Page 10 of Stolen Kisses
Chapter 3
“It’s awful,” Krista moaned over her muffin.
Grace rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Your brother working with your best friend isn’t the end of the world.”
Krista popped a piece of her muffin into her mouth and chewed. “You’re just cheery because you’re getting married. I need Abby to join us for our next morning muffin meeting. She’ll sympathize with me.”
Grace shook her head. “Abby’s in the kitchen before the guys are even in the ocean. I could never be a chef.”
“Me, either,” Krista agreed, although she was starting to think the same about being a nurse. “Karen retires in six weeks. There’s no way she’s going to recommend me for the head nurse position. Even though I’ve been there the longest. Most of the other nurses were recruited fresh out of school. They have nowhere near as much experience. Except for Danielle. We were hired around the same time. She’ll probably get Karen’s vote because Karen thinks I’m too cozy with the patients.”
Grace pulled her coffee to her mouth and sipped as she listened. Setting it back on the table, she cocked her head. “Couldn’t you just withdraw from your normal too-personal MO until Karen retires? Then, once you get the promotion, you could go back to being the overly loving and caring nurse you naturally are.”
“So, lie?”
Grace shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it a lie. You deserve that promotion. You’re next in line, and you’re awesome with those kids.”
Krista frowned and popped more muffin into her mouth. Between Joey taking a job with Noah last week and her sinking hope for a promotion at work, she was in a dire mood. “I guess I could do that.”
Grace smiled. “Perfect. Could you also lighten up and transform back into my fun-loving friend for a minute?” Grace glanced at her watch. “We have ten minutes, actually.”
Krista used her right index finger to poke one corner of her mouth up into a smile. “Better?” she asked.
“Kind of. I need to tell you something.” Grace sucked in a breath, a genuine smile lifting on her own face. “Jack and I have decided on a wedding date.”
Krista straightened. “Finally! I’ve been waiting to mark my calendar.”
“I know! Me, too!” Grace was so happy, she seemed to be glowing from the inside out.
And Krista was happy for her, if not a little envious, too.
“Okay, so Jack and I went back and forth on dates for next year and none of them seemed quite right.” Grace pulled her clasped hands to her chest. “So we’ve decided to marry on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.”
“Next year?” Krista asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
Grace shook her head. “We decided that next year is too far away. We don’t want to wait. We’re getting married this year.”
Krista choked on her sip of coffee. “Thanksgiving is next month.”
“I know!” Grace squealed excitedly. “There’s so much to do!”
“You’re going to plan a wedding in one month?”
Grace nodded, her grin stretching through her rosy cheeks. “I was hoping you’d help me.”
“Of course I’ll help you. I’ll do whatever you need. This is awesome news, Grace!” Krista got up and walked around to give her friend a hug. “You’re getting married! Next month!”
“Eek!” Grace laughed excitedly and looked down at her watch again. “Oh, I have to get to the office, but we’ll talk later?”
“Definitely. We have planning to do.” Krista started to collect her uneaten muffin. She’d finish it on the drive to the hospital.
“Do you think you could make time to go dress shopping with me this weekend?” Grace asked.
“Shopping?” Krista asked, walking beside her to the parking lot. “Do you even need to ask?”
“Great.”
They broke away and went to their separate cars. Krista felt slightly better as she drove into the hospital parking lot. Maybe Grace was onto something, she thought. She could distance herself from her patients for a few weeks. How hard could that be? She’d be caught up in helping Grace plan her wedding anyway.
