Nursing in Northlake (At the Altar Book 9) (9 page)

The girl nodded. “Here you go. She signed all her paperwork on Monday.”

Heidi smiled. “I know. I helped her with it.”

“Is she your mother?”

Heidi shook her head. “No, she was my neighbor for a long time, and we’ve become close. I’m Heidi Hart—Henderson now. Sorry, just married.”

“Oh! I knew I recognized you. You’re the ADON.”

“Right.” The two facilities were pretty separate, even though they were the same company. Heidi had some influence there, but she wasn’t as well-known there as she was in the actual nursing home side of things.

“We’ll take good care of Miss Molly.”

Heidi chuckled. “I know you will. I’ll be checking on her regularly. I’m sure she’s going to love it here, though. She needs to have friends her age, something she hasn’t had in years. Her daughter is her next of kin, but she won’t check on her often, so I will.”

“Good. She seems like a sweet lady. I’m glad you’ll be looking after her.”

Heidi leaned forward. “Do you know yet who’s been assigned to her?”

The girl tapped a few keys on her computer. “Looks like Jaclyn.”

“Oh good. She’ll work well with her. We’re going to have to watch out for my Miss Molly. She can be a troublemaker at times, and she’s always wanting to stir things up.”

“We know her type.”

“She and Miss Opal are already fast friends.”

“Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good.”

“I know. And it looks like she’s about to jump Mr. Richard’s bones.”

The girl, whose name tag read Abigail, laughed. “We can’t stop them from enjoying each other if that’s what they want to do.”

“I know. I worry about her.”

She walked back to the couple, noticing the two were smiling and holding hands. “I see you made another new friend, Miss Molly.”

“This is Richard. We’re going to have supper together tonight.”

“That’ll be nice. I’m sure you’ll have a good time.” Heidi didn’t ask if the supper would be public or private. She didn’t want to know. “I have your key, and I think the movers will be here any minute.”

“You take care of that for me. I’m going to stay here with Richard.”

“You don’t want to decide where your furniture goes? Once it’s in place, there’s no one to help you move it.”

“Heidi, I know you’re perfectly capable of figuring out where my furniture should go. I’m going to enjoy my new friend while you take care of that.”

Heidi rolled her eyes. “If there’s anything you don’t like, I’m going to remind you that you said that.”

She walked down the hall to the apartment to wait for Slade and the movers, realizing she was cramping Miss Molly’s style with her new man. Slade and the movers were there a few minutes later, and the work resumed in earnest.

“Where’s Miss Molly?” Slade asked.

“She’s falling in love with Mr. Richard in the lobby. Or they may have moved to his apartment by now. Things seemed to be moving rather quickly between them.”

Slade shook his head. “I thought she had feelings for me after that pinch, but I guess not. I’ll have to tell her she broke my heart the next time I see her.”

“You do that.” Heidi took the box marked dishes and started to unpack it, stopping only to tell the movers where she wanted certain things to go.

It took more than two hours, but when they were done, the apartment was unpacked and ready to be lived in. Heidi looked at Slade. “I’m exhausted.”

“Me too!” Slade shook his head, thankful the movers were out of their way. “Are we going to spend every weekend moving?”

“I sure hope not.” She walked to him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Let’s go find Miss Molly and tell her we’re done. Then we can find some food. I’m starving.”

“Sounds good to me. And tomorrow we’re still having dinner with your parents, right?”

Heidi nodded. “I wish we could get out of it and just rest, but my parents aren’t going to feel better about our marriage until they get to know you at least a little. It won’t kill us.”

“No, it won’t. It makes for a long weekend, but it won’t kill us.” He put his arm around her shoulders as they locked the door and left the apartment. “Are you on call again next weekend?”

She nodded. “Every other weekend.” She walked toward the cafeteria, knowing that’s where they’d probably find Miss Molly and Mr. Richard. When they got there, her eyes scanned all the tables, and she finally found them at a table off to the side of the room with Miss Opal.

She walked to them, pulling the key from her pocket. “Everything is ready for you, Miss Molly. I even unpacked for you.”

Miss Molly took the key with a smile. “Thank you, Heidi. Now go away and enjoy your new husband. I’ve got friends here to check on me.”

“Are you telling me to leave you alone?”

Miss Molly nodded. “You can check on me, but I won’t need you every day like I did before. Once a week would be nice. I’ll miss you.”

Heidi laughed. “Did you call your daughter and tell her about this?”

“No, was I supposed to?”

“Yes, she probably needs to know that you’ve moved.”

“So call her and tell her. You two get along better than she and I do anyway.”

Heidi sighed. “I’ll call her tomorrow. I’m too tired today.”

“Moving is hard work.”

Heidi leaned down and kissed Miss Molly’s cheek. “Enjoy your new friends. I’ll check in on you Monday and make sure you’re being treated all right.”

“No one would dare mistreat me with you watching over me like you do. They all know you here.”

Heidi smiled. “Have fun.”

Slade walked toward the parking lot with her. “I rode over in the moving truck. Give me your keys.”

“I want to drive.”

“I can’t stand not driving. I know I told you that.”

“Don’t be difficult.”

He stopped walking and held his hand out for her keys. Heidi finally acquiesced. “You’re going to have to ride with me eventually.”

“I don’t see why I would. I’ve avoided it so far.”

Chapter Nine

Heidi slept in the next day, not waking up until after ten. She stretched and yawned, turning over to find Slade propped up on an elbow watching her sleep. “Whatcha doin’?” she asked softly.

“Thinking about how glad I am we got married.” He reached out and ran his hand down her arm. “I can’t imagine being this happy with anyone else.”

She smiled, moving closer to him. “I could listen to you say more nice stuff if you want.”

He laughed. “And that’s one of the things that I like so much about you. You’re not afraid to ask for what you need!”

“Nope. I’m not. I like to call it delegating, and today you are in charge of telling Heidi she’s fabulous.”

“How about if I show her?” Slade kissed her, pulling her closer to him. “I think that’s the best way we could start the day!”

“Sounds good to me!”

*****

Heidi walked out of the bathroom an hour later, toweling her hair dry. “We need to be at my parents’ house at five.”

“Then we need to figure out something to eat before then.” Slade frowned at her. “What are you hungry for?”

“Tacos.”

“You’re always hungry for tacos.”

“See? I’m easy to please. Send me flowers once a month and bring me tacos daily. I like shoes too, but tacos are the main thing I need in this world.”

“Would you settle for barbecue? Because that sounds good to me.”

She shrugged. “I can live with barbecue if tacos aren’t an option.”

“So we’re going to go get some barbecue, and then we have to be at your parents’ house at five. What do we want to do in between those things?”

“I think there’s a new superhero movie out. I could go for that!”

Slade grinned. “I figured you’d like chick flicks.”

“I do. But I’m not going to force you to go to chick flicks. I’ll go with my girlfriends when I need a good cry.”

“Does that happen often?”

“Does what happen often?” Heidi asked, confused.

“That you need a good cry?”

“Not too often, but it happens. Superhero movie?”

“I would love to take you to the new superhero movie. Wanna sit in the back row and make out?” he asked.

She turned away from him, getting her purse and walking toward the door. “I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know when we get there.”

Slade grinned as he watched her walk toward the door. A sweet and sassy nurse was just what the doctor ordered.

The movie was good, and they both enjoyed it. Afterward, there was no time to go home. “Let’s just go to Mom and Dad’s a little early. That way we can get the interrogation over with.” Heidi climbed into the passenger seat of his car.

“There’s going to be an interrogation?”

She shook her head at him. “What did you think dinner tonight was about? Eating?”

He sighed. “A man can hope.”

“Ever heard the term ‘false hope?’ Because that’s what you have going on there. False hope.”

“So what kind of questions can I expect?”

She laughed. “You can expect every question you’ve ever imagined. And then add a few dozen or so.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“Kind of, but not really. They’re going to have questions about you. You married their daughter. They’re going to want to know everything they can learn.”

“This is going to feel like torture, isn’t it?”

Heidi grinned at him, reaching over to pat his thigh. “You’ll be rewarded with sex with their daughter tonight.”

He sighed. “I wouldn’t get that if we didn’t go?”

“Probably not. You wouldn’t have earned it, you see.”

Slade groaned loudly, but followed the directions of the GPS out of the parking lot and toward Fort Worth. “Fine. I think.”

“You may sing to me while we drive.”

“I may?”

“Oh yes. I like it when you sing to me.”

“Is that a request or an order?”

Heidi looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “I’ve never given a doctor an order in my life! I know better.”

“Sure you do.”

When they pulled into her parents’ driveway, Heidi made a face. “Mark is here. He’s probably still laughing at us for getting married sight unseen.”

“Last laugh is ours, though, because we’re a good match.”

“Maybe we should pretend not to be.”

“Not with your parents watching! No, I think we’ll just play it safe.”

Heidi made a face. “But harassing my brother is so much fun.”

“Nope. Not with me.”

“Fine.” They got out and walked around to the back entrance that the family always used. She walked right in, calling out, “We’re here!”

Her mom came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. She looked Heidi up and down as if trying to decide if she was all right, before grabbing her in a hug. “You’re really all right!”

Heidi shook her head. “Mom, he’s a good man. I told you that.”

“I know, but you were also refusing to come see me, so I couldn’t be sure.”

“I wasn’t refusing to come see you. I moved last weekend, and I moved Miss Molly into the assisted living facility my nursing home runs this weekend. I really couldn’t see you before today. I’ve been really busy.”

Her mother looked at Slade, looking him up and down. “You don’t seem like a social deviant.”

“He’s not. I promise.” Heidi reached out to take Slade’s hand, wanting a show of solidarity for her family. “He even helped me move Miss Molly.”

“Thank you for the dinner invitation, Mrs. Hart. It’s good to finally have a chance to get to know you.”

Heidi waited for her mother to ask him to call her by her first name, but she didn’t. “Is Dad in the living room?”

“He’s watching a movie.”

“We’ll just go say hi to him.” Heidi dragged Slade toward the living room, wondering where Mark was. She knew he was there, just waiting to do something stupid, because that’s how brothers are.

She sat down on the sofa with Slade beside her, waiting for her dad to pause his movie. “So, the prodigal daughter returns.”

“Prodigal daughter? Dad, I saw you two weeks ago. It’s not like I left home to join the circus or something.”

Her dad wasn’t paying any attention to her. His eyes were on Slade. “Tell me about yourself.”

Slade shrugged. “Not a whole lot to tell. I was born and raised in Boston. My dad died when I was young, and my twin brother and I were brought up by our single mother, who is a nurse. She’s worked in oncology for as long as I can remember.”

“Is that why you decided you want to be a doctor?”

“I don’t know. I’ve known since I was a teen that I wanted to help people. I first thought I’d be an oncologist and do my own research on the side, finding the cure for cancer. I realized as soon as I started medical school that I preferred to be around patients rather than test tubes, so I decided on psychiatry. That only lasted for a few months. I find real joy in helping a woman bring a baby into the world, so I stuck with being an OB.”

Her dad nodded solemnly. “Do you want kids of your own?”

“At least a dozen.”

Heidi gasped. “He’s kidding, Dad!” She hissed under her breath, “He’d better be kidding!”

Slade grinned. “I’d like two or three. Preferably at least one of each.”

“That sounds more realistic with Heidi for a wife.” Her dad leaned back, still studying Slade as if he was a specimen under a microscope. “Will you care if your wife works, or will she need to stay home?”

“That’s up to my wife. I know her career is important to her. I can certainly support us if she wants to take a few years off to raise babies, but I wouldn’t have a problem hiring a full-time nanny either. Whatever is best for Heidi.”

Her dad’s eyes narrowed. “You’re answering everything perfectly. Did Heidi quiz you before you came over?”

“How could I have done that when I didn’t know what you’d ask?” Heidi asked reasonably. “He’s just a genuinely good guy, Dad.”

“He’s a doctor. You hate doctors.”

Heidi shrugged. “I’d never met a doctor like him. He’s pretty special.”

“Probably only because you’ve never worked with him, so he can hide that side from you.”

“Stop. He’s a good man. I’m glad I married him.”

Her dad just nodded. “Okay. Heidi said you live in Southlake?”

“I do.”

“Any plans to move out of state?”

Slade shook his head. “No, I really don’t think I ever will. When I finished med school, I thought about moving back to Massachusetts, but my life is here now. I have a practice that I love. I have an incredible wife. Why would I leave?”

Her dad nodded. “All right. I’m not convinced, but eventually I might be.”

“Trust me. He’s a good man. I’ve even been to his office and his patients and staff all seemed to like him.” She started to tell her dad how good he was on a mechanical bull, but that just seemed too fool-hardy. She couldn’t imagine him being impressed by that.

Mark came in then, sitting on the other side of Heidi. “How’s married life?”

“Fabulous,” Heidi responded.

“Really? So your blind date marriage worked out for you?”

“Better than anything’s worked for you.”

Mark made a face at her. “Slade, isn’t it?”

Slade nodded. “And you’re Mark, right?”

“How’s marriage working for you? I see she’s still alive and all, but you don’t
want
to kill her?”

Slade shook his head at his new brother-in-law. “Never occurred to me.”

“Huh. I’d have killed her. I wanted to kill her when I lived with her.”

“That’s the sibling thing. I kinda like her.”

“No accounting for taste,” Mark mumbled.

Heidi looked at her brother with a sweet smile. “Would you like Dr. Lachele’s phone number? I’m sure she could find someone even for you. She’s a miracle worker after all.”

“That’s okay. I don’t need to pay to find a date or a wife.”

“Of course you don’t.” Heidi kept the same sweet smile on her face, knowing it would annoy her brother.

Mark backed off after that, and they had a nice visit with her family. Slade found that he liked them, much to his surprise. He’d expected to simply tolerate her family with the way her mother kept calling to make sure he hadn’t killed her.

As they left, they both hugged her parents. “Thanks for supper, Mom. It was nice not having to cook.”

“I won’t worry as much now. He seems like he’s a good man.”

“He is. I promise.” Heidi looked at her dad. “Less worried?”

“Much. Don’t be strangers.”

“We won’t.” They walked out to the car, and she collapsed in the passenger seat with a sigh. “That was nerve-wracking. Let’s not do family again any time soon.”

He grinned. “Michelle and Seth were talking about driving up for Thanksgiving. No family?”

Heidi shrugged. “I kind of liked Michelle and Seth. Sure, why not? What about your mom? When will I get to meet her?”

“Maybe we can go to Massachusetts in the spring. It’s beautiful there. I try to go every fall, but I don’t think I can take the time off this year.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“I really am glad that’s over. Mark didn’t like that we were happy.”

Heidi shook her head. “That’s not true at all. He just expected it not to work out, and he wasn’t sure how to react when it did. He’s a good brother, and he wants me to be happy. Of course, he has a peculiar way of showing it, but that’s just because he feels like he’s supposed to torment his baby sister.”

“I’m ready to be home!”

She nodded. “I’m exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for a week, and we have to go back to work tomorrow. I wish I could call in dead.”

“But you won’t, because you have a better work ethic than that.”

“No, I won’t. I just want to.”

*****

After work on Monday, Heidi walked over to the assisted living to check on Miss Molly. When she got there, she found Miss Molly at a table playing cards with a group of others, including Miss Opal.

She waved and walked to the table. “How are my favorite people today?”

Miss Molly shook her head at her. “Don’t try to lie to us, Heidi. We all know your favorite person is that new doctor of yours.”

“How do you like it here, Miss Molly?”

“You should have told me about this place years ago. I love it. I feel like you’ve been holding out on me and trying to keep me from being happy.”

“I have been telling you about this place for six years!” Heidi responded indignantly.

“But you never brought me here to see it. If you’d brought me here, then I would have known how wonderful it was. It’s your fault I’ve been alone for the past six years. Go away, Heidi. I don’t need you now.”

Heidi shook her head, laughing. She leaned down and kissed Miss Molly’s cheek. “I’ll check on you later in the week.”