He recognized an orderly as someone he’d gone to school with, and one of the custodians was a neighbor from his childhood. And then everyone was talking to him, telling him they’d helped care for his mother and thanking him for stepping in for the pilot.

Then Dr. Quick came out of an exam room and went straight to Hunt. Ava made the introduction. “Dr. Quick, this is Hunt Knox. Hunt, this is Dr. Quick, our ER doctor.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for stepping up,” Quick said.

Hunt shrugged. “I’m glad I was able to help,” he said, and shook the doctor’s hand. “Nice to meet everyone…but this appears to be a busy place. Looks like I need to evacuate so you all can get back to work.”

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to walk him out,” Ava said, and walked Hunt out of the building and then back to his Harley. “Will I see you later?”

“Count on it,” Hunt said, then slid an arm around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her. “This must be getting old to you. So far, our entire relationship has consisted of eating, or going to eat, or making love. But there are a thousand things I can’t wait to show you when we get back to Houston.”

Ava slid a hand up the side of his cheek.

“Hunt, you forget. In my eyes, we’re old friends who just fell in love. I have memories of all kinds of things I did with your family, you included. I ate half my meals with you then. The fact that we’re still doing it just makes everything right. And the plus side of it is you finally fell in love with me. That’s all I ever wanted. We both have responsibilities. If our time off revolves around an evening meal, then count me in.”

He grabbed her hand, pulled her forward, and kissed her again.

“Consider yourself counted. I’ll either bring food to your place, or I’ll pick you up and we’ll eat somewhere here in town. So do you want me to bring food to you, or do we go eat out? My place is a mess.”

“What do you want to do?” she asked.

“Eat and make love to you,” he said.

She laughed out loud, then threw her arms around his neck.

“Then we better eat out first,” she said.

He grinned. “Pick you up at six?”

She nodded. “I’ve got to get back to work. See you later.”

He started up the Harley and rode away.

* * *

Emma was at the Crown getting groceries when Lilah, one of her friends from church, came running up to her.

“Lord, lord, Emma! What a miracle your brother was for the Randolph family. I know you must be proud of him!”