I did notice that Melissa doesn’t schedule anything on Fridays after three. I asked and she said that a lot of people go up to the games. You want to go up for homecoming?”
The invitation sounded like a date to his ears, and maybe it did to her, too. He was okay with that. Hell, he’d even buy her a mum. He hadn’t gone to the homecoming dance when he was in school, but he remembered the girls all weighted down with mums when he was in school. Did grown women wear them, too? You know what, he didn't care. He’d call and order her one anyway. Whether she wore it or not, it was the thought that counted.
“You didn't answer my question. About homecoming.”
“I thought I did. I said a bunch of us were thinking about going.”
