Page 24 of Beating Heart
She looked torn by the question but straightened quickly. “Sure. I’m working late, but I’ll take a look outside when I get home, and if you’re out there, I’ll let her come and say hello. She’s here now if you want to stop in the yard and see her before you head to camp.”
“Yes!” Cutler pumped his fist excitedly as we all walked out to the hallway. My son ran toward the backyard where he used to see Doc’s dog, Sadie May. And I walked toward the front desk with Emerson beside me.
“Sorry about all the questions. And I’m sorry you were forced to examine my heart, too. I guess I got a two for one today,” I said, my tone laced with humor.
“It’s all right. He’s sweet and inquisitive, and I love it.” She sighed. “And it’s good to know you’ve got a beating heart.”
“Yeah. I’m not lying when I tell him it beats for him. Because there’s been times that I wasn’t sure it was working, but then I look at him, and I forget everything else, you know?”
She smiled. “I get that more than you know.”
Cutler came running back inside. “Winnie said she for sure wants to play with me after camp.”
“All right, you’ve made your point. Stop pushing,” I said, reaching for his hand. “We’ll see you around, Chadwick.”
“We’ll see you tonight after camp, Dr. Emerson.”
I heard her chuckle as we walked out the door.
And for whatever reason, my mind was reeling from what she was hiding.
About whoever had hurt her and made her feel this way.
She wasn’t here because she wanted to be.
She was here because she needed to be.
She was running from something or someone, and I was determined to find out who.
She was helping my boy, so the least I could do was try to help her while she was here.
When we got to summer camp, I talked to the director to make sure the counselors working with Cutler were aware of his asthma and that there was an inhaler in his backpack, as well as one that we kept with the nurse on staff. They assured me that everyone was aware, and I made it over to the restaurant to get moving on the renovation.
Our team was working hard, and the new addition was being framed now. Kingston was inside helping a few guys with the layout for the kitchen.
“How’s it going in here?” I asked, as I glanced down at the blueprint the architect had drawn up.
“It’s going. The appliances have been ordered, and I’m going to start building the large prep island today,” Kingston said, pausing to take a sip of his coffee. “How’d it go with Cutler?”
“Good. The cough is just allergies, and the new inhaler seems to be doing the trick. I just dropped him off at camp.”
He turned to face me while the guys got to work. He studied me for a long moment and then smirked. “You don’t seem to hate the city doctor anymore.”
“Nah. That was just me being an asshole. It’s not her fault that Doc retired.” I shoved my hands into my pockets.
“Saylor said she’s stopped by the bookstore a few times, and she really likes her. I guess she’s going to ride with them this weekend.”
“Yeah. She mentioned that. Good for her.” I shrugged, not sure where he was going with this.
“Just saying… she lives next door. She likes your kid. He talks about her incessantly. She’s a doctor, which could come in handy. Don’t rule it out.”
“Don’t rule it out?” I barked out a laugh. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You know… be a good neighbor. Maybe entice her with the goods.” He waggled his brows, and I groaned.
“Get to work, asshole. No one is enticing anyone with their goods, although I do have an impressive package.” I chuckled. “We’re barely neighborly. And she’s only here for a little while, so there’s no point going there.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” He raised a brow. “You say you’re barely neighborly, but in your next breath, you’re listing the reasons why you can’t go there. She’s only here for a little while. So the fuck what? Have a fling. Get out there and have some fun. You’ve gotten too serious. You don’t want to die alone.”
