Page 39 of A Much Younger Man
Chapter Ten
The next morning,it took me a minute to remember what had happened the night before. With a sinking feeling in my gut, I got ready for work, wondering what kind of day lay before me.
I’d been at a low ebb the evening before, distressed by patient outcomes and nervous about my absurd attraction to a man so young I could conceivably have been his dad, and I’d panicked. I’d acted out. I’d given free rein to all my insecurities, and now if I wanted to explain what I’d done, I had to get clear on what those insecurities were.
If I was right and Beck was being unnecessarily flattering, that warning might be the end of it. But if I was wrong…
I really didn’t want to be wrong. Orright.
I got to work later than my usual time and discovered Lena already sitting at reception. April was in the back, and when I asked about the kittens, she told me Beck had already been in to feed them and was gone again.
That turned out to be the pattern for several days.
Each morning, Beck slid in and out of the clinic before I got there. Every other time he helped out, he managed to come while I was with patients or after I’d gone home for the day.
It soon became obvious that my staff might have been helping him to avoid me. “April, can I talk to you for a minute?”
She slipped her hands into the pockets of her lab coat and leaned against the wall. “Sure, boss.”
“Has Beck said anything to you?”
“’Bout what?” Her eyebrows lifted in studied nonchalance.
“Well, I haven’t seen Beck around at all, but I know he’s been here. Has he said anything about avoiding me?”
“Why would he?” Her arch tone signified something was up.
“Is he or isn’t he avoiding me?”
“He might have mentioned that he’d prefer not to come in while you’re here.”
“Are Travis and Lena in on this too?”
“In on what, Captain Queeg? It’s not a mutiny.”
“What reason did he give for avoiding me?”
Her eyes widened. “I think you need to ask him that.”
“April, this is not Ridgemont High.”
“What’s that?”
“Never mind. Can we get back to Beck? This is my place of business.”
“Well, then act like it. You’re the one who says ‘no chismes’ all the time.”
“Fine.” I let her see my annoyance. “I’ll ask Lena.”
Lena turned out to be less forthcoming than April. Even before I reached the front desk, she said, “Nuh-uh. Don’t ask me anything. I just work here.”
“Are you kidding me?”
She pressed her lips into a thin line and turned away.
“All right. Jeez.” I found Travis in the staff room, readying the cot.
“I suppose you’re going to ask me about Beck.” He spoke over his shoulder. “Took you long enough.”
