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Tag wanted to ask Dave to take a walk out into the foot of snow that had fallen overnight and then bolt the door behind him. He watched them disappear and had to admit they made a striking couple, not to mention they’d probably never disagree over medical practices. Dave would probably never disagree with her, period. Kneading the pain in the back of his neck, he realized Abe had walked into the kitchen and was watching him. No mistaking the curiosity stamped all over the man’s face.
Hoping his smile didn’t look as forced as it felt, Tag asked, “Anything I can help you with around here? If you’ve got a shovel, I can get started on that mess of snow outside.” Anything would be better than watching the woman he loved frolicking around with a charming and engaging guy, younger than him and completely suitable for her.
* * *
THE SIGHT OF Tag outside shoveling snow off the drive made Ally irritable. Helping. Always helping. Seeing to everyone else’s needs rather than his, or hers—or theirs, now that she thought about it. She felt like marching out there and demanding that he explain himself. Last night, she’d opened the door for him to clarify his onstage display with Kendall and he’d just stared back at her looking all wounded and confused.
The thought of that…that…dragon, to steal a term from Iris, directing his campaign, dictating his every move and sucking the life out of him filled her with absolute despair. And a fair amount of anger. And…
Oh, no, what would he do when Kendall told him what she’d said about being glued to his side? Humiliating to think about, considering they weren’t even a couple anymore. Ally thought about how that superior, smug look had dissolved from Kendall’s face and decided it had been worth it.
Could he not see what this campaign was going to do to him? Had done already? Was it worth it to sacrifice so much of yourself for a greater cause? And yet… A deep sigh escaped her as she realized that she was no better than he was. She was about to lose her job because of her beliefs. She had no room to talk.
If this was love, then she was glad she’d managed to avoid it for so long. Although, to be fair, she didn’t see a path other than the one they were taking. Retreat. He didn’t respect her beliefs, and worse, he didn’t trust her to dispense them appropriately. And she wasn’t sure she trusted him, not when it came to juggling his personal life with the campaign.
She needed to let him go before any further damage was done. As it was, she could barely breathe for wanting to run to him and confess all. Why did this in-love feeling, now that she’d acknowledged it, want out so desperately? She’d always wondered about that in books she’d read. Why did people feel compelled to spout off words of love without being sure they would be returned? Now she knew, and it was like trying to contain a herd of migrating caribou inside a corral made of twigs. Eventually, they would stampede their way out, so compelling was their need to get where they were going.
Turning away from the window, Ally headed down the hall, every step jarring her cracked and aching heart, and agitating those wayward caribou. She was glad Tag didn’t know about the hospital board hearing next week, glad that he wouldn’t be conflicted about coming to support her. It was better this way, she assured herself. The last thing she wanted was for her association with him to damage his chances in the election, and that would happen if she got fired. That senate seat meant everything to him. And deep down she knew it was selfish of her to want to mean more to him than it did.
When she walked through the door leading to the clinic, she discovered Abe in the reception office, his laptop open in front of him. She loved the way his eyes always lit when he noticed her. Even when she’d been a little girl getting in his way or into trouble, there had always been love in those eyes. She was extra grateful to see it there now.
“Hey, Als.”
“Papa, hey. How’s Zeke doing?”
“Good. Very good. Storm’s supposed to ease tonight. We’ll fly him to Rankins on Monday morning.”
“You’re taking him?”
“Yep, just arranged it. Eric from Flyway is available.” Flyway was another company that operated medical transport in the region.
