2

“Well, I guess you should follow me.” The striking Harper Jessup said to the entire hallway and yet to no one in particular.

Ben watched her gobble the distance between the welcome station and the bank of elevators. His feet felt rooted to the ground. The last six hours, since learning his aunt fell six feet, breaking her hip and wrist, had been a blur of adrenaline and focused problem solving.

Aunt Lulu was more than a great-aunt; she was the closest person to a grandparent in his life. Since the death of his mother five years ago, she was his only family. Well, not his only family, but the only relative willing to share her life with him.

The heightened energy fueling his cross-country trip to Ohio seemed to evaporate the moment he bumped into Harper. Exhaustion he hadn’t felt since medical school cloaked him in an invisible blanket. He wasn’t certain he could lift one booted foot in front of another even if Harper Jessup made his heart race.

The front desk greeter cleared her throat. “Young man, I believe your ride is leaving you.”

Ben glanced over his shoulder. The elderly redhead at the desk lifted a single eyebrow and pursed her lips.

Ben nodded and hustled down the hall. Slicing his hand between the closing doors of the elevator, he stepped into the six-by-six square box. His broad-shouldered frame consumed the space making him feel like an oversized ogre. Sucking in a deep breath, a spicy scent filled his senses. Was it Harper? Or the remnants of the treats she carried? Either way, the aroma settled his spirit, reminding him of Aunt Lulu’s kitchen at Christmas.

Glancing down at Harper Jessup, a soft stirring wove through him. Dressed in slim cargo pants topped with an oversized cream turtle neck sweater, she looked as if she’d stepped off the pages of an outdoor clothing catalogue. From her cropped honey-blonde curls, tightly cuddled around her heart shaped face, clean of cosmetics, to her wide set, soft gray-blue eyes, everything about her screamed outdoors, fresh, and all American. The top of her knit cap barely reached his shoulder, but the personality he experienced warned him she wasn’t pint sized everywhere.

He cleared his throat. “I am sorry about earlier. I was anxious to find my aunt. I’ve been a bit of a mess since I received the call. I got here as soon as I could.”

Harper released a soft sigh. She locked her gaze with his in the mirrored walls. “Where do you live?”

“Outside Nashville. I’m certain I broke a few traffic laws on my drive.”

Her lips lifted at the corners, warming him better than the winter jacket he forgot in the car.

“Nice town. I lived there for about a year after college.”

He nodded. The words he wanted to have glide through his lips, tinged with charming wit, lodged themselves deep into the recesses of his mind. Along with speed limits, he seemed to have broken his ability to have social chit chat.

The elevator dinged announcing their arrival on the surgical floor. Ben followed Harper down the hall, trying to keep up with her clipped steps as they made two right turns and walked through a wide double doorway.

The surgical waiting room could have been in any hospital, medical center, or surgical clinic across the country. Blue and gray vinyl covered loveseats and high back chairs were set in several groupings to accommodate six to eight people. Magazines dated two years earlier were tossed on various tables. Four televisions were mounted in the corners of the room. The TVs were silent, but the closed caption bubbled along the bottom of the screen, with mostly accurate text.

He scanned the room and his gaze landed on a group of ladies huddled in the corner. Over the last several Christmases and weekend trips to visit Aunt Lulu, he met her diverse group of friends. He couldn’t remember a single name, but he was comforted to see how much love she received in a crisis.

Harper sidled around several magazine laden tables and vinyl covered chairs in an effort to reach the gaggle of ladies sipping coffee and chatting amongst themselves. Ben quickly traced her steps.

“Harper, dear, what did you bring us?” A woman with a soft blonde bob asked. Not waiting for an answer, she stood, and greeted Harper with a gentle hug.

“Well,” Harper said, stepping out of the embrace. “Maggie sent some scones and a couple of sandwiches. I figured I could pop down to the cafeteria and get you coffee, but Maggie wouldn’t hear of it. She’s sending Sean over with a fresh carafe when he gets off duty.” She set the basket of goodies and various periodicals on the low table in front of the ladies. “It would have been more if people watched where they were walking.”

“I’m certain it will be wonderful. Maggie always knows how to spoil us.” She lifted the covering off the basket and rubbed her hands together. “Bennett, would you like something to eat?” The blonde asked without lifting her focus from the basket.

Ben scooted forward. “Ma’am?”

She lifted her gaze to meet his, stretching out a hand to him. “Bennett Langston? I’m Lulu’s friend, Nancy Jessup.”

“Mrs. Jessup!” He snatched her into a quick hug.

Mrs. Jessup gasped and patted Ben on the shoulder signaling her need for release.

“Sorry. I’m just so grateful Aunt Lulu has so many people who care for her.”

“It’s OK, dear. Lulu will be just fine.”

Ben could feel tears burning behind his lids. Grinding the heels of his hands over his eyelids, he nodded.

“What are you doing here?” The voice he could swear he’d heard lecturing him in utero pricked a sharp path down his spine and dried his tears. Twisting, he raised his gaze up fitted yoga pants tucked into wellies and topped with an oversized OSU Medical Center fleece. A thick mass of sandy brown hair was twisted on top of her head. He stepped toward her with his arms spread wide. “Darcy. How are you?”

Locking her arms across her chest, she frowned. “Bennett, you shouldn’t have come. You are not needed here.”

The cold air filling his open arms, chilled him to the core. Sliding his hands in his pockets, he rocked back on his booted heels, hoping some of the gentle warmth he’d felt in Harper’s presence would thaw the tundra forming between him and Darcy. “Regardless of whether or not I’m needed, I wanted, want to be here. She’s my aunt too, Darc.”

“Familial obligations are convenient, aren’t they, Bennett?”

“You’re the one who stopped taking my calls. Not the other way around.”

“Of course, you’d see it that way. You’ve always been so selfish.” Darcy pivoted and jogged out of the waiting room.

Ben swallowed against the thick lump wedged in his throat as Darcy disappeared around the corner. “Who’s she?” Harper asked as she came to stand beside him.

“My twin sister.”