“The work you and your team are doing is invaluable. Did I hear you say you’re going home tomorrow?”
“I am. All the way back to Texas.”
“Me, too. In fact, I’ll be flying out of here with you on the Duke’s plane.”
“Where do you call home, Ollie?”
“Waxahachie. Ever hear of it?”
“Oh, yes. I’m a Waco girl, not too many miles south of you. Are you married?” Jensen regretted her question when she saw his face cloud with sorrow.
“I used to be. Would be thirty-five years this coming June. She passed last year.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ollie.”
“Yea. Cancer. Breast cancer.”
Dread lanced through Jensen’s middle. “I lost my mom to the same thing. It’s hard.” She made no mention of her own problem, the words just wouldn’t come.
“Yea, she suffered a long time. Went through a mastectomy, a reconstruction, another mastectomy. Radiation. Chemo. None of it did any good. I lost her anyway.”
The pitiful words echoed in Jensen’s mind. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Ah, what’s to say?” He straightened the covers over his legs. “Have you heard from Ms. Pepper and Mr. Judah?”
“Joseph said they’re doing well.”
“Excellent. I do enjoy flying him across the country. He’s a good man to work for.”
“I’m sure he is.”
“Are you married, Dr?”
“Oh, please call me Jensen. And no, I’m not married – unless it’s to my work. Although, I have tried to make more time for the good things in life the past couple of years.”
“You’ve got to, life’s too short. My Eloise used to beg me to travel with her and I kept putting it off. Flying was my job and I didn’t want to do it on my days off. Now, I wish I’d taken the time. Regrets, they’re awful, Jensen. They can haunt you.”
“So, I hear.” So, she knew. “I guess some regrets are inevitable.” She’d already experienced some herself. Even though she knew it was the right thing to do, Jensen regretted telling Clint the truth. Having him angry and disappointed with her was far better than the pity and distaste he’d shown her before receiving the call about the plane crash.
“Perhaps.”
Hearing the weariness in Ollie’s voice, Jensen pulled herself up and stood a minute to steady herself. “I guess I’ll see you on the plane tomorrow.”
“I’ll be there. I wish they’d let me sit in the cockpit. I’d give my eyeteeth to pilot one of those fancy Gulfstream jobs.”
“Let them know. No regrets. Remember?”
He shook his finger at her. “Don’t you forget it either. We’ve both had a close call, we’ve got to make every minute count.”
She walked over to his bed to pat his arm. “Good advice, Ollie. Sleep well.”
“You know that’s not gonna happen. Hospitals aren’t made for sleeping, just as soon as I doze off some nurse comes to poke on me again.”
“Yea, I know.” She gave him a wink and started the slow, painful progress of returning to her room – without Bettina’s aid. After all, she would be alone once she got home, might as well get used to it.
* * *
Once he did go to sleep, Clint slept like the dead. For once, he didn’t dream.
Upon rising the next day, he found his siblings already gone. Glancing at the clock, he could see why. It was after ten. He hadn’t slept this late in a long time. After a quick shower, he tried Jensen again. Still no answer. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was staring at his name on her phone, pressing DECLINE.
“Dammit!” Clint tossed the phone on his bed. He deliberated with himself for a moment, then grabbed his phone to access the internet. Soon, he had the number for the clinic in Kalispell. “There’s more than one way to do things.”
Two rings later, the call was answered. “Kalispell Care. May I help you?”
“Yes, this is Clint Wilder. You have a patient, Jensen Mistretta. Right? I need to know her condition.”
“I’m sorry. We only give out information to relatives.”
“Uh.” Clint hesitated, then just went for it. “I’m her fiancé. Is that good enough? And I said I’m Clint Wilder. You might recognize my name. I play for the Houston Texans. Football.” Nice, Clint. Smooth.
“She’s no longer a patient. She was released this morning.”
Exasperated, Clint shook his head. “You could’ve told me that to start with.”
“Sorry.”
“She’s on her way home.”
“Great. Thanks.” He clicked the phone shut. “Time to face the music.”
…Eight hours later, however, Clint wasn’t thinking about anything but his sister. Just after lunch, he’d walked into the hospital to visit