One Life ✓

Chapter 2: The First Day Shift

TC—San Antonio Memorial Hospital, San Antonio, TX

"See?" I chide the unbelievers. "I told you so!"

"You know her," sniggers Shannon. "How can we trust that she knows you?"

I walk through Paul's various bills and coins, which he's slowly collecting, while Kenny enlists Bella to help him steal the loot.

"Grace!" I yell.

I've got her attention. I know I look ridiculous. She remembers me in starchy white residency coats, with Hopkins School of Medicine stitched on the pocket in tiny purple letters. I doubt the present blue scrub tops and worn jeans are familiar to her.

Grace laughs, this crazy, warm cackle. She's laughed like that since we first met. Her dimples come to life as her mouth pulls into a perfect smile.

"TC Callahan?" She grins in disbelief. "Is that really you?"

Behind me, the notes fly as the others see that Grace knows me.

I pull her into a hug that she returns. "Do you know how much work I had to do without you?" I joke.

Grace smiles even broader. Her perfect grin is back. "A lot."

She brushes the bills from my shoulders and hair, running her hands through it gently. Grace reminds me of a rueful mom. "Tee, we were friends. I figured I'd run into you again. That's friendship. And, is that motorcycle yours? It's beautiful."

I look Grace up and down. "You're talking about the Harley? No more glasses...and you had a glowup!"

"Excuse me?" Grace's nose twitches, but she's still grinning. "I don't know if I can say the same for you."

I smile, the biggest I've smiled lately. "A lot happened while you were gone."

"Well, you must fill me in." Grace looks over the pool of money. "We should get to work. Freedom only lasts so long."

All of the staff files out of the break room. Grace introduces herself to every doctor and nurse in the ambience, and they respond cheerfully. I can't take my eyes off of how happy she is, and how happy she makes everyone else.

What feels like right away, Grace is taken to tour the hospital with Shannon. I can already tell they'll get along well.

Jordan and Scott are gone now. I refused to say anything to them, beyond the few casualties. I shouldn't be looking back on the past, after all the shocks I've been dealt, from Jordan's "no" to Topher's death. After being separate from Amira for so long, we broke things off. Everyone came back. Except her. Like I said: shocks.

Drew joins me in the walk to the ICU, where I have to check on one of my patients. "You seem pretty chummy with this Grace character," he comments.

"Chummy, yes. I mean, we're friends," I respond, though I know exactly what he really means.

Drew rolls his eyes. "No, not that kind. I mean made-out-hooked-up chummy."

My face feels warm. "We dated for a long time, but"—

"Tee, if you ditched her or she broke up with you or it went all long distance, I get it." Drew gives me a look. "But I can tell you that you're missing a lot by not being with someone like her."

Shannon—San Antonio Memorial Hospital, SA, TX

Grace reminds me of one of the kids from the rez I babysat once. Always curious, wanting to know more, looking at everything in that new yet experienced way.