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He nodded, standing up, and shook my hand.

“Oh, and Dennis?” I said.

“Yeah?”

“Must have been some pretty good sex.” I smirked. “Good for you.”

His cheeks flamed as he walked out the door.

I walked back to my office to do some charting, and then I saw the message come through my email. Rhett’s results.

I took a deep breath and opened the email. Tears came to my eyes as I read the results. My breath shaking, I picked up the phone and dialed Rhett’s number. After a few rings, he answered, wind and cows in the background.

“Rhett, I got your results back.”

I heard his breath catch over the line. “What is it?”

My voice cracked. “You’re all clear.”

He let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

“You need to get checked every six months for new spots, but they were able to remove all of it, and it didn’t spread.” I wiped at my face, all the happiness, relief, and worry spilling from my eyes.

“Thank God,” he said.

“Come over tonight,” I replied. “We’re going to celebrate.”

47

Liv

I drove to Rutlage so I could pick up plenty of food and decorations to celebrate Maya’s first day of school. Fletcher texted me and said Rhett would be coming over too, so I wanted it to be extra special. This would be the first night Fletcher and I had Rhett over as a couple since he gave us his blessing.

My heart warmed at the thought as I meandered down the aisle, and then a candle caught my eye.

Safe Haven was its name, in a decorative ceramic container. I picked it up, breathing in the scent of vanilla and lavender. It smelled like home, and that gave me an idea.

I hustled through the store, getting everything I needed, and then checked out.

I had work to do.

* * *

At three o’clock,I had a cheese dip warming in a slow cooker, little smokies cooking in another one, and chili in the biggest crock. The house smelled amazing. But the best part was a little snack sitting on the island: cheese and crackers, a cutie orange, and a glass of water.

Graham danced around my feet like he knew it was time for Maya to come home soon. So I leashed him up and walked outside with him. We walked around the house a few times, Graham getting distracted by each grasshopper that flew in front of him or blade of grass that waved off to the side.

He’d get used to walking on a leash eventually, but today was not that day.

When we could hear the bus coming down the road, he tugged on the leash, pulling me toward the stop. We got there, and I held on tight to the squirmy dog as Maya got off the bus.

She grinned at us as she walked down the steps and ran to hug me and her dog. As the bus drove away, she took Graham’s leash, and we walked inside as she told me all about her day.

She had Mr. Knotts as her main teacher, absolutely loved banging drums in music class, and wanted me to pack her a lunch tomorrow. We took her snack to the living room and sat on the couch while we talked more about her day.

“Can I call and tell Mommy?” she asked.

I nodded. “Let me call and get her number from your dad first.”