“Like working for Mission Medical.”
“Exactly.”
She set her napkin on the table. “I really do hope the camp is a success. But I can’t help but worry. I know how it feels to have something taken away.” She waggled her bare ring finger.
“Sorry for the pain,” he said, meaning it and not at the same time. “But you lucked out. I don’t care if those guys were doctors, lawyers, or brain surgeons. They weren’t good enough for you, Mia. Not by a long shot.”
“That’s not how it felt at the time.”
But what he said was true. In Jake’s opinion, Mia’s gifts were extraordinary. The better he knew her, the more he admired her intelligence and compassion. She brought light into a dark room, quiet into a noisy day, and a soft touch to a hard, cynical world. She deserved better than a broken heart.
Jake reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Trust me, Mia. Those two fiancés? They were morons.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“You’re being nice, but there are two sides to every story. I figure I—never mind.” Withdrawing her hand, she rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Here I go again.” She made air quotes. “‘Woman dumped by fiancé for younger woman.’ I’m so tired of being a cliché.”
“You are not a cliché.”
“I feel like one.”
“Well, don’t.” He’d been down this road with his sister when a boyfriend broke her teenage heart. “I’m going to tell you what I told my kid sister.”
“What’s that?”
“Stay brave and remember who you are by the love and grace of God. Then tell me where the jerk lives so I can punch him in the nose.”
Mia’s eyes glistened in the light. “Does your sister know how lucky she is to have a big brother like you?”
“I tell her every time I see her.”
“I bet you do!” Mia’s grin was genuine now. “And I bet you chased off a lot of boys when she was in high school.”
“Just a few.”
He wanted to chase them away from Mia too. And the impulse wasn’t the least bit brotherly. But was that wise? She planned to leave in six months. Then again, why not enjoy themselves while she was here? Nothing over the top, just time together. A deeper friendship. A kiss or two to help her forget that rotten ex-fiancé.
His blood heated with the thrill of the chase, something it hadn’t done since the bomb blast, and he savored the sensation of coming back to life. It had been a long time since he’d planned a date with an eye on romance, but he was sure he hadn’t lost the knack. A dozen ideas popped into his head. Dinner in the Springs, or at Andy’s Barbecue Shack on the river. A trip to Pikes Peak. A hike to the top of Echo Falls.
Any of the above.
All of the above.
But right now, the first step was helping Mia move into her house. He glanced at her clean plate. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, I am.”
They walked out of the café with Pirate leading the way, Jake’s hand firmly on Mia’s back, and smiles on both their faces.
Chapter
10
On Monday morning Mia dressed carefully for her first day as the new primary care provider for Echo Falls. She twisted her hair into a French knot, applied her makeup with extra care, then opened the closet in her new bedroom.
Brown pants or charcoal? A beige top or something colorful? Instead of choosing, she trailed her hand along the peach silk of the dress she wore to Lucy’s wedding. She couldn’t help but think about Jake. Yesterday after church, he had taken her for a long drive around the community. Seeing the historic houses and old shops delighted her, but the number of orange signs left them both dismayed.
As she chose gray slacks and a pink top, she recalled his passion for Camp Connie. Jake wasn’t like other men she had known. Instead of obsessing over sports cars like Brad, he put other people first. So did Frank, and that family DNA lived and breathed in Jake. The Tanner men were exceptional. So exceptional, Mia could almost believe in love again.
Almost . . . She stopped with her hand on her lab coat. There was nothing almost about falling in love, and nothing almost about a broken heart. That first breakup in college, when she discovered her fiancé with her roommate, had shattered her confidence in men. Brad, on the other hand, had shattered her confidence in herself. But that was all in the past. She had moved on to a new phase of her life.
At peace again, she slipped into her lab coat, put her stethoscope in her purse, and drove the six blocks to her new office. Today’s plan called for her to shadow Dr. Collins and establish her authority with both patients and Kelsey Baxter, the office manager.
As she pulled into the parking lot, she took in the butter-yellow Victorian house with a long wheelchair ramp. With her purse on her shoulder, she climbed the front steps and walked into the waiting room.
A glass window rattled on its metal track as it slid open. Kelsey, leaning forward from a desk chair, greeted her with a smile. “Mia, welcome!”
“Thank you.”
Kelsey indicated the door to the exam area. “Come on back. Dr. Collins won’t be here for another hour. That’s when we start patients.”
As Mia turned the knob, she mentally shifted her demeanor from employee to boss, specifically Kelsey’s boss. That was a new role for Mia, and she made a mental check mark on her list of new experiences to share at the Mission Medical interview next month.
When she stepped into the office area, she glanced at the labeled cupboards, neat countertops, and the stack of clipboards loaded with registration forms. Kelsey was just as squared away in a red polo shirt with the EFPC logo.
“You’re organized,” Mia said with a smile. “So am I.”
“Good.” Kelsey gave her an easy grin in return. “How about a quick tour?”
“Perfect.”
“And a cup of coffee. We’ll start in the kitchen.”
Coffee in hand, they chatted while Kelsey showed Mia the exam rooms, a storage closet, and a cabinet with prescription samples. Mia had been out of primary care for a while, but she had studied up and felt prepared.
When they returned to the front office, Kelsey handed her a printed schedule, then glanced at the clock. “Mrs. Hargrove is our nine o’clock. She’ll be five minutes late.”
“You know the patients.”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s a big help.” Mia sat in a chair at a side desk. “How long have you worked for Dr. Collins?”
“Five years. I started part-time as a senior in high school. Now”—she spun the chair a half turn—“I’m what Dr. Collins calls the office brain. I know the patients, the insurance issues, all the stuff that isn’t written down but should be.”
“‘Office brain’ is a perfect description.” Every business needed someone like Kelsey. “I hope you’re not planning to look for another job.”
“Oh no! I love Echo Falls.” Kelsey crossed her legs with a little kick, but a sigh whispered from her lips. “The only problem is dating.”
This subject was too personal for the tone Mia hoped to set. On the other hand, Dr. Moore was a friend and mentor to her entire staff. Mia wanted to be that kind of leader. “What’s the problem with dating?”
“Are you interested in anyone?”
What an odd question. And it was definitely too personal. All business now, Mia hoped her answer would end the conversation. “I’m leaving in six months. Dating is off the radar.”
“Good. I was worried.”
“About what?”
“You and Jake.” A cloud passed over Kelsey’s heart-shaped face. “It’s none of my business, but he and I have gone out a few times. I like him a lot.”
Mia blinked away her surprise. She didn’t think for a second Jake and Kelsey were still involved. She knew him better than that, but questions fluttered through her mind. How close had they been? How long had they been apart? And why had they stopped seeing each other
?
Mia wasn’t nosy by nature, but she wanted to know what was going on. “Are you still dating?”
“No. Not at all. I just wish . . .” Her voice trailed off.
The last thing Mia wanted was tension with her new office manager, especially over a man she considered a friend. “Jake’s a great guy. I hope things work out for you.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do.” Mia tossed her Styrofoam cup in the trash. “Just to be clear, Jake and I are friends. With Lucy taking care of Claire, we see a lot of each other. He’s like a brother to me. Like tonight, I’m having dinner at the house. No big deal.”
It really wasn’t. Lucy was learning to cook, and she had invited Mia to dinner with a text. We’ll celebrate your first day, plus I need victims for my lasagna!
Jake would be among the victims. Mia gave in to a wave of sweet anticipation, but when she glanced at Kelsey, a love-sick puppy destined to suffer disappointment, she saw herself—the old Mia who had suffered through two broken engagements. Being rejected hurt, but life went on if a person held tight to God and found a new purpose.
Shrugging off the past, she adjusted her lab coat with a hunch of her shoulders. “I’m dead serious about landing the job with Mission Medical. Romance is the last thing I want or need in my life right now.”
Kelsey tried not to smile. “Really?”
Mia held up both hands, palms out. “I’ve been down Heartbreak Road before. I’m done.”
“Oh, Mia. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have a great career, a wonderful sister, and I’m excited at the prospect of joining Mission Medical. In fact, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
Kelsey studied her with wide eyes. “I really admire you.”
Mia didn’t know what to say. While she appreciated the compliment, she couldn’t help but envy Kelsey and her innocent hope. The girl wore her heart on her sleeve the way Mia once had.
The door to the waiting room opened, and Mrs. Hargrove walked in, five minutes late just like Kelsey had predicted. While Mia reviewed the notes in the e-file, Kelsey checked the patient in. Dr. Collins arrived through a back door, and Mia started her first day at Echo Falls Primary Care.
“You’re going to be around for dinner, aren’t you?” Claire said to Jake for the fifth time that hour.
“Sure,” he said again. “I’ll be here.”
They were together in the kitchen, lasagna scenting the air with garlic and Jake on “mom” duty. His dad would arrive home soon, and so would Sam. Lucy was lying down for a few minutes after her hard work, both cooking and keeping an eye on Claire, who was having a rough day, the kind where she fidgeted with everything from the mail on the counter to the spoons in the drawer. Jake had stopped trying to help her find what she wanted and was leafing through a camping equipment catalog.
His mom turned from the silverware drawer. “You’re going to be around for dinner, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’m staying.”
Jake could only imagine what went on in her head. His own frustration seemed small by comparison, and he was looking forward to tonight. Mia would arrive any minute. The little celebration was Lucy’s idea and perfect for Jake’s next move on the romance front. Tonight after dinner, he intended to walk her to her car. A kiss? A dinner invitation? Hopefully both.
“Jake?” His mom looked at him as if he’d just walked into the room. “You’re going to be around for dinner, aren’t you?”
“I sure am.” Lord, give me patience.
Pirate popped up from his spot on the floor, nosed Jake’s thigh, and headed for the front door, his signal that someone had knocked.
Mia? Probably. Before the hearing loss, Jake would have known by the rhythm of her knock or the tap of her steps on the wooden stairs. He missed that ability, but his other senses compensated. When he opened the door, he saw her in vivid detail, especially the fresh pink lipstick that matched a bouquet of flowers in her hand. The scent tickled his nose—or was Mia wearing perfume?
She held out the flowers. “These are for Claire.”
“Not for me?”
She rolled her eyes. “I wish I had a snappy comeback, but I don’t.”
“You don’t need one.” He liked her sense of humor just the way it was. “Come on in. You can give the flowers to my mom. How did your first day go?”
“Good.” She set her purse on the sofa and followed him toward the kitchen, still holding the bouquet. “Dr. Collins couldn’t have been nicer, and Kelsey’s terrific.”
“She’s a nice girl.”
“Pretty too.”
Was that a hint in Mia’s voice, or were his hearing aids playing tricks on him? The last thing he needed was Mia playing matchmaker.
At the door to the kitchen, he started to make a joke about Cupid needing to get a life, but his gaze shot to the gas stove. A blue flame rose from the front burner, on full blast without a pot on it—and a forgotten dish towel so close the edges were smoldering.
Claire, oblivious, was rattling spoons in the silverware drawer.
“Mom!” Jake charged forward, threw the smoking towel in the sink, and cranked off the burner.
Pictures flashed in his mind. The blast blowing a hole in the wall of that abandoned building. Connie flying backward and landing like a rag doll. A wall of heat. Billows of smoke and dust. His chest constricted as if he were breathing that polluted air, then his vision tunneled until Pirate pushed against his leg. Breathe deep, he told himself. It’s just a memory.
But that open flame was in the here and now. He’d left his mom alone for less than two minutes, and she’d nearly burned down the house.
Mia rested her hand on his biceps. Saying nothing, she stroked lightly, a nurse offering comfort to someone in pain, or maybe a woman offering comfort to a man. The first thought embarrassed him. The second one grounded him back in the moment.
Claire turned to him. “What’s wrong?”
Mia, still holding the flowers, answered for him. “The burner was on.”
“Oh—” Panicking, Claire spun to the stove, then faced Jake with a belligerent scowl. “It’s not on.”
“It was.”
“But it’s not on now.”
Let it go, Jake told himself. Claire couldn’t put the pieces together, and he couldn’t do it for her.
The back door opened and Frank walked in. He started to greet them with his typical hearty hello, saw the standoff by the stove, and frowned instead. “What’s wrong?”
Calmer now, Jake kept his voice level. “I left to open the front door for Mia. When we came back, the burner was on high and a towel was about to catch fire.”
Frank grimaced in a way Jake saw often these days. “Take a break, son.” He put an arm around his wife’s waist. “Your mom and I will finish whatever she’s doing.”
“We’re celebrating Mia’s first day on the job,” Claire piped up. “She’s Lucy’s sister.”
Repeat. Rewind. Repeat. Jake felt like a man swimming in glue.
“That’s right,” Mia told his mom. “I’m Lucy’s sister and I brought flowers.”
“Oh!” Claire lit up. “I love flowers!”
Frank reached for the bouquet. “Thank you, Mia. I’ll help Claire put these in water. Why don’t you and Jake relax in the living room?”
Jake knew his father wasn’t a saint, but he came close. “Thanks, Dad.”
Relieved, Jake guided Mia to the couch facing the big windows. Pirate dropped down on the floor and put his head on Jake’s boot, while Mia leaned back into the couch and let out a slow breath.
“That was unnerving,” she said.
“And predictable. My dad took the knobs off the stove a month ago so this sort of thing couldn’t happen. But today Mom and Lucy were cooking. I didn’t give the stove a thought when I left her alone. That’s one of the worst things about this disease. Sometimes life seems normal when it isn’t.”
Mia touched his foot with hers. “I’m just so sorry for yo
u. Your dad too. This isn’t pity. It’s—”
“Compassion,” he said, looking at her. “I know that. So does my dad.”
A sweet light spilled from Mia’s eyes. “He’s a good man, isn’t he?”
“The best. But he’d tell you he’s as human as anyone.” No doubt about it, but Jake saw no reason to bring up mistakes from the past. “What keeps him strong right now is his faith. And that’s tested every day.”
“I can’t imagine seeing someone you love fade like that.”
“It’s rough.”
“And just now with the stove—” Mia glanced back at the kitchen. “I hate to think about what could have happened.”
“A fire,” he said, tasting bile. “Or she could have picked up the dish towel and been seriously burned.” And it would have been his fault. Sick to his stomach, he turned his gaze to the window and stared blindly at the sky.
“But it didn’t happen, did it?” Mia shifted closer to him on the couch. When he didn’t turn, she cupped his jaw with her hand, forcing him to stare into her eyes. Her pupils dilated in the dusky light, and her lips parted. Silent and still, she appeared to be searching for words.
Jake didn’t need them. Her expression told him everything he needed to know. A first kiss dangled between them, but he wasn’t about to take it with his parents ten feet away. Instead, he put his hand over hers, lowered his head, and brushed his lips against her palm.
Slowly, as if she couldn’t decide what to do, she slid her hand off his jaw, looked down at her lap, then met his gaze with a look he couldn’t decipher.
“We’re all safe now,” she said.
“Yes, we are.” Safe in body, though not in the tender places of their hearts.
“It’s time to get back to normal.”
“And that is?”
“Being friends.” She scooted back six inches, crossed her legs, and laced her hands over her knees. Something in the hall caught her attention, and she turned.
Jake looked over his shoulder and glimpsed Lucy. When Mia faced him again, she added, “Normal means enjoying a family dinner.” Winking at him, she raised her voice. “Unless Lucy gives us all food poisoning.”
The Two of Us Page 11