Free Just Her Luck by Jeanette Lynn

making a weird face, my tongue ring peeking out as I froze for a minute, mid-pose, "And then it stops."
    Straightening my face, I kept my expression completely serious and shrugged.
    He eyed me skeptically, big grey eyes studying me shrewdly.
    "You do not," he said slowly, calling me out, eyes narrowing down at me like he was on to me.
    "Honest," I said solemnly, "I can't help it."
    I did it again, and he grinned, trying hard to smother it.
    "See. Can't help it." I gestured helplessly.
    He giggled when I did it one more time.
    "It just happens!" I cried desperately, keeping my voice low, "Can't control it!"
    "You're crazy!" he giggled hysterically.
    Probably, but it's making him laugh, isn't it? So who cares?
    When his giggle died down, he turned, whispering something to the man beside him, eyes the same pretty grey lighting up when the man smiled over the boy’s head at me and nodded his head.
    The boy plopped the hat he was wearing back onto the man's head and turned back towards me.
    "I'm Calvin," the little boy introduced himself, sitting up in his chair on his knees, holding his hand out for a shake.
    He realized it was his scarred hand and went to quickly pull it back.
    I snagged it up before he could move it away, shaking his hand warmly, careful all the same.
    "I'm Genevieve. Nice to meet you, Calvin."
    "And this is my uncle," he said eagerly, hooking a thumb at the man next to him, eyes bright with excitement as he practically bounced in his seat, "He's Ten."
    I laughed at the absurdity of that and looked at the man beside him, giving him a once over.
    The man was chuckling at his nephew, ruffling his hair affectionately as I studied him.
    "Uh, Calvin. I don't think your uncle is..."
    "No! Silly," he rolled his eyes at me, "his name is Ten."
    "Ooooh, so sorry," I said humbly, going for contrite, amused by how exasperated he sounded with me.
    "Now shake his hand," Calvin instructed excitedly.
    "Nice to meet you, Uncle Ten," I said dutifully, shaking the man's hand, humoring Calvin.
    "Pleasure’s all mine, ma’am," Ten said on a laugh, his voice much softer and quieter than I would have imagined for such a large guy, his hands rough and calloused all over, his handshake firm but gentle.
    "Calvin Percy?" the gorilla-man nurse with the chiseled face and little dimple in his chin called from the doorway.
    "That's me," Calvin chirped, hopping up, "Come on, Uncle Ten! We gotta scoot!"
    I watched as he shot across the room.
    He was going as fast as his little cowboy boots could carry him.
    It was completely adorable and I was a little sad to see him leave.
    He stopped and ran back suddenly, setting a wrapped candy in my lap.
    I looked down at the candy, then back up at him, and he waved at me.
    "For later!" He smiled sweetly, gesturing to the candy, taking his uncle's hand. "Bye, Genevieve!"
    His uncle waved too, grinning at Calvin's exuberance, his smile matching his nephew's.
    "Later, Calvin," I called, waving back.
    I glared at the male nurse when no one else was looking, giving him the stink eye when he glanced over at me again.
    This time when he winked, it was just because he knew it would annoy me, blue eyes laughing at me.
    Good god! I wonder if he's related to the Harrisons.
    I stared hard at the door he'd just closed.
    The man is a cheeky little monkey!
    I picked the magazine I'd been pretending to read earlier back up, flipping through the pages restlessly again, continuing my wait.
    I pocketed the piece of candy Calvin had given me and smiled.
    Looks like I just made a new friend , I thought fondly, my smile growing wider.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    True to her word, Ruthie came breezing out a very short time later.
    "How did it go?" I tried to keep my voice calm and unaffected, following her out, hounding her step for step.
    "The usual," she said airily and flapped some papers at me.
    My head bobbed along to her paper flapping as I tried to get a look at what they were, but she pulled them back before I could