Mel was temporarily shocked and for the first time realized she’d come onto the porch without a coat. She shivered. Tears gathered. “Cheryl, my God, I’m so sorry. Someone should’ve gotten word to you. I’m surprised your parents didn’t— Doc passed away suddenly last October. We don’t know why. His heart maybe. Or a fatal stroke. There was no autopsy…”
“Doc? Gone?” Cheryl asked.
“I’m sorry,” Mel said. Mel blinked and a tear escaped. “He was so happy you decided on treatment. He’d be so proud of you.”
“God,” she said. “Isn’t it amazing how fast things can just shift? He was always kind to me…” Cheryl shook herself. “Well. I can’t remember if I ever did anything terrible to you that I should make amends for, but—”
“You didn’t,” Mel said quickly, shaking her head. “In fact, you were nice to me. You offered to help me with babysitting a long time ago. You cleaned out that horrible cabin Hope McCrea gave me as my free housing.”
“I don’t remember about babysitting,” Cheryl said.
“Trust me. You were nice to me.”
“Thanks for that,” Cheryl said. “But Jack—I know I was a thorn in his butt. I wonder if I should go see him, tell him I’m sorry about that.”
“You should definitely see him, though I already know he’s not holding any grudge. But it would make Jack so happy to see you sober and well. It would be a good thing.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Cheryl.”
“That’s amends to you, too—I made a pass at Jack. I mean, I want to tell him it was just booze. I’m not really insane.” Then she smiled. “Well, no more than the average drunk.”
Mel let go a small laugh. “That must have happened way before I found him—you have no amends to make to me. And I’ll bet Jack understands. Still, you can’t imagine how happy it would make him to know you’re in recovery. Cheryl—I never told him I took you to a treatment facility.”
“You didn’t?” she asked, shocked. “I thought the whole town knew!”
“Not from me or…Doc. We don’t talk about clinic business.”
“Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
“Well, now that you know, you can expect it. In fact, I never heard any talk around town. After all, it wasn’t the first time you slipped away for a while.” She grinned.
There was a quiet moment between them as they just looked into each other’s eyes. Then Cheryl said, “Thank you, Mrs. Sheridan. It was a real good thing you did for me.”
Mel felt her gut clench and tears threaten to flow. Those had been Doc’s exact words! How he would have enjoyed seeing her like this, so different, so attractive and talking so smart. Mel liked to think maybe Doc did see. “I’m so glad it worked out, I’m proud of you. Go. See Jack and your folks. Have a nice visit. Will you stop by sometimes? When you visit your parents? Tell us how you are?”
Cheryl nodded. “Sure. If you want.”
“I want,” Mel said. “That would be nice.”
When Mel went back inside the clinic, she went to Doc’s old office, which she now shared with Cam. There were no patients, the kids were napping, Cam was off on errands. She was alone—free and clear. She put her head down on her arms and cried. Cried happy tears for Cheryl and special tears for missing Doc, knowing what it would mean to him to see one of his own coming out of such a dark time. God, to look at the woman was inspiring! To listen to her speak, so astounding! She was a whole new person. And she was young yet; she had a chance for a full and productive life.
Mel was consumed for at least a half hour. Then she heard the sound of a vehicle and thinking, again, it might be Bruce with mail, she wiped her eyes and walked out on the porch. This time it was Bruce. He handed her a packet of mail. “Any specimens?” he asked.
“Not today,” she said.
“Good. I get off early.”
As he jumped back in his truck, she looked at the front porch of Jack’s bar. He walked outside with an arm draped over Cheryl’s shoulders. They stopped, hugged, and Cheryl bounced down the steps to the waiting truck. The truck backed away.
Jack stood on his porch, looking at his wife. Even from across the street she could see the tenderness in his smile, the pride and gratitude. Cheryl had told him everything. He lifted his hand to Mel. And she lifted hers.
Nineteen