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“I’m stronger than I look and we’re almost there.”
He glanced up the staircase. “We’re only halfway there.”
“Same difference. Come on. You can do this.”
They proceeded slowly up the remaining stairs. When they finally reached the top, she shoved open the door and helped him inside. He headed toward the couch.
“Nope. This way.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not taking your bed.”
Avery utilized her best doctorly expression and tone. “You need to lie flat on your back, Wes, and you can’t do that on a sofa that’s a foot too short. You’re taking my bed or we’re going back down to the carriage house.”
He glared at her, his mouth set.
She nailed him with a glare, not giving an inch.
“Fine,” he said finally. “Have it your way.”
“That’s more like it.” She snuggled into his side again. “Now, let’s go, gimpy.”
Chapter26
What a day. Avery drew in a deep breath and released it steadily. Everything would be fine. Wes was settled in her bedroom with a cold pack, drinking water, and a biography. He had an anti-inflammatory in his system and a painkiller at the ready. He’d even managed to get Stewie to set the sink.
Now Avery waited in the airport’s cell phone lot for Dr.Chan’s text that her plane had landed. She leaned back against the seat but didn’t dare close her eyes for fear she’d fall asleep. She hadn’t had a late-night emergency all week, but she’d still had trouble sleeping. Cutting back on caffeine didn’t help. She also tried a couple of milligrams of melatonin—she couldn’t risk taking more since she had to be alert for emergencies.
Sleeplessness was common and had many causes, including stress, and she had plenty of that. But insomnia was also an earlysymptom of Huntington’s disease—and she had just hit thirty. Avery gave her head a shake. She couldn’t let herself go there.
She stared at the airport’s exit.Please, God, let Dr.Chan take this job.
A text buzzed in. The doctor had arrived and was waiting outside baggage claim. Avery replied she was on her way and set the Jeep in motion. Moments later she pulled up to the curb, put the car in Park, and got out to greet the woman.
Lucy Chan smiled as she approached, pulling a carry-on bag. She was a good five inches shorter than Avery, but she carried herself with an easy confidence. She sported a dressy top paired with trendy jeans and wedged sandals. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders in waves that moved with each turn of her head. “Hello, Avery. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
Avery shook her hand. “Nice to meet you too. How was your flight? It ran on time at least?”
“It was perfect. I even managed to catch up on some reading.” She held up a paperback copy ofHillbilly Elegy.
“That’s a good one. Have you seen the movie?”
“I always read the book first.”
“I knew I liked you. I’ve been working my way through Austen’s books for the second time. I’m currently onNorthanger Abbey.”
“That’s a fun one. Which is your favorite?”
Avery chuckled. “Don’t make me choose.”
They stowed Lucy’s bag in the backseat and headed off, making small talk on the drive to Riverbend. Avery told her more about the town, then the conversation turned toward their families. Lucy’s father had immigrated from Vietnam and met Lucy’s mother when he settled in Indiana. They’ve been married forthirty years and have five children who live all over the US. Lucy seemed more relaxed in person, and conversation flowed easily.
After they entered the town proper Avery pointed north. “That’s the northbound trailhead for the Appalachian Trail. It runs across this bridge and straight down Main Street. The southbound trailhead is on the other side of town.”
“I’ll bet hikers are really glad to hit civilization.”
“They’re definitely ready for a shower and a real bed.”
“I love to hike, but I don’t think I’ll ever take on a two-thousand-mile trail.”
