Everyone turned to look—including Dr. Quick, who immediately frowned—but Melissa was looking at the stranger, and the longer she looked, the more puzzled she became.

“Do I know you?” she asked. “You look so familiar.”

Sully was staring at her eyes again.

“My name is Sully Raines.”

Melissa frowned. “I knew a Johnny Raines from Missouri.”

Sully’s dark eyes widened as he remembered them calling her Melissa.

“Melissa? Missy, is that you?”

Melissa gasped. “Yes! Oh my God, Johnny! What are the odds of this happening? Where did you come from? Why are you in Blessings? You just saved my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Doctor Quick pointed toward the door.

“You’re not supposed to be out of bed,” he said, but Melissa didn’t even acknowledge his remark.

Sully smiled.

“I dropped the Johnny for Sully when I was in high school. As to why I’m here, it’s a long story.”

“Are you just passing through?” Melissa asked.

“Not exactly,” Sully said.

Before Melissa could ask anything more, Hope had her by the arm.

“Here you are, Melissa Dean. I thought you had better sense,” Hope said. She took Melissa by the elbow and led her back into her room and settled her back into bed. Then she raised both of the guardrails and pulled up the covers. “How do you feel?” Hope asked.

Melissa wasn’t going to admit that she was dizzy and glad to be lying down again.

“Oh my God, Hope! You don’t understand! I know him! I grew up with him. He’s the first boy I ever kissed, and I haven’t seen him since I was thirteen! He saved my life, Hope. I had to say thank you.”

Hope brushed a lock of Melissa’s hair away from her forehead as she smiled. “That is amazing, and I understand the quirks of fate better than most. But you two will have to catch up on old times later. You don’t want to make yourself worse by passing out, okay?”

“Yes, I promise. I won’t get up on my own until you guys are through checking me out.”

Hope left, and Melissa tried to rest, but the longer she lay there, the more she began to hurt. She was verging on tears when Sully appeared in her doorway.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” Melissa said, noticing for the first time how tall he’d become.

“I’m leaving now, but I’ll be in town for a couple of days. If you get to feeling better, maybe we could meet at Granny’s for coffee. I’m at the Blessings Bed and Breakfast. Just leave me a message if you’re up to it.”

“I will. I promise. I’m sorry you were hurt, but thank you again for today. I would have died if it hadn’t been for you.”

Sully blew it off. “I’ll take the pain for the pleasure of running into you like this. Do what the doctor tells you,” he said, and then he was gone.

Melissa smiled and closed her eyes. The next time someone came in the room, it was Hope and the doctor. He moved to the side of her bed.