Chapter One
Monique Sinclair had perfected the art of being indispensable without looking tired. Concealer helped. So did denial.
“Oh Monique, thank goodness you’re here,” Nurse Collins said, as soon as Monique stepped up to her desk. “Can you please chart these notes for me before Dr. Roland gets in? You know how frustrated he can get.”
“He wouldn’t get frustrated if you’d join this century and learn how to use the new software,” Monique quipped, opening up the chart and starting her computer.
“Now you know as well as I do that, I’m too close to retirement to bother learning new tricks.”
“Please. You’ll still be here long after the rest of us have left,” Monique replied. “You’re irreplaceable.”
Nurse Collins chuckled and patted Monique on the shoulders as she went to check on her next patient. “Well, I appreciate you, my dear.”
“Can you tell me where room 230 is?”
Monique glanced up at the frantic man. “Down the hall, fourth door on the right. Knock if the door is shut.”
The man took off with a quick thank you.
Her phone buzzed. She knew it was against hospital policy to be on her phone during working hours, but when her best friend’s text tone dinged, she always took the time to make sure everything was ok.
Renae: Something’s up with Riley.
Renae: She called my phone but hung up before I could answer.
Renae: She didn’t answer when I called back but messaged she’d text me back.
Monique: Maybe a friend stopped by.
Monique: Not everything is DEFCON 1.
Monique: I’m sure she’ll text you soon.
She made herself a note on her phone to check in with Riley on her break. As she set her phone down, she watched tiny little fingers curl on the edge of her desk.
She heard a scuffling sound, then blinked as two little puff balls floated upward, attached to the most adorable face. “Well, hello there,” Monique said.
“Hi,” the girl said, pushing up further until she had scaled the desk and was resting with her elbows propped on top of the desk, half her body hanging from the front.
“You’re going to fall and crack your melon,” Monique chided. “You should probably get down from there.”
“Nah, I do this all the time,” she countered. “I like your nails.”
Monique raised one eyebrow. “Hmm. I do too. I paid good money for these nails. Pink is my favorite. It makes me look responsible. But you still need to get down. Do you need me to come help you?”
“I’ve got her.” A voice like late-night radio slid over her spine.
Monique glanced up and caught her breath. “Well hello to you too,” she said.
The radio voice chuckled. “Sorry about that. Bella got away from me.”
He lifted her easily off the desk and held her on his hip.
“Papaw, she has pretty nails,” Bella said.
Monique held her hands out to be admired.
Papaw smiled, eyes sparkling. “Why yes, she does. Did you show her your nails, Bella-Boo?”
“Not yet, you ’rupted us,” she sassed, wiggling to be put down.
Papaw let her down, and she immediately rounded the “do not enter” section to show off her own fingers. “See, I did it all by myself.”
“Oh yes, you did a very good job. I especially like the sparkles,” Monique replied.
Nurse Collins raised her eyebrows as she passed, dropping another chart on Monique’s desk.
“But Bella, you’re not allowed to be back here. It’s against the rules. So, you’re going to have to go back with your Papaw.”
Bella gave one last forlorn look and skipped back.
“Sorry about that,” Papaw said.
“It’s fine. She’s excellent company, just stay on the other side of the desk.”
Monique watched as they walked back to the family waiting room. Sighing, she focused back on her computer.
A few minutes later she jolted out of concentration, heart kicking like she’d been caught doing something illegal. She glanced over.
“Well, hello again, Bella. You’re back where you don’t belong. Where’s Papaw?”
Bella shrugged. “Talking to daddy’s doctor.”
“Oh. Right. That’s slightly more important than nail polish.”
Monique grabbed a rolling chair and pulled it beside her desk. “Climb on up here. You can color until he comes back.” She placed paper and some highlighters on her desk.
“So, what’s your name?” Bella asked after a minute of coloring.
“My name is Monique.”
“Hmm… that’s hard to say. Can I call you Moni?”
“Yeah baby, that works. How old are you?”
“I’m gonna be four soon. Do you gots any kids?”
Monique’s heart stuttered. “Nope.”
Bella sang nursery rhymes quietly as she colored and Monique went back to charting.
“Oh, thank goodness. Bella you cannot run off like that,” Papaw said.
He looked like a man who hadn’t slept and didn’t expect to anytime soon.
“I didn’t run off, Papaw. I was visiting Moni,” Bella answered, never looking up from her coloring.
“It’s true,” Monique quipped. “She never once ran.”
He huffed, running his hand through his short hair.
Hmm. Those hands. She bet he could really put those to work.
FOCUS, Monique.
“Well thanks for keeping her entertained.”
“It’s fine. Those talks aren’t something you want to miss.”
She didn’t ask for details, HIPAA regulations.
He nodded, clearing his throat. “Yeah, Duncan’s going through it right now. I’m Marcus, by the way. I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on this beauty while her daddy’s having treatments. But she does not sit still.”
“Nice to meet you, Marcus.” Their eyes met and lingered just long enough to feel intentional.
He smiled, slow and deliberate. “Come on Bella. We really should let Monique work.”
“Nope, I’m staying here,” Bella declared. “This chair is better than those other ones. And she has pink markers.”
Monique laughed at Marcus’s incredulous expression. The look on his face suggested this did not happen often.
“Face it Marcus, I’m the new favorite. Better get used to seeing me.”
His eyes scanned her, slow and deliberate, from hair to waist. “Oh, believe me, I’m counting on it.”
Monique exhaled slowly. Well. That was new.
********
Author’s Note
Still Possible: A High-Risk Love Story, Book 2 in the Still Series, is now available to read on Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ9SP4TP
