Heavy footsteps caught his attention just as Billy John burst through the door. “Jake! Dr. M.! You’ve got to come right now, something’s wrong with Kelly.”
Without thinking, Jake grabbed Meera’s hand and followed Billy John outside. Kelly was lying on the ground, almost unconscious, a hand on her chest.
“Go get my medical bag.” Meera’s voice was firm but calm. Jake hesitated for a second, then took off at a run. “Dial 911 and bring the ambulance back here,” he heard Meera telling Billy John. His pulse raced as he sprinted to the cottage. They didn’t have an ambulance unit in Hell’s Bells. It would take the nearest one thirty minutes to get here.
He barged into the cottage and went straight into Meera’s bedroom, where he knew she kept the bag. He came back outside seconds later and ran to the field. He saw Priya out of the corner of his eye. I can’t let anything happen to Kelly.
He raced back to Meera and dropped the medical bag beside her. She opened it and took out her stethoscope. “Take this blood pressure cuff and put it around her arm, like the picture shows.” Jake nodded and went to work on Kelly’s arm. Meera extracted a bottle of aspirin and took out a pill. She opened Kelly’s mouth and put it under her tongue. She took her blood pressure then brought out another bottle and crushed a tablet a little before putting it in Kelly’s mouth. Jake read the label and saw that it was nitroglycerin.
“What’s wrong with her?” Jake was breathless. Please let her be okay. Please.
Meera hesitated.
“Please,” he said.
Meera opened her mouth then closed it. “She didn’t want to tell you, but she has a medical condition.”
He swallowed.
“I can’t say more. I think she’ll be okay for now.”
He wanted to push Meera to tell him everything, but he knew she wouldn’t. If Kelly had told her not to tell him, Meera would respect that.
Kelly started moaning after a few minutes. He helped Meera get her into a comfortable sitting position while they waited for the ambulance. Meera fussed about her, checking her heart rate and blood pressure again. Kelly mumbled.
“I’ll come with you to the hospital,” Meera said reassuringly.
Jake looked at her gratefully. She didn’t have to go with Kelly—it was his job to take care of her—but he felt better knowing Meera would be there.
Meera used her hand to wipe the drool spilling from Kelly’s mouth. Jake handed her a piece of gauze from the medical bag.
“I’ll get you some soap and water.”
“It’s okay, Jake. Kelly’s family.”
He closed his eyes, pushing back the tears that threatened to spill out. Kelly was family. His family.
The ambulance came and Meera and Jake helped the paramedics load Kelly onto the stretcher. Meera rode in the ambulance so she could keep monitoring her, while Jake followed in his truck. At the hospital, Jake had to settle for pacing in the waiting room. As Kelly’s doctor, Meera was allowed to go in with her. She texted him with updates.
Several hours later, Kelly was admitted for overnight observation, and Jake was finally allowed to see her.
His knees buckled at the sight of Kelly lying in the hospital bed, her body limp.
Meera squeezed his arm. “It’s okay, she’s just sleeping. We gave her morphine, which knocked her out. She’s fine—she’ll be discharged tomorrow.”
Jake sighed in relief. “Thanks, Meera.”
He went to Kelly and sat beside her, holding her hand. Several minutes passed before Meera touched his shoulder. “Go home, Jake. Come back tomorrow when she’s awake. I’ll need to fill out some paperwork, anyway. I’ll catch a ride with one of the townspeople. I’ll keep an eye on her and call you if anything changes.”
“Meera...”
She nodded toward the door. “I’ll walk you out.”
They found half the town in the waiting room. Each person came and grasped Meera’s hand to thank her. Everyone hugged her, too. Jake noted the tears in Meera’s eyes, though she kept repeating that she was just doing her job. What you did for Kelly means more to the people of Hell’s Bells than you can know, Meera. It means more to me than I can express in words.
Jake drove home in a daze, thankful for the empty country roads. When he parked in the carport, he sat still, head on the steering wheel. He eventually turned off the car and staggered into the kitchen.
Priya was sitting at the table. Priya! He’d forgotten about her. She was sipping a cup of tea. Great. This is the last thing I need.
“How’s that woman who collapsed?” she asked politely.
“Kelly’s doing okay now, thanks for asking.”
Priya nodded. “It’s lucky Meera was here. She’s an awesome doctor.”
Jake nodded woodenly. He busied himself taking food out of the refrigerator. One of the ranch hands had left him a bowl of chili. He began slicing a loaf of bread.
“Raj is a really good doctor, too. Did Meera tell you they’re doing research together?”
Jake stopped cutting the bread.
“Yes, it’s quite interesting,” Priya continued. “During medical school, Meera thought of this compound that could possibly stop plaque from building in arteries. She and Raj started researching it together, and they wrote a paper that won them an award. Now they’re doing this laboratory study to develop it into a drug. Raj is going to turn it into something kids can take so they’ll never even develop heart disease.”
Jake swallowed and went back to cutting bread.
“They’re both just so brilliant, you know. I wouldn’t be surprised if they won the Nobel Prize one day. What do you think?”
What I think is that Meera’s too good for this fella, or anyone, for that matter. Priya was looking at him, waiting for a response.
“I’ve never met Raj, so I can’t comment. Meera can do just about anything she sets her mind to.”
“Hmm... I’m surprised Meera didn’t tell you about it. The research is her life. You two seem to have gotten so close.”
He stiffened at her tone. “Excuse me?”
“I couldn’t help noticing that it didn’t take you long to find her medical bag. I’d barely run outside and you were already coming out carrying her bag. If it were me, I’d need some time to search the place.”
He swallowed.
“She told me where it was,” he fibbed.
She narrowed her eyes.
He put the bread in the toaster and the bowl of chili in the microwave.
“You also seemed really comfortable taking her hand when we first heard the news.”
Keep your cool, Jake. The least you can do for Meera is be nice to her cousin. “Kelly is like a sister to me, and she needed medical attention. If you were the doctor, I would’ve taken your hand.”
“That’s not what it seemed like to me.”
Jake remained silent, hoping Priya would tire of his sullen attitude. But Priya wasn’t done.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway—it’s not like she’s going to leave a brilliant pediatrician for a redneck.”
Jake placed his hands on the kitchen counter and took several breaths. He wouldn’t lose his cool, not with this bratty girl, and it wasn’t as if he hadn’t thought the same thing. It was hard to disagree with what she was saying, even if he didn’t like it. “There you are.”
Both Jake and Priya turned at the sound of Meera’s voice. Jake tried and failed to catch her eye. She was talking to Priya. He hung his head. Why would she be looking for me?
When the microwave dinged, he offered them both something to eat.
Priya scrunched her nose. “I’m a vegetarian, like Meera.” Great. Another one.
Meera sat down wearily. She took off her shoes and tucked one foot underneath her. “Actually, would you mind m
aking me one of those grilled cheese sandwiches, please? I’m famished.”
Priya began protesting.
“I’m so sorry, Priya, I have no energy left to go out. I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”
Jake pulled out the frying pan, smiling to himself.
“I can make you one, too, Priya.” His voice was saccharine.
“No, thank you. I’d rather starve.”
“Priya!”
He knew that look on Meera’s face. She was mad as hell.
Priya stood up and stalked off.
Meera sighed.
“Give me another minute, I’ll have the sandwich ready then you can go after her if you want.” Meera smiled at him gratefully, and his heart fired up. “I’ll make her one, too.”
“Thank you, Jake.” She paused as if measuring her words. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Priya. She’s never been this petulant before.”
Jake shook his head. “Your favorite cousin, huh?”
“Well, I don’t have any brothers or sisters, adopted or biological...that I know of. And Priya and I have always been close. Really, I can’t believe she’s behaving like this. It’s not like her at all.”
“Maybe it’s not her.”
“Excuse me?”
Tread lightly, Jake, this can blow up in your face.
He slid the sandwiches onto a plate and held it out to her. “Maybe it’s just that you’ve changed.”
Meera frowned and took the plate from him. “I’m too tired to have this conversation, Jake. Can we call a truce until Kelly’s better?”
“Sure. Thank you, Meera, for taking care of Kelly... If you hadn’t been here...” His voice cracked.
Meera set the plate down and stood suddenly, throwing her arms around his neck. He bent down and hugged her, feeling the warmth and comfort baked into her touch.
She stepped out of his embrace. “Try not to worry. She’ll be okay, I’ll make sure of it.”
And he believed her.
* * *
“PRIYA!” MEERA RAPPED on her bedroom door before walking in. Priya was sprawled on the bed, texting on her phone.
“Why did you bring me here if you were going to be gone the whole day? There’s nothing to do here! Even the cell signal goes in and out.”
Meera sighed. “First, you asked to come here. And I didn’t have any patients scheduled, but Kelly was a medical emergency and the hospital is really far away.”
Priya pouted. Meera tried not to bristle. Why hadn’t she ever noticed how childish Priya could be?
“How can I make it up to you tomorrow?”
Priya brightened and sat up. “Let’s go to Charlotte—I hear there’s some great shopping.” Retail therapy sounded like a good idea; it always made Meera feel better. And it would give her distance from Bellhaven, or Hell’s Bells as she was now beginning to think of it.
“Done. We have to stop by the hospital to check on Kelly, but it’s along the way...more or less. I also have to stop by the clinic to make sure I don’t have any patients... I never do,” she added quickly in response to Priya’s exasperated look.
“Why are you staying here, anyway? I mean, if you don’t have patients, why stick around? Why not blow off the medical rotation and go someplace fabulous like New York or LA?”
“I do have a couple of patients here, like the one who made me this dress, and Kelly, who I took care of tonight.” Meera took a bite of her sandwich and chewed. “You know, this town hasn’t liked me since I got here, but today, they thanked me profusely for taking care of Kelly. The patients in London are always polite, but the way the town was with me tonight...” She couldn’t explain it to Priya. It was more than gratitude in people’s eyes as they shook her hand and hugged her tight. They’d shown her uncensored emotion unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
“Come on, Meera, don’t give me that.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “It’s that totally hot cowboy in the kitchen, isn’t it? I saw the way he looked at you when you walked in and how he seems to know his way around this cottage.”
“Well, he does own it.”
“Uh-huh...you can smoke-screen all you want, but you can’t fool me. So spill it!”
Meera sighed. She should have known Priya would see right through her.
“Really, Priya, it’s nothing. I won’t lie to you, we are attracted to each other, but he knows I’m going back to London to marry Raj and that’s the end of that.” Meera’s face burned. It was a lot more than that, but she wasn’t ready to say it out loud. Not yet. And definitely not to Priya.
“Fine, you don’t want to tell me...don’t.” Priya eyed the sandwich, then reluctantly picked it up. She took a tentative bite and then a bigger one. “You know, it may not be a bad idea to sow your wild oats before the wedding. I mean, I love Raj and you two are so, like, made for each other...but... Jake’s really hot. Like, really hot! And I don’t see any harm in having some fun before you settle down.”
“Priya!” Meera threw a pillow at her.
“Oh, come on, Meera, let loose a little. You’re always such a rule follower.”
Meera shook her head. “And what if he’s such a hottie that I fall in love with him?” She took a big bite of her sandwich.
Priya rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? You and him? What, you’ll be the cowboy and the Indian?” She dissolved into giggles. Meera tried to join in, her laugh high-pitched. Her insides churned.
“Meera, guys like Jake have been hitting on me since high school. They see us as exotic beauties. This is rural America, where everyone is white and grew up eating hamburgers, not vegetable curry. You can’t appreciate this coming from cosmopolitan London, but you and I are different, we’re a novelty. It’s lust—you’re like a fine bottle of wine when he’s used to the stuff from the box.” She studied Meera. “Tell me you haven’t fallen for him!”
Meera shook her head vehemently.
Priya sat up straighter. “’Cause, Meera, he raises cattle here, and these rancher types, this is who they are. You can’t possibly accept—let alone love—someone who kills cows for a living.”
Meera stood up and went to adjust the blinds. “Of course not. I’ve just been teasing with you. There is nothing going on with me and Jake. You’re right...he and I are very different.” She raised the blinds, then lowered them, adjusting the slats so each one was perfectly straight.
“Then why’re you here?”
“What do you mean? I’m doing my rotation.”
Priya fixed her with a look. “That’s the story you gave your mother. You didn’t have to do it right before the wedding. C’mon, Meera, this is me you’re talking to.”
“I still don’t know what you’re implying.”
“Raj called me. He said you’ve been distant, you never call him, you’re short with him on the phone. He’s worried about you.”
Meera’s head began to pound. “Did he send you over here to check up on me?”
“I wouldn’t say that. My house is under repair, and I couldn’t stand the noise so it was a good time to visit. He loves you, Meera. He just wanted to be sure you were okay.”
Meera squeezed her hands into fists. How dare he? It was true that she’d been avoiding Raj’s calls, but sending Priya to check on her was a horrible invasion of her privacy. “And what report will you be giving him, Priya?” Meera asked coldly.
“I won’t tell him about the hottie, if that’s what you’re asking. I believe you. If you’d slept with him, he wouldn’t be looking at you like he wants to eat you for dessert.”
Meera took a deep breath, trying to contain her outrage. “Priya, I’ve always thought of you as a sister. You’re supposed to be on my side, so when Raj asks you to spy on me, kindly tell him to stuff it. And that’s the last I want to hear
about Jake. There is nothing going on between us, but we are friends. Your vulgarity cheapens both of us.”
She stormed off and slammed the door to her bedroom. She flung herself on the bed, tears streaming down her face.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“THESE SHOES ARE to die for.” Priya held up a pair of Via Spigas that were indeed beautiful. Meera started to reach for them but thought better of it. They would just get stuck in the mud. She shook her head at Priya. Once upon a time, shoe shopping was her favorite activity, and a pair of shoes like the ones Priya was holding would have been enough to make her smile for the whole day. Yet today, she felt restless.
“Should we head back? It must be getting late.”
Priya glared at her. “Stores won’t be closing for another three hours. Tell me you’re kidding, please. Especially after you spent all morning seeing patients.”
Meera sighed. Three more hours! All she wanted to do was get through the day with Priya without another fight—or worse, an inquisition. Priya had knocked on her door this morning holding a piece of paper that said Sorry. She’d sat down on Meera’s bed and apologized sincerely about Raj. By unspoken agreement, she hadn’t mentioned Jake all day. They talked about the usual things: Priya’s unending string of boyfriends, all of whom were unsuitable husband material; her fledgling interior design business; and her ever-present, domineering mother. Meera let Priya fill the conversation with chatter that normally amused her to no end.
“Hello!”
Meera looked up.
“Huh?”
Priya blew out an exasperated breath. “You’ve been tuning me out all day.”
“I’m sorry, Priya, I’m just worried about Kelly. She got discharged this morning, but I think she’s going to need surgery and she doesn’t have health insurance.”
“Hmm... So back to my original question—what do you do in Hell’s Bells when you don’t have any patients and you don’t have awesome me to keep you company?”
Meera shrugged. “I’ve been busy the last week and a half. I’ve been doing physicals on Jake’s staff, I’ve helped him out on the ranch...there was the Bull Blazin’ Festival.” Meera’s cheek’s reddened as she thought about the kiss at the festival. She turned to examine a pair of shoes so Priya wouldn’t catch her blushing.
First Comes Marriage Page 14
