He takes another sip of his drink. “I can see why. I usually could take or leave coffee of any kind, but this could become a habit.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I feel proud to have introduced him to something that’s been such a big part of my life. “You can’t grow up in Miami with close Cuban relatives and not have some sort of history with coffee. It’s a cornerstone of our social fabric.”
“I’m intrigued by the cultural aspects of Miami, and by the way, it was super sexy listening to you speak fluent Spanish.” He fans his face dramatically. “I didn’t know you were bilingual.”
“That comes with growing up here. Everyone speaks Spanish. You can live your whole life here and never speak English.”
“Did you take Spanish in school?”
“I did, but I was fluent by the time I was in middle school. I have so many close friends and cousins who speak Spanish that I learned just by being immersed.” I glance over at him. “If you want, after your interview, we can poke around in Little Havana a bit.” His flight isn’t until five-thirty, so we have all afternoon to spend together.
“That sounds great. I’d love to poke around with you.”
“I’m talking about walking, just in case you’re thinking about other things.”
“When you’re around, I’m always thinking about other things, but in this case, I knew what you meant.”
When we arrive at Miami-Dade, Wyatt takes a critical look at the place and says the landscaping is beautiful. “I can’t get over the difference between here and Phoenix. Everything there is so dry and barren, and here, it’s so lush and green.”
“We’re all about the landscaping in South Florida. Everything is beautifully landscaped.”
“I love it.”
I’m so glad he loves my town and wants to be here, because I don’t think I could bear to leave again, not after having done it once before. Now that I’m home, I’ve realized how painfully homesick I was in New York, even having my cousin there with me. It wasn’t the same as being here, surrounded by most of the people I love and being with them anytime I want.
We park in the visitor lot and walk inside together, taking the elevator to the executive offices, where Carmen works across the hall from the hospital president, who, along with the medical director, chief of surgery and head of cardiology, will meet with Wyatt.
“Maybe you should go in before me, so it doesn’t look like you brought a date to an interview.”
Smiling, he says, “I don’t care if they think I brought a date to an interview.”
“You need to get this job, Wyatt. I can’t move to Phoenix.”
“I know you can’t, but don’t worry. If I don’t get this one, I’ll apply to others. I’ll find something.”
“I want you to find something that makes you happy.”
“I want to be with you. You make me happy.”
Before I can reply to that, we’ve arrived at the hospital president’s suite. I’m delighted to see Carmen in the reception area, speaking to a woman seated at a desk. I recognize her from the wedding, but I can’t recall her name.
Carmen lights up at the sight of us. “Mona, you remember my cousin Dee from the wedding, as well as Jason’s good friend Dr. Wyatt Blake.”
“Nice to see you both again,” Mona says.
Car hugs Wyatt and me. “I was hoping to see you before your interview, Wyatt, so I could wish you good luck.” To me, she adds, “This is a nice surprise.”
“I figured this was a good time to take you up on the invite to see your office. If you’re not busy, that is.”
“I’ve got time,” she says.
“You look fantastic, by the way.” She’s wearing a black suit with a red silk blouse and sky-high heels. “You’re rocking that suit.”
“Aw, thanks.”
Mr. Augustino emerges from his office. I remember him from the wedding.
Carmen introduces us to him, and he shakes hands with both of us. “Good to see you again. Dr. Blake, we’re ready for you in my office.”
“Lead the way.” Wyatt trails a hand over my back as he follows Mr. Augustino into his office.
I’m a nervous wreck watching him go, hoping and praying he can land this job, the first step in making our plans a reality.
“Come in.” Car nudges me out of my stupor toward her office, closing the door. “Look at you.”
I take a seat in one of her visitor chairs. “Huh?”
She sits next to me. “You’re all dewy-eyed and besotted.”
“Am I?”
“Oh yeah, and it’s very nice to see. Tell me every single thing, and don’t leave out anything.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
She waves her hand as if to say forget work. “This is far more important. Tell me, Dee.”
“I love him. Like really, really love him.”
Carmen lets out a squeal and claps her hands. “This is the most exciting thing since Maria landed herself a hot baseball player.”
“What about your hot neurosurgeon?”
“That was so last year.”
I laugh at the face she makes. “So you feel better about this since you slept on it?”
“I like to see you so happy, and I’d never do anything to take away from that for you.”
“Thank you. That means everything to me.”
“It doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you—and him—but I can see how in love you guys are, and it’s so sweet.”
“I can’t believe this is happening, Car. I mean, the night of the wedding was crazy, but I never expected to see him again. Now I can’t imagine life without him.”
“I so hope he gets the job. I put in a good word for him, and so did Jason.”
“You did? That’s amazing!”
“Of course we did. He’s great, and Jason says he’s one of the best doctors he knows. They’d be crazy not to hire him.”
“I’m all wound up in knots. I feel like everything I’ve ever wanted is right within my reach, but I’m so afraid of something messing it up.”
“It’s going to be great. I know it. And I couldn’t be more thrilled that my parents offered you the GM job. I’ve been after them for years to slow down and smell the roses. It took your mom’s illness to get their attention.”
“I’m so excited and nervous and humbled that they asked me.”
“You were the only one they wanted. We talked about it, and we all agreed it should be you.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. I’m looking forward to starting and learning the business side of things.”
“I’m looking forward to my parents having some time to themselves. They’ve worked so hard. They deserve it.”
“They sure do.”
“So you haven’t told me everything yet.”
“He wants to get a house and live together.”
“I think it is so awesome that you’re cutting straight to the good stuff.”
“We have no time to waste.”
“About that…” She seems to choose her words carefully. “I made Jason explain it all to me in terms I’d understand.”