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It had been a hell of a year.
And despite the chaos and the fears that now lay behind them all, he wanted more. More of this team. More of this land. More time with them all and more time with Lia. “I’m going to quit the FBI.”
He said it far louder than he intended, probably because he hadn’t actually expected the words to come so firmly out of his mouth.
Up ahead of them, Tansy turned with a huge grin on her face. She ran and launched at him. He hugged her tightly.
His sister’s voice was quivery when she spoke. “I’m so happy. You’re going to love being here full time. Thank you. I know you’re doing it for you and not me, but thank you anyway.”
He set her down and his friends came to hug him and shake his hand, thump him on the back.
It felt right and wonderful, except that Lia hadn’t said a word. He tugged on her hand to keep her in place when the others started moving again. “What are you thinking, Lia?”
She drew in a deep breath. “Are you sure? You said you needed to take some time when life wasn’t chaotic to make the choice. I don’t want you doing something you’re going to regret because it’s been a wild day. Pretty much the kind of day that defines chaotic.”
He cupped her face and rubbed a thumb along her jawline, loving the shiver that ran through her at the touch. “I’m sure, Lia. Yes, it’s been a horrible day, but it turned out okay because of the team we’ve got here. And with each other. It’s that teamwork I want. With my sister and our friends, and especially with you. If I moved back to Sacramento, I’d be kicking my ass before the plane landed. I love you, Lia. I don’t want to leave you or this team or this place. I’m a hundred percent sure.”
As he spoke, the worry dissipated from Lia’s eyes and her smile grew. When he finished, she leaned up on her toes to place her lips on his. “I love you, too, Joe. I’m so glad you’re going to stay.” And then she kissed him.
The restlessness he’d felt dissolved with her words and her touch. This was the right choice.
He pulled Lia in for a hug and let the rightness settle deep within him. With her in his arms and the huge decision about his future made, he knew they could handle anything.
Eventually he eased up on his hold and kissed her again. He had a bigger question he wanted to ask her, but today wasn’t the day. Not when she was already thinking he was making decisions based on surviving the chaos. He’d also need to do some shopping before that question.
It wasn’t long until they were back in the lodge where they found the group outside seated around a fire pit, passing popcorn and relaxing. They slipped into the seats that had been left for them.
Nico was on his left and sent him a long look as they sat. Knowing his profiler buddy was looking for doubts and concerns, Joe let his oldest friend look his fill.
It only took moments before Nico nodded, passed him a beer, and clinked it with his. “Welcome home, Joe.”
Chapter 20
It's Not Brain Surgery
A few weeks later
Lia patted Moose’s head as she turned the key in the lock. Her hand’s range of motion and strength were improving but even something as simple as putting a key in a lock and turning it required attention and concentration.
The day was rainy and windy and the big dog huddled against her for protection. “Sorry, Moose. I’m not quick, but if you knock me over, you’re going to wait even longer.”
She’d come into town with Mitch who was working at the firehall this morning. Sometimes she wondered if she should buy a small car to go back and forth from the Midnight Lake property to Phail. It was only a few miles, but she wasn’t athletic enough to jog that and she was usually carting something anyway.
Mostly, she came in with Joe, but the guys were working on a training exercise today and she’d wanted to do a final walkthrough of Doc’s. She didn’t have any patients registered yet, but she was going to open for that starting tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
“I’m going to be a family doctor, Moose. And you’re going to be my assistant. You’re going to charm the nerves right out of anyone who’s stressed. You think you can do that?” He was already helping her with her own nerves so she figured he was a shoo-in.
Moose let out an enormous yawn and she laughed as he thumped to the ground in the waiting room. The only waiting room now.
They’d converted the front waiting room to an office and conference-type room. Her own desk sat near the newly built storage closet for any medications and confidential files. Aisling had reinforced the walls and the door was steel to stop anyone breaking in. It was a small town with a low crime rate, but they had all learned that small towns got their fair share of people who didn’t follow the rules.
She’d also included an empty desk in the office to help her convince specialists to visit the area a few times a month. Among others, the town could use a chiropractor, a physical therapist, a homeopath, and a dentist.
Lia planned to do some research at some point to find out about services close by and see how she could improve the plan. Having a ready to go office that visiting medical professionals could use should help convince some of them to give Phail a try.
She poked her head in each exam room, checking to see that everything was in place. The exam beds and modern equipment worked visually with the old shelves and cupboards from the sawmill and the lodge. The eclectic feel of the building and the furniture helped the space feel warm instead of cool and intimidating.
