“Hey, Dad,” I said softly, coming up behind him.He sat dozing in his easy chair in front of the TV. The news was on low, but he wasn't paying attention to the day's stock market prices. He snored slightly and then shook himself awake.“Hannah.” He smiled a little, then frowned. “What are you doing here?”“I came to check on you,” I told him, coming around and kneeling in front of his chair. I set my first aide kit on the floor next to me.He looked pale, and when I put my hand on his, he felt clammy. Despite the air conditioning going in the house he was sweating, but had a blanket across his lap. I didn't like the slight wheeze in his voice when he spoke, either.“I'm fine,” he assured me. “I just need some rest.”“Mom told me you fell today,” I replied.“I just got light headed. It's all those damn medications and the damn humidity right now,” he grumbled. “I just need some rest is all. I'm fine.”“Okay. You rest, and I'll check you out.” IHe narrowed his eyes at me, and I thought

It was up to me to pick up a couple of things to help with dinner. I felt incredibly domestic and helpful as I picked the ripest tomatoes and the freshest gallon of milk in the entire store.The summer heat was oppressive as I walked to my car. The blacktop radiated the sun and shimmered with imaginary mirages of water. I was sweating by the time I finished the short walk and loaded everything into my car.That was summer in Iowa. Humid and hot.The cicadas thrummed in the trees and birds called out as got in my car. We would get thunderstorms this evening, and given Jacob's propensity for getting wet and looking sexy as hell because of it, I was rather looking forward to them.I especially liked how he held me as the thunder crashed around us. When the storms came, I didn't have to worry about people coming to our houses and finding us. I didn't have to worry about what anyone else thought. I was Jacob's and he was mine.It was my own little slice of heaven.I hummed as I drove the r

I stress baked the rest of the evening. Muffins, cookies, brownies, and I even attempted a double layer chocolate cake. It came out better than I expected and that made me feel a little bit better. I would have kept baking, but I ran out of flour and didn't have the guts to go into town and get more.Jacob got pulled to the hospital for a patient after stitching up Jackie and he wasn't able to get back. Jacob had privileges at the local hospitals so that he could treat the patients he knew in the hospital setting along with the doctors there. The privileges also allowed him to deliver the town's babies at the hospital as well.That night, his patient unfortunately took a turn for the worst, and Jacob didn't want to leave the hospital at all. I told him it was fine and that I would see him at the office in the morning.I held the phone in my hand a long time after he hung up.I had no idea how I was going to tell him I was pregnant, but I knew on the phone while one of his patients was

It was official. The town hated me.To be fair, they were pretty unhappy with Jacob, but they took the majority of it out on me.I was the “other woman.” I was the reason Jacob and Katie broke up. I was the interloper who was tempting the good doctor away.Despite the fact that none of this was true didn't matter. It was the will of the Ladies' Bridge Club. I was cast as the villain in their eyes.It manifested in small ways. My number was never called at the deli. The checkout line somehow always “broke down” right before it was my turn to checkout. No one would speak to me on the street. I started bringing my lunch instead of going out. I drove to the next town over to buy my groceries.Not everyone was awful. Katie's Bakery still made me the best sandwiches. Katie made sure her employees knew not to mess with me or Dr. Mathews. They honored her request because she was “being the bigger person” according to the Ladies' Bridge Club.It just made her more perfect in their eyes. I didn

“Hannah!” my dad shouted, followed by a heavy cough.At this point, the fellow restaurant patrons went quiet. It might have been my name or the terror in my dad's voice, but suddenly all eyes were on me and my dad.I hurried over to the bar. Dr. Taggert's skin was clammy and white. His eyes were glazed over and he had his right arm clutched to his chest.“Dr. Taggert? Are you okay?” I asked, putting my hand on his left wrist.He didn't answer me with more than a shake of his head. His pulse under my fingertips was thready and erratic.The first thought through my head: Oh shit.Then, my training took over.“Dad, I need you to call 911. Mr. Abrams, I need you to call Dr. Mathews and tell him that Dr. Taggert is having a heart attack at the diner. He'll get here before the ambulance will.” I looked up long enough to make sure my dad nodded at me. I pointed to one of the younger men. “Help me get him on the floor. If he falls, he'll hurt himself. Everyone else, we need some space and a c