Been There Done That (Leffersbee #1) - Hope Ellis Page 0,136

You ain’t got a husband looking after you, it’s probably your decision.”

I shook my head at him, outright laughing now. Men were interesting creatures. He’d pronounced it as if it was common knowledge. “You think so, Rick?”

“You remind me of her,” he said, lifting their joined heads. “Got that efficient look about you. Gotta open up and trust someone at some point, you know? Love’s a beautiful thing. It ain’t easy. Shit ain’t always rosy. You know, I love her, but sometimes I could just—”

“You?” Sheila was looked at him in shock. “You ‘could just?’ I want to kill you at least once every day—”

“But I guess I love her more than the times I want to—”

“I could choke you,” Sheila said. But she smiled. I saw her tighten her hold on his hand.

“Open yourself up to having somebody in your life,” Rick said. “Beautiful woman like you, obviously as smart as you are, you don’t want to go through life alone. And you know,” he said, lowering his voice, “you’re only getting older.”

I laughed so hard I almost fell off the little stool I was sitting on. Sheila smacked him on the arm. I hadn’t realized I’d missed this so much. Sitting and talking to the actual patients whose lives I was trying to change made it all feel so much more meaningful.

“Okay, Rick,” I said. “Give me your pointers. I get it. I’m getting older. I need to open up, give love a chance?”

Rick hesitated. “You really want my pointers? ‘Cause I’ll give it to you straight, no chaser.”

I flicked a glance at Sheila. She looked far more relaxed, no longer worried about what would come from Rick’s mouth.

Good.

“Give it to me straight. No chaser. Maybe Sheila can help to balance things out if need be.”

She caught my eye, then made a show of rolling hers.

“Okay.” Rick leaned forward. “One. Change your mindset. This one here, she’d already made her mind up about how things were gonna be. Wasn’t even open to the idea of a better life with my sexy ass.”

We all cracked up a little. “And you got her past that?”

He nodded. “I slow-walked her. Wore her down, sneaky-like.”

Sheila blushed, quiet.

“Okay, got it. Changed mindset. What’s next?”

“Forgiveness. Gotta forgive yourself and the person you’re with. Cause we’re all still learning, aren’t we?”

I swallowed past the lump on my throat. “Yes, sir, we are.”

“Right. And if God can forgive, who are we, decidin’ we won’t forgive each other? Plus, you need each other, for the hard times. This woman right here? All them years ago she decided to walk this road with me. I decided the same. Now we’re gonna face whatever happens. Together.”

I heard the indistinct murmuring of the oncologist outside the door, likely in conversation with his fellow. I gathered the papers on the clipboard and stood. Gave them both a smile.

They were so brave.

“Well, I’m so grateful you both were willing to take your time to talk to me. I admire you both. And I got great advice out of the deal.”

“I like you, doc,” Rick said. He stuck out his hand. “I’ll be praying good things happen to you.”

I actually felt a lump rise to my throat. That these two, weighted with fear of all the possibilities that were just on the other side of the door, could think of a virtual stranger? I was always amazed by patients’ endless capacity to process all of the difficult feelings that accompanied a tough diagnosis, while wanting so badly to help others.

I gave it a good shake, then shook Sheila’s unoccupied hand. “I’ll be praying for you both,” I said. “That only the best things come to you.”

Sheila beamed. When the door opened and I excused myself, I looked back just in time to see Sheila gift her husband with a small, tremulous smile. Then together, they faced their future.

I stood on the other side of the closed door. Lost in thought. Thinking through Rick’s comments. Warm from the joy of that interaction.

And I knew what I needed to do.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Zora

“I know what I need to do.”

Leigh looked up from her sideways perch in the armchair and lowered her magazine to face me.

“Now who’s using someone’s house key without warning, hmm?”

I ignored her and rushed in to sit on the opposite couch. “Listen. I know what I’m gonna do.”

She tossed her magazine to the floor, peering up at me with mussed hair and mascara-smudged blue eyes. “About which part? There’s so many things you need