“She’s earned it,” Harper said.

“Here’s the deal.” Flann ran a hand through her hair, her gaze cutting from Harper to Glenn. “There’s a lot of things I’ve done in the last few years I don’t think I could’ve done without Glenn, but Harp has shown me the road for most of my life.”

Glenn glanced at Harper. On the day her last tour had ended, she’d sworn she’d go lone wolf, that she’d never let anyone close enough to lose a piece of herself if anything happened to them. She didn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s well-being again, in any way. But in the three years she’d spent by Flann’s side, working together, struggling together, sometimes losing together, she’d broken her own promise to herself. Flann was her best friend, and whatever she needed, whenever she needed it, Glenn would be there for her. “Whatever you want, I’m good with it.”

“Totally,” Harper said.

Flann blew out a breath. “So you two will both stand up with me?”

“For sure.” Harper grinned at Glenn. “We’re good, right?”

“Absolutely,” Glenn said.

“Thanks,” Flann said. “That was harder than waiting for Abby to say yes.”

“Which took, what, all of a second?” Harper teased.

“About that, yeah,” Flann said with her usual cocky flair.

“Does Blake know yet?” Harper asked.

“No, Abby and I are gonna tell him after I tell Mom and Dad.”

“Once Margie knows,” Harper said, “he’ll know. You know the two of them share everything, so you probably need to make it simultaneous.”

“Right.” Flann shook her head, smiling wryly. “I sort of wonder what’s going on with those two, but I don’t actually know how to ask.”

“Does it matter?” Harper asked.

“Only because I don’t want to see either one of them get hurt.”

“You can’t protect them from falling in or out of love,” Harper said. “Most everybody gets their heart broken at that age. Hell, I did regularly.”

Glenn hadn’t, but she’d never had a girlfriend in high school, or after that, either. She’d had hookups. She had natural urges, after all, and being in the kind of stressful day-to-day environment where life was pretty much on an hour-to-hour basis, the need to connect just to feel you had a little bit of a grip on life was even more urgent. But since she’d been back, there hadn’t been anyone.

“It’s never easy,” Flann agreed, “but I know Blake is already taking flak about being trans and Margie along with him. I just want to make sure no matter what, they’re okay.”

“We’ll all look out for them,” Glenn said quietly.

“Yeah,” Harper said, “but we have to let them tell us what they want us to know, if and when there’s anything to tell.”

Flann rubbed her face. “This parenting business is really tough. And I got one half-grown-up already.”

“Hey,” Harper said, “why don’t you and Abby do the announcement thing on Sunday at family dinner. Then we’ll all be there.” She glanced at Glenn. “And you too, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Perfect.” Harper dusted her hands. “That way everybody gets it at once, problem solved.”

Flann nodded. “Sounds good to me. Abby can decide if we should tell Blake first.”

“I suppose we better head to the staff meeting,” Harper said, grinning. “Presley will not be happy if I’m late.”

Glenn stood, wondering if she’d be in time to grab a seat with Mari.

*

The staff meeting was the first Mari had ever attended, since she’d had no reason to think much about the actual running of a hospital during her training. This one surprised her. The meeting started exactly on time, for one thing. She’d been watching for Glenn and saw her slip in just a few seconds before half past seven with Flannery Rivers and another woman who looked very much like Flannery except for her opposite coloring. She must be the other Dr. Rivers—Harper. When Glenn and Flann took seats, Harper went on to the front of the room and joined an elegant-looking blonde in a bottle-green suit at the narrow podium. Mari didn’t need anyone to tell her this was Presley Worth. She exuded authority simply by the way she scanned the room with a combination of command and camaraderie.

The CEO was as impressive as everyone had made her out to be. Presley quickly and concisely brought everyone up to date with the various plans for expansion of the physical hospital as well as the new ER residency and other training programs under way. A ripple of excitement moved through the audience, and something else that Mari recognized after a while…hope. She’d known that everyone had lived under the threat of the hospital closing for quite some time, but she hadn’t appreciated how important the hospital was to so many people in the community. Not just because a significant percentage worked there, but because the institution represented a huge piece of the history of the town. Even though there had to be newcomers like Mari, she bet the majority of those crowding into the dome-ceilinged, wood-paneled auditorium had been born there, or their parents had been.

Strangely, she didn’t feel like an outsider. She hadn’t expected to feel so comfortable in such a small-town environment after growing up in one of the biggest cities in the world, but she did. Just by virtue of being part of the hospital, she had become part of the community. By the time the meeting was over, she felt even more a part of her new world. The homesickness and sadness drifted a little more into the background with each passing day.

As she made her way outside an hour later, she heard her name and turned to see Glenn coming after her with quick, sure strides. Mari waited, a swift surge of anticipation coursing through her.

“Hi,” Glenn said. “Walking home?”

“Yes.”

“Mind company?”

“Of course not,” Mari said quickly, “although you don’t need to feel you have to. It’s perfectly safe.” She laughed. “Not even a hint of rain.”

“I know, but I’ve been cooped up all day and I’d like to stretch my legs, unless you want to be alone.” Glenn shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and, for the first time ever, appeared less than absolutely confident.

“No, I don’t,” Mari said quietly. “I’d love the company.”

“What did you think of the meeting?” Glenn asked as they started down the winding hillside. Cars streamed past them, the staff heading home after the meeting.

“It certainly sounds like it’s a busy time around here,” Mari said. “An exciting one too.”

“A lot of change all at once. Somehow, Presley has convinced everyone that she can work miracles, and I think she probably can.”

“I’m convinced, and I’ve only heard her speak once,” Mari said. “I could feel the sense of purpose everyone had, as if everyone counted. She made everyone feel essential.”

“Everyone is,” Glenn said. “Speaking of essential, are you sure you’re not up for trying a little friendly softb—”

“Trust me. Very sure.” Mari laughed. “But I will come cheer as promised.”

“Good enough. We can head over after work tomorrow—maybe grab something to eat first if you want.”

Mari hesitated. She’d never actually had a date with a woman, and she didn’t think Glenn was actually asking her out, but her voice disappeared on a swell of excitement all the same. She swallowed quickly. “Sure. Sounds great.”

By the time they neared the end of the road, darkness had fallen and only the occasional headlight slashed across their path. When they turned onto Main Street, Glenn asked, “How did things go today? Any problems?”

“No, at least not in the ER.” Mari hadn’t had time to really assimilate everything Carrie had told her, but throughout the afternoon their conversation kept coming back to her along with the disquieting knowledge that she didn’t really know her family after all.

“Something wrong?” Glenn asked quietly.

“No, not really.” Mari sighed. “Well, yes, sort of. I’m not really sure yet. The strangest thing happened today—maybe you already know about it. Carrie came by to talk to me.”

“Carrie?” Glenn frowned. “No, why would I know what she had to say?”

“Oh, I thought maybe you and Carrie…” Mari suddenly felt foolish. “Sorry, never mind.”

“Carrie and me? Oh.” Glenn didn’t laugh or seem put out, just contemplative. “No…we’re friends, but not that way. If that’s what you meant.”

“Oh Lord, I am sorry,” Mari said in a rush. “It’s certainly none of my business one way or the other.”

“Hey, it’s no big deal. Anyhow, what happened?”

“It seems that Carrie and I are related. We’re cousins.”

Glenn stopped walking. “What? How is that possible—and you didn’t know?”

“That’s exactly the way I feel.” Mari threw up her hands. “It seems my mother and Carrie’s mother are sisters, and they’ve been carrying on a secret relationship all these years—keeping each other updated about their families, about us kids and who knows what else—while my mother has pretended that she doesn’t have any family.”

“Why?”

Mari sighed, partly embarrassed and partly angry. “Apparently because my father doesn’t approve of Carrie’s parents and convinced my mother to sever ties with them. Or pretend she had.”

“Wow. That’s hard.”

“If it’s true, and I don’t have any reason to think it isn’t, it’s more than that.” Mari’s chest throbbed with suppressed outrage. “It’s selfish and cruel to deprive my mother of her family, to deprive all of us of our family.”

“Are you going to ask your mother?”

“I haven’t quite figured out how I’m going to bring it up. We’re not really communicating at all since I told them about myself.” She tightened her shoulders as if that would make the psychic blow less painful. “They didn’t even call me before I left to move here even though I left messages. I sent them all my new contact information and haven’t heard anything—not even an email.”