Page 106 of Healing Fate

I smiled. I already knew that. I was lucky to have such an amazing man by my side.

“We should head out, too. You don’t need to stick around this place all day. Everyone knows Micah’s out of town,” Nonna assured me.

“Thanks, but I have some paperwork and stuff I’d like to get sorted out just the same. Helps to stay busy.”

“You call if you need anything at all,” Nonna told me.

Tears pricked my eyes as I tried to pull it together long enough for them to leave. It had been a long time since anyone cared enough about me to say such a thing. If I were being honest, I wasn’t sure anyone in my life had ever cared that much, at least not until I moved to San Marco.

I was still pondering that when the bell over the door sounded again.

“Be right there,” I yelled out.

“Take your time,” a familiar voice hollered back.

I froze and then slowly walked back to the front only to find Shelby, Susan, Vada, Emma, Olivia, and Alaina were standing around the lobby talking.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Just checking on you. We all know how hard it can be when the guys are away,” Shelby said.

“Especially your first time,” Alaina added.

“We take care of each other,” Emma explained.

“And now, you’re one of us,” Susan said with a smile.

“Thanks, but this wasn’t necessary. Really. I’m fine.”

“We all say that.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Put on a good front, and all that. But we don’t do that with each other. That’s for outsiders.”

“We’re family and we have to stick together.” Vada smiled at me.

Of everyone here, she was the one who knew how desperately I needed and wanted to hear that.

“And we’re taking the day off,” Alaina said. “So close up the clinic, and let’s go.”

“Go? Where?”

“Down to the lake. It’s too pretty of a day to be cooped up with our worry.”

“Oh, um, I guess that’s okay.”

“No one is coming. They all know Micah left with Bravo and despite the rumors of what you did for his grandmother, it would have to be pretty bad or simple curiosity for someone to come in knowing he’s away.”

I sighed knowing they were right.

“I know,” I conceded. “But it seemed like a good way to pass the time.”

“Not today,” Susan said.

“Yup, today, we pass the time together. It helps a ton. Trust us,” Olivia insisted.

“Okay,” I said, caving quickly because being alone with my worries wasn’t going to pass the time very quickly. It was only going to drive me insane.

I grabbed my purse and ushered them out so I could lock up.

The rest of the day went by quickly, relaxing by the lake and laughing with the girls. It was one of the most therapeutic days I’d ever experienced. My stomach hurt from laughing so much.