Free Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy) by Kelley Brown

keep it from sliding off.
    This time I don ’t want to mess this up even though I’m having a hard time being romantic.   He walked up to her and held the red rose. Do you know that red roses symbolize love?”
    She nodded.
    “I am giving this red rose to you because I want you to know that I love you in spite of the rain that seemed to mess up my romantic plans,” he said as he handed her the rose.
    “ Jeremy, it’s beautiful! This is such a pretty bow you put on it!” She exclaimed as she inspected the rose and his workmanship. She curiously twisted the ring on it and asked, “This is an unusual ornament on it.”
    Jeremy ran his hand through his damp hair. “ Actually, as far as I know, you are the only one who has ever received a class ring on a red rose. Definitely not mine,” he stated.
    Nora raised big blue eyes to him. “ Do you want to explain what’s going on here?”
    “ Nora, I have been trying for two nights now to ask you to wear my class ring. I want to go steady with you. Will you be my girl?” he asked imploring with such need in his eyes.
    “ You have been trying for two nights?” she repeated incredulously.
    “ Yes,” he answered, “every time I want to be serious with you I can’t seem to think and everything goes wrong. That’s why I joke so much with you. You matter so much to me, all I want to do all the time that I’m with you is hold you and kiss you senseless and right now I’m all wet,” he said sadly hanging his head.
    Nora wanted to burst out laughing he looked so pitiful. Instead she held it all in and reached up and touched his cheek, “Jeremy, I will be happy to wear your class ring.” Even if you are all wet , she snickered to herself.
    Jeremy let out a big sigh and blossomed out in an ear to ear grin. “ Really?”
    “ Really!” she laughed. She opened her arms to him and he grabbed her up and whirled her around. They were both wet anyway , she thought.

 
     
     
    Chapter Eight
    Monday after school Nora rode her bike t o the hospital to apply for a job. After asking questions and reaching the appropriate desk she was handed an application. She filled it out and handed it to the woman, whose name was Mrs. Pinkerton, according to the sign on the desk and said, “Mr. Littlefield recommended that I put in my application.”
    “ Oh, so you are that young lady,” she said kindly, taking her papers. “He told me to watch for you.”
    “ Please, sit,” Mrs. Pinkerton said making a sweeping motion with her arm toward the chairs. She stood and left the room.
    Nora sat nervously on the edge of the chair looking down at her hands which were clasped in her lap. She could hear the clicking sound of the Mrs. Pinkerton’s heels as she went down the hall.
    Finally, she returned and said, “ I’m so sorry, but Mrs. Williams, the director of nursing, has already left for the day. “If you would like I will make an appointment with her for you at this time tomorrow, would you be able to come then?”
    “ Yes, ma’am.”
    “ Alright,” she replied with a smile. “Have a nice evening and we will see you tomorrow.”
    Tomorrow Nora thought. I have all night tonight and all day tomorrow to think about this appointment. I’m going to be a bundle of nerves.
    At the evening meal she told her parents about her appointment the next day. “I will be a bundle of nerves and have trouble concentrating at school tomorrow,” she complained.
    “ Here’s what you should do. Think to yourself, I am a hard worker. I can do this.”
    “ Dad, I know I’m a hard worker and that I can do this, but I’m not convinced that Mrs. Williams will think that.”
    “ Yes, and since you know that,” he smiled and with a nod, “you can walk in there with your head held high and a confident smile on your face. Not only that, but Mr. Littlefield has vouched for you.”
    Nora stirred her food around in her plate and after a minute looked up at him with her usual self confidence restored.
    “