“Hello, Ned,” Jeffrey said, bending down to look at him.
Sara was taken aback by Jeffrey’s openness with the boy. They had talked early on in their relationship about the fact that Sara could not have children, and she often wondered if Jeffrey restrained himself around kids on purpose, trying not to hurt her feelings. He certainly was not holding back now, as he made a funny face, causing Ned to laugh.
“Well,” Mason said, reaching out for Ned, “I’d better get this one home before he turns into a pumpkin.”
Sara said, “It was nice seeing you.” There was a long, awkward silence, and Sara looked from one man to the other. Her tastes had changed considerably since she had dated Mason, who had light blond hair and a solid build from working out in the gym. Jeffrey had a lean runner’s body, and dark good looks that made him sexy in a dangerous sort of way.
“I wanted to say,” Mason began, digging around in his pocket, “I had a key made for my office. It’s 1242 on the south wing.” He took out the key, offering it to Sara. “I thought you and your family might want to rest there. I know it’s hard to find a private place in the hospital.”
“Oh,” Sara said, not taking the key. Jeffrey had noticeably stiffened. “I couldn’t impose.”
“It’s no imposition. Really.” He pressed the key into her hand, letting his fingers linger against her palm longer than necessary. “My main office is at Emory. I just keep a desk and a couch here to shuffle paperwork.”
“Thank you,” Sara said, because there was nothing else she could do. She dropped the key into her pocket as Mason held out his hand again to Jeffrey.
Mason said, “Nice meeting you, Jeffrey.”
Jeffrey shook Mason’s hand, his reserve somewhat diminished. He waited patiently while Sara and Mason said good-bye, his eyes following their every movement. When Mason had finally left, he said, “Nice guy,” the same way he might say, “Asshole.”
“Yeah,” Sara agreed, walking toward the front doors. She could sense something coming and did not want it to play out in the lobby of the hospital.
“Mason.” He said the name like it brought a bad taste to his mouth. “That the guy you dated when you worked here?”
“Hm,” she answered, opening the door for an older couple who were going into the hospital. She told Jeffrey, “A long time ago.”
“Yeah,” he said, tucking his hands into his pockets. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is,” Sara allowed. “Are you in the parking deck?”
He nodded. “Nice-looking.”
She walked out the door, saying, “Uh-hm.”
“You sleep with him?”
Sara was too shocked to answer. She started to cross the street toward the parking deck, willing him to drop it.