1
Fatigue wove into the very fabric of Katherine Milton’s being. She needed to get home to relieve her father of sitter duty, but her aching feet needed a few minutes of rest before heading to the parking lot. She dipped into the employee’s lounge at the emergency room, taking a deep breath as she sank onto the soft cushions.
She tilted her head on the back of the couch and stared up at the ceiling. Exhaustion tempted her to close her eyes, but she feared she wouldn’t open them before the sunrise.
Not like she’d sleep great anyway. Since Theo’s accident the year before, she was lucky to get a solid two hours before being startled awake. That was always the worst part. Those brief seconds between waking from a dream and realizing the nightmare of her life—reaching for the familiar strength of her husband only to find the bed empty and cold.
Theo forever gone from this world.
A familiar pain twisted her insides like a knife, and she dashed away tears that never stopped.
“Long day?”
Dr. Jenna Spradling’s concerned voice opened her eyes. If it were anyone else, she’d offer some kind of smile, but Jenna was more than a coworker. She was a friend who understood Katherine’s daily struggles.
“Always.” Sighing, she stood and stretched her hands above her head. “I need to get back to the house. Dad’s there with Ollie. They’re both probably fast asleep, but I still feel guilty keeping Dad there longer than necessary.”
Since Theo’s death, her father had been a Godsend. Hell, her entire community stood beside her daily, offering whatever support they could. But it was her father who’d given up his role as sheriff to step up and do whatever he could to help her navigate the shitty twist life had thrown her.
Jenna poured two cups of coffee then carried one to Katherine. “Did you put in overtime tonight? It’s pretty late for you to still be here.”
“Yeah.” Katherine accepted the cup and took a small sip of the hot, bitter liquid. “What about you? You don’t usually work the night shift.”
“Someone called off,” Jenna said with a small shrug. The movement caused the dark hair she’d pulled back in a low ponytail to sway. “I had most of the day at home, so I didn’t mind picking up a shift. I spent a few hours at the shelter helping Mrs. Collins and Laura with a few new guests, then planted some flowers with Oliver. He loves getting his little hands dirty.”
Katherine couldn’t help but smile at the image of the messy little boy. Her own son was a few years older than Jenna’s, and not only were their personalities similar, so were their names. Luckily, she called her Oliver Ollie most the time, erasing confusion when the two were together.
Which happened frequently as Katherine volunteered more time at the local women’s shelter with Jenna. Something she’d hoped would stop her from focusing on her own problems.It didn’t always work—nothing could keep her mind from wandering to Theo and the beautiful life they’d created—but it did strengthen the bond she had with so many amazing women in her community.
A village that came together for her time and time again.
“I promised my Ollie we could go to the nursery tomorrow. He always loves looking through the rows of plants and picking out something to grow.” She frowned. “How were the new guests?”
Jenna shrugged. “Most of their wounds are on the inside, but I fixed the ones I could on the outside. Laura might need a hand tomorrow. I’ll try and swing by, but I’m working a double shift.”
“I’ll call her,” Katherine said. “I have the next two days off. Ollie can pick out some nice flowers for Mrs. Collins while we’re out, then stop by the shelter. Do whatever needs doing.”
A buzz sounded, and Jenna slipped her phone from her pocket. “Gotta go. I’ll see you later.”
“Thanks for the coffee,” Katherine said, hoisting her cup in the air as Jenna retreated out the door.
She waited for her friend to leave before pouring the rest of her untouched drink down the drain. Most of the staff at the county hospital lived on caffeine, a habit she’d adopted right after graduating nursing school. But if she wanted even a prayer of getting any rest tonight, she couldn’t drink any more. If she did, her nerves would be like live wires holding her hostage until the early morning light shone through her window.
With the cup disposed and sink rinsed, she snagged her jacket from where she’d hung it on the back of the hard chair. The mild spring weather promised warmer temperatures ahead, but the evening air still held a bite. She shrugged into the cream-colored fleece, secured her purse across her body, and made a beeline for the exit.
The emergency room waiting area was quiet, only the hum of vending machines and drone of a small television kept the nurse at the front desk company. Katherine waved her goodbye to the young woman then waited for the automatic doors to whoosh open before stepping outside.
She inhaled a deep breath of crisp mountain air before strolling toward her car at the back of the mostly empty parking lot. Stars twinkled overhead and the outline of the Smoky Mountains in the distance looked more like a shadow drawn above the horizon than the jagged peaks she loved to hike.
She could take Ollie hiking over the next couple days. He used to love finding waterfalls off the well-traveled paths. Especially ones that poured into shallow streams he could splash around in. If the sun was out, it might be warm enough for such an adventure.
If she could convince him to go.
At seven, her son should be a ball of energy zipping through life and finding mischief. But the past year had taken a toll on the sad little boy. She struggled to wade through her own grief while keeping her precious son afloat, reminding him that it was okay to still have fun and enjoy their time together. Ollie placated her, but happiness and joy didn’t reach his eyes the way it used to.
Maybe if she allowed him to bring a friend it would help coax him from his shell.
With a plan in place, she hurried across the lot. She reached into her purse for her keys, when something shifted in the air, raising the hair at the back of her neck.
