“We heard through the grapevine that you got hurt, and came to see if you needed any help,” Dan said. “And I don’t think you’ve met my wife, Alice.”

“It’s a pleasure, Alice. Please, both of you have a seat,” Cathy said, pointing to the sofa nearest her chair, then eyed the bandage on Dan’s hand. “Duke Talbot told me you came into ER while he was waiting to bring me home. What happened to your hand?”

“Oh, carelessness, mostly. I was replacing windowpanes in an empty house and one of them broke in my hand. It’s not a bad cut, and because it’s in the palm they just glued the cut rather than stitches or staples.”

“It sure scared me,” Alice said. “Dan is my everything.”

“Ditto, honey,” Dan said, and gave Alice a quick smile and then shifted focus back to Cathy. “I know you’re still on foot. What can we help you do? Do you need groceries or prescriptions filled?”

“I think I’m okay with all that,” Cathy said. “I had been toying with the idea of leasing a car. I should have acted on the thought sooner.”

“Can I bring you some supper tonight?” Alice asked.

“Thank you for the offer, but I already have food. Duke got some for me before he left, and Lovey sent fried chicken and potatoes and gravy for later.”

Alice smiled. “Lovey is the best, but I don’t like to think about you here all hurt and alone. I want to leave my phone number for you. If I do, will you promise to call if you need anything?”

“That’s really sweet of you,” Cathy said. “There’s a pad and pen in the kitchen. Duke already wrote his number on it. You can leave yours too, if you want.”

“Yes, I want to. A while back, my two kids and I showed up here in Blessings without anything but the clothes on our back. I don’t know what would have happened to us if it hadn’t been for the people of Blessings. And then of course, Dan came to town and saved us.”

Dan chuckled. “Well, I fell in love with them first. Then I did the hero thing.”

Alice poked him on the arm and then went to the kitchen to write down her name and number.

Cathy was just beginning to realize what a jewel of a place she’d stumbled into. It was beginning to feel like a place to heal in more ways than one.

“Okay, you have my number,” Alice said, as she came back into the room. “Do you have to go back to the doctor for any kind of follow-up?”

“Not unless I have problems,” Cathy said. “As soon as I feel like it, I can walk on my ankle, but as you can see, Duke rented this Rollator to make sure I had a way to get around until it heals.”

“The Talbot family is well thought of in the area,” Dan said. “He’s a good friend to have. Now, if you’re sure we can’t do anything for you, we’ll get out of here and maybe you can get some rest. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”