Page 31 of Guarding Bristol

Yet despite everything modern medicine had done for Ethel—initial detection of the cancer, the mastectomies, chemo and radiation and all the hell that came with them—it had bought her time, but ultimately hadn’t been enough to save her.

The cancer was back with a vengeance.Previous ultrasounds showed it had already spread to her lungs and liver.Today, Bristol had found a large metastatic tumor on Ethel’s T7 and T8 vertebrae that confirmed the disease had spread to her bones.

It sucked.Sucked so bad.

Ethel had taken the news from the radiologist with a stoicism that had made tears prick the back of Bristol’s eyes.Even though she had to already be in terrible pain.And even though she must be terrified of what was coming.

Bristol opened her eyes, swallowed the burning lump in her throat and pulled herself together.This was part of the job.There were more patients waiting.She could cry later if need be.She needed to keep working on coping with the hard parts in a healthy way.It wasn’t something she’d mastered yet.

She texted Cassie quickly.Up for a beach walk later and some wine while we watch the sunset together?

The response came moments later.Sounds so romantic, but I’m not into you like that.Sorry.

Ha.Cute.You don’t do it for me either, btw.Well?

I’m tied up at work for a while yet.Text you when I’m free.

She sent back a thumbs-up, pushing back the stab of disappointment.She was a big girl.She could get a glass of wine at the pub by herself and watch the sunset after if Cassie couldn’t make it.

After tidying the ultrasound room and clearing her head, she put on her professional demeanor and went out into the hall to get her next patient.

The rest of her shift passed quickly.She finished only a few minutes late, said goodnight to the radiologist, and made her way to the staffroom to get her things.Outside, the summer air was balmy and warm, the sun slanting rays of deep gold through the tall evergreens on the bank above the west side of the parking lot.

She got into her car and drove straight into town instead of going home to change, and parked in the lot beside the Sea Hag.The gorgeous weather had lots of people out enjoying the beach.

The bar was busy inside as usual, but she managed to find a table in the corner by the wall of windows overlooking the beach.In the distance, the sun was a huge orange circle almost touching the water, casting its brilliant rays across the waves.Attempting to put Ethel from her mind, she ordered a large glass of white and the summer salad that came with local organic greens, fresh peach slices, heirloom tomatoes, chilled prawns, and a sprinkling of toasted, chopped pistachios.

She let her mind wander as she enjoyed her meal, all the crisp, cool ingredients, an explosion of flavor and textures in her mouth.The tide was out, exposing a wide expanse of damp sand for people to walk along.She stared out at the hypnotic, rolling waves hitting the edge of it, her mind going back to Ethel.Then Eric.

And TJ.

She thought about how incredible he’d looked all cleaned up.She almost hadn’t recognized him, but that full, neatly groomed goatee and short haircut really did it for him.Or really did it for her.

She wondered how he was.Whether he was settling in, and how the job was going.She wanted him to succeed.Wanted him to be happy here.Maybe one day when he felt more comfortable, they could even be friends and hang out on occasion.

Or maybe they would even have a glass of wine and watch the sunset together.

“Will there be anything else for you?”

She blinked up at the server standing next to the table.“No, I’m—Actually, you know what?I think I’ll have the dark chocolate tart.”

The menu said it came with a fresh puree made of local raspberries and Chantilly cream.How could she pass up that combo?She deserved a rich, comforting dessert after the day she’d had.

“Good choice.Coming right up.”

Bristol scanned the room idly as she sipped her wine, and her heart jumped when her gaze landed on a familiar figure sitting at the bar with his back to her.

She resisted the impulse to call out his name or go over to say hi, contenting herself with watching TJ instead.He seemed to enjoy being a loner.And based on their previous interactions, she was fairly certain her presence wouldn’t be all that welcome.

He was sitting all alone at the bar as he finished his meal, watching a ballgame on the TV.The back of him looked almost as good as the front did, with those broad shoulders tapering down to a strong back and a tight behind.His snug T-shirt clung to the muscles across his shoulders and down either side of his spine.Construction was definitely working for him too.

“Here you are.”The server set her dessert in front of her.“Enjoy.”

“I will, thanks.Hey, can you do me a favor?Add that gentleman’s tab to mine?The one in the black shirt at the bar.”She indicated TJ with a nod.“But don’t tell him it was me.Just say it’s been paid for.”

“Sure.I’ll be right back with the bill.”

Her dessert was presented beautifully and probably tasted as amazing as it looked, but she was too distracted by TJ to enjoy it properly.It was gone before she even realized it, and then the server was there with the bill and the card machine.Bristol paid the double tab and was just finishing the last sip of her wine when TJ stood and reached into his back pocket for his wallet as if he were going to pay his own bill.

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