The people I’d left behind deserved better. Deserved good medical care. My contract was extendable, and, if all went well, I could stay indefinitely. I was honored they’d even offered it to me. But as I drove up to the one-story building, not much bigger than a good-size family home, and saw who and what awaited me, I kept from turning around only by telling myself that if I could handle medical school and an internship and residency in an inner city hospital, I could face the people who knew me before I left.
Right?
Chapter Two
Balloons decorated the front of the building and a banner with the tribal logo on one side and the caduceus on the other. In the middle? A baby picture of me…in the tub with bubbles on my head…and the words, Welcome Home, Dr. Lisa! To a casual observer, this would all be super positive, but the casual observer might not see the serious expressions on the row of elders who stood in front of the glass doors, backed by a big group of others. At least I had one friend left, albeit the person who ordered the sign had a sense of humor.
And I had my own parking place with Dr. Pamahas stenciled on the concrete block in black spray paint. So I pulled in and grabbed my briefcase as if it could protect me from all the serious discussion of my past behavior I deserved. Not that I’d been a bad kid but sassy and, too often, disrespectful. Only a couple of dozen steps later, I arrived in front of them. Parents of my friends and frenemies, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Those who had welcomed me into their homes many times and treated me like their own daughter. My grandma was not among them, but I would go to her home as soon as I could. She was quite elderly, and my mother’s death in childbirth had saddled her with a whole new generation—me and Cara—to rear. My sis had been taking care of her for some time now. With little help from me, except the few dollars I could spare.
“Lisa!” Eddie, a man who’d been old when I was born, opened his arms and enveloped me in his embrace. “Welcome, young one. We’ve missed you.” His words broke the dam, and all the other serious faces were wreathed in smiles. They hugged me, spoke over one another, and told me how proud they were of me. “Dr. Lisa!”
How could they be so accepting after I walked away without a backward glance? And now I was back as the result of their receiving that federal grant to hire a doctor. When it came in, they’d asked for me. I did not deserve these people and their kindness.
The chatter of the elders and the others crowded behind them was rising in volume as they ushered me inside the facility, everyone trying to show me around at once. They were so proud of what they’d done as well, and there was a lot to feel that way about. Despite the size of the place, it was well equipped, bright, and airy. I could hardly wait to get started.
Then there was delicious chocolate cake and sparkling cider and toasts all around. I promised to start office hours at seven in the morning and hugged everyone again, giddy with delight at what I saw before me. It wasn’t a huge hospital like in the city, but for the size, we’d be able to do a lot to help our people. Growing up here, I’d seen what it meant to have the nearest doctor nearly three hours away, except for the traveling nurse who came through twice a month. As long as funds held up for them.
When the last person left, and I had received more dinner invitations than I could accept in a month, I decided to walk through the place one time all on my own. The walls were painted in soft earthen tones, and the floor was gray, lines on it leading to the various departments. In a big hospital, those markings kept people from getting hopelessly lost. Here, that was nearly impossible, but it still held professionalism I enjoyed.
It was a beautiful place, full of hope and possibilities, and love. And I would make good use of it. But it was time to head for my grandma’s place where no doubt my sister would have something good to eat, and Grandma would be fretting about me by now. Poor old thing. With one last pat on a neatly made bed, I turned to go and ran right into a brick wall.
Or something that felt like one.
Chapter Three
“Lisa.” His voice sounded exactly the same as I remembered, and my heartbeat sped up, just as it had since we were in our teens. We’d been friends long before that, but around the time his voice lowered to the timbre it now held, that all changed. “I tried to get here earlier, but I had to get Teresa at the airport.”
Teresa.
“Oh well, it’s nice of you to come at all.” Since he’d had to pick up his fiancée? Girlfriend? “But I have to go now. Grandma will have heard I arrived. I’d have gone to see her first, but I was running a little later than I’d hoped.” I laughed a little, although it didn’t sound cheerful even to me. “Hard to time a drive across the country right down to the hour, you know.”
I tried to brush past him, holding my breath so I wouldn’t get any more lost in the scent of sage and clean male that had surrounded me the first time we made love. The first time I made love with anyone. And the last time.
“Lisa, wait.” He held out an arm, but I ducked under it. “Can’t you wait just a minute? I want you to meet Teresa.”
I let out the breath and inhaled…this was not good. I’d have to avoid him from now on so I didn’t make a fool of myself by stripping naked and flinging my body at him. I already had one naked image of me on a banner. It was much cuter than a jealous ex-girlfriend trying to steal back a man she’d willingly given up and didn’t deserve to get back. “Uhh.” I was on the move now. “I’ll have to meet her some other time. But it’s good to see you.” Good. Horrible. Painful… Then I was flying toward the glass exit doors, almost faster than they could open, and racing across the parking lot to my car.
“Hey!” A young woman wearing jeans and a bandana printed shirt hurried out the door behind me. “Slow down!”
But that was not happening. I slammed my car door and, like the coward I was, drove away without acknowledging the attractive brunette. Hawke deserved happiness, I was the one who left, but all the excitement of homecoming was gone and the beautiful cake was churning in my stomach. I tried to convince myself that I’d be so busy at work I’d never see him anyway, or her, unless they were ill and needed my services. And if that happened, I could be professional enough to set aside the regret I felt at throwing away the love of the best man I’d ever met.
I deserved to feel that regret. Just please don’t let me be invited to the wedding. I was so upset, I didn’t even slow down to wonder what the new building a few hundred yards from the hospital was with a couple of dozen cars parked around it. Well, not much. Probably storage or something. Just one more thing that had happened while I was gone.
Chapter Four
Grandma’s home, the house where I’d lived all my life, lay a couple of miles of rough road from the hospital. Not really enough time to get myself together, but the sight of the concrete-block dwelling pushed back thoughts of almost anything else. How had I stayed away so long? True, I didn’t have much extra money to travel, but that wasn’t enough of an excuse.
I was very grateful to be home. And I only hoped that I’d be able to stay. Of course I’d work out my contract no matter what, but beyond that…we’d have to see.
“Lisa!” My older sister, Cara, appeared, on the shaded patio. “Grandma, she’s here!” Still slender, with her long, shining hair braided in a single plait down her back, nobody would think she was in her thirties. But what I didn’t expect to see was the little version of her clinging to her jeans-clad leg. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Umm.” I was stunned and trying not to show it—at least not enough to scare the tiny person whose thumb slipped into her mouth as she watched me. “It’s good to see you, too. And…hello to...”
“Sky. My daughter.” Cara looked down and tsked. “Take your thumb out of your mouth and welcome your auntie, Sky.”
After a moment, Sky did as her mother bid and removed her thumb, but she remained silent, watching me as if I were some rare species she’d never seen or heard of before. And if she’d known as much
about me as I did about her, who could blame her?
“Sky is such a pretty name.” I smiled down at her but didn’t move any closer. “You can call me Lisa.”
“Auntie Lisa,” coached Cara. “She is a little shy, but she’ll be fine in a few minutes. Come inside and eat. You must be starving.”
I wasn’t, but the moment I entered the kitchen and saw Grandma at the oven withdrawing a dish of what one deep breath told me was her special trout with pine nuts, my mouth filled with saliva.
But when she turned to set it on the table, my eyes filled with tears. “Grandma.” She looked almost the same, perhaps a few more lines, likely caused by my inconsideration and whatever other worries occupied her kind heart but completely beautiful. “I am so glad to be home.” Even if I couldn’t stay forever.
Grandma moved toward the table and set the dish down before holding out her arms. “Give me a hug and sit to eat before it’s all cold. Cara, get the other dishes from the refrigerator.”
Her embrace warmed my heart in a way I’d needed every day I’d been away, and I was tempted to linger, but she gave me a swat on my bottom, as if I was the ten-year-old who had so vexed her. Cara brought out dishes of fruits and vegetables, beans, and a salad of summer squash and tomatoes. So much food, and I hadn’t thought I’d be able to eat, but every one of the flavors burst on my tongue, bringing me back to life.
How had I thought I ever enjoyed a fast-food burger or a restaurant meal? These things nourished not just the body but the soul. Somehow I’d imagined that my grandmother would be too frail to cook, that my sister would have taken over that duty, but I recognized the touch that could come from no other. Despite my many years away, Grandma still prepared the meals, or at least this one, for her family.
“Your room is all ready,” Cara said, as we were spearing melon dressed with honey and mint. “Exactly as you left it…except dust-free and organized.”
“I wasn’t—hey!” I glowered at her. “I wasn’t that sloppy.”
“Tell yourself that, why don’t you.”
“Mama says I maybe can have your dolls.” Finally, my niece—whose origin story I would ask for when she was out of earshot—was comfortable enough to chime in. “If I’m good and I don’t ask you for them. Oops!” She slapped a hand over her mouth and we all laughed at her.
I was just about to tell them that of course Sky could have my dolls and that I hadn’t actually decided if I was going to stay here or not. In this house. It wasn’t exactly roomy, and the fact my room was unoccupied meant Cara was doubling up with Sky.
Why had they done that?
As if she’d read my mind, my sister said, “Grandma insisted you’d be back. Let’s put all this stuff away, and we’ll help you get settled.”
There was plenty of time to make other arrangements, but looking at Grandma’s happy face, I knew I couldn’t leave right away. And I wasn’t unhappy about that. “That sounds good. I—”
“Did I miss dinner?” His voice kept coming upon me before he did. “Is there any trout left?”
I turned slowly toward the door, my heart in my throat. If he was going to be everywhere I went, how was I going to learn he belonged to someone else? How was I going to forget Hawke?
“Come in and sit down!” Grandma was on her feet, getting another plate and silverware, a clean water glass. She was anything but frail. “You know I always make enough.”
How often was he over here? For just a second, I glanced at my sister, her daughter, and at him… But I couldn’t believe that. They had never shown any interest in one another, and I sensed no particular connection now. Unlike the heat flashing back and forth between Hawke and I. I had to remind myself he had the woman he picked up at the airport. Teresa. The very attractive Teresa.
“We’ve missed you while my granddaughter was away.” Grandma cleared up any lingering idea he’d been hanging around. “We hardly saw you at all.”
“I was wrong not to come.” His voice held something I couldn’t identify. “But seeing you reminded me that she was not home.” Turning toward me, he smiled, and I recognized the emotion in his words. Sadness. “I didn’t think you’d come back at all. And I understand if you have someone in the outside world you are already committed to.”
What difference did that make?
“I don’t have…that is, I’m glad you have someone. It’s not that much fun being alone.” I watched his face as I sped on. “Although school and everything didn’t leave me much time to worry about that.”
“So you’re still available?” He winked at Grandma. “Looks like you were right.”
“I thought he never came over here,” I protested.
She brushed away my confusion. “I didn’t say never. He was here a few times a week, running errands for me, shopping, all those things while Cara was at work. Or when she traveled to meet Sky’s daddy when he was on leave.”
“That’s not the same as almost never here.”
He grinned. “No, but I felt guilty coming over more.”
He’d been at our table nearly every night from when we were kids. Then he ate at his mom’s, as well, because he was a growing boy. And he grew tall and strong, and incredibly handsome, and I was so stupid I walked away. Nobody I met in the city, on or off campus…or in medical school or thereafter matched him in any way.
He sat down at the table and finished off the trout and squash salad and several other dishes while telling my grandmother all about the trip to Reno and back. To pick up Teresa. Teresa was so great blah, blah, blah. Told jokes and made the miles fly by. She was just so freaking amazing.
Made me want to throw myself on my bed and kick and scream like a toddler.
“We wouldn’t have her if not for you,” Cara said. Which made perfect sense. Where was his girlfriend anyway? Had he left her at his house? Wherever he lived? I hadn’t thought about it but he probably didn’t live at his mom’s anymore.
“Or Lisa, either. Once that grant fell through, I was sure we wouldn’t be able to open the hospital at all.” My grandmother nodded and took a sip of iced tea. “You’ve done good for everyone.”
He blushed…I’d never seen that happen before. Well, not since he stole a kiss from me in fourth grade. “Oh, everyone contributed in their own way.”
I followed the conversation like a tennis match.
“Hawke, you know very well your company has paid the lion’s share of the salaries for both the doctor and nurse. The secondary, minimal grant they threw at us only covers a very small part of the hospital budget.” Grandma stood up and stomped to the refrigerator and withdrew a brown-sugar frosted cake. “Let’s have dessert.”
I was missing something here. Maybe missing a lot. “Wait. So my salary isn’t being paid for by a federal grant? The nurse’s, either? How can anyone afford this?” Panic was surging in me. “I can work for much less. It doesn’t matter.” Not that it was a big salary but being back here, seeing the faces of my people, I was going to help them no matter what. I’d do it for free, although that wouldn’t be fair to my family who had to feed me. But I’d figure something out.
“No, the money is there,” Hawke told me, accepting a big slice of golden cake with its sugary frosting that Grandma only made for the most important occasions. “It’s in trust, and other people have contributed as well, not just H. and Co. You and Teresa have accepted the jobs and signed contracts, and we are holding up our end, too.”
I took a slice as well, but even though there was nothing I loved to eat more, I let it sit in front of me untouched. “Teresa is…my nurse?” Oh God. How could I work with her when she was involved with the man I’d never gotten over?
“Yeah, didn’t you meet her on the way out? She was going to try to catch you.” He shoveled a hunk of cake into his mouth, as if everything was okay. And maybe on his side it was. He had nothing to worry about.
“Uhh. No not exactly.” Because I’d been trying to avoid her but best not s
ay that. “Well, I guess it’s nice for you to have a job for Teresa, too. How did you happen to meet her? Was she here before from the nursing agency? Have you known her long?”
They were all staring at me now, even little Sky, and nobody was eating. Then Grandma was on her feet again and herding Cara and Sky into the living room, muttering something about a stuck window that I didn’t believe for a minute.
And I was alone with Hawke.
Why on earth would anyone want that to happen?
Chapter Five
Once Hawke stopped staring at me, he returned to eating his cake. I took a bite, too, but instead of the mouthwatering brown-sugar goodness melting in my mouth, it tasked like sawdust. At least the way I imagined sawdust tasted.
“What are you thinking, Lisa?” He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and laid his fork next to the half-finished slice of cake. “You look like you’ve been hit by lightning.”
“Nothing. I just didn’t realize Teresa was the nurse as well. I-it’ll be fine. I’ll have to get over it.”
He stood up and reached out a hand. Although I thought it was the worst idea in the world, I let him take mine and lead me outside onto side porch. From here, I could see the building I’d passed on the way. “That’s my company, over there.”
“Oh, is it?” Good, he was changing the subject. But when I tried to free my hand, he tightened his grip. “Must be doing well if you’re able to help fund the hospital. That’s very nice of you.”
“I want to tell you a story. Shall we sit down?” He moved me toward the bench beside the door and we sat down, thighs touching on the narrow seat. “When you left, I didn’t know what to do with myself. You might remember I was doing odd jobs, but when you left to go to school, I thought I might like to try the same thing. I studied engineering.
The Glittering World Anthology: Native American Romance Paranormal Fantasy Page 21