Chapter 401
At 6 PM, their plane touched down in Horington. After finishing the surgery on Jameson around 3 PM, Shermaine went straight back to the hotel to rest.
Her schedule in Horington was always packed. She spent nearly every waking hour immersed in the lab. That was why, after performing just one surgery, she was already exhausted.
Shermaine was half-asleep when the doorbell rang, jolting her awake. Thinking it was Steve, she threw on a jacket and went to answer the door. But the moment she opened the door, a bouquet of baby’s breath was presented before her.
She blinked, momentarily stunned, then a smile began to curve at her lips. Standing at the door was Joshua along with her family, and they were here to visit her.
Shermaine took the flowers, her eyes sparkling. “What are you all doing here?”
Speaking for everyone, Joshua said, “We’ve all missed you so much.”
It had been two weeks since they last saw each other. With them being in different cities, video calls were no substitute for each other’s presence. The calls only made the longing worse, like trying to scratch an itch through a boot.
Once inside, everyone settled into the room. Janice immediately pulled Shermaine in for a good look, her concern written all over her face. “Sheary, have you been working too hard? You look like you’ve lost weight.”
“Yes, she’s lost weight,” Ruth agreed.
Ross gently reminded, “Make sure you’re getting enough rest, and don’t stay in the lab till too late.”
Surrounded by their care, Shermaine felt nothing but warmth. She didn’t mind the fussing–if anything, it felt comforting. Truth be told, she really hadn’t had much time to rest these past few days.
“I’ve already submitted my transfer request to the hospital. Once it’s approved, I’ll come over to help Sheary,” Danielle said after taking a sip of coffee.
Shermaine arched a brow. “That’s great. With your help, we’ll be much more efficient.” She paused, then teased, “But can you really bear to leave my brother?”
They just reconciled, so of course they were attached at the hip. During their hospital stay, the air had been thick with pink bubbles. The nurses had a blast watching their romance unfold in real life.
Danielle’s cheeks flushed. Just thinking about what Ross had done to her in the lounge earlier made her heart race with embarrassment. She cleared her throat and tried to play it cool. “Why wouldn’t I be able to? It’s not like he’s going anywhere.”
Ross, on the other hand, definitely didn’t want her leaving. After all, they’d only just started exploring the deeper sides of intimacy–stopping just shy of the final step. Still, with his sister needing help, he was more than willing to support Danielle’s decision to transfer here.
“With Danielle by Sheary’s side, they’ll definitely wrap things up quickly and be back home in no time,” Ross said with a smile. “Besides, the New Year’s only two months away.”
Stephen, meanwhile, remained silent. He wasn’t there to make small talk with Shermaine’s family—he was simply sticking close to Joshua. They didn’t share any common topics, and frankly, the less he said, the less chance he had of blowing his cover.
Still, it was obvious to everyone that something about him was off.
While the others were chatting merrily, Joshua quietly boiled water and brewed coffee. After serving everyone a cup, he finally took his seat right beside Shermaine.
Joshua slipped his arm around Shermaine’s waist, drawing her closer. Shermaine leaned in, her voice soft and teasing as she whispered in his ear, “What delicious treats did you bring me?”
Lowering his head, Joshua murmured softly, “I made the desserts you love.”
At the mention of desserts, a smile appeared on Shermaine’s lips. “So, when are you all heading back?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Joshua replied softly.
There were plenty of rooms at the hotel, so staying the night was no big deal for them.
That was exactly what Joshua had in mind. He affectionately tousled Shermaine’s hair and said with a gentle smile, “Get changed. I’m taking you out for dinner.”
Shermaine smiled and nodded, “Sounds good.”
Just a short walk from the hotel was a restaurant that specialized in beef stew. The moment Stephen stepped inside, the rich aroma hit him, making his mouth water. He thought to himself, ‘This stew is going to be amazing.‘
They picked to dine in a private room. Throughout the meal, Joshua doted on Shermaine, making sure she was well taken care of. Noticing how attentive he was, Danielle playfully nudged Ross with her foot and cooed, “I want some meatballs.”