Jess, that fucking goat hates me.
Suck it up. Aren’t you supposed to be tough and rugged? How would Dad feel knowing he’s handing the ranch off to someone afraid of a sweet, old goat?
If he’s so sweet, do it yourself when you get home.
The sidewalk swirled in front of her, and Jessie stumbled, trying to find her footing.
I wouldn’t ask you to cover if it wasn’t important. Please.
Fine. I’ll take care of it. You owe me though.
Jessie slipped the phone back in her pocket, opening the doors to the small health clinic and sighed in relief as she felt a burst of warm air flow over her from the vent above the doorway. It had been a colder than usual winter for Clarence County… maybe that was why everyone’s immune system was in the toilet.
Her eyes stayed trained on the linoleum tiles until the three people waiting in line in front of her completed their sign-ins. When she was done, Jessie finally brought her eyes up to look at the waiting area. Nearly every single seat was filled. Great. Maybe it wouldn’t be a quick wait. And forget getting back to the diner with time to spare for a nap. Her heart sank.
Until her eyes landed on Lily and Sage, and a very gray-looking Gunner.
“Oh no. Not you too?” Lily smiled as Jessie sank down into the chair next to her, Sage lifting her head off Lily’s shoulder to offer a smile.
“Yep. I think this is officially the worst flu season I’ve seen in Silver Springs since I was a kid,” Jessie admitted. “It seems like half the town is feeling as bad as your hubby looks.”
“He’s a trooper. I have a hard time seeing this one sick.” Lily hugged Sage tighter. “He was up with her in the middle of the night while she got sick. Thankfully, it passed by morning, but I think I’m about to have to put on my nurse’s hat to make sure he gets some rest too.”
Gunner, who had been resting his head against the wall with his eyes closed, chuckled. “If you put on anything nurse themed, you know I won’t be getting any rest, Lily Kate.”
“Hush.” Lily’s cheeks flushed. “Ignore him. He’s just riled up because we’re trying for baby number two.”
Butterflies erupted in Jessie’s stomach. She was a long way away from having kids, but when she let her mind wander… blonde hair and sea blue eyes and dimples for days always filled her vision.
“How is it going?” Jessie asked, her eyebrows raising up and down to tease her friends.
“It’s been fun trying, but nothing so far.” Lily’s eyes unfocused slightly, and Jessie felt those butterflies turn to a pang of empathy.
“It’s only been since the vow renewal, right? That’s such a short amount of time.”
“I know.” Lily smiled. “Honestly, it’s probably a good thing I’m not pregnant right now. With the amount of sickness going around Silver Springs, I’d never take my head out of the toilet.”
Jessie shivered. Yeah, having a stomach bug was definitely exhausting. Being pregnant on top of it… no. She didn’t think she could do it.
The door to the waiting room opened and a nurse, tall with dark brown hair and a soft smile, walked through.
“Sage Brooks?”
Lily and Gunner stood, Sage tightening her hold of Lily’s neck.
“Hope you feel better, Jessie.” Lily squeezed her arm as she walked by.
“Yeah, I hope you guys do too.”
As her friends disappeared down the hallway, and the door closed softly after them, Jessie crossed her arms, sinking back into her chair. The waiting room was warm, and she felt her eyelids growing heavy. What would it hurt to close them for a minute? Maybe she’d feel better and that missed nap opportunity in the office back at the diner wouldn’t matter after all?—
“Jessie Ford!”
Shit! Jessie’s eyes popped open, and she reached up to wipe the warm drool off the edge of her mouth. Oh god. Her stomach rolled as she swallowed down extra saliva.
She smiled at the nurse, who took her to get weighed before sending her off to do a urine sample and then plopping her quite unceremoniously into an exam room with the promise that the doctor would be in to see her shortly.
Thirty minutes later when the knock finally came at the door, Jessie was ready to bolt.
