Been There Done That (Leffersbee #1) - Hope Ellis Page 0,135

house; the joy as well as the sorrow.

I looked around, took in all the little details I’d taken for granted back then, the ones I’d never thought that much about as a teenager. I studied the wood paneling my mother had always hated but never got around to removing, the tiny foundation crack above the living room window.

I thought about the life I’d had here in this house. Before things went to hell.

And I remembered Zora. When she’d come here as a kid with a book or game tucked under one arm. Or dragged me out to some festival or play I pretended to hate.

I remembered who I was before I lost everything here. And what Zora meant to me.

I remembered who Zora was, what excited her, what her dreams were, what she’d imagined for herself, me, the two of us together.

And I knew what I had to do.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Zora

“I told her, I couldn’t care less about some tits. Don’t get me wrong, hers were amazing. Always were. I used to salute ‘em. But I love her, not her tits.”

I bit back a smile as I watched the couple seated across from me in the examination room. I was certain the patient, Sheila, would have clobbered her husband if not for my presence. A deep flush spread from her face, down her neck. I caught the subtle kick she delivered to his ankle.

But Rick, her husband, remained intent on making his point. He leaned forward, jabbed his pointer finger at me. His other hand held his wife’s hand in a tight, secure grip.

“And I know she’s probably mad at me for saying it that way, probably wants me to use better words. She’s always telling me how I could say something better.”

Sheila closed her eyes.

“But not this time. All I can say is what I mean ‘cause it’s coming from the heart. I want you to hear it and I want her to hear it, too, ‘cause she’s the one who could probably stand to hear it a million more times before this is over.”

I’d been working in my office when I’d gotten a frantic message from Carly. She was in a car accident several miles from campus and worried she wouldn’t make it into the clinic in time for our participants’ appointment, so she’d called me in a panic.

I’d been happy to go. It’d been a while since I’d gone to clinic to see a patient in person and done the work that was normally handled by my research staff. I also needed the distraction.

After Sheila completed the study’s pre-survey and we talked through the intervention, we found ourselves chatting amiably. A nurse had already peeked in to warn us the oncologist was running behind. I was more than happy to help occupy their waiting time.

This was the visit where Sheila would learn if she needed chemo after a recent mastectomy. The stakes were high and the strain was showing on them both.

She already looked antsy enough. I sensed Rick was just as anxious, if not more, but found idle chatter an effective coping mechanism.

“I think that’s a beautiful thing to hear. No matter how you say it, Rick.” I smiled reassuringly at Sheila, letting her know I was in no way offended by Rick’s brash delivery. I’d been raised by Ezra Leffersbee. Rick was tame in comparison.

“I mean it.” His composure cracked a bit. “She’s my entire life, my entire world. I’ve haven’t spent a night away from this woman in over thirty-five years.” He blinked back the wetness threatening to escape the corners of his eyes.

“Thirty-five years? God, that’s amazing. What a massive accomplishment. How did you guys meet?”

Just as I hoped, Sheila warmed to the topic. She relayed the tale, giving Rick time to manfully blink away his tears.

“She was so mean to me,” Rick said, interrupting Sheila’s description of their meet-cute at their shared place of employment.

She pinned him with a severe look. “Trust me, you didn’t need any encouragement.”

Rick gave me an innocent expression I didn’t trust in the least. “She was one of those independent types. You probably know what I mean—you got that look about you, too.”

“Rick!” Sheila gaped at him, then turned to me with wide eyes.

“It’s okay.” I grinned. “You’re spot on, Rick. I am that type.”

He eyed me. “You married?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

He ran his free hand down his bald pate, eyeing me suspiciously. “Hope I’m not talking out of turn here, doc, but you’re a good-looking woman.