Aunt Nadine nodded. “I hadn’t wanted to admit I had a problem. I was too scared. Admitting there was something wrong with me . . .” Her eyes teared up. “Well, now I don’t have to be scared. You’ve made my day, doctor, I mean, Carol.”

Carol nodded and smiled.

Aunt Nadine returned the smile, unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. “I’m feeling better already.”

Carol patted Aunt Nadine’s hand. “As you should. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients. We’ll keep you one more day, dear, to make sure you tolerate this new medication.”

Carol said her goodbyes and exited. Jack followed her out. “You mean to tell me that her medication has been causing her memory issues?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t discuss a patient’s private health information. HIPAA and all that.”

“She raised me, I’m family, and she’s signed the appropriate documents, so you could speak to me.”

Carol skimmed through the paperwork and appeared to make a decision.

“Well, I’m not telling you more than I said in the room. Yes, in some patients—especially older patients—we’ve seen a strong correlation between symptoms of dementia and this particular medication. It’s true of low vitamin B levels as well. We’ll do what we can and hope for a positive outcome.”

Jack swiped a hand down his face. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “This whole time . . . Doctor, I gave up my job to come be with her. I wanted to make sure she’s all right.”

Carol studied him. “You sound like a nice young gentleman who cares deeply about her. I hope you’ll consider sticking around, even if her memory improves.”

He nodded as he watched Dr. Carol Presser head down the hallway and enter a room four doors away.

Jack stood alone in the hallway, soaking in the news. Aunt Nadine was going to be all right. Part of him wanted to be angry at the medication for wreaking such havoc on their lives. Jack realized that even if he hadn’t been shot, even if he hadn’t failed Sarah, he would be back in Montana and, yes, probably working for the Grayback County Sheriff’s offices.

And he realized that if he weren’t Detective Tanner, then he wouldn’t have run into Terra again. Was Providence throwing them together? Were they meant to be? Was this their second chance? He didn’t know.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Terra spoke from behind.

He turned and tried to absorb her lovely smile and the look in her eyes that reflected her compassionate heart. Jack didn’t mind her gorgeous hair, striking eyes, and rosy cheeks either. But who was looking? He grinned to himself. He thought he might actually measure up this time, at least in his own mind, but would she feel the same way? Was he the man for her?