Page 37 of Mountain Freedom
“Just a sec,” she said with a bit of a wobble in her voice. “I just need to document all of that in his chart. Then we can go.”
“Take your time,” I said. I crossed over to the exam table and hopped onto it, studying her from across the room.
She was the ultimate professional, but it was clear the scene had gotten to her. I got the sense it was important for her to complete her routine though, to document whatever she needed to so she felt like she had a little control over the situation. Or maybe I was projecting my own feelings onto it. Either way, I waited for her to finish before checking on her.
“Okay,” she finally said, closing the laptop. “I’ll grab my things and we can head out.”
“You want to talk about it first?”
“Not really,” she said, shaking her head and then letting out a breathy sigh. “Two years.”
“Two years?”
“That’s how long my contract is. I’m less than a month down. I’m not sure I’m going to make it.” She gave a tired laugh, looking more weary than I had seen her since she had come back.
“You’ll make it,” I said, though a new unease hit me. I had never thought about her contract being temporary.
Two years was a long time, but what then? She had said this was where she was supposed to be, but that didn’t mean she was supposed to stay forever. Of course not. Allison was smart and ambitious. She wouldn’t be content settling into a small-town clinic and passing out narcotics like they were candy. She’d want more for her life.
Which meant, in two years, I’d likely lose my best friend all over again.
I forcedthoughts of Allison leaving out of my head as we drove out to Greg and Janet’s house. Peace settled into my heart as the familiar sight of the valley came into view. Once she’d gotten out of the clinic, the weariness had vanished from Allison too.
“I wish I would have had time to change,” she said, glancing down at herself. “Do you think this will be okay for dinner?”
I looked over at her in the passenger’s seat, trying to notice the clothes themselves instead of the way they highlighted her perfect figure. But the more I triednotto notice, the more I did. It was a simple, professional outfit—a light-gray skirt with an ivory top and a little sweater over it. It reminded me of something a librarian might wear—a very sexy librarian, though clearly, that wasn’t the look Allison was going for.
“Um.” I cleared my throat, turning back to the road in front of me. “You look great.”
“I get nervous meeting new people,” she blurted out.
I looked back over at her. “They’ll love you.”
“I’m trusting you,” she said, giving me a tentative smile. “I could use some friendly faces in town.”
“Well, you’re about to meet the best of the best,” I said, trying to reassure her as we pulled in and parked. “Trust me.”
“I do,” she murmured softly.
Two simple words that hit me like a brick. I felt honored to have her trust—and determined to keep it by not screwing anything up.
I hopped out and opened the truck door for her. She was clearly still nervous as we walked up Greg’s long driveway. The encounter with Frank had made us late, and my truck was at the very back of the line.
“There’s a lot of people here,” she said, eyeing the vehicles.
“Not too many,” I said. “Greg and Janet, of course. Daphne—she’s Janet’s daughter and Greg’s stepdaughter—and her husband, Emerson, and their daughter, Eileen. Fiona, who you already know. Willa, Daphne’s best friend, and Cole, Willa’s fiancé.”
“Oh.” Allison’s eyes got big, and she lifted a hand to her mouth. “Willa. Of course. I just realized who you’re talking about. She was all over the news. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together.”
“You’ve had a lot on your mind,” I said.
“That’s the truth.”
The front door flew open, and Fiona’s familiar form stepped into the frame. “Hurry on up, Jackson!” she called. “And introduce me to that pretty girl you’ve got with you!”
“Sorry,” I apologized below my breath. “I told Greg we’re just friends, but there may be some assumptions.”
“It’s fine,” Allison said, waving it off. “Why, Fiona Flanagan!” Her face lit up as she stepped onto the front porch. “You haven’t aged a day!”
