New Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page B

Elena’s surgery, James arrived at the staff lounge to find her cornered by Anabelle and Candace in the kitchen area. From the high-pitched sound of their voices and squeals of delight, something good had happened.
    He frowned. He hadn’t expected to see Elena back to work for another couple of weeks. Rather that she’d be on postsurgical disability.
    “Good morning, ladies,” he said. “Are you already back to work?” he asked Elena.
    “Nope. I just came in to tell you my exciting news.”
    “Elena and Cesar are going to Spain!” Candace blurted out.
    “Cesar talked to a travel agent and made the reservations three days after Elena had her surgery,” Anabelle added.
    Dressed in a sweater and slacks, not her usual work attire, Elena’s dark eyes danced with excitement. “We’re going to see the flamenco singing and dancing competition in Málaga. He has the tickets for some of the shows, and he’s arranged for me to take flamenco lessons.” She snapped her fingers in the air and twirled around.
    “Wow! That’s great!” James knew Elena had always dreamed of going to the region of Spain where her great-grandfather had been born. “What made Cesar suddenly decide on the trip?”
    “We were both so scared of what Dr. Drew might find during my surgery that when it turned out to be nothing to worry about, Cesar said we shouldn’t wait any longer.”
    “Don’t put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today,” James commented. “A sagacious decision on Cesar’s part.”
    Elena narrowed her eyes. “I suppose that’s another one of your famous spelling-bee words that you won a contest with.”
    “Nope, didn’t win. I knew how to spell it but I stuttered so badly, the judge said I got it wrong.”
    “How unfair,” Candace said.
    He shrugged off her sympathy—water long gone under the bridge. “So when do you leave?”
    Elena’s expression clouded. “We fly out of Chicago on the twenty-sixth.”
    “Of December?” Anabelle gasped.
    “I know.” Rolling her eyes, Elena made it clear the date wasn’t one she might have picked to start a vacation. “It’s going to make Christmas especially hectic, what with planning for the holiday and getting ready for the trip all at the same time. And we can’t skimp on Christmas because of Izzy. But as soon as the celebration part is over, I’ll have to reorganize so we can leave. But the competitions begin on the twenty-eighth. It’s an overnight flight to Spain, so we actually arrive on the twenty-seventh.”
    “Arrive exhausted, would be my guess.” James made a quick calculation and realized Christmas was exactly two weeks from yesterday. Not much time for Elena to prepare for a big trip and manage all the holiday activities too.
    “Exactly, we’ll both be wiped out,” Elena agreed. “But it will be worth it. And I’ve just come from Dr. Drew’s office. He said I should be fine to travel by then.”
    “I’m so happy for you.” Candace gave Elena a hug. “You and Cesar will have a great time. But I’ve got to get to work. Just when I want my ladies to slow down their labor, they speed up and start popping out little bundles of joy everywhere.”
    Elena hugged her back. “I’ll head downstairs with you. I had to come by to tell you the news, now I’ve got to see Leila Hargrave about scheduling my vacation time off.”
    “So you won’t be back to work until after the trip?” Anabelle asked.
    “Nope. Which means I’ll miss all of you.”
    “We already miss you,” Anabelle insisted.
    For a moment, James watched Elena and Candace walk away. He hoped Leila, the nursing administrator, didn’t toss a monkey wrench in Elena’s plans.
    Anabelle said, “I’ve never had much of an urge to travel abroad, but I’m happy for her. Going to Spain is something she’s always wanted to do.”
    “You’re in good health and so is Cameron,” he said. “Why don’t you want to travel?”
    She picked up her untouched cup of coffee from the counter