exactly what the article served to do. At least Pam would be away from it this week. Providing, of course, there were no other reminders.
That thought made Tom edgy. He repeated the reporter’s name in his head. A freelancer. He wasn’t familiar with the man’s other works. He planned to remedy that and soon! For now, watching Pam start to leave, he pulled out his wallet and credit card. “Wait! I’m going with you!” There was still time. He could fly standby.
Pam placed her hands on his chest and met his eyes. “I’d love that. You know I would. But I’ve got to work. What would you do with yourself there? Think about all the stuff you’ve got going on here: The hospital, the zoning board meeting, and your sons. Eddie mentioned Susan said she’d call and work out a visitation schedule with you.” Pam paused and traced the V neck of his shirt. “It’s what you’ve been praying for.”
Tom held her hands against his heart. Suddenly, he felt a laugh bubble to the surface.
Pam smiled. “Okay, I give up. What’s so funny?”
He shook his head, trying to keep a straight face. “You’re right. I did pray to be reunited with A.J. and Mark. I also prayed to be reunited with you. And suddenly, I have it. It’s all I’ve ever asked for.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Still laughing, Tom leaned his forehead against hers. “And then we have you. All these years, feeling like you did something wrong when you really didn’t. So God sends you back to Middleton, back to me, and we get the accident thing pretty much straightened out. The only problem now is that loose cannon going around trying to dredge up the past!”
Pam giggled. “Clearly, God has His own time table, and His own ideas about what He wants.”
“Either that or He has a wild sense of humor!”
With that, Tom found Pam’s lips and kissed her deeply, inhaling the fresh scent of her skin and shampoo. Please take care of her, Lord, he prayed. Keep her safe and help me do what I need to do in order to help her, A.J., Mark and…
Tom was so caught up in trying to cover every contingency in the prayer that he didn’t hear the boarding call. Pam kissed him and pulled away.
“I love you,” she said, running her fingers against his cheek. “See you soon.”
“Not soon enough.” Tom quickly kissed her again. “Now you’re sure you’ve got a ride home from the airport? And your friend from the car dealership will give you a loaner for a few weeks?”
“I promise. I’ve known him and his family for years.” She blew him one more kiss as she walked backward down the restricted corridor.
“Call me as soon as you land. I’ll be waiting!”
Tom stayed until the 747 lifted into the clouds. Then he made a mental list of all he needed to do.
Walking back to his Avalanche, he felt his cell phone vibrate on his hip. He checked the number, then flipped open the phone. Good. Just the person he wanted to reach.
Truths Unveiled
Truths Unveiled
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Look at you!” Marty Lewis teased.
Pam sat at a table in the hospital’s cafeteria, cheerfully dunking a chocolate chip cookie into a glass of milk. Smiling, she pointed to the chair across from her. “Do you have a second?”
The hospital administrator nodded and sat down. “Three weeks ago, you left here looking like you were on your way to a funeral. And now you’re so…” He searched for the right word. “Bubbly!”
Pam beamed. “You have yourself to thank for that.”
“What ever do you mean?” he asked, feigning innocence. He busied himself with pouring a packet of sugar into his coffee. Then he glanced up at her. “So tell me what happened in Middleton? Did you like the place?”
Pam held out her left hand. The doctor had been her boss and her mentor for the past decade. Before that, he’d been her orthopedic surgeon. She also considered him to be a close friend. It was he who first told her about Marlene Everett’s move to Middleton and the available ED opening there.
“I guess you did,” Marty bellowed. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Tom Jarrod. He’s Middleton’s chief of rescue operations.”
“And your high school sweetheart?”
Pam blushed. “So you knew.” There wasn’t much Marty didn’t know in the medical community. She was sure he’d been given a full report about her visit.
“Just a few rumors,” he assured her. “Nothing concrete.” Then he winked. “But I take full credit.”
Suddenly,