Page 52 of A Cowboy's Claim
“Baby and mom are fine,” she assured him. “Just my least favourite doctoring drill, especially in nonmedical settings.”
He didn’t know enough to be able to offer advice, and frankly, she didn’t seem to be looking for it anyway. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and held her little tighter. “I’m sure you were brilliant as usual.”
“Of course,” she said, twisting to look up at him and offer a tired smile. “Thanks for this. In spite of everything, it has been a good day.”
He stared at her sunlit face, the glowing colours hiding some of the dark circles under her eyes and the tired lines bracketing her mouth. She was still so damn beautiful—but clearly hurting. And that couldn’t continue.
Not changing it up this instant, not on top of everything that had happened that day, but soon.
Later that night, after the kitten cuddling was done, he escorted her to her truck and waited patiently as she crawled behind the wheel.
As she drove away from High Water, Declan firmed his resolve. He needed to adjust his approach and find a way to change her world. She deserved more.
Over the next week,it was far too easy to fall back into the old habits Sydney had learned over the years. If she ignored the frustrating moments and focused on the task at hand, the world around her would fade away and she didn’t have to think.
Didn’t have to long for what she couldn’t have.
The clinic was hopping, the house visits she made went well—if grumpily received by the usual cranky old-timers.
Lexie continued to be a gift beyond measure, although there were times Sydney caught the woman staring into space with a decidedly unhappy expression.
They all had growing pains to deal with when moving to a new situation, Sydney supposed. But nothing in Lexie’s demeanor said she wanted to talk about it.
Sydney’s phone pinged at the same moment Edison’s did.
“Woohoo, it’s party time,” her nurse announced enthusiastically. He tromped over to her and laid both hands on her shoulders. “Youarein a party mood.”
Sydney laughed. “Of course I am. It’s Petra and Aiden’s official wedding celebration. There’s a lot to party about.”
“Iknow that. I just wanted to make sure you remembered,” Edison offered with a slight sniff before finishing cleaning the examination room. “Sometimes you get the oddest ideas in your head. You’re not allowed to decide tonight’s the evening you absolutely have to drive out to Charlie Miller’s to make sure he’s not doing something weird with mud again.”
“Trust me, tonight I want a dose of my friends. Not another visit with the mud-cures-everything brigade.” Sydney smiled at Edison’s snicker. “Enough work talk. I’ll see you there.”
“With bells on,” Edison offered with a grin.
His expression made Sydney wonder if he’d turn up literally decked out to jingle.
Pulling into the parking lot at High Water, Sydney couldn’t believe the rush of people wandering the yard, excitedly chattering as they milled about.
“Welcome to wedding chaos,” a bright and cheery voice called.
Tansy was seated in a spot of honour beside the house, a cascade of helium balloons arched over her head.
Sydney came forward to hug her then accepted the card Tansy held out. “What’s this?”
“Petra decided they needed something more than food and dancing. It’s a bingo-slash-scavenger hunt.”
Sydney settled in the chair beside her. “Is that why people are running around with cameras?”
“Uh-huh. You have to take a picture of whatever’s in each square. Petra has a printer set up in the artists’ studio. Fern is sticking the pictures into a grid on the wall, and in the end, we vote for who interpreted their items best.”
“A box-grid display of memories. Sounds like someone recycled your wedding-in-a-box idea.”
“Anything for my best girl,” Tansy offered with a grin. “Here—I saved my favourite card for you if you’re interested. If not, food and drink are upstairs. Petra and Aiden were by the fireplace last I saw.”
Sydney took the card, hugged her friend again, and strolled slowly around the yard, taking it in.
There were a lot of Heart Falls residents who’d come to offer their congratulations on this fine first day of August. Jinx and Sasha zipped past, Sasha’s little brother riding on her back as they spoke eagerly about something. Probably whatever they were trying to accomplish next on their bingo card.
