Prejudice Meets Pride (13 page)

In no time at all, she was in Janice’s office again, handing her the small stack of patient files she’d finally typed into the computer. “All done,” she said. “Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

Janice flicked a glance at her watch. “Oh, wow, it’s five o’clock already.” Although she probably hadn’t meant it as an insult, Emma’s current mood took it to mean, “I can’t believe it took you all afternoon to input a few files.”

“If you wouldn’t mind straightening up the waiting room before you leave, that would be great,” Janice continued. “We have a cleaning lady who comes every night, so we just need to make sure everything is picked up off the floor so that she can vacuum.”

The devil inside Emma made her ask, “And how should I go about picking stuff up?”

For a moment, Janice’s expression showed disbelief, then she actually cracked a smile. Who knew she had it in her? “Very funny,” she said, returning her attention to her computer screen.

Emma left Janice in her office and made her way to the waiting room. Children’s books were scattered around, and Legos were everywhere, almost as if a child had picked up handful after handful and thrown them into the air. Emma knelt down to start cleaning them up only to notice a little pink denim vest on the floor next to one of the chairs. She held it up, immediately picturing Kajsa wearing it with her little pink cowgirl hat. A pang of longing struck Emma in the chest, and she realized how much she missed the girls. This was the first day since they’d been together that she’d spent all day away from them, and Emma couldn’t wait to see their smiling faces or feel their little arms around her. After a day like today, Emma needed all the hugs she could get from sweet little girls who thought she was smart and fun and knew everything there was to know about everything.

Emma laid the vest on the chair and scooped up Legos by the handful, tossing them into the basket.

“So, are we back to only one Benjamin Carson now?”

Kevin’s voice startled Emma, and she looked up, finding him leaning against the reception desk with his arms folded, watching her.

“I guess it wasn’t such a popular name after all.”

Kevin grabbed a magazine from the rack, crouched down next to a pile of Legos and swiped them on the magazine like it was a dustpan. It was much more effective than Emma’s method and served to drive home her feelings of incompetence. Why hadn’t she thought to do that? Why hadn’t she thought to click Members>All? Why hadn’t she thought to look for an image of an insurance card on the patient’s file?

“I really need to get rid of these Legos,” said Kevin. “They’re such a pain to clean up.”

Something told Emma that he wasn’t usually the one to do this job. “What would you replace them with?”

“I don’t know… nothing?” He shot her a teasing smile.

“What about one of those wooden train tables?” she suggested. “You could glue or nail the tracks to the table, the way they do in toy stores, so you’d only have the trains to pick up.”

He nodded as though considering it. “Good idea. I might have to do that.”

Even though it was a little thing, his words warmed Emma’s heart, making her feel a little less useless.

“How did today go?” he asked as he swiped more Legos onto the magazine.

Emma grabbed one of the paperback books and started doing the same. “It was a first day.”

“And tomorrow will be the second.”

“And the next day the third,” Emma said with a grin.

“Wow, you really are a good counter.”

Emma smiled.

“Kevin? You still around?” Janice’s voice called out.

“In the waiting room,” he responded.

Seconds later, Janice appeared, looking surprised. “What are you doing?”

“Picking up Legos.” Kevin scooped the last of them onto his magazine and dumped them into the toy chest. “I got a little behind today, which gave Garrett too much time in here, so I thought it only fair that I help clean up his mess.”

“Oh,” was all Janice said. “Do you have a few minutes before you go? I need to go over something with you.”

“Sure.” Kevin moved to follow her, but stopped at the door and glanced over his shoulder. “Is Sunshine still puttering along, or do you need a ride home?”

She stuffed a stack of children’s books into the bookcase, then brushed her hands together. “Still puttering, no thanks to your insults.”

“See you tomorrow then.” He smiled briefly before disappearing through the doorway.

Emma stared at the spot where he’d just stood, feeling a strange emotion whip around inside her. He remembered the name of her car. It shouldn’t have been a big deal at all, but for whatever reason, it was.

The smell of decaying vegetation filled the early fall air, and Emma breathed it in with a satisfied smile. There was always something about fall that brought a giddy feeling to her heart. Whether it was the upcoming holiday season, the thought of Noah visiting in a few months for Christmas, or the brisk air that promised cooler temperatures, her lemonade was suddenly tasting pretty good. The fact that it was a Saturday, and she had an entire day to spend with the girls, only made it that much sweeter. They’d decided to go for a walk and explore the neighborhood, and Becky had joined them, along with her border terrier.

Becky tugged on the leash, pulling the little dog back. “You know you’re not allowed to go in Mrs. Sneldon’s yard, Dolly,” she said to the dog.

“Can I walk him, please?” Adelynn asked, trying to take the leash away from Becky.

Kajsa started forward with a competitive gleam in her eye.

Becky laughed, relinquishing her hold to Adelynn. “Sure, but only if you take turns with Kajsa,” she said preemptively. “How about Adelynn gets him for now, then when we turn back, it will be Kajsa’s turn?”

Kajsa nodded, graciously accepting her fate, and grabbed Emma’s hand instead.

“So, how’d it go?” said Becky. “Did you survive your first week?”

Emma squinted up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight. It complemented her mood perfectly. “Let’s just say that things can only get better.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Not terrible, but not great either. The office manager isn’t training me really well—or maybe I’m just slow—and because of that, I’ve made a bunch of mistakes. I even accidentally scheduled a root canal for a patient who didn’t need one. No idea how that happened.”

Becky laughed. “It’s never easy getting thrown into a totally new work environment. But hang in there. You’re smart and will pick it up in no time.”

“Thanks,” said Emma, although she wasn’t so sure.

“Aunt Emma, can we play over there?” Kajsa squeezed Emma’s hand, pulling her forward. A small community park, complete with a playground, appeared at the end of the street, looking like a wonderful diversion.

“Sure,” said Emma, pulling her right hand free and grabbing Kajsa’s other hand with her left. There. Much better.

When they arrived at the park, Adelynn gave the leash back to Becky before running after her sister. “Wait for me!” she called.

Becky looped the leash around her fingers and sat down on a nearby bench. She patted the open spot beside her, inviting Emma to do the same.

“So, I’m dying to know. What’s Kevin like as a boss?”

Emma watched as the girls formed a train to go down the slide. Adelynn didn’t like steep slides, so that was Kajsa’s way of helping her down. It was adorable to see them working together, taking care of each other, and behaving as sisters should.

“I really don’t interact with him that much,” said Emma. “When we do bump into each other, he’s always nice, but he leaves the managing to his office manager. But he’s wonderful with the kids. No child is too stubborn for him. When his assistants can’t calm someone down, he steps in and works some sort of magic, and suddenly they do whatever it is he asks them to do. It’s pretty intriguing to watch.”

“Does he try to work that same magic on you?” Becky teased with a glint in her eye. The half smile that accompanied the look made Emma elbow her new friend.

“If you’re implying what I think you are, you should stop right there. Kevin doesn’t date his employees. And besides, he’s not my type, and I guarantee I’m not even close to his.”

“What is your type?”

“I don’t know.” Emma scrunched her face, thinking back to her college years and the handful of guys she’d dated from school. Not one of them stood out. They were all just lumped together in one large menagerie of mindless, insincere flirtations. “Definitely not artists.”

Still holding the leash, Becky linked her fingers together around her knee and leaned back. “Kevin definitely isn’t an artist.” It was said in such a casual, innocent way that Emma had to laugh.

“Let me amend that,” said Emma. “Definitely not artists
or
dentists.”

“Have you ever dated a dentist?”

“Why would I?” Emma quipped. “They’re not my type.”

“How do you know they’re not your type if you’ve never dated one?”

“There are some things you just know without having to try it.”

“For example?”

“Like I don’t have to drink lake water to know that it tastes nasty, and I don’t have to jump out of a plane to know I’d faint on the way down. I don’t have to hit my finger with a hammer to know that it would hurt, and I—”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Becky said, waving away any further explanations. “All I’m saying is that I think Kevin has a thing for you.”

The idea was laughable, not that Emma felt like laughing. “Of course he does,” she said wryly. “I mean, I drive the coolest car ever, I’m great at nearly burning down kitchens and dousing people with water, I make the greatest guardian ever, and—oh, I’m an excellent beggar for jobs that I’m not qualified for.” Emma frowned at nothing in particular as the reality of what she was sank in. “Yeah, I can totally see why he’d be smitten with me. I’m a
reeeal
winner.”

Becky’s arm looped around Emma’s shoulders in a comforting side-hug. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful, talented, and amazing with those little girls. And I’m sure that’s what Kevin sees when he looks at you.”

“And I’m sure you’re wrong.” It was sweet that Becky was trying to make her feel better, but the mention of Kevin’s name only brought unpleasant feelings to the surface. To Kevin, Emma was a person who’d fallen down, and for whatever reason he’d felt the need to extend a hand. But as soon as he pulled her up, he’d brush her off and be done.

No way was Emma going to fall for someone like that.

No. Way.

“ʻThe lady doth protest too much,’” Becky quoted Hamlet in a sing-song voice. It was like she could hear Emma’s thoughts.

The bench suddenly felt hard and uncomfortable. Emma shifted positions and changed the subject. “Sam’s still planning on Tuesday night for her first lesson, right?”

“Are you kidding me? She won’t stop talking about it. She seems to think that with you as her teacher, she’ll have her pick of art schools. I keep meaning to drop by so I can see the girls’ room. She keeps raving about it.”

Emma smiled. “And that’s one of the many reasons I love Sam so much. She’s my one and only fan, unless you count the girls.” She gave Becky’s knee a pat. “You and Justin have done good. She’s pretty awesome, just like her mom.”

“Aw, thanks.” Becky nudged shoulders with Emma. “And that’s why I love
you
so much.”

The praise warmed Emma heart, but it didn’t take away a nagging thought that teetered at the back of her mind—a thought that had nothing to do with Becky and everything to do with Kevin. It would be nice if he could see her the way Becky and Sam did. Why his opinion mattered to her, she didn’t understand, but it did. She hated being the girl who constantly tripped over herself and needed a lift up.

Emma called for the girls, telling them it was time to head back. After a series of complaints and the promise of an ice cream cone later if they obeyed, they finally capitulated. Together, they traipsed back home and found Kevin pushing his new lawnmower across Emma’s lawn.

In that moment, something inside her snapped. The job was one thing, but this—this lawn mowing thing had to end. She’d had it with handouts, especially when they came packaged as brand new lawnmowers bought for the sole purpose of mowing her yard. Emma didn’t care what it took. She’d either find a way to fix her own lawnmower or she’d steal Kevin’s and hide it where he’d never find it again.