Page 18 of Racing Hearts

Sierra took a deep breath and blew it out. Just talking to her sister had already made her feel so much better. “Thanks, Sienna. I love you too.”

Thanksgiving break couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter 9

Ellie

“Ellie Finch, is that you? I swear you must’ve grown five inches from the last time I saw you.”

Ellie smiled at the gray-haired woman sitting at the front desk of her family’s medical practice. Ellie’s parents liked to joke that when they bought the practice, Mrs. McCain was part of the package. Even though she was well past retirement age, Mrs. McCain still worked there a few days a week. She always joked with Ellie that she had to in order to keep Ellie’s moms in line. “Hey, Mrs. McCain. Are my moms around?”

When Ellie had arrived home to an empty driveway a few minutes earlier, she decided to pull right back out and drive the few minutes to the practice, since she figured that’s where her moms would be.

Mrs. McCain nodded. “Your mom is cleaning up in the back and your mama is with her last patient of the day. They were hoping to be out of here before you got home, but the last patient is a talkative old woman.” Mrs. McCain rolled her eyes. “You know how they can be.”

Ellie was sure the woman her mama was with right now was younger than Mrs. McCain, but she liked that Mrs. McCain didn’t seem to realize how old she was. “I know. Not everyone can be as young and fun as us, right?”

“This is why you’re my favorite.” Mrs. McCain winked at Ellie. “You’re even more charming than that handsome brother of yours. Will he be coming home for Thanksgiving?”

Ellie nodded. “Nate and his girlfriend, Kaya, will be here on Wednesday. They are staying through the weekend.” Ellie couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face at the thoughtof seeing her brother. She hadn’t seen him since going to visit him and Kaya this past summer. The two of them had lived in Vermont for over a year, so Ellie didn’t get to see them as often as she’d like.

“Is this the same girlfriend who came home with him for the holidays last year?”

“Yep. He’s actually been with her for over three years now.”

Mrs. McCain raised both eyebrows. “And he still hasn’t proposed? What is he waiting for?”

Ellie shrugged. “He just turned twenty-six, and she’s only twenty-four, so I don’t think they’re in a hurry to settle down.”

Mrs. McCain shook her head. “Kids these days. By the time I was twenty-four, I was married with two kids and a third on the way.”

Ellie found that completely insane, but she wasn’t going to say that to such a sweet older woman. She pointed toward the back of the practice. “I’m going to go find my mama, but I’m sure I’ll see you before I head home.”

“Don’t count on it. As soon as this last patient is done, I’m going to be running out that door.”

Ellie knew the frail woman in front of her wouldn’t berunninganywhere, but she was willing to humor her. “Make sure you don’t run anyone over on your way out.”

“No promises.” Mrs. McCain winked. “Make sure you tell that brother of yours to come in and visit me this week, okay?”

“You got it.” Ellie gave Mrs. McCain a little wave as she walked away.

As soon as she reached the hallway, one of the exam room doors opened up and her mom, Brinley, stepped out. Her mom’s long hair was pulled back in a ponytail just like Ellie’s,and with her mom’s tattoos covered up by her long sleeves right now, it was like Ellie was looking into a mirror.

A wide smile spread across her mom’s face as she reached her arms out toward Ellie and pulled her into a tight hug. “I thought I heard you out here,” she said before placing a kiss on the top of Ellie’s head. “How are you, sweetie?”

“I’m good.”

Before Ellie could say anything else, a woman who was at least ten years younger than Mrs. McCain walked out of the exam room.

Ellie’s mom pulled away from her and pointed down the hallway. “Margarette will get you checked out and schedule a follow-up for you, Mrs. Stone. As always, it was a pleasure to see you.”

The woman, apparently named Mrs. Stone, turned toward Ellie. “This can’t possibly be little Eleanor, can it?”

Ellie’s mom put an arm around her shoulder. “It is. Pretty hard to believe, huh?”

“So hard to believe. It feels like just yesterday that she and her brother were running through the office playing tag. Then again, my grandbabies aren’t so little anymore either.”

“Oh yeah. I think they were in school around the same time as Nate.”

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