The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

I saw Mrs. Carson’s face light up and she let out a scream of delight and hugged her husband furiously. I watched, unable to speak for fear my voice would betray my emotion.

“You saved my life today. Think about it, Dr. Whitaker,” Mr. Carson said over the shoulder of his wife, who was sobbing.

“I will go set up your surgery,” I said, quickly excusing myself.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Carson threw her arms around me, stopping my retreat, and sobbed into my jacket. I hugged her back fully with my warning.

“We aren’t out of the woods yet. We still have to get the tumor out. Stay optimistic and I will see you both shortly with the orders.” I walked out of the room, dodging all of the awe-filled stares, including Dr. Pierce.

“Beatrice, it worked! Schedule him for surgery right away.”

“Well done, doctor.”

“Thank you!” I beamed, my chest full.

I had been spending more and more time in the oncology department of the hospital. I hadn’t mentioned it to Rose due to the fact I didn’t want to tell her I was becoming more interested in that particular field. It would interfere with the plans we have had for years. I couldn’t do it to her and I wasn’t so sure this wasn’t just a phase. I had been interested in several other fields, as well. Still, I couldn’t deny this felt much different. I walked quickly across the street to meet her for coffee. Dallas Memorial was situated minutes from her campus. I walked into Starbucks and stopped dead in my tracks as I watched her. She was beaming at her phone as she texted someone. I could see it on her instantly. When she realized I was watching her, she quickly pocketed her phone and came toward me. It seemed my baby sister was hiding something of her own. I gave her a knowing smile and she shrugged away my interest. I turned my attention to the young barista in front of me.

“I’ll have a caffeine-free, frothy, cold, chocolate thing with chocolate shit on top, please.”

I heard a puff of air escape my sister. “Are you serious? I’m sorry, ma’am.” She turned to the young girl at the counter, who was laughing hysterically at my order. “She’s not fit for public. She will have a decaf, chocolate Frappuccino with whipped cream and extra drizzle, and I will take a chai tea, please. Dallas, go get us a table.”

“Thanks, Rosie, I never know how to order this crap.”

“It takes brains, Dallas. Take your damn drink, will you? I don’t want people knowing I drink this poison.”

“You guzzle tacos, Rose,” I pointed out as we situated ourselves at a high top table with a view of the hospital.

“True,” she said, her smile never far from the surface.

“Spill it, I only have ten minutes,” I said, dreading what was coming. I adored my sister. Today she had decided to style her hair in her usual knotted, curly red mess on top of her head. I had tried for years to get her to embrace her feminine side, and for years she had told me to ‘go to hell’. In all honesty, she didn’t need to change a thing. Rose carried a confidence about her that I admired. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone, which I was sure made her even more appealing to the opposite sex. She was a true natural beauty.

“So, I met someone. His name is Grant. He is beautiful, smart, caring, funny, and he smokes weed.”

She looked up at me with an impish grin as I laughed harder than I had in months. “Ha ha ha, holy shit, Rose. He’s a pot head?”

“No, he smokes weed,” she defended. “There is a difference.”

“He’s a pot head,” I said, egging her on.

“No, he’s not, damn it. I’m telling you, sister, I have never had it this good,” she boasted, both eyebrows raised and her perf

ect plump lips puckered out. I chuckled at her.

“You look good. Really, Rose, you are practically glowing. So, okay, tell me more.”

“He was raised here and in Tennessee due to his parent’s divorce. He is a mechanic for a private airline. He is twenty-nine and is the hottest, I mean hottest man I’ve ever seen. He’s so good to me and tells me he loves me with every breath he takes. I think, no I am sure I am in love with him. It happened really fast and we don’t get to see each other often, but we talk every single day for hours. And when we do see each other…oh, God, it’s like my heart is full and I am so happy. He hasn’t let my school work suffer and he swears we are destined to end up together and I love him and he is so, so good to me and—Dallas…why are you looking at me like that?”

“It happened,” I said carefully, giving her a slow nod with the tilt of my chin.

“What happened?”

“What Dad said. Lightning struck you, Rose.” I watched the words sink in as she tilted her head, eyes squinting. “Oh, you know I don’t believe in that stuff.”

“Yes, you do. Don’t pretend with me. I know better,” I said, suddenly terrified for her. It had been a little less than a month since dinner at my parents’ house. Who the hell could she possibly have fallen in love with in such little time?

“Okay, so what if I do believe in it, how do you know it’s Grant?”

“Rose, I know as well as you do that it’s Grant. I am going to down this frothy chocolate shit and try to be happy for you,” I said, the bitterness in my voice growing stronger with every word.