Page 19 of Storm Bound
“I could come to you,” I said before I changed my mind.
“No, please. I couldn’t ask you to do that in this weather.”
“Well, I’m there in spirit.”
His response was a love-heart emoji that shouldn’t have made me melt, and yet, it did.
I stayed true to my word and spent the rest of my Sunday in bed, only taking breaks to eat Yaya’s delicious stew and chatting with Adam.
Just before I turned in for the night, I decided to video call him and wish him a good night.
We were both starting a new job the next day, and the closer it got, the more nervous I got about it, even though I knew my job inside out. And I could imagine Adam was feeling even more so, having to take care of people he knew nothing about and who probably had a personal relationship with his uncle. It must be twice as tough for him.
Which was why when I woke up the next day, I sent him a message straight away and wished him good luck. Then I got dressed in my smartest clothes, borrowed Yaya’s car, and headed to the northwest part of Cedarwood Beach where Dr. Becker’s office was situated at the edge of town. Since it was a little out of the way for most residents, there was a big parking lot on the side of the building with assigned spaces for Dr. Becker, his nurse—that would be me—and the receptionist, who was probably a pretty, young thing, just like Dr. Becker liked them. So much so, that they were on constant rotation.
Hey, just because I’d stayed away from home for a few years didn’t mean I had stayed out of the rumor mill. Especially when Yaya was a big part of it.
“Wish me luck. I’m going in,” I texted Adam and waited for his reply before I got out of the car.
“Good luck, Charlie. You’ll be amazing. I’m sure of it.”
My heart skipped a beat reading and rereading his message until I decided to get back to the task at hand. So I got out of the car.
At least it’d stopped raining, but it was still chilly and windy as fuck. I practically ran to find cover inside.
As expected, a young receptionist was sitting behind a loaded desk. She was a beautiful black woman with short, curly black hair, a pair of pink glasses, and full, pink lips.
“Hi. I’m the new nurse. I’m supposed to be starting with Dr. Becker today,” I said.
“Hi,” she said. “I’m Ava. You must be Charlie?”
I nodded.
“Dr. Becker has officially retired. His nephew is supposed to be taking over today, but he’s still not here,” she said.
I froze on the spot and my heart beat faster than before.
His nephew?
No, it couldn’t be. It was just a coincidence, right? I hadn’t met my new boss on my way to Cedarwood Beach. I would have known. I’m sure I would have. These things only happened in movies. I had not flirted with my new boss. Adam said he’d be working in New Harlow. He didn’t mention Cedarwood Beach.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the door opened, knowing I was freaking out for nothing.
But when I turned to look at the man behind me, I found Adam standing in the doorway, and the moment he noticed me, his eyes went wide with surprise.
“Oh, you must be Dr. Adam Kravitz, right? Please tell me you are because we’ve got a full schedule today, and I really don’t want to have to make calls and cancel people’s appointments,” Ava said.
He reluctantly turned to the receptionist and smiled.
“I am,” he said, and my heart sank.
“Oh, lovely to meet you. I’m Ava, your receptionist. And this is your nurse, Charlie. He’s also just starting today.”
Adam turned to look back at me and all color drained from his face.
What were the chances of thateverhappening?
Six
