Together After All (Tangled in Grace #1)

1. Coraline

1

Coraline

Scottsdale is quiet and calm at this time in the morning. It’s early June and school is out so there's not any traffic right now. It's just me and the road.

I have my windows rolled down and my music turned up. I woke up early enough to do a full face of makeup and eat breakfast before my kids got out of bed. That’s pretty much unheard of for us. Today is going to be a great first day, I just know it.

My phone starts ringing and my positive thoughts are interrupted. My heart drops as I recognize the assigned ringtone. I declined the call immediately.

“I do not have time for you to ruin my day Nash,” I say quietly to myself as I roll my eyes. I refuse to let him destroy anything else for me or the kids. Including my day today.

I have the normal first day jitters as I make my last turn and pull into the parking lot of the Scottsdale Clinic.

This clinic has been in Scottsdale since the creation of the town. This is the place that I came to my whole life for check ups and sick visits. It’s kind of cool that I get to work here now as an adult.

The building itself is a large, two story, brick building with a wrap-around porch. There are rocking chairs lined up by the entrance and various plants and flowers decorate the porch.

Despite the simplicity and nostalgia of the clinic, there is a dire need for good medical care here in this area. Anyone who needs medical treatment comes here first because the nearest hospital is an hour away. A lot of rural citizens don’t go to the doctor or hospital when they need to because they either don’t want to drive that far or can’t afford to.

My phone interrupts my thoughts again but this time it’s a text from Shae.

Hey girl! I’m so sorry but I’m running a few minutes late this morning. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I know it’s your first day and you’ll probably be waiting on me. Love you! 3

Shae is the receptionist at the clinic and also my childhood best friend. We grew up together attending a local church in town, Grace Haven. We’ve known each other since we were in diapers and we always made sure to keep in touch—even when I moved away.

I hesitantly decide to go back and listen to the voicemail Nash left me since I have some extra time now.

The voicemail starts out with static and a brief moment of silence before Nash's rough voice crackles through my car speakers. I scrunch up my face and cringe.

“Hey…it’s me again. Your loving fiancé. Are you ever going to bring my son to see me? I will be expecting–” I roll my eyes again, hang up and turn the car off. That’s enough of that.

Narcissists always make everything about themselves. They act like they’re the victim and bring everyone else around them down. It’s one of the many reasons I decided to leave him—and that was before he went to jail.

When I first met Nash, he seemed to be so perfect. Key word being “seemed”.

I was a young, single mom who was working full time at the hospital. I had only ever had one boyfriend before him and that was Harrison's dad, Jesse. I was so deprived of affection that I clung to the first person who showed me any.

Sometimes I wonder how different my life would be if I would’ve stayed in town—if Jesse would have heard me out and chose us. But, I believe that everything happens for a reason. Even if we don’t understand why. I’m sure Jesse has moved on and is chasing his dreams just like I did.

I’ve tried my best to let go, forgive and move on from my anger. But that’s easier said than done. He made his choice. I can’t keep holding on to the past.

I step out of my car, grab my purse, and take a deep breath in. I look over my shoulder and see Shae getting out of her car. She has her short, black hair pulled up with a claw clip and is rocking a pair of pink scrubs.

She wasn’t late at all, she was actually right on time.

I picked out my lucky set of jogger scrubs to wear today with my white coat jacket. I can dress pretty much however I’d like to, but I always prefer scrubs. They feel like you’re wearing pajamas but they still make you look professional. The fabric is soft, functional and stylish. Plus, I have plenty of pockets—it’s a win win.

“Cora! I’m so excited that we finally get to work together and see each other everyday again!”

“Honestly, I am too,” I say with a smile. “I’m glad to be back. I’m ready for a fresh start.”

“Speaking of fresh starts, look at what I got for you! Your favorite coffee.” She leans into her car and pulls out a large iced coffee from the local coffee shop.

“Shae you are an angel sent from God himself!”

“I know,” she says as she smirks and gives me a hug. I take the iced coffee and follow Shae up the front porch steps and through the clinic door.

When I first walk into the clinic, I realize that it really hasn’t changed that much at all. It still smells the same—slightly of antiseptic with a mix of aged furniture and carpet.

There are leather chairs lined up in the waiting room that are waiting for patients to come and fill them. They still have magazines in the waiting room for patients to occupy themselves with since cell phone service in this town sucks.

As a nurse practitioner I will be helping Dr. Dawson, the owner, by taking over the care of some of his patients. He will still ultimately be over the clinic but now he will have an extra set of hands.

As if on cue, Dr. Dawson walks into the clinic. He has a golden tan, dark hair, and the most flawless skin I've ever seen on a man. He’s wearing light blue scrubs with a red fleece jacket. Even though it's summer, he always has a jacket on or with him at all times.

He walks through the lobby and up to the front desk while holding his man purse. It’s a running joke with everyone in town because he always keeps a bag full of his favorite drinks with him at all times.

“Good morning ladies. I’m glad to see that you made it Coraline. Let’s get this day started, shall we?”