her earlier thoughts, it really was nice just to sit beside him and soak in the sun. The only impulsive decision here had been to stay when she’d wanted to run. And it wasn’t proving to be as disastrous as she’d feared.
“I appreciate you letting us crash your party.”
She laughed. “I don’t think Tommie is complaining too much.”
“Neither is Gordy.” He thought for a minute. “If you wanted, Tommie could stay at my place so your mom wouldn’t have to move in with her. I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind feeding them both and letting them out.”
“So you’ve decided to go?”
“It looks like Ava and the baby will be fine so yes.”
She thought for a minute, trying to process what he’d just said and the fact that he’d suggested the dogs stay together. Her mom loved Tommie and she was pretty sure she’d be devastated to have to change her plans. “My mom’s looking forward to spending time with Tommie. Maybe Gordy could come stay at my place.”
He looked at her, frown in place. “Are you sure? He can be a little stubborn, as you saw earlier.”
“Really? Well, my mom’s put up with my stubbornness for twenty-seven years. I think she can handle Gordy.”
“Gordy would probably like the company, actually. My mom still works, so she can’t spend the whole day with him. But he can certainly survive. Ask your mom first, though, and see what she says.”
“I will, but I already know it won’t be a problem. So just plan on it. Besides, your mom will probably be busy with her new grandbaby. You can drop him off on your way to the hospital the day we leave.”
“I can give you a ride, so we don’t end up having to leave both of our vehicles at the hospital, if you want.”
Okay, so she hadn’t bargained on riding over with him, but what was she going to say? No, I won’t ride with you?
“Or I could give you a ride.”
She only realized her chin was now sticking out defiantly when he tapped it. “You’re right. Your mom can definitely handle Gordy.”
“Very funny.” But she did tuck her chin back in its normal position.
They spent the next half hour talking about things at the hospital and the trip, Clancy asking her if she’d ever practiced medicine in a disaster area.
“No, never. But as far as medicine goes, I imagine it’ll be more about the big picture than the minutiae we worry about at the hospital, but that’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have, something we don’t always learn in medical school.”
“True. We don’t always learn that in life either.”
“No, we don’t.” Something Hollee would be smart to remember. If she could remember not to focus on the minutiae or try to “fix” things between her and Clancy, maybe they could learn how to relate to each other on a professional level and leave their personal feelings in the past.
Was that even possible? Especially with the season of mistletoe fast approaching? Would she need to perpetually be on the lookout for those traitorous sprigs? It was the time of hope. And kisses. Lord knew, she’d fantasized over that kiss long after it had happened. And now with him sitting beside her, his shoulder periodically brushing hers, it was hard not to go back and remember what it had been like to obsess over every little thing about him. The earthy scent that clung to his clothes. The smooth, warm leather of his jacket against her cheek as he’d given her a ride home on his bike. The heady anticipation of his lips as they’d ever so slowly descended…
God. She could feel that kiss all over again. A spike of panic went through her, going deep and lodging there.
Please, don’t start wanting him again, Hollee.
How was she going to survive two weeks with him in Bender? Or seeing him for hours on end day in and day out?
She had no idea. But she’d better figure out a coping strategy, and quickly. Or those long-term effects of a split-second decision that Clancy had talked about earlier could end up happening again. And if it did, she’d be in danger of it haunting her for the rest of her life.
STRAINS OF CHRISTMAS music came down the corridors as Hollee headed toward the pediatric ward, telling her that Santa Claus was coming to town.
He actually was coming to town. Arlington Regional’s part of town, anyway. It was always one of her favorite times at the hospital. They had a separate room set up with a huge Christmas tree and enough space to hold a hundred people. It was their way of giving back to the community. Patients current and past could come by for the next four Saturdays leading up to Christmas and get their picture taken with jolly Old St. Nick himself—played by whichever staff member happened to be available on any given weekend. Presents were piled high around the tree, courtesy of a grant given by a local business, one who’d been doing this for the last ten years.
Ten years. Her eyes closed. The year she’d gotten married.
Over and done with, Hollee. Stop dwelling on it.
She hadn’t been. She’d actually been getting on with her life. Until Clancy had walked back into it. Only he hadn’t known she was working at the hospital. She’d seen the shock on his face when he saw her in that corridor. He’d definitely not planned to ever lay eyes on her again.
And who could blame him? She’d never tried to contact him after Jacob died. Or speak to him after the funeral. She only had the small bits of information that Ava had mentioned over the years.
She turned the corner and those thoughts died, a smile taking over. The music was louder in here. And the room was full of children and laughter. Some of the kids wore wristbands signifying they were patients, and some didn’t.
And there was Santa, sitting on what looked like a throne. A red velvet chair with ornate gold scrollwork that someone had dug up at a local thrift store and reupholstered. It had been in use for as long as most people could remember. But Santa Claus’s identity changed each week.
There had to be pillows under that red suit, because this Santa didn’t have anything that “shook like a bowlful of jelly.” Despite the long white beard that covered the area under his nose, the man’s face had no extra flesh. It was firm and carved, and there was a deep, deep furrow between his…
She peered closer, her mouth going suddenly dry.
It couldn’t be. There was no way he would have agreed to be Santa.
Then again, the requests usually came from the hospital administrator, a hard man to turn down. Not because he was harsh and insisted, but because he had a quiet way of somehow convincing people to do what he wanted. Mainly because it was normally for the good of the hospital. Or morale. Or their patients. Even though this was a private hospital, Neil was really good at making this about health care rather than the almighty dollar. He’d even been known to go to bat against insurance companies
