But sometime in the past twenty minutes he’d arrived at a decision—he was going to stay in Piper’s Cove.

It was his fault the ladder had fallen. He’d stay and help get her shop ready to open. He’d paint or clean or whatever she needed him to do.

Of course, staying would mean missing the ESTA ceremony. He wasn’t going to lie, that was a bummer. But with Sophie’s sister on her honeymoon, and her brother in a new job, she didn’t have anyone else. She needed him, and he wasn’t going to leave her to fend for herself.

Sophie checked her watch. “You should go. You’ll miss your flight. I can take an Uber home.”

“I want to make sure you’re okay. You’re due up any time now.”

“This could take all—”

“Sophie Lawson,” the nurse called from the door that led to the examination rooms.

“What’d I tell you?” he asked.

chapter seventeen

The young female doctor swept into the room and pushed a slide onto the glowing screen. “So, here it is.”

The paper crackled beneath Sophie as she leaned in for a closer look, but she had no idea what she was looking at.

Aiden took two steps closer, studying the film. He’d insisted on keeping her company even though the ticking clock was making her nervous he’d miss his flight.

“Good news.” The doctor pushed her glasses up on her nose and began writing a prescription. “It’s not broken—just a sprain. You’ll want to keep it elevated as much as possible over the next two to three days. Ice it for twenty to thirty minutes up to four times a day. Since you can’t put weight on it, you’ll want crutches for the next few days.”

“Crutches? But I can’t.”

The doctor’s gaze toggled to Aiden, then back to Sophie. “It’s imperative your ankle heal correctly, Mrs. . . .” She glanced down at the chart. “Lawson.”

Sophie didn’t bother correcting her. “Can’t you just put me in a cast or boot or something?”

“A boot’s a good idea. If it’s not too painful to walk on, you can go that route.”

But Sophie remembered the pain that had shot up her leg when she’d tried to stand on it. Crutches or boot, she was effectively laid up for the time being.

“You can pick up either of those at the pharmacy when you fill this.” She ripped the prescription off the pad and handed it to Sophie along with an instruction sheet. “Take one of these every four to six hours as needed. Ibuprofen after that. Any questions?”

“No.” She couldn’t keep the dejection from her tone. “Thank you.”

“You’re all done here then. Good luck with your ankle.” The doctor swept out of the room, leaving the door open.