Page 49 of Only Just Begun

“From what?”

“That’s two questions.”

“I didn’t ask a specific question.”

“‘Care to enlighten me’ sounded like a question to me.”

They were pulling into the hospital parking lot, so she had to be quick with hers.

“Do you have other siblings?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

He pulled the car into a parking space.

“That’s two questions.”

“Damn, I should have worded that better.”

“Yes, you should. I guess you’ll know better next time. Let’s go.”

She didn’t stop him from coming in with her, because both her aunts liked him. That was the excuse she told herself, but there was also the fact it felt good having him there.

“Hi, Ted.”

“Hello, Lucy. We want to see Miss Marla.”

Mandy knew the woman at reception; they’d gone to school together. They’d just not been friends or talked much. Mandy hadn’t talked to many people, if she was honest. The smile on Lucy’s face when she looked at Ted made something burn inside Mandy’s stomach. She had a feeling it could be jealousy, which was a shock because (a) she’d never felt jealousy, not over a man anyway, and (b) why was she jealous at all over Lucy smiling at Ted, a man who meant nothing to her?

“Hi, Lucy,” Mandy said. The woman looked surprised. Clearly she’d never taken the time to say hello to her before.

“Oh hi, Mandy. Your aunt is still in emergency, but you should be able to see her. Go on down the hallway, follow the signs.”

“Thanks.”

“So you and Lucy, that was weird,” Ted said as they walked down the hall.

“I beg your pardon, what was weird?”

“Lucy was shocked when you said hello to her. I was wondering why that was? I could hazard a guess.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“I just bet you would. However, in the interests of the rebuild of Mandy Robbins, I will. You never spoke to her before, you just ignored and shut everyone out. Right?”

“I have friends.” She hated the defensive tone in her voice.

“Mr. Goldhirsh and the rest of the knitting group are not friends.”

“Shut up.”

Ted whistled as they entered the ward. His big jeans-clad legs were taking smaller steps to accommodate hers, but still he shot ahead of her.

“Why do you have ketchup on your T-shirt?”

“Gracie smeared it on me when we had breakfast together, and don’t think I won’t ask that question again when your head is not all over the place.”

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