Almost a Family

“We’ll set the bone and stitch up his lacerations,” Jason explained warmly. “Why don’t you call back on Monday to check on his progress? We’ll settle your bill when he’s ready to go home.”

They nodded, and the woman bent to kiss Casper’s brown head. “Thank you, Dr. Elliot.” She smiled at Molly who smiled back. “And thank you for coming in on a Saturday.”

“It was no problem,” he answered, but his gaze cut to Molly and she remembered very distinctly what the after-hours call had interrupted.

“Molly will show you out,” he suggested, asking her with his eyes if she’d mind. Without a word, Molly led the couple to the door. After they were gone, she locked the deadbolt behind them and made a quick check on Sara. The movie was still running, and Sara had helped herself to a cheese and cracker snack. Her head was on a needle-pointed cushion and she’d covered herself with the throw from the back of the couch.

When she returned to the exam room, Jason was finishing setting the bone. Casper’s mouth was open and his tongue lolled out. “Boy, he’s out of it,” Molly remarked. “Does he feel anything?”

Jason smiled a little at her concern. “Not much.”

“What will you do with him tonight?”

Jason pulled over a tray. “He’ll be fine here, and tomorrow morning Jan comes in to walk and feed the animals. She’ll make sure he’s fine, eating and peeing and such.”

“Oh.”

“He’s lucky he’s not hurt worse,” Jason continued. “This is nearly done. How’s Sara?”

Molly took the clear plastic bottle he offered and irrigated the wound as he indicated. She found gauze on the tray and dabbed it a bit while Jason prepared to suture the laceration.

“She’s fine. She got a snack and covered herself up.”

“She’s a good kid.”

“Mmm. Except when she takes off without asking.”

Jason chuckled. “Yeah. Except then.” Carefully he began stitching, and Molly marveled at his perfect sutures. His hands moved smoothly, almost poetic in their grace. Molly glanced up and saw the concentration on his features.

Oh dear.

She was getting hooked on him all over again, and that was too dangerous.

The whole afternoon they’d worked together in harmony. Molly had felt none of the resentment she had expected, nor the nausea. Instead, she’d followed his lead and had learned a lot without the strained atmosphere that seemed to surround them elsewhere. When Jason was here, doing his job, he was uncomplicated. Efficient and kind and competent, without ego. She looked down at his neat stitches, rinsed the wound again. Her coat had splatters of blood on it; she didn’t care. She’d actually enjoyed this afternoon. There had been no arguments, only conversation. But enjoying Jason was simply not in her life plan. It became too easy to forget all the reasons why she’d left him in the first place.

“This is nice,” he said quietly, mirroring her thoughts. Her stomach jumping, she stared at his hands making stitches rather than look in his eyes.

“Yes, it is. I don’t enjoy fighting with you.”

“Sure you do.” His fingers kept stitching evenly, but Molly knew if she looked up, he’d be wearing a half smile that popped his dimples.

“Well, maybe I do.” She dabbed at the wound and smiled a little.

“You always did,” he continued, his fingers squeaking slightly in the latex gloves. “We used to have some spectacular arguments. Remember the time we went camping at Mount Carlton? You were determined to go for a swim in the lake after hiking. I told you that you’d be a mess of sticks and it wouldn’t clean you up.”

“I remember,” she murmured, recalling all too well. They’d gone for the swim. She’d gone on and on about how refreshed she’d felt. Back in their tent, she’d peeled off her suit to discover her entire body covered in little sticks and bits of grass. They’d collapsed laughing. He’d picked the sticks off her skin and made love to her in the day’s waning light.

“I also remember us fighting over Elizabeth Lawrence.” His voice held a note of teasing.

“Yeah, and it was me who was right that time. She was dead gone on you. You were so blind I thought I was going to have to hold her down and shave her head to get her to leave you alone.”

“You would have, too.”

“Damn right.”

They laughed together, then it faded.

In those days, she would have fought for their love.