Page 44 of Crazy in Love

“Yes, my receptionist did that right after we got them.”

“Thank you. Once I get it verified, can you do the surgery? And if so, how soon could you do it?”

“Sure, I can do it. It’s a straightforward, minimally invasive procedure. You’ll have to check with the front desk about my schedule, but I know it’s important to you, so I’ll tell them to make room whenever you’re ready.”

Nick sighed. “Thanks, Doc. Appreciate it. I’ll be in touch.”

“That about another surgery?”

He nodded. “At least the mystery as to why my leg isn’t healing is solved. I’m so pissed the Boston doc missed it. He’s supposed to be some big shot specialist, and it’s the doctor from Hicksville who finds it?”

“I’m sorry, Nick.” She laid a hand on his. It was warm from her coffee cup.

“I saw you at the hospital. With the kids.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, then she glanced away, almost as if she was embarrassed to be caught.

“Why don’t you tell anyone?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It started when my mom got sick. While she did her chemo appointments, I’d visit the kids. They always cheered me up. They still do.”

Finding out Faith wasn’t a bully—that she’d actually been sticking up for her friend all those years ago—had intrigued him. Made him see her in a different light. She came off as flighty and unserious, and maybe that was partially true. But the more he got to know her, the more he realized she was more than the horoscopes and psychics and tarot cards.

“Anyway, I gotta get to work.” She stood. “See ya around.”

He watched her walk out and then refocused on his leg problem. It took twenty minutes to get his doctor in Boston on the phone.

“Hate to say it, but your guy is right,” he said. “We missed a piece of something.”

“Is that why my leg’s still jacked up?”

“Can’t say for certain it’s theonlything, but it sure as hell isn’t helping. It should come out as soon as possible. The longer you wait to remove it, the more your leg’s healing for nothing.”

“When would you be able to do it?”

“I’m pretty sure my surgery schedule’s booked up for months. Maybe we could shuffle things around to get you in sooner, but I can’t promise anything.”

Nick kept his mouth shut, silently seething. How much needless time away from the job had this cost him? How many pain pills had he taken unnecessarily? How much permanent damage might be done to his leg?

“Forget it,” Nick said. “I’ll have someone here do it.”

He called Dr. Butler back, who, after some shuffling, was able to fit Nick in for the following Monday—four days away.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Friday morning, Faith was in the middle of a conversation with Irene when Nick walked in. Her heart rate ticked up a notch, but she ignored it.

“Could we havethatmany shoplifters?” Faith asked Irene. While reconciling the finances, she discovered tons of books had disappeared over the last several months.

“I bet it was Jesse,” Irene said. “Your mom wanted to give him a chance, but I always thought there was something off about him.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Nick said, approaching the counter.

“Missing books,” Faith said.

“Who’s Jesse?”

“He’s a previous employee.” Faith glared at Irene. “But we have no proof he did anything.”

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