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“Maybe so, but Owen was my perfect fit.”
“But Owen is gone—”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Let me finish. I knew Owen well enough to know that he would never have wanted you to walk through life lonely, especially if someone else who fits you just as well came along to sweep you off your feet.”
“It’s too late,” Chloe mumbled.
“No, it’s not. You think Aliza and I are too old to get married and have a family?”
She opened her mouth to say it was different, but she knew it wasn’t. She shut it.
“Answer the question.”
“But neither of you had found your ‘soul mate,’ only to have them ripped away because you—”
“After thirteen years, I thought you were past blaming yourself for Owen’s death.”
“How is it not my fault? I should have just stayed home from that stupid camping trip.”
“Chloe, how many times do we have to go through this?”
“At least fifty more.”
Gabe shook his head. “Just do me a favor and let what’s happening between you and Josh actually happen. I can tell you love each other, so embrace it. Heck, maybe you’ll find a little healing in the process.”
“But Owen . . .”
“He’d want this for you.”
She sniffed back the emotions. She wanted to believe Gabe, but could she? Could she really fall in love again?
The next morning, Josh put on his hiking shoes on the off chance that his walk around the neighborhood turned into a ten-mile hike. It was chilly, but he needed to clear his head. Chloe had filled his dreams and left him reeling, longing to hold her. He planned to call her in a little while and see if she wanted to hang out. But he couldn’t exactly invite her on another hike. What else could they do? Stay in and watch a movie? Perhaps. Go out to dinner? Maybe. Wander through a bookstore? Now that would work.
He picked up his phone, keys, wallet, knife, flashlight, and sunglasses and distributed them in his pockets, except he put the sunglasses on his head. After growing up as an Eagle Scout, there were a few things that he would never leave behind. As silly as it seemed to carry a flashlight in the morning on a neighborhood walk, it was just part of his everyday carry.
After pulling on his ski cap and gloves, he strode out the front door, locking the house behind him, and walked down the sidewalk that lined the quaint little neighborhood. Some doctors lived extravagantly, but not Josh. He couldn’t afford to. He and his best friend from med school had decided a small private practice was for them, but starting your own took a lot of work, time, and money. He wouldn’t trade it for anything. He loved his patients, the families he was able to serve.
The air was a little warmer than he had expected, so he tugged his gloves off and stuffed them in his coat pocket.
About halfway down the block, his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the phone number.
“Dr. Schneider,” he answered.
“Is this Josh Schneider?” The voice was gruff. Josh couldn’t determine whether the voice was male or female.
“This is. May I ask—”
“I’m an EMT with the Knoxville Fire Department.”
Josh stopped walking.
“I’m here with a Chloe Jacobs. She is asking for you. There was a structural collapse, and she’s wedged under some debris.”
“I’ll be there as fast as possible. Where is she?”
The EMT gave him the address.
