Page 6 of Mistletoe Magic

“She fell on the ice and took a header. I think she has a concussion. She really should get checked out.”

“Do you want me to call Doc?” Ava mumbles something in reply. “Okay. I’ll call him.” She understood that, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Can you make it to your office so you can sit down?” I ask. She has the ice pack on her head.

“Maisy, can you have Jack take this out for me? I don’t want it stinking up the lobby.” Maisy gives her a thumbs up as we walk away since she’s on the phone. As I open the door, my dad sits at a desk, crying.

“Dad, are you okay?”

“Hunter.” He quickly stands, rubbing his face and removing all the tears. “What are you doing? Ava, are you okay?” She explains what happened, and I help her to her side of the desk. “How do you two know each other?”

“The shuttle driver tried hooking us up,” I tell my dad, and we all laugh.

“I’m okay. Maisy called the sports trainer to come check me out. I’m sure it’s a mild concussion. I’ve had plenty playing hockey. Thank you for helping me.” She smiles at me.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait until after the doctor gets here.” I wink at her. My dad stands and asks if there is anything he can do, and when she tells him no, he heads out. “What was that about?” I watch him walk down the hallway.

“He found out things about his brother he didn’t know. It’s hard for him.”

“What did he find out?” I sit down at the desk where my dad was, and that is when I realized it. My uncle had another life besides the one in California. There are pictures of him with a family I’ve never seen. “Who are these people?” I pick up the frame and turn it to Ava.

“Oh, that’s the Brights. They are kind of like the founders. They passed away a few years ago. They were all close friends. From what I understood, they knew each other in college. It’s how your uncle knew of Celebration. He always stayed at the McMansion on Rose Isle. They have this huge celebration out there. They usually invite the whole town and guests to it.” Before I can ask another question, there’s a loud knock on the open door.

I spin around.

“Woah, for a minute there, I thought Denny King came back to life as a young guy.” The man laughs.

“Hey, Doc.” Ava waves. “Meet Hunter King, Denny’s nephew.”

“Jesus, Ava, who did you piss off today?” She explains the argument with her mother and sister, then skating off. “When are you going to stop letting them into your head?” This town seems to protect her and makes me think this girl is special. “This is a concussion, but I’d like you to go over to the hospital for a CT scan. You’ve had too many concussions in your life for my liking.”

“I don’t have time for a CT scan. The Christmas on Ice show is this week. We have practice in two hours.”

“Do the scan, and if I like the results, you can come back for practice. Don’t, and I’ll cancel practice.” Doc crosses his arm. Ava tries to stand, but she’s too wobbly.

DidI just see fire come out of someone’s ears?

Ava

“You wouldn’t?”The room is spinning. I can barely hold on to the desk for leverage.

“I would, and I can do it. Now, is Hunter driving you, or do I call the ambulance?” Doc is playing dirty— I don’t like him right now.

“Hunter doesn’t know where the hospital is, and the ambulance needs to be available for genuine emergencies.” I’m trying to argue with him, but it’s not working.

“I can follow Google Maps,” Hunter says.

“Here is the address to the hospital in Orlando. I’m going to call ahead and get her signed in so she can go straight back.” Doc writes the address on a piece of paper and hands it to Hunter.

“Okay. Anything special I need to know about this hospital or where to park? Will you be meeting us there?”

“Yes, I’ll be there to go over the results with Ava. Stay with her the whole time. I don’t want her alone.” These two are talking like I’m not even here. “Keep the ice on the forehead and see you at the hospital.” Doc leaves my office.

“Ready to go?” Hunter is next to me, holding out an arm.

“I can call my best friend or have Jack do it for me. You go be with your family,” I say.

“Nonsense. I’m following doctor’s orders. Let me do this for you.” He smiles that smile that reminds me of Denny. Looking up at him, he really looks like him. “Ready to go?”

---