Page 51 of Love on the Brain
Ryan scanned the message from Jane asking if he was busy. “It’s complicated.” He texted her back that he was at the gym but available.
Tage grunted. “Then uncomplicate it.”
Ryan smiled at him as he waited for Jane to respond. “She’s my best friend’s widow, lives in Maine, and I’m the lead surgeon to remove her five-year-old’s brain tumor.”
“Oh, shoot, man.” Tage’s mouth hung open, and Ryan almost cracked a smile.
His phone buzzed again with Jane’s reply.I won’t keep you. I was just thinking of when we might see you again. Six weeks feels like an eternity. I was wondering, if you have a few days off, we’d love for you to visit.
His heart leapt, and he tapped furiously at his screen.I have four days off the weekend after next and I’d love to visit.
Wonderful! Dr. Keppler’s retirement party is that Saturday. I know someone who can get you an invite…
Ryan smiled and tapped his screen.Sweet. I’d love to go.
Great! Okay, go work out. Call me when you can.
Joy filled him as he tapped away.Count on it.He added a heart emoji for fun and hit send.
“Oh, yeah, my boy’s got itbad.”Tage chuckled over his shoulder. “Maybe I should add more weight?”
Ryan grinned. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER15
Over the week, Jane settled back into her normal routine. She controlled the things she could control and relinquished what she couldn’t. She’d joined Shelby at the ladies’ grief group and was feeling better all around.
“This is the last of the paper files.” Jane hefted the bank box into Dr. Keppler’s trunk. She adjusted the angle of it. “I think we have room for another box.”
Belinda Keppler, ob-gyn, gave a curt nod and placed her hands on her hips. “Nah, this is enough for now. I can’t believe this is it. I just treated my very last patient. Almost thirty-six years.”
“And we’re so grateful to you.” Jane opened her arms for a hug. “Now go home and celebrate. I hope your husband is taking you somewhere fancy. I’ll be back here next week to help you finish packing up your office so you can get it on the market. And I set up a video call with Molly and Caroline to finalize details for your retirement party next weekend.”
The doctor patted her on the back. “You’re an angel. Thanks. We’re driving into Bangor later for some outrageously priced pasta.”
“Wonderful. You deserve it.” Jane’s phone trilled, cutting into the still cold of the late February afternoon.
“Why don’t you answer that? I should be going, anyway. You can lock up?”
“Sure,” Jane said, swiping to answer the video call from Ryan. “Hey, Ryan.”
“Hey, Ryan!” Dr. Keppler called. “You don’t have any doctor friends in the area that might want their own space, do you?”
“Uh…” He furrowed his brow. “I can ask around?”
She laughed. “You’re too nice. No worries. It can’t be too difficult to sell this place.” She turned back to Jane. “See ya Monday.” She turned back to Ryan. “And I’ll seeyouat my party next weekend.”
Jane chuckled and spoke directly to Ryan. “I told her not to wait until she was moved out to put it on the market, but she said, ‘Why would I take a day off to try to sell it when I’ll have all the time in the world after I retire to worry about that?’”
“She’s got a point,” Ryan said.
“I guess. Oh, hey, Noah wants to show you his leprechaun trap. His teacher was telling the class about all the fun things she’s got planned over the next few weeks, and he fixated on that. He’s been working on it all week. Are you free at seven thirty my time?”
“I am, and I’d love to see it.”
“Great!”
Her phone beeped with an incoming text:
