A Second Chance in Valentine Valley: a Valentine Valley novella by Cane Emma & Callen Gayle

Author:Cane, Emma & Callen, Gayle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2022-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

7

Monday morning, Jeremy was at his office computer between appointments, entering information about the last patient’s MCL strain, when Janet Shaw leaned into his open doorway.

“Hey, Jeremy, Wendy Brissette just brought in little Avery Thalberg. She fell and bumped her head, and with both parents out of cellphone range, Wendy didn’t want to take a chance. I assume you can see her right away? The next patient hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Of course, bring her into Exam Room 1.”

He closed the patient’s file on the computer, then walked down the old-fashioned hallway to the next exam room, which had probably been part of a parlor once, with bay windows curtained for privacy, polished wood floors, and a patterned tin ceiling.

Wendy sat in a chair next to the exam table, Avery straddling her lap, resting on her chest. Avery lifted her little head when Jeremy entered the room. Her eyes were wet and red, but her smile was big. A swollen bruise was already forming on her forehead.

“Hello, ladies,” he said, pulling up the stool on wheels to sit down beside them.

Avery tucked her head back under Wendy’s chin shyly. “Hi.”

“I hear you fell,” he continued.

Avery nodded solemnly. “It hurts.”

“She tripped on a toy in the living room,” Wendy said, her voice shaky. “I tried to keep an ice pack on it, but she wouldn’t sit still long enough.”

“Did she lose consciousness?”

Wendy shook her head.

Jeremy gave his patient a gentle smile. “Ice will make the bump feel better, Avery.”

“But it’s cold.”

“Would you mind if I look in your eyes to make sure they weren’t hurt in the fall?”

“Okay. But they don’t hurt.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

He shined a light in both her eyes, and they dilated normally. “Any vomiting or dizziness? Has she seemed alert and like her normal self?” he asked Wendy.

“She seems perfectly normal except for the bump. But…I didn’t want to take a chance. I feel bad I worried her parents.”

“Go ahead and leave another message that she’s fine.”

“Thanks.” Wendy kissed Avery’s forehead with obvious relief before lifting her phone to text one-handed.

The little girl looked between them before showing him her stuffed animal—a horse. He was always amazed at how much a toddler’s wide, curious eyes could make him feel invited into a secret world.

“You really love horses,” Jeremy said.

“Daddy said I can have my own when I’m big enough.”

“Good for you.”

Wendy cleared her throat, not quite meeting Jeremy’s eyes. “Thank you for seeing us so quickly.”

“Any time.”

“Considering how I treated you last time we met…”

Jeremy smiled. “No need to worry about that.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…it’s been hard, you know?”

“I can say I understand your grief, but I truly can’t know how you must feel, Wendy. I’m so sorry for all you’ve gone through. I wish…I wish things could have gone differently that day.”

She nodded, then searched his eyes. “I hope you don’t blame yourself.”

“It’s difficult not to,” he murmured.

“Don’t. It was an accident that no one could have predicted. You did what you could, and you saved Steph. That’s important.

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