Page 33 of Older Cowboy

“Of course. Where do you want to go?”

“This may sound like an oddball request, but could we pick up something and eat in my car?”

A quizzical look dawned on Callie’s features, but she didn’t balk. “I don’t see why not.”

So after purchasing the deli sandwiches they so often partook of, Erika broke the news. Callie knew she’d been working on her certification all this time. “You’re my friend, so I wanted you to know first. I’ve taken my nurse practitioner exams.”

“Oh? That’s awesome. What score did you get?”

“Not sure. Not yet. I’ll let you know whenever I do. The thing is that I’m eager to work in a field more directly related to treating type one diabetes in children, so I’m applying for jobs in that arena.” Erika paused, expecting an explosion. When it didn’t come, she went on. “Outside of your brother’s office.”

“Yeah, I figured that’s what ‘applying for jobs’ meant.”

Still no explosion.

“Are you mad at me?”

“Mad?” Callie squinted at her. “No. I’m not looking forward to you leaving, but I can’t say it’s a surprise.”

Erika goggled at her. “It’s not?”

“No. It was kind of a no-brainer that you’d want to explore bigger and better things. Why go for such a hard-won certification otherwise? We’ve been lucky to have you for this long, especially with Tim’s hijinks.”

Wow. That wasn’t nearly as painful as Erika had been afraid it would be.

“So, you don’t mind?”

“Mind? Of course, I mind. The selfish part of me wants to sink to my knees and beg you to stay. It’s going to be awful to not have you around anymore. But I get it. Nursing is important but specializing so you can do more is even more important. I’ll be happy for you even if it’ll stink for me. Sorry. Shouldn’t have said that.”

“Oh…” Erika hugged her friend, and it struck her how differently Callie had reacted to this news than either of her in-laws would’ve in the same position.

If Nikki or Bruce had been in Callie’s place they likely would’ve guilt-tripped her until she felt compelled to remain in the same position despite all the time and education Erika had put into her achievements. Even if doing so might deprive her of the opportunity to help cure the disease that killed their son.

Not that they would purposely do that, it was simply how they were accustomed to behaving. It was almost like maintaining the status quo had become one of their most central personality traits. That and being the parents of an only child who had passed away in his early twenties. Everything in their lives still centered around that single tragic event.

Just like so much of Erika’s life and personality had.

The more she contemplated how she’d been existing rather than living, the more it upset her. She didn’t believe for one minute that dwelling in the past like that would ever be something that Blake would want for her. And going to her grave this last time had proved that.

Erika had been more at peace since that visit than she’d been in, well… sixteen years.

“The next person I need to speak to about this is your brother,” she told Callie. “I came to you first because I didn’t want you feeling blindsided.”

“Before you do, can I ask you for one thing?”

“Definitely.”

“Will you wait until a formal offer of employment elsewhere has been made to you before presenting your resignation to Tim? That way I can put some feelers for another registered nurse out in the ethers of the internet.”

Over the next week, Erika kept her nose to the grindstone while also checking her email for news on her test scores. She at last received the scores that Wednesday, and not only did she pass, she aced them. Unable to hold back, she approached Callie at the front desk the second she was between patients.

“Guess what?” she whispered.

“What?” Callie said, typing something with her keyboard.

“It’s official.” Erika flipped her phone toward her friend and Callie gasped.

“Is that a perfect score?”

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