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And the next time she saw Bobby, he was going to learn some truths about himself—and about life—that weren’t going to be pretty.
BY LATE THURSDAYafternoon Jolie had diagnosed a strep throat and two ear infections, completed several well-child exams and had rearranged the lab three times.
Not exactly a busy week...but things were slowly picking up. The phone rang five or six times a day. A few of them were silent hang-ups—kids, probably—but most were people asking about her services or wanting to make appointments.
Pacing to the front door, she stared out at the late April sunshine and wished she was on horseback this very moment, riding up to Hidden Lake high above the ranch.
There’d still be snow, no spring flowers yet. But closing her eyes she could imagine the sharp, clean scent of mountain air and feel the easy cadence of a good saddle horse beneath her.
“Hey Jolie, are you okay?”
Startled, Jolie looked down into the upturned face of Charlie Dawson. With green poster paint streaked across one cheek, spaghetti sauce on his T-shirt, and a tear in the knee of his jeans, he looked as though he’d had a very full day at school.
“I’m just daydreaming.” She grinned at him, holding the door open. “Maybe someday your dad will let you and Annie come to the ranch with me. We could put you two up on horses.”
“Cool!” He worried at his lower lip for a moment, then plopped his backpack on the closest waiting room chair and unzipped the front pocket. After fishing around inside, he withdrew a crumpled wad of dollar bills. “I need you to do something.”
Taken aback, she shook her head. “You don’t need to give me money for anything.”
He looked over his shoulder through the front doorway. His sister was still coming down the sidewalk at a snail’s pace, her face pale. “It’s Annie. She...she made me promise not to tell, but something is wrong. I think she needs a doctor.”
“Your dad needs to know, so he can take care of her. I can’t treat her without his permission.”
“But she won’ttell.And she said if I did, she would tell Dad about the time I—” He broke off, a bright red flush creeping up his neck and cheeks. “Anyway, I heard her cry last night, and she’sreallycrabby. I think she’s scared.”
His sad eyes held compassion born of grief and loss no young child should experience. Perhaps he feared losing his sister, too. “Maybe I can talk to Annie and find out what’s going on. Okay?”
At the sound of Annie’s footsteps at the door, he nodded and surveyed the empty waiting room. “Maybe if I leave, she’ll talk to you better,” he said, with wisdom beyond his years. “Can I sit in your office? I can study my spelling words.”
Jolie nodded, listening to his footsteps heading down the hall. Perhaps this was all in Charlie’s imagination...but maybenot. She stood casually in front of the receptionist’s window, one elbow propped on the high counter.
“Hi there,” she called out as Annie stepped inside.
“Hi.” Annie glanced around. “Where’s the brat? I saw him come in here.”
With her dark blond hair pulled back into a severe ponytail, shedidlook...gaunt. “He’s in my office. Did you have a good day at school?”
Annie shrugged and slumped into a chair, then pulled out the liter water bottle she always carried and took a long drink.
“You look a little pale. Have you been feeling all right?”
Averting her eyes, she hitched a shoulder. “Fine. Uh...can I use your bathroom?”
“Sure enough—it’s still down the hall where it always—” Jolie caught herself.Why hadn’t she picked up on these signs sooner?Weight loss...thirst...frequent trips to the bathroom... “Wait a minute, Annie. Do you know where your dad is right now?”
Annie halted halfway across the room. “Uh...he’s building something, I guess. He always carries his phone.”
“Do you know his number by heart? I’d like to ask him a question or two.”
Giving her an odd look, Annie rattled off the number.
“Thanks.” Jolie jotted it down in the phone book, then lifted the receiver after Annie disappeared into the bathroom.
After five rings the call kicked into his voicemail. “This is Jolie. Call me when you can—here at the clinic until seven or so, or at my place after that. I know you’ll be swinging by to get the kids, but I’d like to talk privately.”
“About what?”
Jolie turned sharply to find Annie right behind her, her eyes narrowed.
