Page 58 of Zane

Turning his head, he cracked an eye to see what was going on. He spotted a man sitting in the chair right next to Kelsey, even though there were other seats he could have chosen that had empty spaces on either side. The man smiled at Kelsey, and she shifted even closer to Zane.

Ignoring the pain in his head, Zane leaned forward, sliding his arm around the back of Kelsey’s chair, and stared at the man. “Can we help you?”

The man looked from Zane to where the back of his hand now pressed against the man’s shoulder. “Just wanted to say hi.”

“To my wife?” It was the first time he’d said the words, at least that he remembered, but it felt like a good time for it. “Does she know you?”

“Not yet.”

“Not ever,” Kelsey said. “You’re coming on a bit strong, especially since I’m a married woman.”

Before the man could say anything, Zane’s name was called. Though he’d planned to just go in by himself, he wasn’t going to leave Kelsey to deal with that guy. He seemed a little weird and perhaps unpredictable.

“That’s us,” Zane said as he reached for his crutches. Once he was on his feet, he looked at Kelsey and nodded toward the person who had called his name.

He could see hesitation on her face, but she got to her feet and walked with him to where the woman waited for them.

Once they were in the small office, the woman said, “The doctor will be with you shortly.”

There were two chairs in the office, and Kelsey settled in the one furthest from the small desk. She moved her chair over a bit, giving Zane space for his cast and crutches.

“That was weird,” Zane said when it was just the two of them. “That guy.”

Kelsey shifted in her chair, then crossed her legs, wrapping her arms across her waist. “Thanks for deflecting him.”

“Of course.” Zane rubbed the heel of his hand against the thigh of his broken leg, trying to ease the achy tightness there that sometimes cropped up occasionally. “I’ve never understood why guys think it’s okay to act that way around women.”

“He’s not the first, and probably won’t be the last.” Kelsey’s foot tapped the air. “At least I won’t make the mistake of dating him.”

“Have you done that before?”

Her foot tapped the air more rapidly. “Yes. I have.”

“It wasn’t me, I hope.”

Her foot paused, and she glanced at him. “No. Of course not.”

“Whew. I didn’t think I’d act that way, but since I can’t remember the past few years, who knows?”

“Youknow,” Kelsey said. “You aren’tthatdifferent from the person I fell in… the person I married.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

There was a light knock on the office door, then it swung open to reveal a middle-aged man with a fringe of white hair circling his head and a warm smile.

“Zane,” he said as he held out his hand. “Good to see you again.”

“You as well,” Zane said as he shook his hand.

“And this is?” the doctor asked, turning to Kelsey with an extended hand.

Silence filled the air for a moment before Zane said, “This is Kelsey. My wife.”

“Nice to meet you, Kelsey.” They shook hands, then the doctor took his seat at the small desk. “I’m glad you’ve joined us today.”

For the next little while, the doctor asked him questions about how he was feeling. Zane answered them all, and then asked a few of his own.

He was a bit surprised when the doctor turned his attention to Kelsey. When he asked her something, Kelsey turned to Zane, as if asking his permission to become an active participant in the conversation.

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