Page 59 of The Beat of her Heart

Josephine raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “You both look refreshed. If I didn’t know better, I’d think?—”

“Josephine,” Giselle interrupted quickly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, a faint heat creeping up her neck. “We have a lot to get done today.”

Josephine chuckled, undeterred. “Sure, sure. Just making an observation.” Her eyes sparkled with that same mischievous glint.

“Right,” Giselle muttered, ignoring the urge to roll her eyes.

Beside her, Addie looked like she wastrying to keep a straight face, but the faint smile playing at the edges of her lips betrayed her. Josephine’s playful prodding didn’t seem to faze her one bit.

They walked on, and Giselle couldn’t help but glance at Addie, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

As they rounded the corner, they nearly collided with Madeline, who gave them a mock salute. “Morning, you two,” she said with a smirk, barely hiding her amusement.

She lifted a hand in a casual wave, but there was something knowing in her eyes, a glint that made Giselle instantly wary.

“Madeline,” Giselle replied, keeping her tone brisk and professional.

Madeline raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, a playful grin on her face. “Don’t mind me. Just passing by.”

She cast them a final knowing look before walking off, leaving Giselle feeling slightly exasperated.

Addie let out a soft laugh as she glanced at Giselle. “She can be quite the character.”

Giselle shook her head, stifling a small smile. “She’s annoying.”

Addie shrugged. “She’s nice when you get to know her.”

They continued walking, the morning passing in a blur as they finished their rounds. As the day wore on, Giselle’s thoughts kept drifting back to Addie, and she found herself fighting the urge to look in her direction more times than she cared to admit.

When they finally headed back toward the parking lot, Giselle felt a strange mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

They walked to Giselle’s car in silence. As they reached it, Addie’s phone rang. She answered, her expression turning serious. Giselle watched as Addie listened intently, her brow furrowed.

“Alright,” Addie said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up the phone and sighed. “Work,” she explained. “Something’s come up.”

Disappointment washed over Giselle. She’d hoped for a quiet afternoon, just the two of them. “Of course,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

Addie hesitated. “I just need to sign off on a treatment plan. It should only take a few minutes. Do you want to wait for me?”

“I’ll be right here,” Giselle insisted. “Go.”

Addie gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With that, she turned and walked back into the hospital. Giselle watched her go with a strange mix of longing and relief. She was glad that Addie was needed, that she was important. But she couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness that crept in.

She got into her car and sat there for a moment, lost in thought. She thought about Addie, about the way she looked, the way she talked, the way she made her feel. She’d never felt anything this all-consuming before.

Her phone rang, startling her. It was Ashley, her former colleague. Giselle hesitated before answering, wondering what it was about.

“Hey, Ashley,” Giselle said, trying to sound casual.

“Hi, Giselle! How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I was just calling to see how you’re settling in at Phoenix Ridge.”

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