by Sable Hunter
“Oh, she’s fine. Adapting well. Mother fell in love with her while we were in Montana.” She turned to face him, prim and proper. Clint was surprised to realize how much he’d missed her.
“Since I have prior knowledge, there are some parts of these tests we can consider completed.”
“Like what?”
“Muscle strength, coordination, breathing. The way you walk, posture, sense of balance, etc. I believe my personal observations of you will cover these areas. Wouldn’t you say?”
“Right.” He figured she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
“Have you experienced any symptoms in the last couple of days that might suggest a neurological problem?”
“I think you witnessed me acting like a man with half a brain, you tell me.”
Jensen ignored his answer and continued with her task. She turned and methodically listened to his lungs, his heart, and measured his pulse. All of this was done with the most economical of movements.
Even though her touch was so light it was barely there, he shivered with pleasure at each gentle brush of her fingertips. “Anything amiss?”
“Everything is in the normal ranges.”
“Huh. I was afraid you wouldn’t find a heartbeat. After how I acted, I wasn’t sure I had a heart.”
Jensen jerked at his words. “Nope. I hear a strong, steady beat. I do wish you’d refrain from making such comments. Let’s try to keep things professional. There is no need for any of this to be personal.”
“But…we’ve been very personal to one another and we need to work this thing out.” Clint held himself stiffly as she checked his eyes and observed his reflexes. “We need to talk, Jensen.”
“I don’t think so.” She turned to pick up a rack of test tubes. “Please identify these common odors if you can.”
“I need to explain myself.”
She held up the first test tube. “What do these smell like to you?”
“Coffee,” he answered, the proceeded to identify the others she held up to his nose. “Vanilla. Cinnamon. Soap.”
“Very good. Now wrinkle your nose and bare your teeth.”
“Seriously? You’re just toying with me aren’t you?”
“You’re the last person I would attempt to toy with.” When he still hesitated, she whacked his knee with the reflex hammer. “Do it!”
Clint chuckled, but he wrinkled his nose and bared his teeth like he was told.
“Now, let’s do this simple eye test. Read the letters on the board to me.”
He didn’t see any use in the test, but he did as she asked. “Come on, Jensen. Have mercy on me. I really want the opportunity to speak with you.”
Jensen tried to steel herself. She didn’t want to go through this again. “Cover your left eye and tell me when you can see my finger.”
Jensen moved one of her fingers from the side of his head to the front until he spoke up.
“I see it.”
As she repeated it from the other side, he continued with his campaign. “Just a quick dinner. Drinks. Coffee. A stroll. You name it.”
“Hold your arms straight out.” He did so. “Now close your eyes, then touch your nose.”
As he performed the simple movement, he pleaded with her. “Even with Bethany in the hospital, I haven’t been able to think about anything other than seeing you again.”
There were a couple of other tests she should’ve done, but Jensen knew what the outcome would be. The man was coordinated. She knew how he could move, how he kissed, how he made love.
“Okay. I don’t see any problems so far. I’m going to take you down the hall and Willa will administer some written and oral tests.” Handing him his shirt, she tried not to look at his chest. She didn’t want to remember touching and kissing his golden skin and perfect muscles.
“Think about it. Okay?” He reached out to touch her shoulder and she jumped as if he’d slapped her.
“Someone will let you know the results of the tests, but I don’t foresee any problems.” Jensen watched him button his shirt easily without pointing out that the simple task was one of the recommended coordination tests.
“I’d ask you to call me if you changed your mind, but you’ve never called me. If I phone you, will you answer this time?”
Jensen stepped to the side to clear the path for him to leave the examining room. “I wasn’t in the office when you phoned.”
“That’s not the call I’m referring to.”
His comment confused Jensen. “What…”
Before she could formulate a question, Wilma appeared in the doorway. “I’m ready when you are, Mr. Wilder. First, I’ll take you to the lab. Mae will take some blood and we’ll do a few scans. After that, I’ll perform some tests to check your mental acuity.”
“All right. Thank you, Dr. Mistretta.” Clint gave Jensen a direct look before turning away and leaving the room.
The moment he was out of sight, all of the strength seemed to drain from Jensen’s body. She felt like she’d run a marathon. Clasping the side of the examination table, she bowed her head, trying to regain her bearings. “Damn.” Just that mental thought brought reminders of Clint and the day they learned to use a compass. She smiled remembering how they’d run from the friendly skunk. How many men would’ve taken the small animal as a pet? Not many.
Picking up her tablet where she’d recorded Clint’s test results, Jensen made her way to her office. Scott was already gone, but she saw he’d left a box containing her new phone. She sat behind her desk, acutely aware that the man she’d never be able to forget was just down the hall.
Why did he want to talk to her? She couldn’t imagine he was still interested in her – not after learning her secret. He probably just wanted to offer some type of apology or explanation to clear his conscience.
Well, she didn’t need that.
Despite the pain his shocked reaction caused, she’d played her own role in this drama. She’d taken advantage of him, keeping him in the dark about something that if he’d known – would’ve made all the difference. If she’d been honest from the moment they’d run into one another at the motel, Clint would’ve offered his condolences and possibly his friendship – and they would’ve moved on.
But no – she’d been selfish and led him on, knowing he was infatuated with her. Well now here she was, the one who was infatuated, and he was the one searching for a graceful exit.
As she agonized over the situation, Jensen took out her phone and plugged it in to charge. Seeing it power up, she activated the internet to access the information stored on the cloud. As she waited for it to download, more thoughts of Clint crossed her mind.
How long would these feelings for him last? She greatly feared they might linger for a lifetime. She could just see her watching his games on television, worrying every moment that he’d take another hit. How would she feel when he found someone? When their engagement was announced? Would she stalk him on social media just to see photos of him happy with his wife and children?
“No. You will not do that.” If she had to move to some remote island where they didn’t have internet or gossip magazines – that’s what she’d do.
As she fidgeted in her chair, a twinge hit her absent breast and she brought her hand up to cover the prothesis. Phantom pain, that’s what they called it when a missing body part could still be felt.
A small ding on her phone told her the download was complete. Opening her messages, she saw she had over twenty missed calls. Some she didn’t recognize, but fifteen of them were from…Clint. There were text messages from him too:
I’m so sorry to hear you were hurt. I didn’t mean to be separated from you. I’ll be in touch soon.
My sister has been involved in a school shooting. She will recover, but I can’t leave my mother. I hope you are well.
Jensen, I wish you’d answer the phone. I need to know you’re okay.
Jensen, I hope you are well. Please pick up when I call. I need t
o hear your voice.
And on…and on.
Jensen laid the phone down and tried to clear her mind. What did he want from her? The signals she was receiving from him were mixed. Part of her needed to know and part of her dreaded the knowing.
Still…he hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d been trying to get in touch with her.
A curious tugging in her heart made the decision for her.
Rising, she hurried out into the hall until she could see inside the room where Wilma was administering the tests. He was still here. Good. When he finished, she’d give him her answer.
…Clint hurried through the tests. They weren’t hard. He felt like he was repeating the old achievement tests they’d been required to pass in elementary school. Vocabulary. Word problems. Simple math. Questions he could answer without giving them his full attention – which was a good thing since he couldn’t get Jensen off his mind.
If she’d just give him a chance to explain, he’d tell her…
As he crashed into a mental roadblock, Clint laid down his pencil. What he was feeling didn’t jive with his expectations. At this very moment, he was missing her. He wanted to see her smile. Laugh. He wanted to kiss her and hold her close. God, he wanted to make love to her.
With a groan, he acknowledged the battle raging inside of him. His heart and body warred with his mind. “Damn!” He needed to get his head together!
“Are the questions proving to be too taxing, Mr. Wilder?”
He looked up to see Jensen’s elderly secretary observing him with amusement.
“No, my mind…wandered.”
“This is a timed test, Mr. Wilder. I’d advise you to finish, lest Dr. Mistretta insist on a more comprehensive examination.”
Considering Jensen’s current opinion of him, he could just imagine what those tests might entail. “A prostate or rectal exam, perhaps?”
Wilma snickered behind her fingers. “I hope she lets me administer them.”
“Wilma!” Clint chided her with a chuckle. “You’re a bad girl.”
“I used to be.”
“All right. Let me finish this.” He had some serious soul-searching to do.
Once he completed the exams, Wilma told him they’d be in touch if there was a problem. Since he didn’t anticipate one, he wondered if this would be the last time he was anywhere close to Jensen. Should he stop by her office to at least say goodbye?
As he turned the corner to exit the room, he came face to face with the woman in question. “Hey.”
“I’ve been thinking…” Jensen told him, her arms across her chest in what now seemed her normal stance. “I’m willing to hear what you have to say.”
“Good.” Relief soared through him on the wings of an eagle. “When?”
She thought quickly. “Not today. How about tomorrow?”
“Fine. Where? Would you like me to pick you up? Or…would you like to come to my house. I cook a mean steak.”
Considering the topic of their conversation, a public place probably wasn’t the best idea. She thought about asking him to her house, but if she went to his place she could leave when she got ready. “I’ll come to your house. What time?”
“Seven?”
“Can I bring anything? Wine? Dessert?”
“Dessert would be good.”
“Okay. It’s settled.” Jensen stuck her hand out for him to take. Why did she do that? She started to draw it back when Clint accepted it.
“Right. It’s settled.” Instead of shaking her hand, he just held it for a long moment. Tingles of awareness traveled between them. The sensation seemed to build until the exchange of energy became almost erotic.
“Good.” Jensen jerked her hand back, her breath coming in fast pants.
Clint was surprised at his own arousal. He swallowed and turned a little to the side, wondering how he was going to get out of this public place with a boner. Taking his phone from his pocket, he held it in front of his fly. This was the first time, he wished he’d invested in one of the new, larger models. His endowment was a little bigger than the flip phone.
“Did Wilma tell you we’d call you if there were any anomalies in your tests?”
“Yes, she did.” He began to ease sideways down the hall.
“I don’t expect to find anything, of course.” She noticed his odd movements. “Is everything all right?”
He gave her a smile and a nod. “Oh, yea. Just dandy. Well, if I’m going to have company I’d better go home and start cleaning house.”
“Don’t go to any trouble for me.” Jensen followed him, curious as to what was wrong with his gait. “Did you pull something?”
Clint chuckled. “No, but I might have to when I get home.”
“I don’t get it,” she muttered.
“Private joke,” he murmured. Seeing no one was in the lobby, he made his escape. “See you later.”
Jensen said nothing but raised her hand in a gesture of farewell. “That was strange.” Shaking her head, she went back to work, completely oblivious to the fact she was smiling.
* * *
After Clint left Jensen’s office he’d visited the building site to meet with some inspectors, then made his way to the hospital. To his surprise, Bethany was being released.
Rowan arrived right after he did and as their mother helped her daughter pack, the two brothers discussed Seth Wilder and the prospect of meeting their grandfather.
“I think we should go, don’t you?”
Clint huffed out a breath. “Not until we get a DNA test done. Even then, my first instinct is to say no. The old man ruined Dad’s life and subsequently ours by laying such a cruel guilt trip on his son. That’s not to say I don’t want to meet with Seth again. I’d like to have some connection to the family. There’s so much we don’t know about Dad.”
“That’s why I think we should meet with the old man. He can tell us more than anybody. We don’t have to like him to pick his brain.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Look, I’ll take care of the DNA test thing. If that pans out, we’ll go from there.”
“All right.” Clint didn’t really have any doubts about their blood connection. The resemblance was too uncanny. Leaning against the wall just outside Bethany’s room, he watched Rowan carefully. This idea seemed to excite him. Knowing his brother needed something to occupy his mind, Clint encouraged him. “Since Seth reached out to you, why don’t you see if you can set something up? You, me, and Kyd could fly over to Lake Charles or Lafayette and rent a car to drive to Egret Island. I don’t think Mom, or the girls should be exposed to old Mr. Wilder until we check him out. The last thing we need is him spewing venom in Mom’s earshot.”
“I can do that.” He leaned in closer to Clint. “Kyd said he overheard Riley and Seth talking outside the day he visited. Apparently, they were involved. He sounded pretty eager to talk to her.”
Clint shook his head. “Well, I hope they work things out, but I can’t worry about it. I have my own problems. How are things with Ivy?”
“Fine. Let’s get back to you. Are your problems with the same woman?”
“Yea, I went for my pre-season neuro evaluation test today. She administered it.”
“Oh, wow. Awkward. Did you pass?”
Clint grunted a laugh. “I don’t know. Maybe. She did agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“Oh, really.” Rowan appeared very interested. “What’s up with the dinner?”
“Well…hell. I don’t know yet. I thought I wanted to explain myself, beg her forgiveness, tell her I’d always be her friend. After today, I’m not so sure. Seeing her again…the way she makes me feel…” He groaned. “Fuck, I don’t know.”
“Well, you’d better fuckin’ figure it out, bud.”
At that moment, the door opened, and Gillian stuck her head out. “Such language! I could hear you all the way in here, Clinton Thomas! Do you want to get us thrown out of the hospital!”
Properl
y chagrined, he apologized, “I’m sorry, Mama. It won’t happen again.” Clint pointed at Rowan. “He said a bad word too.”
She rolled her eyes at her grown sons, then took a cleansing breath. “We’re almost ready to go.” Glancing behind her, she moved into the hall. “I haven’t told Bethany about her father yet. I plan to do that tonight. In the meantime, I want you to think about something for me.”
“What’s that?” Rowan asked.
“I think we should have a memorial service for your father. Especially now that we know he never intended to leave us.”
“I think that would be perfect, Mom.” Clint touched her shoulder. “Just tell us what you want, and we’ll make it happen.”
“Okay. We’ll talk about it soon.”
Not long after that exchange, he’d driven Mom and Bethany to the house in Lago with Rowan following closely behind. His brother was prepared to stay the night with them in case Bethany needed help getting to the bathroom. As for Clint, he went home to clean house in anticipation of Jensen’s visit. Once he completed that task, he’d be ready to rest and do some serious thinking.
Later that evening, Clint sat on his front porch with his laptop. He was tired. For long moments, he surfed the net, not seeing anything – his mind on Jensen. Suddenly, he had an idea. He wanted to read her blog.
After typing her name and a couple of other words into the browser window, he found it. Surviving. With anticipation, he scanned through the introduction and the topics. He smiled at her bio. She was all no-brag, just fact. Her credentials spoke for themselves. The photo didn’t do her justice, but he couldn’t help staring at it anyway. To him, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Time after time, he’d tried to understand why he was so drawn to her. The total hours they’d spent together didn’t amount to a great sum. Yet, Clint knew from experience that it only takes one heartbeat to fall in love.
With near reverence, he began to search through the articles, noting a sentence here and one there. Intrigued, he started over, going word for word. Reading her work was like reading her mind. She didn’t speak of her cancer specifically, instead she addressed the consequences of loss and the hope of survival. Mesmerized, he read how she felt when the diagnosis came, the despair – the hopelessness. How she began to realize all of her dreams might not come true. Going further, he learned how she came to terms with her fate and decided not only to survive but to live fully.