He’d been discharged hours before, her father signing off on his release. He still had a way to go in his recovery, but he was going to be okay.

“Thanks again for both,” Reed said. They loaded his bag into the back of Erika’s car and he climbed into the passenger seat.

In a few hours, Erika would be starting on a new chapter of her life. With the man she loved.

The last two weeks had been a whirlwind. She’d listed her condo for sale, packed her personal belongings and found a place to rent near Wild River Community Hospital—just until she could find a house she wanted to buy. She’d said her goodbyes to the staff at Alaska General Hospital...and her dad, and now she was ready to go.

More than ready.

There was nothing left to do here.

She hadn’t second-guessed her decision once. Only excitement and happiness filled her heart as she turned to her father. “Bye, Dad. Thank you again for everything.” She hesitated. “Don’t be a stranger, okay. Skiing conditions in Wild River are great this time of year.” The last two weeks they’d made some progress, but their relationship still had some growing to do and she hoped he’d make time for that.

She would. She refused to give up on him yet.

He pulled her in for a quick hug and she wrapped her arms around him, holding on a little longer than he was comfortable with. Feeling him tense, she reluctantly stepped away.

“This is for you,” he said, handing her a manila envelope.

“What is it?” she asked. The last time he’d handed her a letter, the news hadn’t been good. Or so she’d thought. Turned out, it had been the best thing to happen to her.

He was silent as she read the letter from the American Surgical Association recognizing her efforts in leading the clinical trials team.

Early results were showing amazing progress. Her father had asked her to rejoin the team, claiming she could even start her own trials in Wild River, but she’d declined. The drug testing was in good hands and she was moving on.

Until that moment, she’d pushed aside how much the trials and the success of the new drug meant to her. Now, the words swam on the page and a feeling of acceptance and pride overwhelmed her. She impulsively hugged her father again. “Thank you for this. It means a lot,” she whispered. More than he could ever know.

“You deserve it.” He cleared his throat, shoving his hands into his lab coat pockets. “Your mom would be proud and so am I.”

A lump rose in her throat. It was the first time he’d mentioned her mother since she died. Maybe they would be okay. Baby steps.