Chapter 8 - The Unofficial Verdict
Later that afternoon, after the celebratory balloons had been deflated and Elena had taken Sophie back home to pack for a real, scheduled weekend visit with her mother, Jack returned to the hospital therapy room.
The room was quiet, bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon sun.
I was sitting at my desk, packing my bag, when I heard the familiar sound of his footsteps pausing in the doorway.
“The patient has been successfully discharged,” Jack said softly, leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. “Though I think her primary physical therapist is going to miss her.”
I looked up, smiling as I zipped my bag. “I’m definitely going to miss the daily evaluations. Though I’m not sure my heart can handle another one of her matchmaking schemes.”
Jack walked across the room, stopping right beside my desk. The playful light in his eyes shifted into something much deeper, much more earnest.
“For the record,” Jack said quietly, “applicant number four never actually received his final interview results.”
I tilted my head, feigning surprise. “Oh? Is that right? I thought the committee reached a unanimous decision.”
“The committee was biased,” Jack smiled, reaching out to gently take my hand. His fingers were warm, his touch steady and sure. “I think the final hiring manager needs to conduct a one-on-one review over dinner tonight. Without clipboards. Without red stamps.”
I looked up into his dark, affectionate eyes, feeling a profound sense of peace and warmth wash over me. The chaotic, accidental introduction orchestrated by an eight-year-old patient had led us to this exact moment—a moment of true alignment, healing, and love.
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“Applications closed permanently after applicant number four,” I whispered, stepping closer to him. “But... I suppose we can schedule an indefinite extension.”
Jack’s smile widened, and leaning down, he kissed me softly, sealing a contract that neither of us ever wanted to break.
