Before I could finish updating her chart, she’d already reached into the drawer of her bedside table and pulled out a handful of butterscotch candy.
“Go on and take one.”
I laughed. “Mrs. Carter, why do you have so much candy? They don’t feed y’all enough around here?”
“They feed us just fine.” She waved a hand. “This is my emergency stash.”
“Emergency?”
“What if I have a sweet tooth at two o’clock in the morning?”
“You might have a point.”
“I know I do.”
I took one of the candies just to make her happy, slipping it into the pocket of my scrub top.
“There. Happy?”
“Very.” She leaned back against her pillow with a satisfied smile. “You married, baby?”
I should’ve known that question was coming. Older people always wanted to get in your business and know your relationship status.
“No…” I answered.
“Boyfriend?”
I smiled to myself.
“No, ma’am.”
“Hmm.” She looked me up and down like she was trying to solve a puzzle. “A pretty girl like you ain’t got nobody?”
“I think I’m okay with that.”
“For now,” she corrected.
I just laughed and said nothing.
After making sure she didn’t need anything else, I stepped into the hallway just as Nia walked by.
“You survived Mrs. Carter.”
“Barely.”
Nia laughed.
“Did she offer you candy?”
“Yessss… Then she asked if I was married.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“So this is a routine?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Nia grinned. “Give her another day and she’ll be trying to introduce you to one of her grandsons.”
I shook my head.