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“You aren’t treating her like a parent. You’re acting like you’re her employer,” Brynn pointed out.
“Because I am,” her mom shot back.
Her mother could be so touchy. She and Gavin had been arguing every single day, and it wasn’t really Gavin’s fault. Her mom snapped at him and he snapped back.
“That’s the clinic up ahead.” Harry completely ignored their argument like the gentleman he was. “And it looks like something’s going on with the sheriff’s office. I wonder what’s happening. I hope everyone’s all right.”
She turned and saw what Harry was talking about. Major was sprinting up the street. He was in his uniform, and she had to admit the man made khakis work. Gavin was following behind him, though at a slower pace.
Harry passed him and pulled into the clinic’s circular drive.
“Are you sure this is the only medical care we can get here?” her mom asked. “I would prefer an actual hospital.”
“The closest one is in Houma, and it’s an hour away.” Harry put the truck in park. “Lila’s excellent, and she’s got everything Brynn will need. She can do X-rays and a CT scan. Her brother is a neurosurgeon in Dallas. She makes him read her CTs for free.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. Thank you for the ride, Harry.” She prayed her ankle wasn’t as bad as her mom was making it out to be.
“From what I understand, this woman isn’t even a real doctor.” Her mom wasn’t as enamored of this small town as Brynn was.
“She’s a nurse practitioner.” She hoped this wasn’t going to be one of those times her mom went all LA diva on everyone. There was a reason her mom was often misunderstood. It was because sometimes, she was terrible.
Where was Major going? Was there some kind of emergency? She opened the door to the truck as the glass entrance to the clinic whooshed open and a woman in scrubs walked out. She was a petite woman with an unmistakable air of competence about her.
“Good morning, Ms. Pearson. I’m Mabel,” she explained. “I’m Lila’s nurse, and I’ll be doing your intake today.”
“The nurse has a nurse?”
Yes, her mother was clearly going to be obnoxious. “Thanks, Mabel. It’s my ankle. I twisted it while I was going into the pool. Sorry I’m still wet, but my mom wouldn’t let me change first.”
That was why she was sitting in Harry’s truck wrapped in her wet clothes and a towel, looking like a half-drowned rat. Her hair was plastered to her head, and it was about to get crazy frizzy as it dried.
“She’s likely sprained her ankle.” Her mom stepped out of the truck. “And she has a possible concussion. She struck her head, and I want you to check her for dry drowning.”
“Dry drowning?” Brynn asked. Sometimes she thought her mom was on the Internet far too much.
“You would know what I’m talking about if you had read the scripts I sent you,” her mom complained. “It can happen.”
“Very, very rarely.” Mabel walked back and grabbed a wheelchair, unlocking the wheels and pushing it along. “And usually only to children. Ms. Pearson, did you inhale water?”
“No. I did not. I fell in the pool. I held my breath when I went in and swam to the shallow end. I hit my head when I was coming out. I didn’t go back into the water. At no point did I have water in my lungs.” Brynn started to ease out of her seat. Maybe she could get a glimpse of Major and figure out why he was running so hard.
What if he was going into something dangerous?
“Brynn!”
Then there he was. Major ran up to her as she hopped on one leg, not wanting to put weight on it until the doctor told her it was all right.
“What the hell happened?” Major looked her over, his hands on her shoulders. “Was it the reporters? Did they come out to the B and B?”
Did he think reporters routinely attacked her? “No. I was doing an interview for one of the morning shows and tripped over the cables and it was a whole thing. I’m fine, but my mom is insisting I get checked out. I twisted my ankle.”
She’d barely gotten the words out before Major leaned over, hooked his arm under her knees, and hauled her up against his chest.
“Mabel, where’s Lila?” Major asked.
“Young man, unhand my daughter.” Her mom had her hands on her hips, a gleam of pure outrage in her eyes. “Put her down right now. She needs medical attention, not some ridiculous romantic gesture.”
“Lila’s inside getting exam room two prepped,” Mabel said. “She should be ready by now. Be careful with our patient.”
“Hey, shouldn’t you tell him to put her down?” her mom argued. “It’s dangerous.”
Mabel shrugged. “Major’s strong enough to carry her without falling, and I for one do enjoy a nice romantic gesture.”
