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“I didn’t do anything,” she said sleepily.
“Yes, you did. You were here for me. I had to stay strong and hold it together for Megan, but I needed someone to help restore my balance. You did that by listening. It hit me last night how much I’ve missed having that someone. You came into my life at the right time.”
Just like he’d come into hers. Giving her the access to a team she needed and so much more.
ChapterTwenty-Five
“We’re here,”Megan called up the stairs while Graham changed out of his uniform Wednesday night.
He joined her and Reece in the kitchen. “You got here fast.” He kissed Megan’s cheek. She looked better than when she’d left here Sunday night, but the sparkle was still missing from his daughter’s eyes.
“I texted you we were at the PX and on our way.”
“I didn’t see it.” He picked up his phone from the counter. “Erin should be here any minute.”
“Did she say what she wanted us here for?”
“No, and Kearns was in my office, so I didn’t ask in front of him.” But she’d been excited about something.
While they waited, Megan gave him an update, which, unfortunately, was that she had an appointment scheduled—in October. Before he could finish counting how many weeks away that was, Erin tapped on the side door’s window. She entered wearing the kind of beaming smile he needed.
She stopped halfway to him, pivoted, and set her purse on the counter. Turning to face them, she squeezed Megan’s hand. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I have some news,” she said breathlessly. “On Monday, I was talking with Ian, my contact in Hollywood.”
Graham hoped Erin didn’t plan to incorporate this into her story idea, but he’d let her continue rather than assume the wrong thing.
“In Hollywood, the adage that it’s notwhatyou know, butwhoyou know is one-hundred percent true. But I started thinking how it applies everywhere. Ed, the husband of my professor friend with the beach condo I’ll be renting, always talks about his best friend, a big wig at Duke University’s School of Medicine. He’s not a doctor but in administration. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask Ed to reach out. I hope I didn’t overstep in giving them some medical history, but I thought maybe his friend could recommend a neurosurgeon or more.”
Her smile grew as she dug in her purse, produced a piece of paper, and extended it to Megan.
“Ed’s friend said this is the neurosurgeon he would want operating on his brain. Mention Ed’s friend’s name when you call the surgeon’s PA. That’s his direct number. They’re expecting your call. I can’t promise this will go anywhere. I’m used to people saying they will help you make connections and then not follow through, but if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. And sometimes you get lucky and make the right connection.”
She smiled at Graham, and it took every bit of willpower he had to keep from scooping her up and declaring his love for this amazing woman right now.
“Thank you. I’ll—I’ll call tomorrow.” Megan wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “We’ve got frozen groceries in the car and don’t want to postpone your plans.” She swallowed whatever emotions were choking her. “I’ll let you know what happens.”
An awkward silence settled in before Megan gave Erin a semi-hug. Next, Graham wrapped his daughter in a tight embrace. He wanted to tell her it would be all right, but he wouldn’t make promises about things over which he had no control. “Talk to you soon.”
“Thank you.” Reece gave Erin an appreciative nod. He wrapped an arm around Megan’s shoulders and pressed a tender kiss to her temple.
They were so young to be facing this kind of challenge. Seeing his daughter’s anxiety tore at Graham’s gut. He’d spent deployments knowing every day could be his last. He did not wish that for his daughter.
How different would their lives be if they had known about Bethann’s aneurysm beforehand? She’d probably be alive today and here to support their daughter.
He let out a long breath once he and Erin were alone. “You didn’t say anything about this earlier.”
“Because I didn’t know if anything would come of it. I made a call, but Ed had to call his friend, who doesn’t know me and might not feel obligated to help. Which is why I may have played the Green Beret card.”
“You what?” He placed a hand on either side of her body, trapping her against the counter.
“I knowyou guysdon’t strut around saying you’re Special Ops.” She trailed her index finger down his chest. “But I thought it might garner some favor. So, I may have mentioned what her husband does—and how important it is that he can focus on his mission rather than be distracted by things back home.”
She made him see it from a less personal perspective. She was also darn cute in the way she looked at him, wearing a guilty grin, and spouted the same reason Sean McKittrick gave him when telling him to get married again.
“Under the circumstances, I’ll let that slide. It’s not like we need to keep that top secret for mission safety.”
“Good. I wasn’t even sure it would carry weight or get relayed from Ed’s friend to a surgeon. When I saw Duke Medical on my caller ID this afternoon, I was hopeful. Ed wasn’t kidding about his friend being way up there because the PA started asking me about getting medical records and scans for the surgeon to review.”
“That sounds better than you let on to Megan.”
