Page 2 of Healed Heart

“I’m fine.I’ll be out in a sec.”

I look back at the letter, read over it again.Once, twice, three times.

And an anvil drops in my gut as I realize…

This isn’t my wife’s handwriting.

ChapterOne

Angie

It’s been an hour since Jason came to my house, and I’ve been sitting on the floor on the other side of my front door, thinking about what to do.I should get to campus, but I can’t get myself to move.

He wants me to go away with him.To Switzerland.For God knows how long.Long enough for me to have to take a semester off school.

Aunt Melanie will disapprove, that’s for sure.

My whole family will.

But Jason’s right about one thing.I can come back.It’s not like I’mmovingto Switzerland.

But…we haven’t even been on a date.All we’ve done is sleep together.

I laugh at that.There was no sleeping involved.And we’ve only done it in a bed once.

I rub at my forehead.Tillie scampers up to me and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks, girl,” I say to her.

I can’t take Tillie overseas, either.I’d have to drive her out to the Western Slope, leave her with my family.I just adopted her.It would break my heart to leave her so soon.

But then there’s Jason.

The chemistry we share is undeniable.I’ve heard my own mom and dad talk about how they fell in love.My aunts, my uncles, my cousins, too.The Steels in particular tend to fall hard and fall fast.

Is that what’s happened to me?

Am I actually inlovewith Jason?

I can’t stop thinking about him.About the time we’ve shared together.About our first kiss in the anatomy lab, how he ravaged me in my own kitchen.And then back at school, with the cadavers silently watching.

And maybe I’m the only person who can support him in this endeavor.This surgery that means so much to him.A chance for him to return to his old life.

It’s only a few months.And Brianna would not stop blabbering about how beautiful the UK was when she went with Jesse’s band.

I’ve never even left the continental US.The Steels aren’t typically big travelers, despite our wealth.

And away from the university, away from the judging eyes of our colleagues and peers, Jason and I could actually try being a couple.

In that moment, I know what my decision is.

I’m going to do it.I’m going to throw caution to the wind and see if this thing with Jason has any legs.

I run over to his house, pound on his door.“Jason.Jason!”

No answer.

His car isn’t in the driveway.He must have gone somewhere.Probably to campus.