Page 112 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

She showered and got out to dry her hair and brush her teeth.

The toothpaste had little left in it. There wasn’t a closet in his bathroom, but just built-ins for towels and washcloths.

She opened the cabinets on the bottom and didn’t see any, then pulled open a drawer to find a box in there, right next to a pill bottle.

She wasn’t normally a nosy person, but she had to remove it to get the toothpaste box out.

Since it was in her hand, she glanced at it quickly.

Levothyroxine. She knew exactly what it was used for and her jaw dropped.

She tried to remember if she noticed a scar on Garrett’s throat and didn’t.

She took a few deep breaths.

She could let it go, but there was part of her that couldn’t.

This was major to her. Especially considering his profession.

She finished getting ready and walked to the kitchen, putting the pill bottle on the counter with a loud snap.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had thyroid cancer?”

34

SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING

Garrett turned quickly when Justine asked that question.

He’d been making omelets and thinking about how great this morning had been.

Seeing his pill bottle on the counter and her question told him it wasn’t going to be so wonderful.

Not with the look on her face.

One of disappointment, not disgust.

That was worse.

“How do you say that to someone?” he asked.

“Seriously, Garrett? That’s a joke, right?”

He let out a sigh. “It’s not something I talk about much. It was a long time ago.”

“How long?” she asked. “And don’t tell me you don’t want to talk about this because I think we have to. I think it plays a big part in your life, your career, and how you are with patients.”

No one else he’d ever dated understood that, let alone said it.

He was stupid to not bring it up before, but as he said, how did you?

“I was twelve,” he said.

“Oh,” she said, pausing. “That’s rare.”

“It is rare,” he said. “My parents noticed I was tired. I said my neck hurt and my father looked me over, found the lump, and wasted no time to get it tested. It wasn’t huge, early stages. There were decisions to be made.”

“As always,” she said.

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