Page 10 of Trial Run

“Nothing. I just … had an idea for a minute there.”

“Keep having those good ideas, champ,” she said, her tone fond. “That’s what got us where we are now.”

“Will do.” He regarded the flowers, his mind whirring with possibilities.

“You know …” Vanessa leaned toward the camera. “You look a little bit like the old Ben right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t put my finger on it. But your eyes lit up a minute ago. When you asked about the flowers.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“I’ll have you know, I’m very observant.” She straightened her glasses frames.

“Well, go observe a patient. I’ve got a few calls to make.”

“Bye, Ben.”

She clicked off the call with a wave, but Ben was already setting his phone on the counter.

Everyone liked flowers, and flowers would be a great way to reconnect with his patients. If he ordered flowers for every patient in the practice, that would show them he cared, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

He couldn’t lose his practice, not because of this … particular weakness of his. And flowers could be a first step to going back, an apology for his absence. He’d call Cameron and have his assistant send him the full client list with all the addresses. His patients had already opted in to receive mail and deliveries from the clinic. He’d send these flowers, using his own money.

If Nell worked on commission, even better. A large order might give her another financial boost. He could say she’d sold him the flowers.

And after sending the flowers to his patients, he’d go back to the office. As soon as possible.

The four walls of his townhome suddenly felt more confining than they had for the last four weeks. If he could just go for a run outside like he used to, his sneakers eating up the long miles, then everything would make sense again. At the memory, his body perked up like a dog hearing the word “walk.” He needed to get out, tomove.

He made it as far as the front door, hesitated with his hand on the knob, and thunked his head against the wooden panel.

He would try again tomorrow.

He picked up the phone and called Tillie’s Flowers.

* * *

The next morning, Ben startled when the doorbell rang. It couldn’t be who his imagination told him it might be, and yet a glance at the doorbell camera showed Nell’s face.

He ran a nervous hand over his vest front as he strode to answer the door. His heart thudded underneath the vest, rushing in his ears. If he didn’t go outside, he should be fine to stand in the doorway and have a normal conversation.

“Hello.” Her expression was guarded, but she looked better rested today. She must have gotten some sleep. She held a tall potted plant in her hands, the wide, waxy green leaves obscuring most of her torso.

“Good morning.” He cleared his throat. “I’m assuming this time, it’s not a mistaken delivery?”

“No, this is for you.” She held the plant out to him and he took it automatically. “To say thank you. For the tip.”

She didn’t sound very happy about it.

“It was nothing,” he said, studying the plant in his hands so he wouldn’t look past her and see the porch and the front yard.

“It wasn’t nothing.” She pinned him with a direct look. “It was more money than anyone’s ever given me. Why did you do it?”

“Because—” He drew in a sharp breath, chest tightening.

Her expression changed, softening. “I’m sorry. It’s hard for you to stand out here. I forgot. Would you … Can I come inside?”

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