Page 105 of Valor

She nods. “I’m sorry, honey, I know you’re worn out.”

“It’s so strange. Why apply if you’re just going to cancel?”

“I don’t know. Never seen anything like this before. I mean, we struggled to find someone before, but that’s because we’re a tiny town. This time, we have the applicants, but they never make it to the interview.”

“Well, here’s hoping God will send us the perfect candidate.”

“Amen to that, honey. You headed to lunch?”

I check my watch. Gibson will be here in fifteen minutes, and I look like a hot mess. “I’m going to change first. Not really interested in eating with puke splatter on my top. Page me if you need me.”

“You know I will. Go and enjoy your lunch.”

“Will do.”

The locker room consists of two separate bathrooms and showers. I grab my backpack from my locker, then head into the women’s bathroom to change and splash some water on my face.

I take a moment to pause in front of the mirror.

The dark circles beneath my eyes have gotten worse. Exhaustion pulls at every part of my body—something I have no time for. Wewillfind someone to cover for Janet. And we will make it through this.

It’s just another trial.

God, please help me through this. Please send us who we need for this place, and guide me so I can remain strong and knowledgeable for my patients. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

* * *

Ten minutes later,I’m feeling a bit better as I step out of the locker room and head for the elevator. I press the button to call it up, then roll my neck. My shoulders are super tense thanks to passing out while I’d been going through patient charts last night after dinner.

Something my mom would have surely given me an earful over if she’d caught me. The doors open, and all that exhaustion just melts away at the sight of Gibson standing on the other side. “Well, well, well, Sheriff, you’re early.” I step onto the elevator.

Dressed in khakis, a blue button-down shirt, and black boots, Gibson looks absolutely gorgeous. Then again, he always does. His badge is on his belt, on the opposite side where his gun and handcuffs are holstered. And in his hand is a bag of mouthwatering food.

“I figured you could use sustenance sooner rather than later.”

“You have no idea.” The doors close, so I press the button to take us down to the lobby so we can eat outside beneath the bright sunlight of early summer. Nothing like some vitamin D from the sun to perk up a mood.

“I should tell you that your mother apparently told my mother that she’s worried you aren’t eating or sleeping enough. Since I can’t really help with the latter—aside from arresting and locking you in a cell until you do—I assured her I would make sure you’re eating.”

A bit of the joy I felt at seeing him deflates. For a second, I’d hoped he offered to bring me food becausehewanted to. Not because he felt obligated. “So the burger offer was babysitting duty?”

He smiles, and the dimples on either side of his mouth are on full display. “Not exactly. I was planning to come see you anyway. I just get brownie points with our moms now.”

I roll my eyes. “As if you need brownie points with Mrs. Hunt. My mom already thinks you’re a superhero.”

“I’ll take all the brownie points I can get,” he jokes.

The doors open, so we step off and into the lobby. With how busy we were this morning, I half-expected there to be a check-in line. So when I see no one but security in his normal booth, I breathe a sigh of relief.

“You okay?”

I glance up at Gibson. “Doing great.”

He doesn’t respond, but I get the sense we’re not done talking about it just yet. I take the lead, heading out through the double doors and to the large fountain donated by our church. It’s one of my favorite places for many reasons, but the main reason is that it’s covered in Bible verses.

This is where I come when life gets heavy because it reminds me that God is always there. Even when I can’t see Him.

I walk around to the other side and slide onto the bench of a picnic table facing the fountain. Instead of sitting across from me, Gibson straddles the bench on the same side, so he’s facing me.

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