Love Is in the Air by Carolyn McCray Read Free Book Online Page A

mission-style chairs opposite. An overstuffed leather couch ran along the far wall. Why he had extra seating, she didn’t know, since he had, at most, five people visit over the course of the year.
    The Badger wasn’t into formalities, as he spoke before either of them had a chance to sit down. “As you might be aware, Maria’s family has chosen to fly her body home to Dallas for burial there.”
    “No, I wasn’t,” Sal answered, realizing she had always thought that Maria came from Fort Worth. How could she call Maria her best friend, when she couldn’t even properly identify which of the Texas cities she came from?
    “I still feel that it’s important for the staff to have closure, so I have arranged a small memorial service tomorrow afternoon in the chapel.”
    Sal found the words hard to speak. Any thought or emotion having to do with Maria felt heavy. So heavy that she felt like she would break just trying to convey it. “I think everyone would appreciate that.”
    For the first time in the three years she had worked here, her boss seemed reserved. Almost timid. “I have been talking with the staff, and I know this may be hard for you, given the circumstances, but they would like for you to speak on their behalf.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “They feel that you were the closest to her, and if we only had enough time for one person to give a eulogy, it should be you.”
    Sal just stood there, blinking. She didn’t even know where Maria grew up. How could she eulogize her? “I… I don’t know if…”
    “You loved her, and they love you, so anything you say…” he said softly, then opened the door. “Now why don’t you get some work done?”
    Still in a daze, Sal exited the office. Had the Badger actually been nice to her? When she looked up, she found the entire staff watching her with an anticipation that bordered on terror. Knowing that her boss was probably watching at this moment, Sal just gave a little thumbs-up sign. A cheer erupted from the cluster of staff, which brought a smile to her lips.
    Yep, she was home.

CHAPTER 16
    At 11:29 p.m., Sal plopped down in the residents’ office, feeling every inch of the unforgiving metal chair. She carefully set down her laptop, but let the heavy stack of charts slide haphazardly onto the desktop.
    Well, if she wanted distractions, she’d gotten a lot. She’d lost count of the number of patients after they hit the thirty mark. It seemed the City had held its breath after the violent storm, and then in a rush exhaled, right into the emergency room. It was all in those charts. Fractures, colds, herpes, and one strange case of heat exhaustion.
    She tried to turn on the small lamp that looked like it had been out of style even back in the seventies, but it didn’t work. The bulb was burnt out. Out of the eight residents, it seemed that she was the only one who knew how to change it. However, tonight she was so tired that instead of walking all the way to the other end of the emergency room to the supply closet, she just pulled up the blinds to let in some light.
    As Sal looked out over the ER, she realized that the Badger had remodeled the residents’ office to mimic his own—kind of like a mini-den. Her office might not have one-way glass, but she could survey the width and breadth of the department.
    Of course, there were a few other differences, such as no leather couch. Hell, no leather anything. Just two bunk beds with threadbare sheets, this rickety desk, and a tiny refrigerator that couldn’t even hold a full six-pack of soda, but it was her domain.
    Well, maybe not her kingdom, but certainly her responsibility, one that she had fulfilled today. Despite the insanely high volume of patients, everything had gone smoothly. Maria would have been proud of her staff.
    Not a single complaint as they worked through the day without even a break. If only the selection committee coveted efficiency more than pomp.
    Unfortunately, Sal couldn’t rest on