Page 52 of I Knew He Was Trouble
I feel too awful to even care. “It goes out tomorrow morning. What am I supposed to do?”
Mallory dabs her mouth with a paper napkin. “You can’t tell him.”
“Of course, she needs to tell him.” Alyssa throws a hashbrown at Mallory. “He needs to be prepared for all the calls he’s about to get.”
“What do you think, Shay?” I always trust her opinion.
“I mean, it’s funny, but it’s also his business. This could impact his reputation with patients and colleagues. I think you need to tell him tomorrow.”
My stomach drops. I never even thought about the implications this could have for Tyler workwise. After last night, I thought we could move past our rivalry and maybe even move toward being friends. I wasn’t trying to start a neighbor war, but I just might be getting one.
I can only hope that Tyler’s in a forgiving mood, and we can both laugh about this tomorrow when he discovers what I did.
“Wait!”Nadinecallsafterme. “How did your blind date go?”
“Since you love talking to Aunt D about my love life so much, you can ask her,” I say.
“She said you didn’t give her the deets yet.”
I face my receptionist, shooting her a wry grin. “Maybe this will teach you two to mind your own business from now on.”
She harrumphs and mumbles something about it being unfair and not being able to enjoy her daydreams without the details. I don’t think I want to know what that’s about.
“See you tomorrow.” I narrowly escape out the front door before she can stop me.
As I drive home, I think about what Nadine said. If I don’t call Darla soon, she’ll probably find a way to hitchhike to my house and demand all the details. Although I’d love to make her wait it out for setting me up with my neighbor, I don’t want Sunrise Springs calling to tell me my great-aunt snuck out.
I click her name on the touchscreen of my dashboard.
“Oh, so youdoknow how to use a phone,” Darla answers with all the sass of a strong Southern woman.
“Is that how you treat your great-nephew who has information you desperately want to know?”
She’s quiet for a moment, a rarity. “I’ll keep my trap shut for the next minute.”
I smile, knowing how difficult it is for her not to say what she’s thinking. “First, I want to know how you’re doing. Still no shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or heartburn?”
“You quit your worrying. I’ve been given a clean bill of health. Sunrise Springs made me fill out paperwork because of the duck incident, and part of it required a medical professional to check me out. A strapping young EMT came flying up in an ambulance just for me. All the ladies were jealous. Maybe I’ll even get a date with Ed out of it…” She trails off. “Anyway, he took my blood pressure and listened to my heart and everything. Now that’s what I call a public service.”
I shake my head. “You know there’s such a thing as oversharing, right?”
“Not when it comes to family, dear,” Darla tuts. “Now, I’m going to shut my trap, and you can tell me everything. I want all the details.”
“Did you know that she’s Evie’s nanny?”
“Who?”
“Kelsey.”
“Kelsey works here at Sunrise Springs.” Darla sounds confused. Maybe she didn’t know after all.
“She’s also Evie’s nanny, a dog walker, and my next-door neighbor.”
“You’rethe hunky man that she works for next door?” Aunt D squeals like a schoolgirl. “Oh, this is too good. Just like the telenovelas.”
“She called me hunky?” I can’t hide the incredulity in my voice.
“Not in so many words. It was in what shedidn’tsay. You have to read between the lines.”
