“No. Just a good man I met by chance. I looked at his chart, and it’s bad.
There are serious complications now.” “Honey, bring me his labs if you can. I don’t make guesses.
I need to see what shape his body is in.” “I’ll try to get a summary from the chart tomorrow. Can I come by?” “Anytime.”
Feeling a little steadier, Elena signed out, changed clothes, and headed for the exit. In the parking lot, she spotted a familiar car. It was Mike’s.
She assumed he had come to see Peter and started toward the bus stop. “Elena, wait,” Mike called, stepping out of the car.
“Let me drive you home.” “You really don’t have to. You’ve already spent half your day helping other people.” “I insist.”
“All right,” she said. She settled into the passenger seat and watched the evening city slide by.
She liked imagining the lives of strangers on the sidewalk—who was headed home, who was meeting someone, who had somebody waiting for them. Deep down, she wanted that too: a home, a family, a place where someone would be glad to see her after a long shift. For now, it still felt far away.
The car stopped in front of her apartment building. Elena thanked him again. “I owe you for gas and for the TV.
I can pay you back in installments after payday.” “Forget the TV,” Mike said. “It belonged to the company and was just sitting in storage. But the ride home?
That does require payment.” Elena tensed. Nearly every dollar she made went to rent and groceries.
“I don’t have much cash on me.” “Then we’ll have to work something out,” Mike said, trying not to smile. “I accept payment in the form of dinner.
I haven’t had a real meal all day.” Elena laughed with relief. The invitation pleased her more than she wanted to admit.
“That sounds fair.” “Meet me in an hour at Montreal’s.”
“Where is that?” “Give me your number. I’ll text you the address.” He handed her his phone, and she typed it in. Then she hurried upstairs to get ready.
The moment she walked in, her roommate looked up. They split the rent on the apartment. “Well, well,” Julie said. “Where did you find the prince with the nice car?”
“Long story. We helped an older man yesterday.” “And you didn’t tell me? Come on, who is he?” “He asked me to dinner tonight.”
“Take me with you,” Julie said at once. “What? It’s kind of a date.” “Oh, come on. I don’t want to sit here all night. Tell your guy to bring a friend, and we’ll make it a double date.”
“I guess I can ask,” Elena said, and went to her room. Mike had already texted the address. She replied awkwardly, suggesting the double-date idea.
He didn’t object and said he’d bring a friend. Elena opened her closet and realized with horror that she had nothing to wear. Her life was classes and shifts. Fancy dinners were not part of the routine.
“Julie, do you have anything I could borrow?” “Let me see… Here.” Julie pulled out a simple black dress that hit just above the knee. It fit Elena beautifully.
“You just saved me.” An hour later the two women were arriving at the restaurant. Mike and his friend were already at the table.
“Since when are you into young medical professionals?” his friend Dennis teased. “What happened to Diana? I thought that was still unresolved.”
“I don’t know,” Mike said. “There’s something different about this one. Yesterday she was ready to hand over gold earrings just to get me to drive a complete stranger to the hospital.
People like that are rare.” “Well, that’s a change from Diana,” Dennis said. “She’s all money and attitude.
This Elena sounds real.” Just then the women entered the dining room.
“Over here,” Mike called. “So that’s your Florence Nightingale?” Dennis said under his breath. “She’s beautiful.” “Behave,” Mike muttered. “Glad you made it.
Please, sit.” He pulled out Elena’s chair. Dennis didn’t bother getting up.
“Order whatever you want,” Dennis said with a smirk. “Mike’s paying.” Elena opened the menu. The prices made her stomach drop—this was far outside her budget.
She felt painfully out of place. Mike noticed and stepped in.
“Trust me to order?” he asked. “Please.” “The grilled salmon here is excellent. Do you like seafood?” “Sure,” Elena said, though in truth seafood was a luxury she almost never had.
“Great. We’ll do two salmon entrées and a bottle of white wine.” He had just raised his hand for the server when Julie cut in, spoiling the mood. “She can’t drink much,” she said. “One glass and she’s done.”
“I’m just tired from work,” Elena said quickly, shooting Julie a look. Julie was jealous, plain and simple. Elena had somehow landed a polished, attentive man with a nice car, and Julie couldn’t stand it.
Elena, meanwhile, had never been in a place like this. Her usual evening involved textbooks and a worn sofa. “I think I should go,” Elena said suddenly.
“I’m exhausted, and I’ve got an early shift tomorrow.” She grabbed her purse and headed outside. Mike went after her.
“Elena, wait. What happened?
