Free In Her Way by Eryn Scott Page B

you mind if I pick the music today?"
    My shoulders shrug seemingly of their own accord, but I nod and say, "Sure." I feel crappy about the being the gluten police and if picking the music makes her think I'm great again, I'm all for it.
    Em finds me in the staff lounge once Kaylee leaves. "We all ready?"
    I take a deep, full breath, blink, and say, "Yeah, I think so. I need to get a complete list of appointments from Kaylee, but it's gonna be busy."
    Em smiles. "Busy is good." She winks at me over her shoulder as she leaves.
    I make my way up to the front desk. On the way I hear music start playing over the speakers we had installed throughout the place. It's a Celine Dion song, one of her hits. Pretty good choice. I (along with pretty much every girl who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I think) have kind of a small obsession with her songs because they were everywhere when I was younger. In fact, Em and I had almost perfected a routine of "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" at the karaoke bar by the time we graduated from college.
    I tip my head to the side, nod approvingly, and continue up to see about today's schedule. When I stop at her desk, Kaylee smiles up at me and hands me a print out of the client schedule for today, without my even having to ask (so either she's getting the hang of this computer stuff or Em printed the list for her earlier). I make you-got-this duck lips at her and then walk back to my part of the office. Neve and Sarah are preparing for our first few clients. I look out the window to make sure our "Grand Opening" banner is out by the street.
    Once our front door opens and our first clients come in, the day passes by in a blur. There are lots of teeth, lots of smiles, lots of handshakes, and lots of thank yous. Some of the women patients comment on how cute our decorating is. The older patients love that we're locally owned and easy to get to. The kids love the "Smile" wall and getting their picture taken with Polaroid by Em to hang on one of the lines of string by a tiny clothespin.
    And everybody loves Kaylee.
    "Your secretary is such a lovely young lady."
    "That Kaylee is sweet as can be."
    "The young woman up front was a huge help."
    "Her singing was just delightful."
    Well, I'll admit that last one confused me a bit, but I figured the man meant that the Celine Dion hits music she had playing was nice. I did wonder how he could know that she picked it, but I was busy and people are never at their most comprehendible when gloved fingers and sharp tools are being shoved in their mouths. At each compliment, I beam and try to remember to tell Em she was right, that Kaylee really is the kind face that will bring customers back.
    I'm also constantly interrupted by every single member of my family texting or calling the ENTIRE day (yes, I'm completely smiling when I say this -- I really do love them) to wish me luck and congratulations on my first day.
    By the time I give my last patient a thumbs up and hand him off to Neve to schedule his next cleaning, I'm exhausted and realize I haven't checked on the front of the office all day (Em was right in saying I wouldn't have time -- she's so smart).
    In the now quiet, almost patient free place, I start to notice the music again. It's still Celine, singing "All By Myself." One of my personal favorites.
    Right away, I realize that it's not that the office is necessarily quieter than before, but that the music is louder. In fact, it sounds like Celine is freaking standing in our office. I get a little excited, I'll admit, and quicken my pace to the front desk. Now, I know she couldn't actually be here, but you tell that to my bouncy feet.
    When I reach the desk, I see what's making the music so loud. It might have something to do with the fact that Kaylee's singing along, word-for-word, actually really freaking well. In the chorus, she belts it out and throws her head back as her fingers move over the keyboard.
    In the movement, she catches sight of me and directs