Page 68 of Stolen Kisses
Grace lifted her shoulders and sighed dreamily.
“So, uh, do you think you and Jack can attend our little Friends-and-family-giving next weekend?”
“Of course we can make it. We wouldn’t miss it. Want me to help you set the office up? I do work there after all.”
“No, no, no,” Krista said quickly. This was as much about Thanksgiving as it was about celebrating Grace and Jack’s upcoming nuptials. “Noah and I want to do it ourselves. Thanks, though. Just show up. Say around one p.m.?”
Grace nodded and stood. “Wouldn’t miss it. Gotta head to work now. Even though I’m marrying the boss, I can’t afford to slack off. It was great catching up with you. Now that you’re part of a couple, I doubt we’ll see each other as much.”
Krista stood, too. “You’re the one getting married.”
“Oh, please. That’ll be even more reason for me to make it here to vent to you. I’m under no illusions. Being married to Jack is going to try my patience.”
Krista laughed. “At least you know what you’re getting into.” She, on the other hand, really didn’t have a clue what she was getting into with Noah.
—
At midday, Krista walked into Adam’s room. “Discharge day!”
“And this weekend you and Mr. Noah are taking me fishing?” he asked excitedly.
“That’s right.”
Krista noticed that Mandy was rosy-cheeked this morning. She wondered if she’d run into her mystery man down at the hospital cafeteria again.
“And Adam is more than welcome to come visit me some other night so you can take time for yourself,” Krista added with a wink.
“That would be so cool.” Adam jumped off his bed looking very different than the sick child he’d been just a few days earlier. Hopefully he’d stay well for a while.
“We’ll see.” Mandy reached for the clipboard that Krista held out to her. “I know the drill. Sign at the X’s and then we’re free to go.”
“Exactly. You’ve been here enough that I think you could probably take over my job if you wanted.”
“I don’t think I’d have the heart for this job. It takes a special person.” Mandy scrawled her signature in several places and handed the clipboard back to Krista. “All done. Get your bag, buddy,” she said turning to the boy who was already heading to the door.
“Tell Mr. Noah that I want to catch a shark,” Adam said.
Krista’s eyes widened. “I’ll tell him, but I’m pretty sure we’ll be staying clear of Jaws this weekend.”
“Thank goodness,” Mandy said. “I’ll see you Saturday then?”
Krista nodded. “We’ll be out on the boat all day if you want to maybe call a certain number and make arrangements to go out.”
Mandy shrugged a shoulder. “I just might do that.”
After they’d gone, Krista headed to check on her other patients. A little girl with appendicitis. A boy who’d taken a fall out of a tree and broken his hip. Another little boy who’d stumbled upon a beehive and discovered that he was allergic to the ten plus stings he’d gotten.
“Krista,” one of the nurses called as she was heading out of the last child’s room. “There’s a parent that wants to talk to the head nurse. Since Karen is on vacation and she put you in charge…”
Krista lowered her voice. “An upset parent?” she asked.
The nurse, Evelyn, raised both brows. “You could say that. The very reason I would never want to be in charge. I hate conflict.”
Krista wasn’t fond of it herself. “I’ll take care of it,” she said.
“Room 204. Good luck.” Evelyn walked off.
Taking a deep breath, Krista trudged in that direction. Even though she didn’t like conflict, in her experience people didn’t want to stay mad. They wanted their needs met, and if she could meet this parent’s needs and expectations, she would.
