by Vivi Holt
* * *
Eamon sliced potatoes and lined the bottom of the pan with them in preparation for his special pommes au gratin. Hazel and Dalton were due to arrive home any moment, and he never thought he’d be so happy to see them. He and Parker had managed to run the ranch without their older brother for four long weeks, but they hadn’t realized just how much of the load their brother carried until he was gone.
He glanced up at a blast of cool air from the vent above his head and smiled. He'd finally figured out how to fix the HVAC, and just in time. He'd spent all morning working on it, determined not to let it beat him. He'd used Google, and the instruction manual, and finally he'd figured it out. The achievement gave him a sense of satisfaction that couldn't be bought, and he grinned, remembering when he'd switched the unit back on and felt the sweet cool air on his skin.
He sliced the cheddar, popping a long piece of it into his mouth and chewing happily. His stomach growled – he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He’d been too busy with Parker, getting the ranch into top shape for the inspection they fully expected their brother to make the moment he stepped out of the cab.
The slam of a car door caught his attention as he was about to start on the green onions, and he wiped his hands on his apron before untying it, flinging it on the counter and leaving the kitchen. Harley barked a few times, then quiet.
He opened the front door with a smile and saw Emily patting Harley. The reclusive Lulu, their black barn cat, had wandered outside with her litter, tail weaving from side to side in curiosity. The kittens romped around her, pouncing on each other and rolling through the dust and dirt. “Hey, Emily.” He hurried to greet her, catching her up in his arms and kissing her, feeling her body tremble beneath his touch.
“Hi,” she laughed, her eyes gleaming.
They both peered down the driveway at the same time as another vehicle approached. Eamon rested an arm across Emily’s shoulders while they waited. By the time Hazel and Dalton stepped from the cab, Eamon could see Emily’s cheeks had turned bright red. He grinned, knowing she was nervous about what her friend would think of their budding relationship. But he wasn’t worried – he knew Hazel would be delighted. Emily was just so used to the people in her life judging her choices, she didn’t yet realize that Hazel wouldn’t.
Hazel ran to embrace Emily, her eyes wide. “Emily, what are you still doing here? I wasn’t expecting to see y–” She stepped back, her eyes narrowing at Eamon and Emily. One eyebrow slowly rose. “Ohhh. Dalton told me the two of you were seeing each other, but then you’d gone back to Boston and …” She chuckled. “… so what’s going on?”
“Well, for starters,” Emily began, unable to keep the silly smile off her face, “I’ve moved here. I have a job as a GP in Tifton, and I’ve already found an apartment in town.”
Eamon grinned too – and covered his ears when Hazel screamed in delight. Yeah, nothing to worry about.
* * *
Dirty dishes lay scattered over the countertop and kitchen table. Emily leaned forward in her seat, listening intently to a story Dalton was telling about his and Hazel’s honeymoon. She glanced around the table, her heart filled to bursting with happiness. Eamon and Parker were hooting with laugher, and Dalton’s eyes lit up as he recounted a particularly funny incident involving a rainforest-themed restaurant and Hazel’s reaction to a realistic plastic snake on the wall beside her seat.
By the time their stories were finished, the hands on the clock were both pointing north and Emily was yawning into her fist. “I think I need to head home,” she said around another yawn. “Sorry – full day at work. Learning a new role is hard. Plus I’m studying for my GP licensure.”
Hazel smiled. “Yeah, we’ve been staying up late every night too, so I’ll have to get back into the habit of going to bed at a reasonable time before school starts in the fall.”
“I’ll drive you, Em,” said Eamon. “You do look tired.”
She yawned again, even as she protested. “You don’t have to do that. I drove here …”
“I don’t mind.” He stood and offered his hand.
She took it gratefully and, after saying her goodbyes, they walked out to his pickup hand in hand. She leaned her cheek against his arm, savoring the feel of his skin against hers and the warmth of his hand, their fingers intertwined. They were quiet on the drive. The night was lit up by a blanket of brilliant stars twinkling overhead, not a single cloud to obscure them or the half moon low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over everything.
“Would you like to stop by the lake?” asked Eamon. “You know, the one where we went fishing? It’s beautiful on nights like this with the moon reflected in the water.”
She nodded and stifled another yawn.
He turned soon after onto the small dirt road that led to Magic Eight Lake. They wound slowly through the darkness of the woods, emerging onto the bank of the lake bathed in the brilliant moonlight. When she stepped out of the truck, she didn’t feel tired any longer. The air was cool against her face, a gentle breeze lifting her hair from her neck.
Eamon took her hand again, pulled a blanket from the back of the truck and led her to the water’s edge. He laid the blanket on the ground, then sat down and patted the space beside him. She sat as well, and they both lay back on the rug to stare up at the sky. She sighed. It was so beautiful. The stars blinked overhead, the sky was clear and dark yet full of the brightness of the evening lights. The moon shimmered on the surface of the lake. “Look, a shooting star!” she cried, pointing directly overhead. “Did you see it?”
Eamon chuckled beside her. “Yeah, I saw it.”
“It’s just so amazing. I can’t remember the last time I stopped long enough to stare up at the sky. And even then the sky in Boston doesn’t look like this – it’s nowhere near as clear or bright. The stars look so big, so close, it’s as though I could reach up and touch them.” She raised a hand skyward, as if to pluck one from the heavens.
“Yeah, it’s pretty great.”
“Thank you for bringing me here.” She turned onto her side and rested her head on her hand, leaning on her elbow. He did the same to look directly at her, only inches separating them. Her heart skipped a beat and, feeling bold, she lifted a hand to trace the line of one dimple.
He smiled, making it deepen. “How are you feeling about the new job, the new apartment … everything going on with you?” He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
She smiled. “The job’s more challenging than I’d thought – just learning all the ways they do things there. It’s different, but I’m really enjoying it. They seem to actually care about me, and go out of their way to help me whenever I need it. The patients are grateful for my help, and I’ve already got a couple of regulars who ask specifically for me. The hospital’s smaller than I’m used to, but I can see how I’ll really be able to contribute. And I’m loving my apartment – it’s so cozy it already feels like home. Only …”
He frowned. “Only what?”
“It’s too quiet. I mean, I’m used to being at work all the time and just coming home to sleep, but now I have all this time to myself. I feel a bit lost, lonely. I was thinking maybe I should get a pet.”
He chuckled. “A pet?”
“It’s an apartment, so I don’t think I can get a dog or anything. But maybe a fish or an iguana or something.”
“You want a pet iguana?” Eamon guffawed, his eyes wide.
“I don’t know … maybe.”
He stroked her face. “How about we spend more time together? Then you won’t be lonely.”
“You want to see even more of me than you already do?” she teased, pushing playfully against his chest. “Won’t you get tired of me?”
His eyes flashed. “I think I could spend every moment of every day with you and never get sick of you.” He cupped her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her lips. “I know you still have some questions about us, but I want you to know I don’t – I’m crazy about you. I don’
t have any reservations about us. I’m all in.” The lines around the outside of his mouth deepened with his smile.
Her chest tightened and she leaned over to kiss him back, her heart beating wildly in her chest. Her throat ached with the intensity of her emotions. She laced her fingers in his hair, pressed deeper into their kiss and let go of every inhibition, every fear, every anxiety and doubt in the strength of his arms.
Chapter 14
The foals leaped and played, tossing dainty heads and flicking tiny hooves. The sun heated the rain-soaked grass at their feet and sent a cloud of steam rising through the air. The early morning shower had brought some respite from the heat wave, but the last gasp of summer returned in all its glory.
Eamon laughed and adjusted his hat. He looped Maggie’s reins around the branch of a small tree and crept slowly toward the herd. He didn’t want to startle them – they were all used to him by now, but foals could still be skittish and he wanted to make sure they were all healthy and well. He’d begun doing that daily after they lost Maggie’s colt – he couldn’t bear the idea of losing another, though the vet assured him the chances were slim. Still, he couldn’t help checking, just to be sure.
A movement caught his eye, and he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun’s glare. Dalton was cantering toward him on Sassy, his favorite chestnut mare who had recovered nicely from her accident with the barbed wire. No doubt his brother was enjoying his first ride after so long away from the ranch. One thing he knew about his older brother – he loved the ranch. “Morning, Dalton,” he called, setting his hands on his hips
Dalton dismounted. “How’re the foals doing?”
Eamon chuckled – that was Dalton, straight down to business. “They look good.”
Dalton grunted and let his gaze wander over the herd, pride in his eyes.
“Man, I’m sorry about Maggie’s colt. We did everything we could …”
Dalton looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I know – we’ve talked about it, bro. There’s nothing you could have done differently, nothing I would have done differently if I was here. You and Parker did a great job looking after the place while I was gone. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to help me here.”
Eamon ducked his head, a lump in his throat. He wasn’t used to such high praise from Dalton. Marriage seemed to agree with him. He swore his brother had looked almost giddy since he’d returned from his honeymoon. “Thanks, Dalton, that means a lot. I didn’t realize just how much of the load you carried until you weren’t around.” He chuckled. “I’m glad you’re back.”
Dalton smiled – but there was a sadness behind his brother’s eyes Eamon hadn’t noticed there before. Was he about to tell him he was leaving? Walking away from the ranch? His heart lurched. He didn’t know if he wanted to manage the place without Dalton. The thing he loved most about the Cotton Tree was that he got to work with his brothers every day. It was something they were growing and building together. “What’s up, bro?” he asked, stepping closer.
Dalton swallowed hard, coughed, and now Eamon could see fear in his eyes. “I wanted to talk to you alone for a minute. There’s something I … it’s hard for me to get the words out.”
Sweat broke out across on Eamon’s forehead. What was going on? Nothing ever fazed his big brother – he was tough as nails and never let anything get him down. “Okay …”
“We had a great honeymoon. But there’s a reason we stayed longer …” Dalton paused and ran a hand over his face. “The day before we were supposed to return, Hazel fainted.”
“What?”
“We were on the beach, taking a walk before dinner, and she just passed out. I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life. I carried her up to the road and flagged someone down to call an ambulance.” He paused again, crossing his arms as he took a deep breath.
“Man, is she okay?”
“When we got to the hospital, she’d woken up, and the doctors did all these tests and scans to try to figure out what was wrong with her. It’s … breast cancer.” Dalton sobbed, his eyes filled with tears.
Eamon threw his arms around Dalton and hugged his brother tight. “I’m so sorry, man. That’s horrible.” He took a quick breath. He had to be there for Dalton, to comfort him. He had to be strong for his brother.
Dalton pressed his face into Eamon’s shoulder for just a moment, then pulled away, rubbed his eyes and inhaled slowly. “The doctors say we caught it early. They don’t even know why she fainted – apparently it had nothing to do with the cancer. Maybe it was the heat and she was dehydrated or something … but if she hadn’t fainted we wouldn’t know. So that’s a blessing …”
Eamon nodded. “Yeah, that’s good.”
“Anyway, she starts treatment over at the hospital first thing tomorrow. We stayed in Destin longer to finish up the tests. We’re determined not to let it spoil our happiness, you know? And Dr. Nimrez down in Destin said she has a good chance of beating it, so we’re just trying to stay positive.”
Eamon thumped his brother affectionately on the back. “I’m sure she’ll be okay. She’s young and strong and we’ll all take care of her …” His voice broke.
“Thanks, Eamon.”
* * *
The church was a small nondescript building off Elm Street – only the small cross beside the front door and the sign on the street that read “New Life Church” gave any clue to its purpose. Emily parked in the dusty parking lot, wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief and shoved it back into the pocket of her black-and-white polka-dot skirt. No doubt it’d take a while before she got used to the Georgia heat, but she still couldn’t believe how much it felt like a sauna just to walk outside.
With her purse swinging from her shoulder, she walked into the building. The worship music had already begun – two vocalists, one with a guitar, stood in front of a small band, singing a quiet, lilting song. The swell of the congregation’s voices rose to greet her and the sweet sound made her eyes smart with tears for a moment.
She could get used to coming to a place like this every Sunday. Already she’d made friends with several regulars and every time she stepped through the door she felt warmth, love and peace wash over her. She wasn’t sure why, she just knew that she liked it and had never found anything like it outside those four walls.
Eamon, Parker, Dalton and Hazel were standing in their usual row, eyes forward, singing along to the music. Eamon’s arms were crossed. Parker swayed nervously toe to heel and back again. Dalton stood with his arm looped through Hazel’s. They were pressed against one another and she thought she saw the sparkle of a tear on Hazel’s cheek. She slipped into the pew beside Eamon and he flashed her a warm smile, slipping his arm around her waist and squeezing gently before releasing her again.
Hazel caught her eye and waved, then slid by Eamon and whispered in Emily’s ear. “Have to talk to you.”
Emily nodded, her brow creasing. They walked out of the building, back into the heat, and she reached into her skirt pocket for her handkerchief again. Hazel guided her toward a bench seat beneath a tall oak on the edge of the parking lot, sat and smoothed her dress over her knees. Emily noted that her collarbone was protruding more than usual – she wondered how anyone could lose that much weight on their honeymoon. She sat beside her friend and turned to face her, one eyebrow raised.
When she saw the look on Hazel’s face, a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. Whatever her friend had to say, it didn’t look as though it brought her any pleasure. She held her breath while she waited for Hazel to speak.
“Em, a few days before we got back to the ranch I fainted. I went to the hospital and they ran some tests …”
“What? Were you dizzy? Did you injure yourself? What happened?”
Hazel laid a hand on her arm and chuckled. “Whoa, I’m getting to all that. I have breast cancer.”
Emily took a deep breath and pressed her hands to her forehead. “Oh Hazel, I’m so sorry.”
Hazel sm
iled palely. “Thanks.”
Emily switched to patient-care mode, unable to comprehend that she could lose her friend. “What’s the prognosis?”
“It’s good. The doctor down in Destin, Dr. Nimrez, said it’s in the early stages.”
“Well, that’s good.” Emily took Hazel’s hand.
“Yeah, we’re staying positive. That’s what Dalton said we should do – stay positive. He’s been so great about it all. He’s determined that I’m going to be okay. I don’t know … I’m so scared.” A stray tear wound down her pale cheek and she dashed it away with her free hand.
Emily squeezed her other hand. “You’ll be fine. Do you have a local doctor yet?”
Hazel blinked and sniffled. “Actually, I was hoping you might be.”
“Yes, absolutely I’ll take care of you. You’ll need an oncologist, of course, but I’ll be your GP. Does that sound okay?” She patted Hazel’s arm.
“Thank you, Em. I think it’ll help me feel better about it to know you’re on top of it.” She sniffled again.
“You bet.” Emily leaned forward to embrace her friend, squeezing her eyes shut as if to shut out the fearful thoughts.
They walked back into church together, and Hazel immediately sang along with the rest of the congregation as they made their way to their seats. But Emily couldn’t bring herself to sing. Her head was in a whirl, going over every possibly scenario, thinking through treatment options and running down lists of things to do. Hazel was about to go through what would likely be one of the most challenging times of her life – and she could help. She would help. She’d do everything possible to take care of her friend. They’d get through this.
They had to – otherwise, she didn’t know what she’d do.
* * *
Emily pulled the door shut behind her. The entire office was dark – the rest of the team had left hours earlier, but she’d stayed after her last patient to pore over journal articles and research papers, investigating the latest advancements in the treatment of breast cancer.