Page 18 of Holiday Hopefuls
“John,” I repeat. Much to my relief, one of the giant elephants sitting on my chest decides to vacate the premises.
To his right, curiosity radiates from the obnoxiously handsome Dr. Rhodes. Silent questions that I purposefully avoid engaging with. I hate that he’s so freaking hot. Every second he continues watching our interaction, heat burns brighter in my cheeks.
Slowly dipping my chin in acknowledgment, I slide my gaze to the other person in the group. Familiarity floods my mind as I try to place her. Sitting next to John, it’s impossible to miss the resemblance. “And you’re … Cici’s aunt, right? You were at the Halloween party and brought those little cookies with the chocolates smooshed into the middle!”
“That’s right,” she says, a triumphant grin spreading as she peeks at her brother.
“You were the hit of the party,” I laugh, an easy smile stretching across my face. Less easy as I remember the blond man staring at the side of my face.
She nods enthusiastically. “Rindy McNalley.” Rindy holds out a delicate hand. “It’s nice to re-meet you, Ms. Rutherford.”
“Callie, please.”
“Well, Callie, Cici absolutely adores you,” she gushes. Like her brother, Rindy McNalley exudes easy confidence with her professional pantsuit, heels and sleek bob.
Taking her proffered hand, I ask the first question that comes to mind as I try to keep the focus off the one person to whom I don’t want to be introduced. “Do you work with John at the practice?”
“Yep. But where these two choose to focus, for God knows what reason, on families, I only work with couples.”
Stifling a laugh, my brows hike up a couple of inches. “Oh, wow. I bet that can get pretty intense.”
“Definitely. But, at the end of the day, I feel like I’ve done something. Helped someone. That kind of thing,” Rindy nods, shrugging. “Besides, sometimes a couple just need a mediator while they talk things out among themselves.”
“Really?” My nose scrunches. “All I picture is couples yelling at each other while sitting on a stranger’s couch.”
Rindy and John both let out a full laugh while their physically flawless tablemate continues his blatant staring. “Trust me, there’s plenty of that, too,” Rindy answers. “But we all need a little help sometimes. There’s no shame in admitting it.”
From the corner of my eye, a smirk slides into place across Dr. Rhodes’ face.
“Sure,” I shrug. What else am I gonna say while I try not to choke? You know, especially with all my experience being married to someone who loves and supports me.
“What about you, Callie? Are you married?” Rindy tilts her head, looking for a ring I don’t possess. Dark, manicured brows knit together while my own shoot back up and my tongue trips all over itself.
“Me? Oh, no.” Strained laughter forces its way out. “Maybe one day.” If only the earth would swallow me whole at this very moment. I paste a tight smile that feels more like a grimace onto an already burning face. As an excuse to look anywhere but at the table in front of me, I send a quick look back in Ian’s direction.
My dear friend, the astute man that he is, looks up just in time to catch my wide-eyed ‘save me’ signal. A slight nod passes between us just before I have to return my attention to the most awkward conversation of my day. And that includes one of mystudents asking if not pooping for nine days would make you explode.
I reluctantly cast my gaze back to the table in question, meeting three pairs of questioning eyes that are begging for answers.
Cici’s dad leans back, clapping a hand on Dr. Rhodes’ shoulder. “Ms. Rutherford?—”
“You really can call me Callie,” I insist. If the rest of the staff finds out Cici’s dad and I are on a first name basis, I’ll rule the school in no time.
John smiles warmly. “Callie, this is our other practice partner, Dr. Oliver Rhodes.”
I reluctantly slide my semi-panicked eyes to the most handsome doctor at the table.
He starts, “Actually?—”
Full-on panic takes over, and I just barely manage to speak over him. “It’s lovely to meet you, Dr. Rhodes.” Is my casual voice anywhere in the room? Absolutely not. I sound like I just ran a marathon, and my mind repeatedly chants at me not to succumb to the desire to lean forward and catch whatever breath used to reside in my lungs.
Confusion subtly crosses his chiseled features before a few rapid blinks bring the good doctor back to the present. “Uh, yes.” He tests out each word that makes its way into the world. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Fully aware of our intrigued audience, I ask the only rational question that bothers to pop into my mind. “How long have you been practicing?”
“About five years now,” he answers smoothly before taking a sip from his frosted glass. Like the McNalley siblings, Rhodes looks like he just came from work in his khakis and navy button-down combo. The man shoots a pointed look in my direction. “How long have you been teaching, Ms. Rutherford?”
Thank God, an easy question. “Oh, um, about six years, I guess? But, y’know, longer if you count student teaching.” Because he would know the intimacies of getting a teaching license. Obviously. Folding my arms across my chest, the silent questions being thrown our way from John and Rindy slowly start getting louder. “Well, it was great to see you two again but I should probably get back to my table.”
