Ouch. She didn’t waste time getting right to the heart of the subject. I said, “I told you who shot Natty and ran you down. I’ve got a contact with the government who told me where the guy probably ran to. And that’s Afghanistan. What good can I do my family here in New York? No one believes any part of my story. Not from the hidden prison to this lunatic shooting Natty. This is my only option.”

My mom toned it down and said, “It’s a hard story to swallow. I lived it, and I still doubt it. But we don’t need you risking your life. We need you here, with us.”

She didn’t say much more until we got to the hospital. Alicia greeted me coolly. She was starting her shift. “I just visited Natty. He’s happy to be coming home. I told him I’d make brownies for him tonight.” She looked very seriously at my mother and said, “If that’s all right with you?”

My mom loved the deference. “Of course, dear. My house is your house. And now it’s Natty’s house, too.”

My mom wandered down the hall to chat with someone. I took the moment to lean in close to Alicia. “I am so sorry about yesterday.”

She didn’t say anything.

“I swear I am, and I’ll make it up to you.”

Now she took a moment and said, “Will you take me to a movie and dinner Friday? Like a real date.”

“This Friday?”

“Yeah. Is that a problem?”

“I—er—”

“You seem to stammer a lot when I ask you questions. What’s so important that you’re busy Friday night?”

“I’m kinda leaving for Alabama tomorrow.”

“What’s ‘kinda leaving’ mean?”

“I got a new job and I have to leave for training.”

She stared at me. “When will you be back?”

“That’s a tough one. I’m not really sure.”

Before I could give her more details, she said, “I have to get back to work now. I’ll talk to you later.”

She turned and stomped off so quickly I couldn’t even say good-bye.

My mom came back from the counter where she had spoken to another nurse. As we waited for the elevator, I gauged my mom’s mood. I was still reeling from Alicia. I said, “Do you think Natty and Alicia are attracted to each other?” It had been nagging me for too long. I had to get someone else’s opinion.

“Of course they are. They’re both attractive, nice people. But you’re starting to sound like the conspiracy nut the Newburgh police think you are. Alicia is just being nice. She’ll be a great nurse. You need to grow up. She’s a keeper.”

“So you don’t think I have anything to worry about?”