Teresa Carpenter - His Unforgettable Fiancée

“Nothing. Everything.”

“Well that narrows it down. Was wondering if I’m lying mixed in there somewhere?”

“Yes. I discounted it.”

Silence met her response. And then in a hoarse voice, he asked, “Why?”

“The evidence supports your claim.” She told him truthfully, and more hesitatingly, “And I trust my gut.”

“I’m glad.” He turned to stare out his window. “Because I’m trusting it, too.”

She eyed his profile before focusing on the road again. “Then for both our sakes I hope it holds true.”

“Do you have a job lined up in San Francisco?” Now she felt the weight of his gaze on her. “Is that why you’re headed there?”

“I prefer the city.” Amenity was easier in the city.

“Me, too.”

“Another clue?”

“Yeah, let’s call it that.” He sipped his coffee, then dropped the empty cup into the holder. “Losing the election causing you to question your career choice?”

“My ego took a hit.” She lifted one shoulder, let it drop. “I’ll shake it off.”

She hoped.

“Good. You’re better than the lot of them.”

“Really.” His endorsement tickled her, bringing out a rusty smile. “And you base your accolades on what exactly?”

“On my observations. Everyone we talked to liked and respected you. It was a busy night, a holiday they were working, yet they thought enough of you to remember it was your last day and to wish you well in future endeavors. You would have won the election if you put a little effort into it. They’ll be missing you soon enough.”

Hmm. What he said made sense. And she liked it better than her version where they were all thinking good riddance. People did like to know their opinion mattered. Maybe she should have campaigned a little.

Too late now.

“Yes, well, on to the next adventure.”

“And what will that be? Do you have a job offer?”

“I have options.” Her future loomed ominously ahead of her like the fog creeping up on the west side as she took the off-ramp in Santa Rosa. “A town in the next county over offered me an undersheriff position.” The city was bigger than Woodpark, but not by much. “And there are always patrol positions in San Francisco.”

“You don’t sound too excited by those options.”

“The undersheriff is a higher rank, but San Francisco holds more appeal. It’s a dilemma.”

The truth? Neither of them appealed to her.

“The undersheriff position holds some appeal, except for the location. I’ve seen too much of the world to be happy in a small town.”

“Then why run for sheriff?”

Because she thought she’d found acceptance.

She explained how she got the job. “The people were decent for the most part and seemed to like me. For a while I felt like I belonged. But the election results don’t lie. I wasn’t one of them. The mayor’s brother-in-law was one of them.”

It was an old lesson, well learned. And yet she’d fallen for it again. The need to belong. As a child she’d suffered with every base change until she learned to Bubble Wrap her emotions. And as an adult she’d stayed in more than one relationship longer than she should have.

Her last boyfriend let her catch him cheating so she’d finally get the hint. Not one of her more stellar moments. Rather than fall into the pattern again, she’d stayed single for the past two years.

“A position in San Francisco holds a lot of appeal locationwise. It’s a beautiful place with so much history and culture. The problem is it’s an expensive city to live in and a beat cop doesn’t make much.”

“It would be a step backward for you.”

There was that. “I don’t mind working my way up, but I really wanted something more, something to challenge my mind.”

And she wanted a home. Someplace permanent. She appreciated what she’d seen of the world, and had more countries she longed to visit. But more than anything she wanted a place to come back to, a place to call home.

“I’ll figure it out.” She pulled into the clinic parking lot. “We’re here.”

* * *

While JD had another MRI she found the cafeteria and got a cold soda. The idea of caffeine didn’t bother her. When her head finally found a pillow, nothing would keep her awake.

Figuring she had a few minutes, she took a seat at a table, leaned her head against the wall and fell asleep.

It seemed only an instant later she opened her eyes. She yawned and blinked her watch into focus. An hour had elapsed.

Wondering when this night would end, she did a few stretches—oh, yeah, that felt good— gathered her soda and headed back to emergency. Clear down the hall she heard a ruckus going on and hurried toward the sound.

“You can’t keep me here against my will,” JD declared. He sat on the side of the gurney facing the doctor, a plump woman in a white lab coat with lovely mocha-colored skin and beaded black braids clipped atop her head.

He was refusing to be admitted at the doctor’s request. Stubborn man.

“It’s just for observation.” The doctor spoke with resigned patience.

“You said there was no additional swelling,” JD pointed out.

“No. But you’ve sustained a severe concussion.” The woman responded. “I highly recommend you be admitted for tonight and possibly tomorrow. Head wounds are unpredictable. It’s for your own safety.”

JD pushed to his feet. “I’m fine. I have the pain medicine the last doctor gave me. I can take care of myself.”

“Sir, I really advise against leaving.” She shifted her bulk to block his exit. “You need bed rest. Trauma of this magnitude requires time to heal. At this stage just being on your feet walking around could result in more damage.”

The mulish look on JD’s face revealed what he thought of her suggestion.

“JD,” Grace interjected softly, “the night is almost over. Why don’t you rest for a few hours and I’ll come get you in the morning?” The stars knew it was what she longed to do. He could lie down and be out in a heartbeat. She still needed to find a hotel and check in before her head found a pillow.

His shoulders went back and he gave one slow shake of his head. “I hate hospitals. I’ve spent too much time in them already tonight. I’ll rest better somewhere else. Anywhere else.”

She sighed. He meant it. The tension in those wide shoulders, the clenched jaw, the faint flicker of panic in his emerald eyes told her his dislike went deeper than memories. He really intended to leave.

“You’ve done enough,” he told her. “Thank you for all your help. I can take it from here.”

It was the wrong thing to say. He tried sliding past the doctor, but she had her moves on, keeping him pinned while signaling to a nurse.

“Sir, we really can’t release you without adult supervision. This level of traumatic brain injury results in disorientation and confusion. You represent a danger to yourself and others.”

JD did not back down. “I need you to get out of my way.”

“Get security.” The doctor instructed the nurse.

Time to defuse the situation. “Doctor, we understand your concern. Of course he won’t be alone. He’s been lucid all night. You’ve confirmed the swelling hasn’t gotten any worse. He’s clearly determined to go. Won’t causing him mental duress be worse than allowing him to leave?”

Faced with his stubborn determination, the doctor saw the sense in Grace’s calm argument. “You’ll be with him?”

JD opened his mouth. She shot him a don’t-you-dare glare.

“Yes.”

“And you’ll bring him back in the morning?” The doctor pressed.

Green eyes narrowed. Grace agreed the physician was pushing it.

“I’ll see he gets the care he needs.”