Free It Must Have Been the Mistletoe... by Kate Hoffmann Page B

“I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder.”
    â€œI was worried,” she said. “I thought things had changed.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI don’t know. When we spoke on the phone, everything was so…polite. It was like talking to a stranger. But now that you’re here, we’re not strangers anymore.” Alison stood on her toes and kissed him again. “How long can you stay?”
    â€œAll weekend,” he said. “I have someone to cover my patients. After the recital, I’m going to take you out to dinner and we’ll—”
    â€œMy parents are here,” Alison said. “They were planning to take me out. But you can come with us—if you want.”
    â€œI’d like that,” Drew said. “I’d like to meet the people who raised such an amazing woman.” He felt a sense of urgency. If he and Alison didn’t get to know each other a little better, then the relationship was doomed to fail. And what better way to know her than to meet her parents?
    He picked up the bouquet of flowers. “Maybe I should save these and give them to your mom,” he said.
    Alison laughed as she grabbed the flowers from his hand. “No! They’re mine.”
    Drew yanked her to him and playfully tried to retrieve the bouquet. “But I want her to like me and—” The phone in Drew’s pocket buzzed. “Meeting your parents is imp—” Itbuzzed again. With a quiet curse, he pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. It was the clinic.
    â€œSorry,” he said. “This will just take a second.”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Alison said. “You have to answer it.”
    Drew pushed the green button. “Hi, Sally. What’s up?”
    â€œI’m sorry to call, but I knew you’d want me to,” she said in a breathless voice. “It’s Ettie Lee. You’d better come quick. It’s serious.”
    â€œHow serious?” he asked.
    â€œShe refuses to go to the hospital. She says it’s her time. It’s her heart. Dr. Roy is with her now and he says she doesn’t have long.”
    â€œI’m on my way,” Drew said. He slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned to look at Alison. “I have to go,” he said. “It’s an emergency and—”
    â€œI thought you said there was another doctor—”
    â€œIt’s Ettie.”
    Alison’s eyes went wide. “Is she all right?”
    â€œI don’t know. She’s refusing medical care and won’t let them take her to a hospital. If I get there in time, maybe I can convince her to go.”
    â€œIn time? Is it that serious?”
    Drew nodded. “She’s eighty-five years old.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” Alison said, her eyes swimming with tears. “I want to tell her how important she is to—”
    â€œNo,” Drew replied, holding tight to her arms. “You have a recital to give. And there’s nothing you can do. If this is her time, then we have to let her go.”
    â€œNo!” Alison cried. “You have to help her.”
    â€œI made a promise to Ettie and I intend to keep it.”
    â€œWhat kind of doctor are you? You’re supposed to save her.”
    Drew pulled Alison into his arms and gave her a fierce hug. “You need to focus on your music right now. Sing Ettie’s songs tonight and tell everyone to say a prayer for her. That’swhat you can do.” He kissed her again, his hands cupping her tear-dampened face. “I have to go. I’ll call you later. Good luck.”
    Drew took one last look at her, then walked out. This was not how he’d wanted the weekend to go. But then, trying to recreate a fantasy had been a foolish notion in the first place. He and Alison spent the majority of their time in the real world. And in the end, the real world might be exactly what pulled them apart.
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