“Not this time. Graham hurt himself climbing and I’ve been helping him out. He’ll be with me.”
“Is he okay?”
“Dumbass broke his leg.”
“Oh, no, poor guy. How awful.”
“It could have been worse,” was all Claire said.
Her mom didn’t speak for a few long seconds. Some years they talked about her dad and some they didn’t. This was the perfect segue if her mom wanted to talk about it.
“How’s work been? Are you still happy with moving to the ER? Still waiting on the hospital to get your paperwork done?”
“Yeah, I’m still working regular nursing shifts for now. It’s been busy, but I like it. I like being the first one taking care of the patients, but at the same time it’s kind of nice to be able to leave work at the hospital when I go home.” Claire paused when Gertrude found a mailbox particularly interesting. “When I was in the ICU, I was usually caring for the same patients weeks on end, and they’d be on my mind all the time. In the ER it’s different every day. It can be hectic while I’m there, but it’s better for my mental health when I’m not.”
“That makes sense,” her mom said. “What else is new, other than playing nurse for Graham? How are Mia and Noah?”
Gertrude determined the mailbox wasn’t worth her time and they were off again. “Disgustingly adorable.”
“Any special men in your life?”
“Not a one. But, and don’t laugh, I signed up for an online dating platform.”
“Why would I laugh? So did I.”
Claire stopped, causing the leash to catch Gertrude’s collar. The dog looked back and glared. “What?”
“Your mother can’t join a dating service? I’m not that old.”
Claire slowly started moving again. “I—Of course you’re not. I just had no idea. When did you do this?”
“A couple of months ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Claire scrunched her nose at her own tone. She was surprised, was all. “For the record, I think it’s great, Mom.” Her mom had hardly dated since Claire’s dad died, and those were mainly blind dates set up through friends.
“I don’t know, I guess I didn’t know what you’d think of it. But since you’re doing it, too…”
“Had any luck so far?”
“Not at first. I went on one date, but we didn’t connect. Then it matched me with a commercial pilot.”
Oof. “Sorry, Mom.”
Her mom cleared her throat. “It’s fine. He might have been perfectly lovely, but I just couldn’t.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Anyway, I’ve been talking to an accountant in Boulder through email, and he seems nice. We might meet soon.”
An accountant sounded perfect for her mom. Maybe he had a son…
Gertrude paused to do her business in the front lawn of the nicest house on the street. “Let me know how it goes. I just finished my profile, so nothing yet. Maybe we’ll find someone at the same time and we can have a dual wedding.”
“What makes you think I’m looking for a husband? Maybe I just want to have some fun.”
“Mom!” Gertrude startled at Claire’s screech.
“What?”
“Are you serious?”
“No, but would that be so terrible?”
“Yes. But only because you’re my mother.”
“Fine. I’ll keep my sex life to myself as long as you do the same.”
Claire’s stomach dropped at the thought of telling her mom about her and Graham’s situation. “I thought this had been a lifelong unspoken understanding, but if we need to say it out loud, deal.”
“Good.” A chime sounded in the background. “Time to put my bread in the oven. Let me know when you think you’ll come by, okay?”
“Okay. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too.”
Claire was so engrossed in the article she was reading on her phone that the low, scratchy voice in her ear nearly made her jump out of her seat.
“Do I sound sexy or creepy?”
Placing a hand over her racing heart, Claire glanced back at Graham, who had come up behind her chair. “You scared the shit out of me.”
His face fell. “Creepy, huh?”
He’d straightened, which took him farther away from her ear, and she could barely hear him.
She shook her head and stood, then walked around the row of chairs in the waiting room. “Not creepy. You just startled me.”