Page 12 of A Soldier's Return

His father was delighted with all of it.

“Thank you so very much,” he said after he had unearthed each new delight. “How did I ever get so lucky to have you both in my life?”

“We’re the lucky ones,” Melissa said with a smile.

“I don’t have a grandpa and he doesn’t have a grandkid, so Dr. Wendell said we can both pretend we belong to each other,” Skye informed Eli.

It warmed his heart that Melissa appeared to watch out for his father. She struck him as someone who couldn’t help caring about others. He had witnessed it all day. Even with her own injured wrist, she had been kind and caring to each patient they had seen.

“What are you two up to tonight, besides coming here and making my day?” Wendell asked them.

“We’re going to have pizza,” Skye informed him. “It’s Friday and we always have pizza on Friday. Sometimes we make it ourselves and sometimes we order it from a pizza place and sometimes we go out. Tonight we’re going out.”

“Nice. Where are you heading?”

“We’re going to A Slice of Heaven.”

“Oh, good choice,” Wendell said. “It’s one of my favorites. Have you been there yet, son?”

Considering Eli had only been back in town for thirty-six hours and had been working or sleeping for most of that time—or visiting his father—hitting all the local hot spots hadn’t exactly been on his priority list. “Not yet.”

“You can’t miss it. Trust me,” his father said.

“You could come with us,” Skye offered with that charmer of a smile. “Mom says maybe we can even get cheesy bread. They have thebestcheesy bread.”

“It’s been a long day,” Melissa said, a trace of defiance in her voice. “I need a few carbs to the rescue.”

He wanted to suggest she also might need to rest and ice her wrist, but he didn’t want to stand in the way of a girl and her carbs.

His father shifted on the bed and yawned, his mouth drawn and his eyes clouding with exhaustion.

“We should go,” Melissa said, picking up the hint. “Come on, Skye.”

“Do you have to?” Wendell said, though Eli heard the exhaustion in his voice.

“I should go, too, so you can get some rest. That’s the best thing for you, in case your doctor hasn’t mentioned it.”

“He has,” Wendell said glumly. “I hate being in this hospital bed.”

“You know what they say about doctors making the worst patients. Try to behave yourself. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

“Thanks.”

His father rolled over, and Eli could tell he was already dozing off. He followed Melissa and her daughter out of the room.

“That was thoughtful of you, bringing a care package to my father,” he said when they were out in the hallway. “It obviously touched him.”

“Dr. Sanderson has been nothing but kind to us since we moved back to town. It’s the very least we can do, giving him a few things to help him pass the time while he’s laid up. He’s a wonderful man, your father.”

“He is.”

“Seriously. I’ve worked with a lot of jerk doctors in my day and your father is a breath of fresh air, as compassionate to his staff as he is to his patients.”

“It’s always good to hear my own opinion confirmed by those who work closely with him.”

“Not gonna lie. He’s my favorite of all the doctors I’ve ever worked with. You have big shoes to fill.”

“My feet will never fit in those shoes. Why do you think I haven’t come home before now to try? I just have to do my best to stumble along as best I can while I’m here.”

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