Page 32 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“Maybe a little,” Jordan said. “It has you laughing. I can hear the humor in your voice.”

No use denying it. “I met Garrett at work. He’s a doctor.”

“So you said. His whole family is? I can’t believe you met them all. Are you sure you’re okay? None of this is like you.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “It just sort of happened. And I didn’t meet them all, just most of them.”

She told her sister how she went to have dinner alone on Thursday night and Garrett was there and came over. They were talking and she caved in a moment of weakness.

“Were you thinking of backing out?” Jordan asked.

“I was close to it. I’m glad I didn’t. I think Dad would have been so proud of me.”

“He would have been,” Jordan said. “Tell me more about Garrett. Is he just a friend?”

“Right now,” she said. “I think it has to stay that way.”

“Why?” Jordan asked.

“Because I’m only here six months.”

“So?” Jordan said. “He’s only there a year. He lives in Boston. You work for the same hospital. You’ve got a lot of time to work things out. You could both stay there or both go back. Don’t lock yourself into a strong no without even knowing what the future will hold.”

She snorted. “I’m not sure what tomorrow is going to bring. Jordan, I’ve got so much drama in my life.”

“I’m going to sound like a broken record. So? Do you think you’re the only one in the world who does? I also know my sister. She doesn’t let her drama spew anywhere. Hence the reason you’re states away.”

“Good point,” she said. “But I’m pretty sure he’s got something going on too.”

“Why is that?” Jordan asked.

“He’s an oncologist.”

“Hard job,” Jordan said.

“Yes. He’s young. A few years older than me, so probably not practicing long. But he said he volunteered to work on the island for a year for a change of pace and to reevaluate his career. When I mentioned it was a hard job to balance, he said he obviously wasn’t doing it well.”

Which went back to her not wanting anyone else’s drama in her life.

“Did he explain anything else?” Jordan asked. “You said his family is full of doctors. What field?”

“All over the place,” she said. “But his father is an oncologist and now chairs the department. His sister is a pediatrician. His cousins are ER, radiologist, and OB-GYN, his uncle a surgeon.”

“Guess they’ve got a lot covered,” Jordan said. “But he followed after his father.”

“Just like you,” she said.

“Don’t feel bad about that,” Jordan said. “Dad knew you would never be a doctor. You can’t stand blood.”

She laughed. “I don’t care for it. No. I followed him the best I could. In the medical field without having to worry about blood and gore. I give shots when I need to. I can handle that.”

Jordan was coughing she was laughing so hard. “Sorry. It’s just funny.”

“I know,” she said. “So there you go. I’ve talked to him a few times and most of it on Easter was about the island and things to do. There were a lot of kids so I kind of kept it to that.”

She didn’t want to hear stories about the island or legends or lores or any of that.

Garrett’s family kept their word, and they avoided any uncomfortable topics.

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