Page 73 of The Healer

“Please let him know I stopped by. I’d love to touch base—”

“Ready?” Minus her lab coat, Evie danced beside Ilona. Her rainbow skirt suited her, along with the red-embroidered woven shirt. “What do you feel like? Bacon and eggs? Pizza? Sushi?”

At the mention of Chinese, Ilona expected her stomach to revolt, but it gurgled like she hadn’t just fed it a substantial portion of salmon. “You choose.”

Kelly squeezed Ilona’s forearm in farewell and hurried along the passage, disappearing into the oncology ward.

Evie looped her arm through Ilona’s and ushered her out the door. The sun’s heat was unforgiving, and a fine sweat dewed on her upper lip. A cool breeze stirred her hair, whipping the ends across her shoulders and collarbone, hinting that she needed a cut. The air was rich with exhaust fumes and the sweet fragrance of the white blossoms on a nearby hedge. Mom would have known their classification.

They strolled along the sidewalk to a nearby diner. Ilona’s steps faltered since the diner had the look of Mo’s. Memories of Dane biting into donut after donut, Aiden with his bubblegum milkshake, Mo’s delicious apple pie, and Rhys sitting opposite her, his forearms bare. Her eyes widened as she recalled the moment. Like a starving man, he had watched her lick cream off the fork. She shivered. The attraction had been there right from the start. He had said as much, but she hadn’t believed him.

Sliding into the booth, she smiled at the waitress—a young student. “Apple pie?”

“Sure thing, with cream or ice cream?”

Ilona sighed, her smile lingering. “A double serving of cream, please.”

“Straight to the dessert? Make that two.” Evie beamed. “And a double-thick chocolate milkshake.”

The waitress settled her expectant gaze on Ilona.

“Yeah, might as well.” She nodded, and as the waitress scurried off, Ilona studied the red and white décor, the steel-rimmed bar stools, the red booths, the black-and-white checkered flooring. Onions and burgers were on the fry, and she sucked in a deep breath, relishing the aroma.

“What’s on the cards for you today?” Evie fiddled with the condiments on the linoleum table. “Need anything?”

Ilona grabbed her friend’s hands for a quick squeeze. “I’m fine, and all I needed was a hug.”

Evie laughed. “I thought Kelly was going to pop you like a tube of toothpaste.”

“I love her hugs, but she’s damn strong. You wouldn’t think so with her petite frame.” Ilona sniffed. “I’ve missed Amity and the staff there.” She offered a weak shrug. “I just need to find my niche, my place in this changed world.”

“Your folks wouldn’t have wanted you to give up on your dreams, Ilona.”

“My folks wouldn’t have wanted to die either.” She bit her lip, then slumped. “Sorry, Evie, dealing with it has been tough.”

“Only time heals, so they say. What no one tells you, is that you never forget.” Her brown eyes shimmered, but she forced a smile, one wide enough to dimple her cheek. “I met someone, but that’s all I’m going to say.”

“Oh?” Ilona grasped the subject change, prepared to pretend to be a teenager without a care in the world. “So did I.”

Evie squealed, sending the ends of her braids flying. “Is this the almost-fell-in-love guy?”

Ilona waved a finger. “Oh, no, you don’t. Tit for tat.”

The waitress slid onto the table two small plates of apple pie drowned in whipped cream, and two sinfully large chocolate milkshakes. Ilona dove in, groaning at the first bite. When next she saw Mo, she would castigate the woman for turning Ilona into a cinnamon-and-baked-apple-pie addict.

“His name’s Eric, and he’s not in medicine.”

Ilona laughed. “I don’t know what Rhys does.”

Evie clapped with her fork in hand, splattering cream across the table. “Look at us, not pining for a surgeon.”

Ilona faked a gasp and placed four fingers across her lips for emphasis. “It’s an insult to the tradition.”

Content to shove pie into her mouth, Evie nodded with a hum.

“He’s in Inner City.”

Evie stopped chewing, then swallowed hard. “Oh, dear.”

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