Page 22 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

Her sister-in-law was shaking her head. “You would have struggled there too.”

“I did.” She sipped her coffee again. “To be fair, that was only a handful. There were just as many that were average. They had jobs, or I assumed they did. I don’t normally ask that, and if they bring it up, it’s a flag to me. I don’t volunteer what I do.”

“As you shouldn’t,” Justine said. “And you’re right, if they say what they do and ask, it means they are judging on that.”

“It’s why I hate those things. I want to get to know someone’s personality. I don’t even mind if they come up with something quirky as a question.”

“You’d appreciate that more.”

“I would. It’d tell me they had a sense of humor. But I get the freaky off-limits ones that make me need to bathe after talking to them, or are so boring they almost put me to sleep. I don’t want to find out what kind of music or movies someone watches. That’s boring. Be more original in your ten minutes to suss out information.”

“Not everyone thinks like that.”

“Nope, and that is why they were perfectly fine men, but just not my man.”

If she ever found hers.

It wasn’t going to be doing all that crap so it was time to stick to her guns.

Time to focus on her. What she liked to do. What she found fun in.

Like handing out candy to trick or treaters that she’d missed for years having been working.

“If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that when you least expect to find something, that’s when it lands right in front of your face. Doing something different tends to be a distraction at least.”

“You mean like moving here for a new job?” she asked. “You did and found Garrett.”

“I think your brother found me,” Justine said. “And every single day I’m thankful for it.”

She reached over and rubbed her hand on Justine’s arm. “I’m thankful for it too. I got the sister I never thought I wanted.”

Justine laughed. “I think that’s a compliment.”

“Totally,” she said. “See, you get me.”

“And you’ll find the guy who does someday too.”

“Here’s hoping.”

7

HIS SECRET

“Mom, it’s Superman.”

Luca laughed when he walked into his patient’s room Saturday morning with his Clark Kent glasses on, a Superman T-shirt under his lab coat half buttoned up as if his superhero costume were peeking out. A red cape tied around his shoulders completed the look.

He’d have to ditch that in the ER, it’d get in the way, but doing rounds, the kids loved it.

“I am Superman,” he said. “Come here to save the day. And if you do everything I say, you might be able to go home.”

“Mathew, you better listen to the doctor.”

“I want to go home. I want to go trick or treating tonight. Can I?”

The seven-year-old looked at his mother. Mathew’s mother looked at him.

“How is that rash doing?” he asked. “Can you lift your shirt?”