And Never Say Goodbye: A Town of Destiny Novel Read online

  Mallory nodded and gave a tired smile, closing the locker door after grabbing her purse. Deciding to just go home in her scrubs, she paused to glance at Sonia. She regarded the tall woman, probably as tall as Gallagher, and noticed a pattern. He liked them tall, something she wasn’t. If anything, she was the complete opposite, being petite but shapely.

  “You should go out with us tonight. You’d have fun,” she said, winking. “I bet you’d bring all the cute guys to our table.”

  She chortled. “I doubt that, but thanks. Not seeing Lawson anymore?” Curiosity got the best of her. Why she cared she had no idea. His cologne still lingered in her nose.

  Sonia threw her bag over her shoulder after spraying on perfume. “Please. He has no interest in settling down with me or anyone. Married to his job and the occasional female attention, but that’s it. Lord knows I’ve tried.” She sauntered towards the door before looking back. “But he’s definitely earned his nickname, I can tell you that.” She chewed her lip, glancing at the floor. “I don’t know if he knows how to connect with a woman, like as if he’s off in another world, thinking of other things—almost disconnected. It’s primal for him, and forget snuggling. Who knows. Age might be playing a part.” She gave a small smile with a shrug. “Whatever it is, I need more than that. See you later, Mal.”

  “Yeah, see ya.” She threw cold water on her face, thinking about Sonia’s words. Almost disconnected. Funny, but she never pictured it like that with him. Always pictured him more wild, tearing it up as she’d heard. A real lover. Maybe she was right? Maybe he used to be that way but now…what? Needs another wolf companion?

  Oh well. Not her problem. She didn’t even want to think of him like that, even though there was this strange allure. Maybe it was because he understood her job, connecting them in a way that was different from other connections in her life.

  A lazy smile tugged at her lips, chuckling at herself in the mirror. Born and raised in a town named Destiny should have brought magic into her life. Where was the magic? Her days consisted of work and sleep, and those godawful meetings.

  She brushed her hair out and shrugged at her reflection, thinking about what Gallagher said about her tight bun. Was he saying she was uptight? All because she wore her hair in a bun? Or was it more? “Who cares,” she said to the mirror and shuffled her cart behind her through the door, the wheels making the only sound down the corridor.

  Chapter Two

  Home was where the heart was, or so they said. Who were they? People with homes filled with hearts. Perhaps transplanted hearts she had recovered? Her childhood home was an old farmhouse with hunting grounds she never used—ten acres to be exact—too big for one person. But she loved it anyway. Loved the freedom and solitude, looking out to find white-tail deer roaming her land and geese flying to the nearby creek hidden behind her. Kept her grounded to the earth.

  She parked her cart in her detached barn cluttered with her parents’ belongings that she didn’t have the heart to donate. No, not now. Someday. And at least they had lived a fulfilled life with each other to the end. That’s what really mattered—not how they died. They enjoyed life and always encouraged her to follow, to let go of the past and start anew.

  A past that wouldn’t let go of her because it wanted her future.

  One of these days she’d clean out this rundown barn and give it the life it deserved. Not to be used for past material and memories. Things that were accumulated long before her parents’ premature death. One of these days.

  And that bowling ball bag again. She nearly tripped over it. The initials SM glared at her before she kicked it to the side and slammed the door. A bowling ball that was hardly ever used—a birthday gift from her. Useless was what it was, but how was she to know that?

  Outside in her front yard, she trudged through the darkness lit up by the summer stars, guiding her to her front door and into the creaking of her home. Her family’s home, but now only consisting of one family member. Unless, of course, she fulfilled her promise.

  Still in her blue scrubs, she walked to the stove and heated up the kettle water from that morning. Tea was her life. Strong, black tea. A friend to keep her awake when she had no sleep from her crazy work shifts. With only the lantern in the narrow hallway turned on as well as the kitchen light, it gave the house a gloomy feel. Laughter used to infiltrate these rooms.

  The sound of the whistle blowing made her jump, forcing her out of her thoughts. She seemed to do a lot of that lately. Shaking her head, she poured the steaming water into her white mug with the huge black M on it, a gift, dipping the teabag a few times before bringing it to her lips. She closed her eyes and allowed the tea to do its magic.

  Reflecting on her case as she always did, she couldn’t help but worry about that young widow. Losing her husband like that and now pregnant. Now pregnant. She scanned her country kitchen and was grateful for her quiet life, but her quiet life came with a price. Work and sleep were all she needed to maintain that peace. But was it true peace or a distraction from reality? Time was slipping through her fingers. It’d have to be soon.

  She sipped her tea and gazed through the window over the sink, smiling at the Little Dipper. It wasn’t as if he’d know. Not like he was there with her to make her feel guilty. But guilt controlled her every breath. Her age silently reminded her, but she wasn’t ready for that. Would she ever be? Again, she shook her head and drank the rest of her magical brew, firing down her chest and pool into her gut.

  Sonia’s words reverberated in her mind. The rumors of Gallagher slithered through their small town. The whispers of his womanizing ways. He didn’t grow up here like she did, having come from a nearby town. He had told her during her training months that he moved there for the shorter distance to the office, but he probably was running from scorned women and needed fresh blood. She laughed at the thought.

  Having kept a professional distance from this wolf character, she always held him as an equal to herself. He didn’t scare her after having been in the OR with him multiple times. Yes, he was brisk and quick to correct, but never demeaning. She was sure he never dreamed she’d be equal to him, almost surpassing him, giving them just the right temperature of competitiveness. Respect was lost in there somewhere.

  She washed the breakfast dishes and put them away before she wiped the basin down, Gallagher fighting to vacate her mind. He went his way as she hers. At times, she’d catch him watching her at the office, as if studying her, trying to figure her out. Something she’d never allow. No one needed to know her life outside those walls.

  After slipping into her long, silky nightgown, she sat on her four-poster bed and grabbed the remote, ignoring her laptop next to her. No paperwork tonight, which was a treat. She closed the computer and pushed it over to the empty pillow, surfing to find something to watch.

  With heavy eyes, she climbed under her covers, instantly crashing when her head touched the pillow. Sweet sleep that posed as an hour, but in reality was only ten minutes when her work text song screamed to wake up. Her heart hammered as she glanced at the clock to see it was 1:00. She grabbed her phone and read the text from incompetent David informing her they were needed on the north side of Chicago. Way too far. Too tired to drive. But she was still on-call and had no choice.

  She dialed into the office and spoke to the night administrator. “Jose, I really don’t want to do this, but if I do, I want a different coordinator and I want to be driven.”

  “Oh, Lawson already told David he’d go with you instead, after he sent that text out. Sorry for that, Mal. I think he feels bad about what happened today and wants to make it up, from what he told me. Would that be okay?”

  Okay? She fumed. Wasn’t he on a date or something? “He worked earlier as extra. Anyone else available?” She turned the TV off and threw the remote on the nightstand.

  “Like I said—he wants to make up for earlier. It’s a young mother who just had a C-section and died after the baby was born. The husband’s a mess, bu
t he gave consent.”

  Why didn’t she see that on the board? Must have just missed it. She scratched her head and sighed, pulling her laptop over. “Fine. I’ll look at the board and get the information. Thanks, Jose. I’ll be ready for pick-up when Jim’s ready to get me.” She hung up and rubbed her achy eyes, seeing stars before her. This should be fun. An hour and a half ride with Gallagher. She planned on closing her eyes the whole way. He better not want to gab.

  ***

  Dressed in fresh blue scrubs, she was ready and waiting, watching out of her window. Her light hair pulled back into a bun at her nape, nice and tight. She gobbled down leftover cold pasta she made the other night. Then her cell vibrated on the table.

  As headlights loomed out of the darkness, she bounded down her porch steps. She waved at the white minivan with the letters Hope of Life on the side, holding a finger up before trotting to the barn to grab her already packed cart. Throwing supplies together into the bag that she needed and then strapping her cooler back in, she rolled her cart outside to meet Jim. The only sounds were crickets, bullfrogs, and the hum of the van.

  A warm smile greeted her. “Let me get that, Mallory. Go rest in the back,” Jim said, taking her cart.

  She obeyed and slid into the back, strapping herself in. Gallagher was on his laptop and gave a quick glance, his face lit up from the screen. She folded her arms and closed her eyes to resume sleep from earlier.

  “Sorry about all this. I did speak to David, and he understands what’s expected of him,” he said, peering over his laptop. “You look like hell, by the way.”

  “Thanks.” She never opened her eyes. Didn’t want to encourage him.

  Jim closed his door and backed out of her property and into the night. “Hey, kids. Hungry or need to stop before I head out?”

  They simultaneously answered, “No.”

  She opened her eyes to peek and caught him watching her. He cleared his throat and returned to his screen. “Aren’t you tired from your…date?” She said, holding in a smirk.

  He tilted his head with teasing eyes. “Now why would I be tired, McShane?”

  “Well, you are the wolf, correct?” She grinned as her eyes remained shut. Why she was talking to him she couldn’t figure out. The man aggravated her to the bone. She really didn’t care if he was tired from his date.

  “I really hate that name. I prefer your Gallagher to that.” He stared at her, or glared was more like it.

  She felt the heat of his anger. “Sorry. Didn’t realize you were so sensitive. You should let people know these things.”

  He sighed. “It doesn’t do any good. The name has stuck. It is what it is.” He gave his head a slow shake. “So, this case is pretty sad. Young mother with a ruptured aneurysm. Crazy,” he said, again shaking his head, reading the patient data.

  Mallory leaned over to read the case highlighted in blue. “It is. But then again, this job is crazy. The things we see are not meant for everyone.”

  Raising a brow, he said, “Referring to David? He’ll be fine. You were new once, you know. Or do you remember that far?”

  She snickered, hating that he made her laugh. “Ha-ha, funny. It wasn’t that long ago. I’m not that old like you.”

  “You’re what now…fifty?” He raised his brows, staring at the screen but hiding laughter.

  She nearly choked. “You better be joking.”

  “With that bun, you could pass.” His eyes flickered at her hair, giving a crooked grin.

  In a screechy voice, she said, “What? My bun is chic and fashionable. And why am I justifying my hairstyle to you?” She seethed under her breath. “I’m dressed like a professional, not letting my hair flow all over like I’m going to a party. Jesus, Gallagher. You’d think you’d get that.” She snapped her eyes shut and worked her jaw. Why this offended her she had no idea, but it did. That smugness of his.

  “Now look who’s sensitive. Sorry. I won’t mention the bun again,” he said, gesturing his fingers in quotes around the bun.

  Jackass.

  They drove down I55 at lightning speed, it seemed. “Jim, why the hurry?” She clutched onto the back of the seat. “We should be okay.”

  “Just got word the patient is crashing, and the husband is rescinding. They need you to talk to him now—work your magic.”

  She slid over and looked at Gallagher’s screen to find it was true.

  “Light it up, Jim.”

  “Yes, boss.” With that, Jim turned on the emergency light and zoomed to the shoulder, bypassing cars.

  Mallory’s phone rang. “Mallory here. Hi, Karen. How’s she doing? And he’s wanting to stop everything? Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we can. I’ll try to talk to him. Thanks, Karen.” She turned to Gallagher. “I need to get there so I can calm him down—fast.”

  “The light should help us.”

  Crashing patients always made her nervous. She fiddled with her bun, making sure it was good. At least she could control that.

  “It’s still there…believe me.”

  “Oh, shut up.” She moved back into her seat again. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him grinning and trying not to laugh, but his shaking shoulders gave him away.

  Sailboats to the right floated atop the murky waters of Lake Michigan. There’d usually be a cyclist or jogger next to it, but not at this time. No. At this time, they’d be more on Rush or State Street, leaving bars, hanging onto strangers, sharing a cab, getting laid. Should feel like home to Gallagher. She smirked at his profile, probably thinking of Tina’s giggle as he tickled her with his stubble. Big, bad Wolf. Please.

  Must have sensed her inspection. He regarded her with a raised brow.

  “You shaved. Trying for the clean-cut look now?”

  “I did it just for you, baby.”

  Narrowing her eyes, a grin threatened her lips. She sucked it in.

  A deep cleft cracked his chin open, normally hidden beneath all that fuzz. “One of these days I’ll get you to lighten up.”

  “Just keep your challenges facing the other way. I’m not one of them.” She crossed her arms and watched the cabs speed past, going north.

  “What way is that?”

  “Women who’d love to take you up on your offer. I’m sure your ladies would enjoy you lighting them up like a Christmas tree.” She faced him. “I’m fine just the way I am. Got it?”

  He smiled…like a cat would.

  The hospital came into view as they drove into the lot.

  “We made it,” Jim said, pulling over to the curb. He jumped out, bolting to the trunk to get their carts.

  After she clutched her cart and started for the doors, she collided with Gallagher.

  “Take it easy there, McShane. We’ll get there. Your bun’s coming loose, better fix it,” he said and grasped her cart along with his.

  Of course she checked to feel her bun and it was just fine except for a few straggly pieces falling out. She tried to reclaim her cart, but Gallagher wouldn’t budge.

  “Stop trying to always be a man and let someone else be it for a change.” He heaved both carts through the doors, abandoning her with a gaped mouth. A man? Is that what she was considered?

  She caught up and followed him after showing their ID’s to the front desk. On the elevator, he released the handle, letting her have her cart back.

  He continued staring at the mirrored doors. “Nice picture.”

  Confusion washed through her. “What?”

  “Your ID. No bun,” he said, cracking a grin.

  She lifted her ID off her chest to take a look. He was right. She didn’t remember that. “I guess…must have been an off day.”

  “Right. An off day.” His lips were turned up in the corners. Always laughing at her.

  The elevator thumped to a stop. Could still see his smile in the mirrored door. Laugh it up, big boy.

  The doors rumbled open and she pushed through with her cart wheeling behind. Heavy little sucker that it was. She needed to work o
ut more. Mowing her land would do the trick, but she rode the rider instead. No time.

  Voices boomed from the ICU. “I don’t care if they make it now. She’s not giving any organs. I’m tired of being treated like I don’t matter!”

  “Hi, I’m Mallory. You must be Mr. Stevens?” She stuck out her hand. “I heard you’re having a hard time with the process.”

  He shook her hand. “Yeah, that’s right. I changed my mind. No one’s explaining anything to me, and I just want to go,” he said.

  “I know, I get it. I’m so sorry if it wasn’t explained to you.” She glanced at Gallagher observing from the doorway. “I know you made the difficult decision to donate your wife’s organs, and I’d like to help you honor that wish. And now you’re a new father. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

  His shoulders slumped—the dark circles under his eyes telling their own story. “Thank you. I’m so tired. Haven’t slept in hours, and I can’t bear the thought of going home without her.” He let out a long breath, staring at his wife’s swollen body that carried his son.

  She reached out and held his hands. “Your son will be proud of you, knowing this was the hardest day of your life and still went home and raised him. You’ll always be his hero.”

  For the first time, he smiled and wiped his eyes. “Okay, let’s do this then. I trust her in your care.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You’re an angel.”

  Gallagher walked to the heart monitor and checked the vitals. “Heart rate’s dropping, Mal. We need to move.”

  The husband kissed his wife’s lifeless lips once more and nodded to take her before leaving the room.

  An ache filled her heart and caught in her throat, stuck there, daring to choke her. She hated rushing family, but in this case they had no choice. A thickness coated the air, depressing her.

  The nursing team rushed in and wheeled the new mother, who’d never hold her child, to the OR.