I mimed plucking it out of the air and sticking it on my forehead, making her laugh.
Molly rushed out to reception as I walked slowly to the washroom, trying to move as smoothly and naturally as possible since I could see her boss was watching from the corner.
How strange that my main concern for my health was now completely focused on making Molly look like a champ. Maybe this was some sort of sign that I was ready to put myself out there and date again. Yet now that my crush on Molly was overtaking me, I couldn’t imagine dating anyone else.
CHAPTER FOUR
* Molly *
Allie told me that my next patient had canceled due to a stomach flu, and I was certainly relieved that they didn’t bring that in to share with the entire clinic.
I had a bit of paperwork to file, but since I had half an hour to do ten minutes’ worth of work, I grabbed my phone and darted out to the back parking lot. As I hit the button to call my sister, I saw that my fingers were still fluttering slightly from my session with James.
He was trying so hard, and I had a sneaking suspicion that he was doing it partly for me. I’ve never flirted with a man before, and certainly couldn’t do that with a patient. But I could take a moment to grin to myself about it.
“I’m so glad you called!” Janice squealed the second the call connected.
Her wedding was tomorrow night, and even though it was a very casual affair with less than seventy people or so, she might need to vent a few jitters to her little sister.
“How are you hanging in?” I asked.
“You know, I’m actually completely fine,” she laughed. “The venue called this morning and said that there was a mistake with the tablecloths they ordered. They sent eggshell instead of light cream. I asked her to please relax and just throw them on the tables.”
“You are a dream bride,” I giggled. “I love that you’re not stressed about anything.”
“Well, there is one little thing,” she said slowly.
“Can I help?”
“I just wanted to warn you that Aunt Madison is coming after all.”
It was impossible to stifle the groan that rattled through me. “You have got to be kidding.”
“I know. I’m so sorry – she’s gone back and forth several times, and I thought she canceled for good. But she called Mom and announced that she was definitely coming tomorrow.”
My Aunt Madison was politely described as “eccentric”, but more realistically described as a “pushy bitch” by my sister once we had a glass of wine.
Madison believed that all women should be on the prowl for a rich husband. Until we were married with a house, a car, and expensive furniture, we just weren’t worthwhile people. My mother tried to run interference, but it wasn’t always possible.
Our oldest sister Sandra was already married. Now that Janice was marrying a relatively well-off man, I was the only one left for her to harass.
“There’s plenty of room if you want to bring a date at the last minute,” Janice suggested. “You could ask your friend Kevin.”
“She already knows he’s just a friend,” I said, slumping against the back wall of the clinic . I didn’t mention that I hadn’t really spoken to my old friend from school in ages, since he was obsessed with his new girlfriend. “I can’t go through that again. I can’t.” I felt the back of my head t apping against the bricks behind me i n frustration. “But there’s absolutely no way I could get a date for tomorrow night.”
I was excited for my sister, but the thought of dealing with that woman on my own was too much to take. “Don’t worry,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll just have a little wine and dance with all of the uncles.”
“I’m sorry, I have a call on the other line,” Janice said quickly. “I’ll call you back tonight.”
“Okay. Take care.”
If I hadn’t been wearing my white jacket, I might have thrown myself down in the gravel parking lot and moped like a child. My two closest friends moved away after college, both of my sisters were starting families and would be busy all the time, and I was left alone. As always, I’d get through it, but I needed to wallow in self-pity for a solid thirty seconds.
“Molly?”
I jumped, straightening up at the sound of the deep voice. James was staring at me, looking worried. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”