Page 13 of Love Me Fierce

Though I’m not exactly rolling in the cash. Out of principal, the only thing I’ve used Kent’s child support for is to help pay off my divorce. Once that’s done next year, I’m not sure what I’ll do with that monthly five hundred dollars. I’m certainly not using Kent’s dirty money to buy a house. McKenna thinks I should create a college fund for Matty, but eventhatfeels like a line I don’t want to cross. What if it someday comes out that Mateo’s tuition was paid for by bribes Kent took from the thugs he now calls friends?

Maybe there’s a way to earn some extra money so a trip to Germany doesn’t set me back so much? Back when I was in nursing school, I did bench work in a lab a few days a week. It was pure drudgery, but it helped pay the bills.

A glow from headlights washes through my living room, the low purr of the engine cutting the silence. I glance over my shoulder, but the car has already passed my unit. The Meadows is close to the highway, but because our entrance road dead-ends, we don’t get any through traffic.

I stifle a yawn and set my knitting back in the basket, then go to the back door to make sure it’s locked. Red taillights glow from the unit at the end of the opposite row, but the car is idling in the middle of the road. Our little community down here is pretty tight, and I don’t recognize the car. Somebody probably took a wrong turn.

I peek into Matty’s room, then continue into mine.

Because Ava isin Lake Louise enjoying her honeymoon, Sepp and I are in charge for a week. As a PA, Sepp can handle most of the patient load. Dr. Boone is on standby.

“How was the rest of your weekend?” Sepp asks as we breeze through the front door. Our receptionist Lisa gives us both a quick wave from behind her desk.

“Very low-key, which was great. We went to the park. I baked cupcakes.”

Sepp’s eyes brighten.

“Don’t worry,” I say, lifting the grocery bag in my hands. “I brought extra.” I set my tea next to my computer and Sepp heads for his station next to it. “How about you?”

“Hudson and I hiked up to Little Bear Lake. Then we barbecued at Mom and Dad’s.”

I slip my purse into the bottom drawer of my desk. “The weather was so perfect.”

“Next Sunday, you guys should come meet their new puppies.” Sepp rolls up the sleeves of his striped dress shirt. “I’d love to get Mateo on horseback, too.”

Sepp talks about his family enough that I’ve pictured them all gathered around a giant table at mealtimes, passing food and teasing each other. Sepp is adopted, yet he only refers to June and Nelson as “mom” and “dad.” His brothers are adopted too, but he never calls them “foster” brothers. It makes his invitations especially hard to turn down because his family must be pretty amazing. But since I learned that Sepp’s older brother Everett is a cop—the same cop I met that night of the blizzard—I can’t seem to say yes.

It's starting to wear on me though, because a part of me longs for the kind of warmth and belonging Sepp describes.

The clinic door opens, and Dr. Boone’s gruff voice fills the waiting area as he greets Lisa.

I glance at Sepp, who’s head is cocked.

“I didn’t think he was coming in,” I say under my breath.

“Me either.”

Dr. Boone steps into the clinic area. He’s mid-sixties, with pale blue eyes and thick dark hair, streaked with gray at his temples. He looks as fit as ever. Maybe retirement has given him more time for his mountain adventures. “Howdy, strangers.”

“Hey, Dr. Boone,” I say. I still have mixed feelings about him but try not to let that show. He’s a wise and compassionate physician, but he wasn’t always easy to work for.

“Howdy,” Sepp says with a smile. “You know we don’t have any patients for you, right?”

“Right,” he says, nodding. He’s carrying a laptop in a soft case in one hand and a leather briefcase in the other. “I’ll just be close by if you need me.”

Sepp hurries to open Ava’s office door. “You can set up in here. I don’t think Ava will mind.”

“Sure,” Dr. Boone says, following Sepp inside.

When Sepp comes out, Dr. Boone shuts the door behind him.

“It’ll be fine,” Sepp says as he breezes by me, his brows knit together.

“I’ve got your back if it isn’t,” I say.

Dr. Boone once made a jab at Sepp about what he called his “lifestyle.” Sepp shrugged it off, but I told Dr. Boone that he was out of line, and I wouldn’t stand for it. Though Dr. Boone apologized, those last few weeks before Ava took over the practice were tense.

Sepp gives me a wink.

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