Once Rose disappears, I stand and toss the remains of my salad in the trash. It’s late for lunch, nearing two, so the cafeteria is mostly empty. I only have to wait in line for a couple of minutes before buying an iced tea to wash away the aftertaste of anchovies. It was slim pickings by the time I had a chance to take my lunch break.

Rather than sit down at one of the tables that makes me feel like I’m in a high school lunchroom, I head outside. There’s an attached courtyard with winding paths and neat landscaping. I take a seat on one of the curved metal benches flanking the fountain in the center, watching some of the more mobile patients visit with their families.

It’s a warm, sunny day. A perfect day, really. The sky is a bright, vibrant blue, the hue only interrupted by the occasional fluffy white cloud. The sun beams down in bright rays, dappling the leaves of the trees and the blooms of the flowers. I focus on the fountain, watching the soothing trickles of clear water spill over the edge and then disappear, only to be recycled.

The rumble of a distant engine draws my gaze back up to the sky. A plane flies by, its speed and size deceptively slow and small against the vast backdrop.

Gray’s parting words echo in my mind. “You’re not a fly by, Evie.”

I haven’t asked him what that means. It implies we aren’t temporary, but he said them right before walking out the door, with no other assurances or declarations. Technically, we’re both single. We never made any commitments. He could be involved with other people. I could go on a date with Ben.

Would he care?

Should I ask?

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

I glance to my left to see Henry Phillips approaching. He sits down on the bench beside me. “Picture-perfect,” I agree.

“How have you been doing, Evie?” he asks me kindly.

“All right,” I respond. “Busy.”

“So I’ve heard. You’ve made quite the first impression here.” He gives me a proud smile. “Not that I expected anything less.”

I smile back. “Thank you.”

“Made it to the beach much?”

“Twice. You?”

Henry dons a sheepish expression. “Not once. Easy to say, I’ll just go tomorrow. Hasn’t happened yet.”

We sit in companionable silence for a few minutes.

“How is Noah doing?”

“Good. He loves it at his new firm. And he’s talked about a coworker named Megan a few times, so he might have managed to find a woman who can put up with his annoying tendencies.”

He chuckles. “Good. And how about you? Anyone special?”

Opened myself right up for that one. “Um, no. There was a guy in Boston, but that ended when I moved back. I’m just focusing on work for right now.”