All You Possibly Can

She was late to work again, her damn disease kept her in bed for longer than she wanted, and it didn't help that she believed she was coming down with the flu as her roommate Tay had already come down with it and was locked away in her bedroom.

Nina found a place to park at the University she worked as a creativevwriting professor, and rushed into her building as she turned on her hearing devices, a hearing aid on her left, a cochlear implant processor on her right.

Because Nina had meniere's disease, she'd lost her hearing and balance, and was always clumsy on her feet. She'd gotten a shunt when she'd had cochlear implant surgery almost four years ago and this year, she was getting more surgery to sever her balance nerve as traditional medicine hadn't touched the disease. Her assistant Mallory greeted her as she entered her room. Nina glanced at her watch and let out a sigh of relief, she'd made it on time after all.

"Are you alright Nina? " Mallory asked her as she began to write the book pages on the board for her students and then booted up her powerpoint.

"yeah, Just a little problem with my disease, slept in longer than I wanted. But I'm here," Nina told her as she lowered the screen to project her presentation on it.

"You know George won't mind if you take a day off to rest. He knows the disease causes you fatigue,"Mallory said arms crossed as she spoke.

Nina looked at her, and smiled,George was their boss, and in his sixties. He was like a father to Nina as she'd been estranged from her parents since she'd begun losing her hearing. George had been there along with Tay, when Nina had her surgery, and was adamant about going to the next.

"I know, but I need to work," Nina told Mallory,"I can't let thedisease rule my life."

"Alright then, George also wants to speak with you in his office. You go, I'll finish setting up here and take roll." Mallory said as she came around the podium.

Nina left the room, and went down a hall that would take her to George's office. She knocked on the door and entered to find the older man with a younger manbabout her age sitting across from him. When he looked at Nina, she held his green eyed gaze. Her breath caught, he was handsome. She looked him over as she sat in the chair next to his. He had long black hair pulled into a ponytail, and wore a grin that said,"Yeah, I know I'm good lookin''

His eyes sparkled with a playfulness Nina was sure meant he'd tease and that he laughed often.

"Nina, this is Daithi, pronounced Da-hee. He's taking over my jobbthis semester," George told Nina.

Nina looked at George, "you're leaving?"

George laughed," Louise wants me to retire, and so I am. Did you not hear what his name was?"

Nina blinked, "yes, Daithi pronounced Da-hee, an Irish name for David or something like that. When were you going to tell me you were retiring George?"

Daithi beside her chuckled, and told them, "She's very well versed in Gaelic this lass is,"

Nina looked at him then, his voicewas deep, and had the Irish lilt that would weaken the knees of any woman.

"You're from Ireland?" Nina asked him then.

Daithi nodded," Been in Texas awhile though."

"Although Daithi is taking over my job Nina, I've named you as headchair of our department. you'll not have to teach as much," George told Nina.

Nina looked at George, her lower lip trembling,"you mean I'm gettingtenure?"

"Yes, you've earned it." George told her, and lauhef when she rushed around the desk and hugged him.

Daithi laughed, and added, "So that means you're my boss."

Nina smiled at the man, yes, she was the boss now. Her life changed today for the better.

George pushed her away, not in a bad way but to tell her, "Come celebrate tonight with Louise and I,"

" I'd love to," Nina told the old man and kissed him on the cheek.