Page 52 of Someday You Learn

I roll my eyes. “Get out of my office.”

She laughs, dropping her hand. “Seriously, though. How are things going with Cashlynn?”

“Did you not hear about the coffee fiasco earlier?”

Hazel covers her mouth. “It’s pretty bizarre.”

“Very. And she’s such a fucking morning person. I know I haven’t lived with a woman in four years, but she’s something else.”

Hazel pats me on the chest. “We women do have our little quirks, Parker. Eventually, they become endearing.”

“I will never find someone unplugging my coffee machine endearing.”

Grinning, Hazel grabs her purse and opens the door. “Well, I hate to say it, but if that’s the first thing to drive you crazy, I have a feeling it won’t be the last.”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugs and waves at me. “Good luck!”

As I watch my sister walk back to the receptionist area where Diane is waiting for her, a sense of dread churns in my stomach.

What if Cashlynn has other habits that are even worse? What if she’s a closet slob or, worse, folds her towels the wrong way?

What if, as the weather gets warmer, she casually mentions she prefers to sleep naked and then I have to imagine that she’s behind her bedroom door with nothing covering her silky, sexy body?

I close my eyes and groan. “Just take it one day at a time, Parker. That’s all anyone can do.”

Shaking off the thoughts, I head down the hospital hallway toward my next client, but as I pass Beth’s office, a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.

“It’s time to tell them,” Beth says, her voice low.

“No. There’s too much going on right now. My focus needs to be on the practice.”

Dr. O’Neil? What’s he doing here? He’s not supposed to be back until Thursday.

“I can’t keep this a secret for much longer, Robert. Your daughter deserves to know. I deserve that too.”

Unfortunately, before either of them says another word, Seth walks by, startling me from my eavesdropping. “Dr. Sheppard, are you just hanging out in the halls now instead of working? That’s no way to become the next boss around here.”

My spine stiffens as Beth’s office door creaks open. She peeks her head out, expression unreadable.

“Parker?”

I force a smile. “Hey, Beth.”

She narrows the door’s opening until I can barely see her face through the crack now. “Did you need something?”

Before I can decide how to respond, Robert opens the door, standing tall like he has nothing to hide. “Parker,” he says gruffly.

I steel my spine. “Robert.”

“I hear we have dinner plans Friday night.”

“Uh, yes. That’s correct.”

“I’ll see you then.” With that, he moves past me, still using his cane for support.

And as I watch him walk away, I can’t help but wonder if Cashlynn isn’t the only one with something to hide.

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