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Mallory ell used to people telling her things that would never come up in nor your meds?"

"There was a mix-up at the pharmacy"

"You need thosemy doctor He’s an idiot And he’s twelve"

Mrs B’s doctor was Dr Josh Scott Josh was thirty-two, and one of the best MDs on the West Coast

"Trades on his cute looks," Mrs Burland sniffed

Mallory wouldn’t have described Josh as cute Handso as well, and…serious, even when he smiled So serious that he always looked like he’d been to hell and back And had learned plenty along the way

None of which had anything to do with his ability to do his job Josh worked his ass off "You’re being very unfair to a iven you your life back I’ll check into the "

"Yes, well, see that you do Where’s your date?"

Mallory took a deep breath "Well--"

"You’ve been stood up? A shame, since you’re dressed to put out" Then the wo down at the bracelet Mrs B was right about one thing: it was totally impractical for anyone who had to be as practical as she did on a daily basis The char from patients’ leads to the bed rails

"Sweetheart, what are you doing out here?"

Perfect Her mother Ella was in her Sunday best, a pale blue dress that set off the tan she’d gotten on the hospital’s upper deck during her breaks, where she sat reading rohter’s happily-ever-after "Pretty," Ella said of the bracelet, "but--"

"I to say it’s the type of thing a boyfriend would buy you You need a boyfriend, Mallory"

Yeah, she’d just pick one up at the boyfriend store later

"Where’s your date?"

Oh good, her favorite question

"Oh, honey Did you get stood up?"

Malloryout the description plaque with the bracelet display "Maybe he’s just running a little late is all"

"Well, that doesn’t bode well for the relationship"

Yeah, and neither did the fact that they didn’t have a relationship "You should have a date too, Mom"

"Me?" Ella asked in obvious surprise "Oh, no I’m not ready for another man, you know that"

Mallory did know that Ella had been saying so for the past decade, ever since The Divorce, which Mallory--however twisted--still one-hundred-percent blamed herself for

"You look a little peaked, sweetheart Maybe you’re catching that nasty flu that’s going around"

No, she was catching Stood-Up-Itis "I’ back inside Dessert’s up next" Ella kissed her on the cheek and left

Mallory walked around the rest of the auction iteer-So-Cute Guy By then, dessert was just about over When the lights dimmed and the PowerPoint slide show started--the one she’d put together to showcase the auction ite to one of the back tables, she grabbed the first eood

She took a surreptitious peek at the people at her table but it was too dark to see across froht was an e still in the shadows, his face turned to the slide show She was squinting, trying to figure out why he seeuely familiar when someone came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder "Mallory, there you are"

Her boss Crap She craned her neck and s everywhere for you You’re late" Jane Miller was the director of nurses, and probably in her previous life she’d been queen of her very own planet She had a way ofthat de if she was disappointed in the slightest

"Oh, I’ here," Mallory assured her "I’ve been behind the scenes all night"

"H smoothly," Mallory quickly assured her "We have a full house We’re doing good"

"Okay, then" Rare approval entered Jane’s voice "That’s terrific" She eyed the chair to the right of Mallory The empty spot "Your date didn’t show up?"

And here’s where Mallory made her mistake She honestly had no idea what ca week, or ither feet But randmother had always told her would be the death of her "My date is right here," she whispered As discreetly as she could, she gestured with her chin to thethat his date didn’t take that moment to come back from the restroom

"Lovely" Jane s to introduce us?"

Oh for God’s sake Mallory glanced over at thethe the slide show"