Free No Place Like Home (Holiday Classics) by Fern Michaels Page A

past three, a family of four opened the wide double doors to the main lobby. Freddie jerked free of Hannah’s hold on the leash and barreled through the lobby and down the hall, Cisco’s scarf flying in the wild breeze she created. Sara and Sam gave chase just as the elevator door swished open to reveal Dr. Joel Wineberg and a man wearing a Stetson and a Harley Davidson sweatshirt. Freddie barked, then growled, which meant, Get out of my way. The family of four stood aside, their eyes on Freddie and what she was going to do next. No one was surprised when she threw back her head and howled.
    Hannah skidded to a stop and went down on one knee as she finally grabbed Freddie’s leash. “Gotcha!” she said breathlessly, looking up with wide-eyed wonder at the tall man in the Stetson.
    “Yes, of course I’ll marry you. When? Which one are you?” The tall man grinned.
    “Great! Two weeks from Sunday. I’m Hannah. And you are?”
    “The man who’s going to marry you,” he quipped.
    Hannah laughed. “Mom always said the man of my dreams would show up when I least expected it.” She held out her hand so he could pull her to her feet. Freddie continued to howl.
    “Nice scarf,” the guy in the Stetson said, fingering the messy stitching on the wool scarf draped around Freddie’s neck.
    Her hold on Freddie secure, Hannah said, “I made it for my grandmother when I was thirteen and just learning how to knit.”
    “I’m impressed. You must have used some good yarn.” He had laughing eyes that crinkled up at the corners. “My God, you really do all look alike!” he said in stunned amazement.
    Hannah’s head bobbed up and down. “I’m sorry about Freddie. She wants to see my grandmother.”
    “I think we can arrange that,” Joel Wineberg said. He waved his arms, palms upward. “The Cisco triplets.” He waved his hand at the man standing next to him. “Dr. Zack Kelly.”
    “Sara,” Sara said, holding out her hand. She blinked. This scruffy-looking guy couldn’t be the highly regarded ophthalmologist, Dr. Zack Kelly.
    “Hannah. I already said that, didn’t I? I can’t let loose of Freddie to shake your hand.” Oh, God, this is Cisco’s doctor!
    “Some other time, okay?” Zack Kelly grinned, his eyebrows wiggling a là Groucho Marx. “Hopefully, before we get married.”
    Hannah’s face turned so red she could feel the heat radiating outward.
    “Sam,” Sam said, giving the doctor a bone-crushing handshake.
    “Why don’t we go outside and talk. It’s not that cold, and Freddie can stay with us,” Dr. Wineberg said.
    They trooped out through the lobby and then to the benches under the overhang.
    “Well?” Sara said, fixing her gaze on Joel Wineberg even though Zack Kelly was the ophthalmologist.
    Dr. Kelly cleared his throat before he pushed his Stetson farther back on his head to reveal a mass of ebony curls. He set aside his playful personality and turned professional. “I’d like to admit your grandmother for a few days. I ran a few preliminary tests, but there are a few more I’d like to do that will take longer than twenty-four hours. She is in good health. We had a long talk. She’s amenable to checking in, but it seems Freddie’s well-being is what will clinch the deal. I’d like to admit her as a new patient since she’s…ah… on the lam. No sense looking for trouble. She’s okay with that.”
    “How long will she have to be here?” Sara asked.
    “That pretty much depends on your grandmother. This is a private hospital, so she can stay as long as she likes as long as she’s willing to pay the portion of the daily charges that her insurance doesn’t cover. She’s all right with that, too. Again, Freddie is the stumbling block. Now, as to the cataracts. I could zap them off tomorrow, but Monday would be better. They’re more than ready to come off. It should have been done several months ago, but we won’t go there. Your grandmother is amenable to having it done Monday