Chapter 4
A llison closed her eyes as the physician assistant gently pulled the final staple from her incision. It didn’t hurt. But watching it happen? That was another matter.
She wasn’t squeamish by nature, and she could handle herself in a crisis, but blood, especially her own, made her stomach wobble just a little too easily.
She cracked one eye open, then the other, catching the wide, amused smile on the PA’s face.
Allison rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Sorry. I get queasy.”
The woman patted her gently on the leg. “Not a problem. You’re good to go now.
The doctor looked over the x-rays. Everything’s healing beautifully.
If you have any problems at all, just give us a call.
Honestly, I’m surprised by how much mobility you already have.
Most people who follow physical therapy to the letter don’t progress this fast.”
Allison hopped down from the exam table smoothly, landing lightly on her feet.
“Well, I didn’t exactly follow the prescribed PT.” She gave a sheepish grin. “I own and run a bakery. Kneading dough, shaping bread, carrying heavy trays, it was all built-in therapy. When I looked at the exercises, I figured I was already doing most of them, just a lot more reps.”
The PA blinked, her mouth falling open slightly.
“You mean to tell me you’ve been using that hand to knead bread this whole time, and you haven’t had any issues?”
Allison shook her head. “No, none. I put on a glove and worked. Not much else I could’ve done.
That bakery is my livelihood. Don’t get me wrong, it ached for quite a while.
It was a pain in the butt, but I took some Tylenol and kept going.
The first two weeks? Oh my goodness, my bread looked awful.
I gave the practice ones to the local diner to use for toast. I wasn’t about to sell them. ”
She laughed softly, remembering the mess.
“My mom helped me with orders, but I had nothing in the display case for at least two weeks. After that, though, I adapted. The more I worked, the more I could work.”
The PA shook her head with what looked like admiration. “I wish more patients were like you. Some people get injured and never put in the effort to rebuild the muscle. They lose mobility just because they give up too early. I’m so glad you didn’t.”
Allison lifted her hand and flexed her fingers, giving a small, confident wiggle. There was no pain, no weakness. “Nope. The doctor did a great job. I’m fine.”
“You are indeed,” the PA said with a smile. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Allison. And I hope I never see you again.”
Allison grinned and reached out to shake her hand. “Same to you. But if you’re ever up in Hollister, stop by the bakery. I’ll give you a sample of something sweet.”
“Hollister?” the woman asked with a laugh. “That’s a long way north. I think I’m staying right here … maybe wander down to Rapid City. No plans to head north anytime soon. But if I do, I’ll let you know.”
Allison waved goodbye and left the exam room. She stopped at the nurses’ desk to ensure her copay was handled and her insurance information was complete. Satisfied, she walked down the long, tiled hallway, her purse slung over her shoulder.
As she approached the glass double doors at the end of the corridor, she saw a man standing outside.
She slowed, a frown pulling at her brow.
She knew him.
Didn’t she?
Then it clicked.
Seth. Seth Hansen.
She remembered him as clearly as if it were yesterday.
He’d been a senior when she was a freshman, a big, strong ranch kid, starting defense and offense, the cornerstone of their thirteen-man football team.
Big. Broad. Quiet. And, from a freshman girl’s perspective, utterly unreachable.
She didn’t remember if he’d dated much. But if he had, none of the cheerleaders had claimed him, though if memory served, they’d all tried.
He’d always seemed … above it all.
And now, he was standing right there, just beyond the doors.
She ducked her head quickly and kept walking. She wasn’t about to say anything. He probably didn’t even remember her. Besides, she was taking time for herself. Healing. Or so she kept reminding herself. Two years and counting.
Allison pressed the door’s metal bar, stepped outside, and let the fresh air hit her skin as she adjusted the strap on her purse.
She didn’t look left or right. It would be embarrassing to say hi to him and have him not know who the hell she was.
Allison headed out to her truck, flexing her hand, glad the staples were gone.
Behind her, a voice called out. “Allison? Allison Sanderson?”
She stopped mid-step and turned. Seth Hansen stood behind her, tall, broad, and familiar in a way that made her chest flutter. Only this version of Seth was rugged, handsome, and not a teenager anymore. Wowza, so not a teenager .
She smiled. “Hey, Seth. Long time no see.”
He let out a laugh, the sound low and surprised. “Over twenty years.”
“As I said … a long time.” Her smile widened, a little shy but genuine. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been good. Did my twenty-two in the military, and now, I’m back. Because, well,” he glanced off to the side, “I’m sure you know. Dad’s failing.”
Allison’s smile faltered. “Yeah … we all know about Chester. It came on slow, but it was hard to mi ss. It got pretty rough there for a while. He and Barry butted heads a lot. They might've come to blows if it hadn’t been for Kathy. Kathy Marks. You might remember her?”
He nodded. “Vaguely.”
She sighed. “Barry has, or I guess I should say had, a temper. But you’ll hear about that the first time you talk to Edna Michaelson.”
Seth laughed, resting his hands on his hips. “Is Edna still the town gossip?”
“Well, for the women, yes. Used to be your dad and Delbert were the ones spreading the men’s gossip. Somehow, whatever Edna knew, your dad and Delbert found out within hours. There are no secrets.”
“Doesn’t sound like that’s changed much.”
“Nope. Still the same.”
He smiled down at the pavement, then glanced back up at her, brow lifting slightly.
“So … why are you here? I mean, at the hospital?”
She lifted her wrist and held it up so he could see the faint red line of the incision. “Never tangle with a broken jelly jar. It never ends well.”
Seth winced. “How bad was it?”
“Bad enough that Zeke Johnson, the doctor in Hollister, wouldn’t touch it. He sent me here to the hand surgeon. They say I’m healed and can do whatever I want now. But if I have any problems, I’m supposed to come back. You here with your dad?”
Seth nodded slowly. “Yeah. I probably should’ve been here last week, but I had to go pick up my partner.”
Allison blinked. Her brain filled in the blanks. A partner. Oh.
Oh .
Well. That explained why he’d never dated in high school. He was gay. She was so slow. How had she never guessed?
“Well, I’d like to meet him,” she said with a smile. “Maybe you two could stop by the bakery sometime.”
Seth’s brow furrowed. “You let dogs in the bakery?”
Her smile froze. “Why would you call your partner a dog? That’s … that’s rude.”
Maybe he wasn’t just gay. Maybe he was rude, too. That would be a shame. But twenty-two years could change a person. God knew she’d changed.
“Allison,” Seth said slowly, “my partner is a German Shepherd. An actual dog.”
Allison felt her face flush in a hot wave of embarrassment. “Oh. You mean … he’s not a man. You’re not … gay?”
Seth’s mouth dropped open for a second, then snapped shut. “What are you talking about?”
“I thought … when you said you had to go pick up your partner … I just assumed?—”
“No,” he said with a chuckle. “My partner is a military working dog. I’m a retired MWD handler. I adopted him because they took him out of service for arthritis.”
Her mouth formed a silent O. Then she burst out laughing. “Oh my God. Okay. Okay. Can we start over?” She knew her face was turning a brilliant red. The heat on her cheeks had nothing to do with the late afternoon sun shining on the entrance to the hospital.
Seth was laughing, too, now, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yeah. I’d like that. And just for the record, I’m not gay. Not even a little bit. I’m surprised you and Ken never got together,” he added, studying her. “I thought for sure you two would end up married.”
Allison blinked again, caught completely off guard. “How did you know …”
“Ken and I have caught up since I’ve been home.”
“Wow. Okay, well … I’m surprised you even re membered me. You were the football star. I was the dorky redhead with freckles. I was just a freshman. You were every girl’s dream.”
A slow smile crept across Seth’s face. “Even yours?”
She lifted a brow, trying to play it cool. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I would,” he said, voice quiet and sincere. “Always thought you were the cutest thing in Hollister.”
Her mouth parted slightly. Words failed her. Had she heard that right? She pointed to herself. “Me?”
Seth looked around the nearly empty hospital entryway. “I don’t see anyone else standing here. Of course, you.”
Allison shrugged, a touch of color rising in her cheeks. “Uh … thanks for the compliment?”
Just then, Seth’s phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and then tucked it away again with a sigh.
“The nurse says Dad’s doctor is ready to talk to us. He’s inside watching the news. I had to get out for a minute. Hospitals kinda make me go stir-crazy.”
“What’s he here for?” Allison asked, and before he could answer, she added, “You do know we have a doctor in Hollister now, right? Zeke Johnson? I told you that. We even have a psychiatrist, Dr. Wheeler.”
Seth nodded. “Yeah. A friend suggested a full physical wouldn’t be a bad idea.
I’m swimming upstream with him most days, so I figured I’d get him assessed while I still could.
His insurance and Medicare cover it, so why not?
Plus, this doctor specializes in dementia and Alzheimer’s cases.
I figured we should get ahead of it if we can. ”
“Oh, that’s a good idea,” she said, softening at the mention of that terrible disease.
There was an awkward pause before she slid a step toward her truck.
“Well … I’ll let you get back inside, Seth.
You should stop by sometime. The bakery’s open until two, Monday through Saturday.
Unless I’m in Belle Fourche for an appointment. ”
“I’ll make it a point to stop by … with my partner.” He winked at her. She blinked and blinked again. A smile spread across his face. “See you, Allison.”
She smiled and waved … like a dork. “See you later, Seth.”
Turning, Allison made her way back to her truck, her thoughts tangled with the last few minutes.
One of the cutest girls in Hollister. I’ll make it a point to stop by. Why? What? Had he really said that ?
She couldn’t remember his exact words anymore, and maybe she’d imagined it. Or misheard him.
But no …
No, he had said it.
She bit her lip and glanced back toward the hospital doors he’d just walked through.
Did she really need this kind of confusion in her life right now?
She let out a low laugh, shaking her head.
Of course not. Nothing would come of this.
Things like this never happened in her life.
Still … She took a deep breath, smiled to herself, and accepted the compliment for what it was.
It was nice . And maybe … just maybe, it meant a little more than nothing. She would wait and see.