Heather smiles, her eyes shining with affection. “I love you too.”
I roll to the side, pulling her with me so she's draped across my chest. We lay in comfortable silence for a while, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on her back.
“You know,” Heather says after a while, propping her chin on my chest to look at me. “If that's what I get after being away for a few days, maybe I should let you work these exhausting long shifts more often.”
I growl playfully, flipping us so she's pinned beneath me again. “If it means you will be in bed every night. I’d do it happily.”
She giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Is that a promise?”
“You bet it is,” I reply, leaning down to kiss her again. And as our lips meet, I know that this - right here, right now - is exactly where I'm meant to be.
Chapter Fourteen
Heather
The kind of excitement that bubbles up in your chest and makes it hard to keep a secret is exactly what I feel as I scan the colorful rows of children's books at Page Turners. My fingers dance over the spines, selecting tales of adventure and magic that I know will captivate the imaginations of the young patients at the hospital. With every book I add to my basket, I envision their bright eyes wide with wonder.
“Will these be gift-wrapped?” the cashier ask, her own smile mirroring mine as she eyes the growing pile by the register.
“No, thank you,” I reply. “They're for a special event at the children's hospital.” My heart swells at the thought of sharing this moment with Lincoln, whose dedication to his young patients inspired me more than he knew.
Brylee steps out of her office. “Did I just hear you say these are for the children’s hospital?”
I nod, handing the lady my credit card.
Brylee pushes the card away. “Absolutely not. It’s on the house.”
“Are you sure? It’s a lot of books.”
“Girl, you know I’m a sucker for children. Take the bags and make sure they get good homes.”
With the trunk of my car filled with books, I drive to the hospital, rehearsing how I present the surprise to Lincoln. The sun dips lower in the sky, as I make my way to the place where healing happens, a place that Lincoln has made his second home.
“Hey, Heather! What brings you here today?” Nurse Thompson greets me at the main desk, her knowing glance suggesting she is already in on the plan.
“I’m here to set up a surprise reading session for the kids…and for Lincoln.”
“Ah, I see. Follow me.” Her brisk walk matches the determination in her voice, and I follow closely behind her, feeling like an accomplice on a covert mission.
We navigate the corridors until we reach a room filled with colors and toys, a safe haven within the sterile hospital walls. “This will be perfect.”
“Dr. Montgomery has no idea, does he?” Nancy's eyebrow arches playfully as she helps me arrange the books and activities on a large table in the corner.
“None. And I want to keep it that way.” I check my watch, calculating the minutes until Lincoln's shift ends. “Can you make sure he comes here without suspecting anything?”
“Leave it to me. It's not every day we get to surprise our very own hero.” Her voice is low but carried the conspiratorial tone of someone who relishes the challenge.
“Thank you, Nancy.” Gratitude laces my words. This wouldn't be possible without the support of people like her who understand the importance of bringing joy to places where it is sometimes in short supply.
“Anything for those kiddos...and for a good love story in the making,” she winks, leaving me with a blush creeping up my cheeks.
As the last book finds its place, my pulse quickens with the anticipation of sharing this experience with Lincoln. It isn't just about the books or the surprise; it is about showing him that he isn't alone in this—this desire to make a difference, this town, and maybe, just maybe, in life beyond these hospital walls.
The sliding doors whisk open with their familiar whoosh, and there he is—Lincoln Montgomery—in his element, unaware of the impending interruption to his routine. Tall, dark-haired, with a presence that somehow manages to be both commanding and gentle, just like the heroes from the bedtime tales.
“Dr. Montgomery!” I call out, almost too eagerly.
He pauses mid-stride, his deep eyes searching the room until they land on me. A flicker of surprise dances across his face, swiftly replaced by a crescent smile that sends a ripple of warmth cascading through me.
