Page 138 of Shadowing You

He chuckled. When the skillet was hot, he poured the first pancake and watched the surface bubble.

“Tell me about your job.”

Facing the stove, his back was to Mei Lin, but he glanced at her over his shoulder. Her chin was propped on her hand as she watched him.

“I’m an ER resident. I think I told you that. I like the people, mostly. Dr. Donohue, my attending, is tough, but he’s fair.”

“Why emergency medicine?”

“It keeps me on my toes. I never know what I’m going to be faced with. I’ve seen everything from acute pancreatitis to gunshot wounds.”

When Mei Lin didn’t say anything, he peeked at her again. Her head was tilted to the side like she was attempting to figure him out. “Is it the challenge or the variety that you like?”

“Both, I guess.” Mostly, working in the ER had kept his mind engaged, meaning he’d had less time to think about his life and losses.

“Gavin told me you were worried about your position, that coming to China might have put your job at risk.”

“I already left my attending a message.”

“What will you tell him?”

“The truth.” Ethan scattered a handful of blueberries onto the second pancake. “He’s a good man. I don’t think anybody could fault me for going in search of my wife.”

“Do you think it’ll be okay?”

He shrugged, thankful that Mei Lin couldn’t see his face. “I didn’t expect to be gone so long.” He should’ve called from his burner phone. He had no excuse except that, at the time, nothing had mattered but saving Mei Lin.

“What if he doesn’t understand?”

Ethan cracked four more eggs and whisked them. “I like my job, but I love you.”

She didn’t reply, and after a few moments, he turned to see her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Hey.” He set the whisk down and came around the island. “Sweetheart. It’s okay. It’s just a job. I’ll get another one.”

She shook her head and swiped at her cheek. “It is not that.”

“What, then?”

“You risked so much to come for me.” Her voice was barely a thread.

“Of course I did.” He cupped her face, and his thumb caught a tear. “You’re worth it.”

She pressed into his hand and closed her eyes.

He leaned in, remembering just in time that he was supposed to be giving her space. He stepped back and let his hand fall. “Sorry. Still working on the giving you space thing.”

“Don’t apologize for being kind.” Her expression was shy. “I will pray about your job.”

“Thank you.” He returned to the stove. He needed the distance, or their new arrangement wasn’t going to make it past the pancakes.

He’d burned the first one. He flipped it into the trash, then shifted the second onto a plate and poured more batter.

The view outside had brightened a shade, like the sun was thinking about breaking through, but flurries still drifted past the window.

“Ethan?”