Page 82 of Embracing Trust

I raise my eyebrows. “She seems normal,” I whisper and Ryan grins.

The waitress arrives and after she rattles off the food and drink specials, she starts with me.

“What can I get you?” the waitress asks.

I take a glance at the menu. “I’m going to do the hamburger platter with fries. Umm…I’d like Dale’s Summertime Light.”

“And for you, sir?” She turns to Ryan.

“Let’s go with the hamburger platter and onion rings. And I’ll take Dale’s Dark Ale.”

Dale’s Ales is a family-owned home brewery and restaurant. They have the best variety of beers that they make here on the premises.

The waitress comes to Curtis and Merilee last to take their order.

“How about you? What can I get you?” The waitress asks Merilee.

“I’m going to do—”

“We’re both going to take grilled salmon with side salads. And please put the dressing on the side.”

Salmon? Speak up, Merilee. You hate fish.

“I’m not sure I—”

“And we’ll each take a top-shelf whiskey sour.”

The waitress scurries off to put in our orders.

Whiskey sours? Top shelf? What the hell? Merilee hates hard liquor.

“Hey, Mer,” Ryan says as he leans across the table. “Last time we were here, you said you were gonna try the Dale’s Extra Dark.”

Apparently, Ryan notices it too.

Merilee shrugs.

“So, Curtis. How did you meet our Merilee?” I ask.

I need to get to the bottom of this guy. I can’t believe he ordered fish. Yuck.

Curtis has brown hair that’s pulled back into a bun and he wears wire-rimmed glasses that give off that professor vibe.

“Merilee was my student this past semester.”

“I needed some hours to keep my license up-to-date.”

“I’ve been explaining to her that with a bit more education, she could easily move on to become an APRN or PA, however, she doesn’t seem interested in pursuing her talents.”

“Oh,” Merilee says lightly. “I love my job now.”

Curtis wrinkles his nose and studies my best friend. “Registered nurses empty bedpans. If you become a PA, I guarantee you would see the last of those. Plus, you could start your own practice or join a well-established practice and see patients. You could set your own hours. No more of this night shift business.”

Ryan grips onto my leg and I almost let out a yelp. His teeth are clenched. “Merilee is so great at what she does.”

I’m thankful when the conversation is interrupted by the waitress bringing our drinks.

Chapter Thirty-five

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