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  Meredith smiled at the men as she took a few more steps into the room. Oh, my. Every one of them, lean, strong, and tanned, was a veritable heart breaker.

  “Jim, Torrence, and Walt,” he said, pointing to each one in turn. “Meet my angel of mercy, Merrie Ambrose.”

  “It’s Meredith,” she murmured as they all greeted her with enthusiasm.

  “Merrie has been taking good care of me,” David said, catching her eye and winking. “But lately hasn’t been around.”

  She smiled. “I’m a float nurse and have been working in another unit.”

  “Well, that’s okay then. I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

  Meredith felt her cheeks heat. Being in a room where the testosterone level was almost palpable made it difficult for her to think. “It’s nice to meet you all.” She turned to her patient. “I’ll let you continue with your visit and come back for your assessment later.”

  “Thanks, Merrie.”

  After a profusion of good-byes on their part, Meredith went out into the hall. She shook her head as if to clear it. A burst of male laughter made her quicken her pace to the next room.

  ***

  From his bed, David grinned. “Well, what did you think of the future Mrs. Steller?”

  Three pairs of eyes bulged.

  “You’re getting married?” Torrence sputtered. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  David gave a chagrined smile. “Uh, she doesn’t actually know anything about it yet. But that’s what I’m working toward.”

  Walt looked askance at David. “She didn’t seem overly affectionate.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m working on that part, too.”

  “Just where and when did you meet her?” asked Walt with disbelief in his voice.

  “She was the girl next door when I was growing up. We’re getting reacquainted.”

  Jim sighed mistily and wiped away mock tears from his eyes. “Lovely ladies battled for your attention all over the country but it’s always the ‘girl next door’ that makes a fellow dream of hearth and home.”

  The other three groaned and punched him in the shoulder.

  Amidst all the laughter, David spoke up. “So, Jim. You’re the only one here who’s married.” He gave him a sly look. “Is it worth it?”

  Reddening under his tan, he grinned. “Oh, yeah. It’s worth it.” He slapped David on the shoulder. “Invite me to the wedding.”

  ***

  Later that night when Meredith came to check on David and found him asleep, a part of her was glad she didn’t have to talk to him. In her teen years, she would’ve given anything to have such access to him. In the here and now, when he was awake, looking into his brown eyes and hearing his lightly flirtatious words, made her increasingly uncomfortable.

  Soon he’ll be released from the hospital and all this will be at an end. She gazed at his features. His face had fully healed. Soon that face would be in viewer’s living rooms all throughout Cedar Hill and surrounding areas. She’d see him on the news on a regular basis. Meredith frowned, suddenly realizing that David would almost certainly live in the same town where he was employed. Duh.

  So now the question is, which is worse? David halfway across the country, only existing in my thoughts? Or a nearby resident, only a remote click away? Meredith considered it for a moment and decided that though he might be closer in many ways, he’d be further from her than ever.

  “Good!” Meredith started at the sound of her own voice. She noticed David beginning to stir and quickly slipped from the room before he discovered her there, talking to herself like an idiot.

  ***

  When Meredith’s off-days began, she decided to clean her house from top to bottom. Bitsy had left his mark in more ways than one. She started with the kitchen, and by lunchtime, had finished the dining area, her bedroom, and the bathroom, cringing at the amount of dog hair and paw prints that had to be cleaned up. She wagged her finger at Bitsy, wondering what he could do to earn his keep besides looking cute.

  By mid-afternoon, she’d finished her bedroom closet and the living room, interspersed with laundry duty. When her whole house was completely cleaned and organized, she fell across her sofa with a satisfied sigh. Bitsy crawled up next to her and sighed as well, as if he’d helped with the chores.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Meredith noticed a sheaf of papers and books stuffed in the shelves of one bookcase. She groaned, realizing she wouldn’t feel content until she organized it. Dragging her body off the sofa, she went over and began the process of sorting through everything, deciding what should be kept and what should be tossed.

  Meredith found an old snapshot of her parents tucked between two of her historical novels. She had a professional photograph of them in a frame in her bedroom. This snapshot was blurry. She looked closely at the image of her father. He died when she was five so her memories of him were dim. He must’ve been wonderful to be married to Mom.

  When her mother died, Meredith had written to David to let him know, hoping he’d make it to the funeral. She’d never heard from him—not even a note of condolence. He wasn’t there for her the way she’d been for him in his grief. That really hurt.

  Sighing, she put the picture in the photo album where it belonged. Next to the album, she spied her school year books. Meredith hadn’t cracked them open in years. Intrigued and a little bored, she pulled them off the shelves. Flopping onto her stomach on the floor, she opened her tenth grade yearbook. When she located her own picture, she laughed out loud. A skinny kid with a clueless look grinned back at her. Next, she found David’s picture. He was skinny too, but definitely a cutie.

  As she looked up the other shots, Meredith began to cringe. Around David’s photos, she’d drawn hearts, flowers, curlicues, and written embarrassingly mushy sentiments about him. There were quite a few pictures of him—action shots of his sports prowess, of his parts in plays while in the drama club, along with other random ones of him with all the popular kids. She’d been a shy, awkward youth, who went home straight from school everyday, unless she stayed to watch David in a soccer game after class.

  Her own pictures told a story in themselves. Her freshman and sophomore pictures were rather pitiful with her frizzy hair and a dazed look in her eyes, but at least she’d been smiling. Her junior picture—the year David had left for college—was solemn. The following year photo held only a ghost of a smile. Meredith shook her head. How lost her world had seemed without him.

  By the time she closed the books and slid them back onto the bookshelf, nearly an hour had passed. Meredith stood and stretched, glad, so glad, those years were long behind her.

  ***

  David looked up expectantly when the door opened. When he saw the swish of a dark ponytail, he tried not to let his disappointment show. When the nurse approached the bed to check on him, he wondered why Meredith hadn’t been by.

  “How are we feeling today, Mr. Steller?” the nurse asked cheerfully.

  While David could appreciate her winsome appeal, he kept his expression neutral. This Rosa was something of a flirt and he didn’t want to encourage her.

  “Everything still hurts if that means anything.”

  She laughed and went through her assessment routine. He answered her questions in monotone.

  After she finished poking and prodding, David cleared his throat. “Is Merrie here today? I haven’t seen her in a while.”

  Rosa gave him a considering look. “She’s off for a few days and she gets moved from unit to unit.” She scribbled on chart. “But I’ll let her know you asked about her again.”

  With that, David had to be content. He wasn’t. When the nurse left the room, he settled against the stiff pillow and tried to get comfortable. Impossible in this place.

  Lying there day after day gave him time to think. And the more he thought, the more he wanted to see Merrie. Admittedly, his brash declaration to his old teammates had surprised him almost as much as it had them. The words ha
d sort of just popped out of his mouth. But after seeing her here, there was no doubt in his mind he wanted to renew their friendship. Maybe even go from there. The notion gave him an adrenaline rush.

  After college, he’d spent the next several years on the road. In the limelight, successful, and sought after in the world of professional soccer, David had felt a hollowness. His achievements never satisfied the way he’d hoped. After blowing out his knee, he worked at building up a resume in sports broadcasting. The job with KVL was a Godsend. He’d grown weary of his wild lifestyle a long time ago, and with unfamiliar pangs of nostalgia, he’d headed back to California with sepia-toned ideas about love and family.

  He smiled, thinking of Merrie. She’d always been special to him. He remembered their young romance that summer. She’d probably forgotten all about it. Merrie hadn’t been like all the other empty-headed, giggling, whispering girls. She’d been grounded and mature for her age, always thoughtful of others. He could tell she hadn’t changed, and for that he was glad.

  David glanced at the clock and wondered if she’d come visit him today. In the last few years, he’d thought more and more about Merrie, wondering how she was doing. After finally realizing he’d been living a shallow life, and getting right with God, his memories of the time spent with her became almost hallowed in his mind. Could he help it if he felt a wistful pull to reestablish that connection?

  From his Aunt Gloria, he knew she lived in Cedar Hill. That made the job at the news station a double blessing. He had planned to show up on her doorstep as a surprise. Well, he’d come to her all right…on a gurney. David smiled wryly at the thought. Wonder what she thinks about me? She’s been friendly. That’s something.

  Finding her smiling down at him had felt like a punch to the solar plexus. He remembered her as pretty, but she’d definitely blossomed into a beautiful young woman. It still amazed him that she wasn’t married. But who am I to expect anything from her? My body, scarred and broken, will never be the same. Who am I to come back into her life and take up where I left off?

  Who indeed.

  A vague depression settled around him like a dark cloud.

  ***

  In lieu of swimming, Meredith took Bitsy on daily walks through the various parks throughout Cedar Hill. She wouldn’t admit to herself she hoped to run into Clay Roberts. Such a nice, sensible person.

  At a dog park Meredith released Bitsy, laughing as he ran in ecstatic circles. After tossing a ball to him for half an hour, she found a bench to sit down on. Through half-closed eyes, she watched Bitsy run across the grass in pure, unadulterated pleasure, wishing she could throw off her restraint and run with the same kind of abandon.

  She adjusted her spine against the slats of the bench and breathed deeply of the Indian summer air. The cooler winds of autumn were just around the corner and she wanted to absorb these last traces of summer. Bitsy stayed close by and she relaxed even more, struggling to keep her eyes open.

  Meredith blinked and slowly lifted her lids, unsure of how long they’d been closed. If she’d indeed fallen asleep as she suspected, Bitsy was probably halfway across town by now. She shifted and looked around the park, suddenly wondering if she had double vision. Several yards away two Westies played together. When she called to Bitsy, they both raced up to her.

  Meredith reached out to the other dog. “Hey, who’s your new friend?”

  “Previous acquaintance is more like it.”

  Her head snapped up at the sound of Clay’s voice. “Mr. Roberts!” She scrambled to her feet, brushing off the seat of her pants. A darling little girl stood next to him. She took a breath. “Hi. You must be Tiffany.”

  Wide hazel eyes regarded her solemnly from behind Clay’s leg. She could see the striking resemblance between father and daughter.

  “She’s a little shy right now.”

  Meredith gave the girl a warm smile. “That’s okay. I’m kinda shy, too. Are you walking Snowflake?”

  A barely perceptible nod was her only answer.

  “There they go. Maybe we should try to catch up with the dogs and get them on their leashes,” Clay suggested. Tiffany tugged on his hand and she led the way.

  While they walked along the path, he pointed across the park. “We live over there.”

  Meredith looked over toward a recent development of affluent townhouses. “It’s nice that you’re so close to this park. It’s one of the few in town where dogs can run without a leash.”

  Clay turned to her after Tiffany had gone to chase Snowflake and Bitsy. Meredith watched the way the little girl laughed. Poor little thing. She knew how hard it was to lose one’s mother. It must be so much more difficult at such a young age.

  Clay put his hands in his pockets. “We were just about to go and have ice cream. Would you care to join us, Meredith?”

  Now this is how it’s supposed to be done. “I’d love to, if you’re sure it’s okay with Tiffany,” she said, liking the way he said her name. Merrie sounded so immature.

  “I think she’ll be too preoccupied with her ice cream to worry about it.”

  ***

  Half an hour later, they sat at an outside table in front of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Tiffany licked her cone while Meredith listened to Clay share more about his life. He ran a computer software retail establishment in the south part of town and took frequent business trips. She smiled inwardly at the thought that he looked nothing like the stereotypical computer nerd. She felt very flattered that he seemed to enjoy her company.

  When they’d finished their ice cream, they strolled along the shops while Snowflake and Bitsy pranced along beside them. Meredith felt like she was part of a family and had to swallow a lump in her throat at the notion.

  Back at the park next to her car, she smiled. “I really had a nice time, Clay. Thank you. And you, too, Tiffany.”

  He gazed at her, his eyes lit up by the setting sun. “Can I see you again?” he asked in a low voice.

  An image of David rose in her mind’s eye. She firmly squashed it. “I’d like that.”

  Six

  Meredith thought often of Clay and his daughter as her days on began again. He had called once and they had a pleasant conversation over the phone. Meredith didn’t want to think too deeply about the potential for a relationship with Clay. She planned to simply enjoy the company of a sweet guy and leave it at that. David had nothing to do with it.

  On Sunday, during her break, Meredith decided to make her last check on David before heading home. When she walked into his room, she came to an abrupt stop. A different man slept in his place.

  Heart beating hard, she backed out of the room and went to the nurses’ station. Erin wasn’t around so she had no problems accessing David’s information. She stared at his chart.

  Released! What? Unbelievable!

  Meredith fought against the guilt that plagued her at the realization. Despite her conflicting feelings for David, she still felt she should’ve been present for his discharge regardless of whether or not he was her patient. Not to mention the fact that she hardly thought him ready to be released. Meredith furrowed her brows. Since she didn’t know where he lived, from here on out, she’d probably only see him on television. She cleared her throat. That’s what I want, of course.

  Near eleven thirty, she popped into the break room to watch the late news on KVL. She wondered if any mention would be made of David’s release. After a commercial, and the latest game scores, the current sports anchor, Rick Portman, gave the report that David had gone home from the hospital. An image of David appeared on the screen. He was in his hospital bed, surrounded by balloons, flowers, and well-wishers.

  “I want to thank everyone for all their prayers, support, and friendship during this difficult time, and I plan to send Rick Portman to the golf course very soon.”

  The sports anchor chuckled, made some accompanying remarks and went on to another story.

  Meredith stared unseeing at the screen. Had David meant anything b
y using the word prayer or was it just what one said in such a situation? She shook her head, sure it meant nothing of significance, and went back to her duties.

  ***

  During her next shift, Meredith checked her staff assignment and went into the Med-Surg break room. She found Rosa downing a can of soda. When the can was empty, Rosa tossed it into a bin for recyclables. Meredith was opening her locker to stow her purse when the most unbelievable sound came from behind her. Rosa was in the process of burping the Mickey Mouse Club theme song.

  Turning in horror, she hoped to find some burly college dropout responsible for the noise. Instead, the petite, demure Rosa sat there with a grin.

  “Pretty good, huh?”

  “Please tell me that was a taped recording,” Meredith said faintly.

  Patting her tummy, Rosa said, “Nope. You were lucky enough to hear the real thing.”

  Meredith let out a nervous titter, noticing Rosa seemed to enjoy her discomfiture.

  “Didn’t you have a big brother to teach you all kinds of neat things like that?” she asked.

  She shook her head. “I’m beginning to think I’m lucky to be an only child.”

  “I could teach you how,” Rosa said helpfully.

  Shutting her locker and turning to leave, Meredith quirked her brow. “Thanks, but no thanks. I have enough bad habits to work on without adding to the list.”

  Exiting the break room, she heard Rosa’s outraged voice. “Hey, who said I have any bad habits?

  Smiling, Meredith met with the day nurse to go over patient reports. What Rosa said about big brothers made her think of David. In some ways he’d been like a big brother. Once he even beat up a kid who’d been harassing me. At the time however, she’d seen him as more of a Prince Charming riding in on a milk white steed than a brother.

  Meredith wondered how he was doing, still not comfortable with the notion that he’d been released so soon. She looked up and saw Rosa leaving the break room.