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Lori was thrilled to finally have the cast removed from her hand. She was wiggling her fingers, cracking her knuckles, and the smile on her face made Andrew smile as well.

“How does it feel?” he asked her.

“It feels awesome! This is so great, Doc, you have no idea. There’s nothing weighing my hand down, I feel everything against my fingers and palm. This is fantastic!” Lori exclaimed as she sat on the examination table.

Andrew looked over her hand and her new X-rays looked perfect.

“So I heard you had some kind of scare the other night? Apparently while you were attempting to remove the cast?” Andrew asked sarcastically.

Lori looked away from him. “Let’s not talk about that. My wrist is fine, I’m fine.”

“I heard Charlie, Dante, and Trevor found you and were very upset.”

“When are your brothers not upset, or angry, or trying to boss everyone around?”

“Jasper told me that they were pretty worried about you, Lori. They’re good men, you know, just a little hotheaded sometimes. They’d do anything for any of us. Whoever is responsible for these incidents means business. Roaming around in the middle of the night is not such a good idea.”

“I wasn’t roaming around. Besides I didn’t hear anything or see anyone. I was perfectly safe in the barn. I can take care of myself, Doc. Maybe you should give that message to your brothers.”

Lori was annoyed as she jumped down off of the examination table and straightened out her skirt.

“It’s hard to take care of yourself when you don’t know what you’re up against. Besides, Lori, all I’m saying is that there’s no need to feel that you have to take care of things on your own. Our families and the Cantrells have become pretty close and we’re all willing to help one another out.”

“Is this conversation once again leading to me and my past, Doc? Haven’t I made it perfectly clear that I’m fine? All I want to do is leave it all behind me, move on, experience life. Do you have any idea how much this means to me to have this cast off my wrist? The constant reminder of what I did, what could have happened to Maggie and Ben?” Lori looked down at her wrist and rubbed her hand, relieved to be physically free of the symbol, the evidence left behind from her part in killing a man.

Andrew took her hand into his, shocking her.

“I would never ever try to say I understand, Lori. I’ve never gone through anything like you have, and from what I understand took place you have nothing to be ashamed of. You saved your sister and your nephew’s lives. You’ve applied for college, you’re working now. I’d say you’re moving on with your life.”

“I appreciate the vote of

confidence, Doc. I’m in a great mood today, nothing’s going to change that,” she told him and he smiled.

* * * *

Lori went to work Friday night looking forward to not having the cast in her way. She was glad to be working with Shelly who was now becoming more of a friend. They got together yesterday and went to the mall. It was the first time she had done anything so “normal.”

Carl’s was extra crowded and the regulars were getting annoyed, as they were being bumped left and right by the enormous crowds of people. One regular named Gary was headed toward his routine Friday night drunken stupor. A group of young guys were starting with Gary and Lori stepped in.

“Hey, guys, leave him alone. He’s not bothering anyone.”

“We’re just having some fun, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it. Just keep the beers coming,” one guy, Stan, said as he tossed some twenties on the bar. He and a few of his friends arrived on a boat a couple of hours ago and had been pounding down beers like water.

Shelly was staying until closing and Lori was preparing to leave around eleven. She packed up her stuff as Stan and the guys continued to flirt with her. Lori didn’t like the way one of the guys, Tanner, was staring at her. He was drunk. His eyes took on a glaring, cold stare she had seen before and knew he was up to something.

She said good night to the regulars at the bar and headed in to see Carl. On her way out she saw Matt Henley.

“Hey, gorgeous, how are you?” Matt asked as he kissed Lori’s cheek.

“I’m good. What are you doing here?”

“Just having a couple of beers after some dinner with Charlie, Dante, Trevor, Jasper, and some friends. Do you want to join us?” Matt asked.

“I don’t think so. My wrist is a little sore and I’m kind of tired. Maybe another time though.” She tried to get out of it. She didn’t want to see Charlie, Dante, or Trevor. Not after what happened the other night. Apparently they didn’t want to acknowledge the other night either. They had acted like the kiss never happened and she figured Michelle was right about the Henley brothers being into one-night stands.

“Come on and have a drink with me. It would make my night.” He winked. She rolled her eyes at him and shook her head.

He took her hand. Matt insisted that she stop by the table to have a beer as he led her toward a table near the back. She fixed her skirt, trying to pull it down further but it was no use. The damn thing was short and there was nothing she could do about it. She was glad she had fixed her lip gloss and her hair.