“Thanks for dinner. You know, I’ve been on this nasty cleansing diet for a week now, and I haven’t felt any better,” Kendra told Ariana, as they cleared the dishes together. “In fact, I just feel empty instead of bloated; but, that was a good, healthy, solid meal that settled my hunger without making me feel heavy.”
Ariana smiled. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She eyed Kendra, as the nurse wrapped up the leftovers and stuck them in the fridge. It was interesting sharing the kitchen space with another woman. She never had—since her mother refused to cook. Plus, she’d never roomed with anyone while having a kitchen. She rather liked splitting the responsibility and wondered if it would be this homey when Vince came home. “Why are you on a diet anyway?”
Kendra sighed loudly and stretched her arms over her head. “It’s not so much a need to lose weight—although I do want to drop about ten pounds. It’s just because it’s more comfortable for me. It’s more the health factor. I’m a nurse, and I lead a very unhealthy lifestyle. I used to smoke, and when I quit, I started eating horribly—junk food, mostly, and large portions that were more suited for men three times my size. I was starting to feel lethargic and unmotivated, and I couldn’t have that. So, this is the third cleanse I’ve tried. I’ll say this, it definitely cleaned me out, but it also left me without any energy at all.”
Ariana nodded, drying her hands and leaning against the counter. “I get it. Well, if you want, I can help you with a diet plan that will get you back on the bandwagon. There’s no hunger strikes and no all-liquid days, and it’s not bland or boring.” Kendra raised an eyebrow at her, and Ariana smirked. “I sort of don’t tell people that—aside from getting my EMT—I’m also a licensed dietician. I figured it was something to fall back on if my father’s reputation ruined my chances at a medical career.”
“You’re father’s a good man. I’ve heard a lot about him, and even though he was drinking, he was top notch. It’s not fair for people to remember a phenomenal person’s demise. That’s part of the reason I want to help you with this whole lawsuit. I hate more than half the staff at St. Pete’s, and I want to see them fry for their bad attitudes.”
Ariana burst out laughing, just glad to have someone on her side. “Well, I’ll take all the help I can get. There should be a bigwig lawyer calling in the next couple of days, and my partner is getting some information we can use to start the process. If that blood test comes back shady, the hospital is toast.”
“Good. Just don’t lose focus on the most important things.” It was Ariana’s turn to frown at Kendra, confused. “You’re father’s here, and he’s doing pretty well. All his vitals are up, and he’s eating again. He might even put on a few pounds. I’m no doctor, but I’d say he’s still got months left. Forgive me for gossiping, but your father wanted to talk this morning, and he told me about you and Mr. Larson. It’s new and special, and this is the time to enjoy the bright and flashy of it. So, take advantage of what you have, even if you have to go through a crazy court battle.”
“I intend to,” Ariana said. Like Vince had said, she had her father, for now, and she wasn’t going to do anything to ruin that. She saw the nurse out, and she actually looked forward to seeing her the following morning, a foreign emotion considering she didn’t really get along with many women. She sort of hoped that Kendra would be her first girlfriend, and a part of her wondered if the fact that the nurse was a little older helped. Ariana tended to feel that women her own age were immature, and aside from that, she was beginning to think that Kendra resembled the sort of woman she wished her mother had been and the woman she wanted to grow to be.
Too anxious for the hours to pass to continue her analysis on a deeper level, Ariana went to her father’s room, finding him half-awake and smiling at her. “Hey, Dad. What are you reading right now?”
“Kendra was reading Lonesome Dove to me. I don’t know how she knew it was my favorite or—for that matter—how Vince knew to get it in here. She just went to the shelf and picked it randomly.” He pointed to the book. “I like her voice; but, I want to hear my daughter’s voice tonight. You care to read to me?”
“Well, I wouldn’t pass up that invitation for ten million dollars and free passage to the moon,” she told him, her grin broad and her heart full. She took a seat in the chair by his bed, picked up the book, and found where they had left off.