Page 82 of Sparking Sara

“I love it,” she says with a smile. “In fact, I’m waiting for a placement in pediatrics. I love working with kids. I’m just working the ER admissions desk temporarily. It was the only place they had for me when I moved here a few months ago.”

“Where did you move from?”

“I used to live in Albany.”

“Why make the move to the big city?”

She looks around the stadium and then back at me. “Are you kidding? It’s so exciting here. I’ve wanted to live here since I was a little girl. My parents used to bring my sisters and me here a few times a year. I’ve always loved the energy. The tall buildings. Even the noise. Albany was too quiet for me. After college, I got two years of nursing under my belt and then a few of my nurse friends and I decided to apply for jobs here. We all got one. Not at the same hospital, but we still live together.

“How many roommates do you have?”

“Three,” she says. “For now, we sleep two to a room. It’s expensive here and we all have college loans to pay off. But eventually, I plan to have my own place, even if it’s so small you can practically touch all four walls without moving.” She regards me thoughtfully. “Do you have roommates?”

“Yes and no,” I tell her. “I live at my sister’s townhouse. They aren’t there most of the time since they live in Kansas City, so it makes sense for me to be their caretaker or whatever.”

Her mouth falls open. “You live in Sawyer Mills’ townhouse? Oh my God, it must be incredible.”

I shrug off her comment. “It’s alright I guess. It’s not like he has gold-plated toilet seats or anything.”

She laughs. “I’d love to see it.”

The suite erupts in cheers when the Nighthawks score.

Nora leans over and gives me a celebratory kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for bringing me. I’m having a lot of fun.”

I glance over at Sara and then back at Nora, realizing that I am, too. “Maybe we could do it again sometime.”

“I think I’d really like that,” she says. “We have a lot in common, Denver Andrews.”

“We do?”

She nods. “We’re both in helping professions and we’re both relatively new to the city.”

“I guess you’re right.”

She smiles and squeezes my hand. “I know I am.”

By the time the ninth inning rolls around, my need to pee overtakes my desire to see the last plays of the game. I’ve had quite a few drinks—more than I normally would—so I head around the corner to the bathroom. When I come out, Sara is leaning against the wall.

I look around. “Where’s your entourage?”

She laughs. “I’m going home on Monday,” she says. “I think I’m capable of using the toilet by myself.”

“You’re capable of anything, Sara.”

“Thanks to you,” she says. “So, Nora seems nice.”

“Sheisnice.”

“That’s good.” She picks at a paint chip on the wall next to her. “Are you going to stop by tomorrow?”

“I can’t. I have a shift.”

“Oh.”

“But I’ll be there on Monday for your farewell party,” I say.

“Farewell party.” She nods sadly. Then she looks up at me. “I’m saying farewell to the rehab center, not to you. Right, Denver?”

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