Page 4 of The Truth

Greer had graduated back in December. She had been working part-time for the county before that. Now she worked full time there.

“Next year. I’m six months older than Greer. And sometimes I have to take fewer classes, so we can pay for them and work them around my physical therapy schedules. Although I did get grants. My sister is really good at ferreting grants out.” Ayla spent her time in class, swimming as much as she could, volunteering at the library, and being with her sister as much as humanly possible considering how busy Aubrey was. She was such a wild girl sometimes. She studied her driver, even in the darkness. “So tell me… why the ministry?”

“Helping people. My parents lost a child between Genny and Greer. A boy, born too early. His name was Grayson. He lived for a week in the hospital. I was eight or so. And I remember the pastor of our church helping my family through it. I decided in college that that was what I wanted to do; my way of helping people.”

“Isn’t it funny how our greatest tragedies can lead us to where we are now?” Ayla asked, as a twinge of pain shot throughher back. She’d stood too long today. She hated using the wheelchair, and didn’t even bring it out of the house with her. But sometimes… she overdid it. And theWonkus McBubblesstory she’d read to the kids today had been one that involved the whole body. Still, she’d heal soon enough, and the kids had smiled and laughed. That was more important.

“I just think that is… God’s way… of preparing us for later.”

“Maybe there is something to that. It’s why I want to help people at the hospital. I didn’t want med school.”

“Why not?”

“Too much blood. I get really squeamish. But I want to help people. People like me.” She waited, for the curiosity. People always assumed it was something she’d been born with. Cerebral palsy was their first assumption. Car accident was their second, when she told them she hadn’t been born with it.

No one ever guessed she’d been thrown down a flight of stairs by an enraged foster parent at eleven years old. She’d rather just keep that part to herself.

“I can understand that. I want to help people, too.”

“I guess we have that in common.”

Nothing. Not even a question. Well. How interesting.

He just made small talk until they pulled into the hospital parking lot. He pulled in next to the main entrance. “I’ll come around and get you out.”

“Thanks.” She knew better than to attempt to climb out of an unfamiliar vehicle with her back twinging like it was. That way would lead to certain disaster. He made good on his words. He got out her crutches and leaned them against the hood of his truck. Then he was opening her door. And reaching for her.

She let him. Did she have much choice? “Wow. You are strong. I don’t think you’d ever drop me.”

“I’ll do my very best not to.”

This was honestly the closest she thought she had ever been to a seriously hot man like him.

Aylalikedit.

She had the absolute worst timing though. “I really want to see my sister.”

Because one thing was for sure—Aubrey wouldn’t have sent amanto get Ayla unless she absolutely had had no choice. Her sister just wouldn’t do that.

Not Aubrey.

Aubrey just wouldn’t.

Ayla might not have any real experience withmen,but there had been a fewboysin her life before. Until she’d almost gotten into some serious trouble with one who didn’t understand the wordno,and had told her he’d just dated her out of pity, anyway. Aubrey had rescued her in time, after that, and they’d decided dating might be too complicated at the time. But it was a lesson Ayla hadn’t ever forgotten.

She’d decided to take a page out of her sister’s book after that and just concentrate on her education and career. Time for men would come later.

Although… if the right one were to come along now… she hoped she wouldn’t be too much of a wimp to miss it. Or too clueless to see it in the first place. That was a distinct possibility. Ayla knew herself very well, after all.

All thoughts of the seriously gorgeous man next to her vanished when she made it inside the hospital and was reminded of why they were there in the first place. Genny Hiller washerfriend, too. And she was Aubrey’s closest friend in the world, like Greer and Hala were Ayla’s. Ayla was worried and she was scared.

Greer and her family were in the surgical waiting room when she and Gunn made it upstairs at the charge nurse’sinstructions. Genny was in surgery. Guthrie was watching from the surgical department, she’d heard. With Dr. Fields.

Ayla privately thought Dr. Fields had it bad for Genny, but she wasn’t going to mention that to anyone, in case they were keeping it a secret or something.

Greer was crying, that half mix between anger and fear. Ayla plopped down in the chair next to her and hugged her. Greer was the tough one of their little trio—their friend Hala was the goof ball, while Ayla considered herself the wimp—but Greer was actually very sensitive inside. Well, theyallwere, really. Like did recognize like, after all.

“Any word?”

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