Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,47

I can change, and then I’ll get you home and drive you to the party?”

“Sounds like a good plan to me, Doc.”

Brandt

We stop by the clinic so that I can drop off my medical bag and change clothes.

I leave Bellamy waiting in my office while I run upstairs to the apartment and quickly freshen up.

When I make it back down, I find her standing in front of my bookcase, holding a framed photo.

I walk behind and look at it with her over her shoulder.

She is reading the inscription on the back.

Brandy and me, celebrating! Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2016.

“Brandy?” she asks.

“That’s Annie and me. We met in college, at a coffee shop on campus. We were both waiting for our coffees. The barista had misspelled my name, and they kept calling out an order for Brandy. When I finally realized it was my latte, it was cold, and I was late for my next class and very annoyed. She was waiting behind me and thought it was hysterical. We ended up at a table, talking for hours that day. She called me Brandy from that moment on. The day the photo was taken, we were celebrating my acceptance into the veterinarian program at Ross and her new job with the City of Portland’s Department of Human Services.”

“Annie?”

“My wife. She died a few years ago.”

“I’m so sorry,” she says softly.

“Me too.”

“A vet and a social worker. Pets and children. Sounds like you two were a match made in heaven.”

“I thought so. She worked with teens in the foster care system. It was her passion to help them find placement with good families.”

“What happened to her?”

I walk behind my desk, and she turns, still holding the photo to her chest.

“I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business. I’m being a nosy female.” She tries to let me off the hook.

I don’t know why, but I want her to know.

“She was killed by a junkie, leaving a restaurant one night.”

I hear her quick intake of breath. She carefully places the frame back on the shelf.

“Are you ready to go?” she asks, effectively changing the subject, and I’m grateful.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I drive her home, so she can shower and change.

I’m waiting with Mrs. Wilson on the porch, explaining that I offered to be her ride to the Sippy thing so she could drink and enjoy herself, when Winston and Myer come up from the barn.

“You two want some lemonade?” she offers them.

“Nah, I’m heading out to go help Dallas with Beau and Faith, so she can get ready for tonight,” Myer informs her.

“Oh, wonderful. Brandt here is escorting your sister to the party,” she says with a huge smile on her face.

Myer’s eyes come to mine. “Glad you’re joining us, Doc. Dallas has been cooped up for weeks now, and she is bursting with excitement that everyone is coming by. She’ll be pleased to see you,” he says.

“Thanks for the invite. Although I think it was Walker who extended the invitation without your knowledge.”

“You don’t need an invite. You’re always welcome to anything we have at the house,” he insists.

“Of course you are,” Mrs. Wilson chimes in.

Winston just winks at me as he sits beside his wife, and she pours him a glass of lemonade.

“I’m off.” Myer gives a little salute and takes off toward the driveway.

I feel awkward as hell, standing here with Bellamy’s parents, waiting for her to get ready. It’s like I’m a teenager, coming to pick up my date for the prom. My hands are just as sweaty.

“Relax, Doc. Take a load off. Bells is going to take a while to get ready. I don’t know why, but it takes women three times as long to pull on clothes and shoes as it does us. It’s baffling,” Winston instructs, and I take a seat in one of the rockers opposite them.

“I received a telephone call from your mother last night,” Mrs. Wilson tells me. “She’s really enjoying her time with the grandkids, but she is ready to come home. She says the sounds of the city and all the ornery folks are driving her mad.”

“I reckon she has assimilated to mountain life,” I comment.

“She has. Plus, she misses bingo night and the ladies’ auxiliary meetings. I think she plans to join the church when she gets back,” she fills me in.

“She certainly does seem to enjoy the fellowship,” I agree.

“And we enjoy her.” She beams.

I’m so happy Mom has found peace and happiness here. I felt