Page 32 of Nate

“I have no idea. Maybe make something in the crockpot so you don’t have to rush it.”

“I could do that. I have a great chicken and rice recipe. Do you think he likes chicken?”

Sydney laughed. “Well, if he doesn’t, I’m sure he’ll eat it anyway. That’s the kind of man he is.”

“I hope this goes well. I do like him, Syd, and I hate how I treated him.”

“If he wasn’t willing to overlook it, he would have turned you down.”

“I was hoping he didn’t have a date, but he said he didn’t.”

“Well, let me know how it goes.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Being a friend, even when I’m a bitch.”

“Gee, Markie, that’s daily.”

Markie burst out laughing. “Same to you. Talk soon.”

“Yep,” Sydney said laughing, then hung up.

Markie watched some TV, then around nine decided to check on Bobo. He might need some pain medication. She hated seeing any animal suffer in any way. Pulling on a sweater, she ran down the stairs, opened the back door, and entered the hospital, closed the door and turned off the silent alarm, then locked the door. She knew she should lock the door first, but she was always afraid she wouldn’t get to the alarm in time to turn it off. Silly, she knew, but that’s how she did it. Damn, it was creepy at night.

She walked down the hallway, opened the door to the recovery room, and quietly entered. She knelt at the cage and saw Bobo looking at her.

“Do you have some pain, baby? I’ll get you something.” She stood and moved to the medicine cabinet, got a syringe out, put the medication in it, then inserted it into the IV, then watched as he closed his eyes as the medicine did its job. “I’ll check on you tomorrow, baby. Sleep well.”

She tossed the syringe in the bin for used needles, then turned the lights out and after setting the alarm again, made her way out the back door. As she stood at the bottom of the stairs, she was amazed at how quiet the town was. Then she ran up the stairs, unlocked the door, and entered the apartment, locking the door behind her.

Before going to bed, she found the chicken and rice recipe and made a list of what she needed to pick up tomorrow. After watching a movie, she headed to bed. As she closed her eyes, she smiled as she thought about seeing Nate and getting past the mess, she made of thinking so poorly of him. She hoped they’d move past it. She did like him.

****

Nate drove into town and stopped at Katie’s Florist and Greenhouse. He wanted to get a flower for Markie. He wasn’t sure how the night was going to go, but he rarely showed up without something for a woman. Whether a date or dinner at her place. His mother always told him women liked that sort of thing.

“Hi, Nate,” Madilyn Morgan said from behind the counter.

“Hi, Madilyn. How are you doing?”

“Wonderful. How about you?”

“Same. Can I get one pink carnation, please?”

“You sure can. You’re cutting it close. We close at six.”

“I know. Are you working alone today?”

“No, Katie is in the greenhouse, planting.”

“I see.” Nate shook his head. “No. I don’t.”

Madilyn laughed. “Seedlings. Never mind. It would take too long.”

“I understand seedlings, Madilyn. Give me some credit.”

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