Love Heals All (Once Broken Book 2)

by Alison Mello

  “I’ve been dating his sister for quite some time now. As a matter of fact, I love her, and I hurt her deeply with the way I handled the situation I was in. Now, she needs me, and I’d like to be there for her. I know you’ve been understanding with my time, but can I please take leave for the afternoon?”

  “Is she all right? Does the Major know?”

  “She’s fine, and he called me, sir, he knows. It’s her boss and mentor. He was just rushed to the hospital. We’re waiting for an update, but from the way the Major was sounding, it doesn’t look good. I’d like to take her to the hospital to see him. She’s very close to the man, and I don’t want her to have to go alone.” I looked down. “I didn’t allow her to be there for me the way I should have, now I need to be there for her.”

  “Listen, son. When you retire from this man’s Army in another couple years, there’s going to be a few select people at your side. A few men here and there that you manage to stay in touch with because you’ve caught up at multiple duty stations and became close friends. Other than that, all you have is your family. What I’m telling you is, especially at this stage in the game, family comes first. I didn’t always believe that, but after some recent events, I came to realize I was wrong. You get done what you can while you wait for an update, and then you do what you have to do, but make sure your men are squared away here, also.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” I start to walk back toward the door but before I leave I turn back to him. “Sir.” He looks back up at me. “I hope your family is well.”

  He gives me a tight smile. “Thank you, son.” I nod and walk out the door, straight to the bay where my men are.

  Leaning on the counter, I take a minute to watch my men at work. I’ve been on this base for a year now, and my time in is almost up. At one point I dreaded the thought of my career coming to an end. Always wondered what I would do with my life when it was time for me to retire, now I’m counting down the days. I’ll be retiring ahead of Callen, and I hope he’s serious about staying down here and opening a shop with me, because that’s exactly what I plan on doing right after I marry the love of my life.

  “Listen up, guys.” I hear tools drop and see heads pop out from under vehicles. “Everyone gather around, please.” The guys all come over to the counter I’m leaning on. “First, I need to apologize to you guys. I know I’ve been a surly dick lately, and I’m sorry. I had some things going on that I should have admitted to, and instead, like the thick headed numbskull I am, I tried to fix things myself, and it cost me dearly. I hope you guys can forgive me.” The guys are all quiet for what feels like an eternity. I’m about to speak up and say more but I’m stopped.

  Max punches me in the arm. “We’re just glad to see you back to yourself, Sarge.” I’m one lucky fuck. My guys forgive me, and now I need to pray my girl does too.

  “Thanks, guys. Now that I’m getting better, I have one more thing I need to take care of. I know I haven’t been here as often as I should because I’ve been busy getting my shit together, but I may have to leave early today. Brooke’s boss and mentor is in the hospital because of a heart attack, and it’s not looking good. I’m waiting for a call, but will probably have to run out as soon as it comes through so I can get her over there to spend some time with him.” The guys pat my back in support and if feels good. I wish I had realized I had all of this sooner. “As usual you’ll have to deal with Callen being in charge.”

  “What the fuck?” Tommy bellows angrily. I can tell from the look on his face that he’s joking, but it’s still funny.

  “You’re such an asshole. You know I’m so much easier to work for than this dickhead.” He slaps me on the back.

  The guys all burst into laughter. “Okay, comedy hour is over. Get back to work. I have shit to do.” I walk to my office and the guys go back to the vehicles they’re working on. I take a seat at my desk and boot up my laptop. While I wait I send a quick text to Remy.

  Vaughn: Spoke to CO, I’m good to go. Let me know.

  I put my phone down and begin going through emails. There’s a shit ton of them because I haven’t been checking it as often as I should. As I go through I realize that my boy really covered my ass while I was doing my thing. I’m trying really hard to concentrate. I’m about a quarter of the way through before I check my phone and notice I have nothing from Remy yet. It’s really hard to think about work when I’m waiting on something so important.

  I put my phone down and continue working. I take time to check on parts, see what we have up that needs to be worked on, and be sure to set a priority for the guys. Callen is pretty good at all of that, but it will be good to have it done for him while he’s out there working on vehicles too. I’m finishing up processing some paperwork. It’s been a busy morning, I’ve worked straight through lunch because I know I’m going to have to leave soon. Placing my clipboards back on their appropriate hooks, I shove the last of my granola bar into my mouth when my phone chirps.

  Remy: Get her there ASAP. It’s not good.

  Shit, I mutter to myself. Grabbing my phone and keys, I run out the door. “Got to go, Callen.” I run to my CO’s office his door is open. I knock and peek my head in. He looks up from his computer. “I got the call, sir.”

  “Go.” I thank him and run back down the hall. Going straight to my car, I send Remy a text as I start it up.

  Vaughn: On my way.

  I have to be careful driving on base, the MPs are everywhere, and despite the fact I fix their fucking vehicles, they’d give me a ticket in a fucking heartbeat. The second I’m through the gate and on the main road, I fly to get the clinic as quickly as I can. I’m happy it’s only a few minutes away, and thanks to my speeding, I shaved a few minutes off the commute. As soon as I walk through the door, I spot Courtney. “Where’s Brooke?”

  Her eyes fill with panic. “In the back, why?”

  “Get her, please. I need to get her to the hospital.” Her eyes well with tears as she jumps from her seat and runs to the back. While I stand in the entry waiting for her, I take deep breaths, trying to maintain control, but internally I’m a bit freaked out. I haven’t seen her in a few weeks, and now I’m whisking her away to the hospital to see a man she cares deeply for.

  “Vaughn?” Her eyes are pleading.

  “Angel, we have to go.”

  Her eyes well. “But how do you know?” Her voice is laced with concern.

  I place each of my hands on her arms. “Angel, look at me.” I wait for her to look into my eyes. “Remy called. I need to get you to the hospital. Grab your purse.” I shake her gently. She nods and runs off.

  When she gets back, she turns to Courtney. “I’ll call you in a bit. Have Raeanne take care of whatever she can. If there are any emergencies, they’ll have to take them to the larger hospital outside of town until I know what’s going on. Call or text me if you need me, but I’ll be in touch soon.” Courtney nods. I take her hand and run her out the door to my waiting car.

  Chapter 24

  Brooke

  We arrive at the hospital and Vaughn drops me off at the door with a promise I would text him the room number as soon as I have it. He pulls away to find a parking spot and I run inside. There’s an older woman sitting by the door with a headset on, chewing gum. She’s dressed like she’s from the eighties, but is really much older. It almost makes me laugh. “Excuse me.” My voice is rushed. “I’m looking for Dr. Joel Kramer, please. He’s a patient here. He was rushed in this morning.” I’m rambling now but she types away on the computer, still chomping on her gum as if she’s a teen who doesn’t know better.

  She looks up at me. “And you are?

  “Dr. Brooke Bennett.” She looks back down at the computer and back up at me. She notices my name on the lab coat I forgot to take off.

  “Room three fourteen.” She nods with her head toward a hall. “Take the elevators over there up to the third floor, hang a right when you get off, and his room is down the hall.”

  I n
od and run for the elevators, sending Vaughn the text he’s waiting for. Once I’m in the elevator, I send him a second one with the instructions Chompy gave me. Yes, I really just nicknamed her Chompy, there’s no other name for her. When I get to the third floor, I follow the directions, finding his room and my father. “Daddy.” I run over to him. He wraps me into a hug and rubs my back, consoling me. “How is he?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie, but it’s not good. He’s holding on by a thread. They really need to operate but can’t. He’s not strong enough.” I close my eyes, taking in his words. I want to scream at the doctor, force him to do something, but I know darn well they’re doing all they can. I have the same hurt my clients have when they want me to heal their pet when there’s nothing else we can do. He hugs me one more time. “We just have to wait.” Doctors are doctors. I just gave that same line to a client not too long ago. It will do me no good to be angry. “Why don’t you go sit with him?”

  “Vaughn is on his way up.” My dad nods and I stroll into the room. It’s dark with the curtain drawn and the lights off. His eyes are closed, and the only sign to tell me he’s still with me is the ventilator breathing for him and the beeping of the heart monitor. I pull a chair up to his side, lower myself into it, and take his hand, hoping he knows I’m here for him. “You can’t leave me yet. I’m not ready.” I squeeze his hand. I exhale a deep breath. “After you left today, I lost it. I was scared. I’ve always had you by my side, you’ve been there to help me make the right decisions, to ensure I do a procedure correctly, to support me, and train me to be the best I can be.” I wipe the tears from my face. “I’m not there yet. I have so much more to learn from you. I’m not sure I can go in every day and not see your smiling face. You taught me about paying it forward and supporting others. Well, now I’m here to support you in return, so you have to fight. You have to get better.”

  I can feel his eyes on me as I talk with my friend. He walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me and I lose it. I drop Dr. Kramer’s hand and hug Vaughn at his waist, sobbing with my face pressed to his stomach. He rubs my back and tries to console me as I fear losing my dear friend.

  A doctor walks in a few minutes later with my father. He checks his vitals and makes some notes on a chart. “We discovered that Dr. Kramer had two people listed as next of kin, you and his attorney. His attorney was by earlier to see how he was doing, and we told him the same thing I’m going to tell you. I’m not sure he’s going to make the night. His heartbeat is erratic and his blood pressure is extremely low. We’re doing what we can to make him stronger, but there’s not much more we can do until things level out. His lawyer did ask that I give you this note.” He hands me an envelope. I rip it open to find two slips of paper inside.

  Dear Ms. Bennett,

  I was asked to hold onto this note until this day came. The day when we were losing our beloved Dr. Kramer.

  Warmest regards,

  Jacob Fox

  I flip to the second sheet of paper and it’s a letter from Dr. Kramer.

  My dearest Brooke,

  If you’re reading this, it is either because I’ve passed on, or am seriously ill and things aren’t looking good. As you know, I’m not good at expressing my feelings or dealing with emotion, but I wanted to have a chance to tell you how proud I am of the grown woman you’ve become, and this here letter is the only way for me to do it. You have done amazing things while working with me at the clinic. You managed to not only work hard in school, but maintain quite a schedule so you could take on as much hands-on training as possible. Your dedication to your academics as well as the clinic and your family has not gone unnoticed.

  When you started working the front desk of my clinic all those years ago, I thought you were just some young kid looking to make money, but I was wrong. I had no idea the friendship we would build in working side by side. When I lost Carly and Bobby, well, it broke my heart, but you were there for me. You helped me pick myself back up and get through the hurdle. You became my family.

  Even now as I write this, I’m struggling to express how much you’ve come to mean to me. I know I could never replace your father and I’d never want to, he’s a fine man, and has done an amazing job raising you and your brothers, but you’re like a daughter to me.

  I imagine if you’re reading this, you will be meeting my attorney in the coming days. I’ve never told you this, and part of me wishes I had better prepared you, but I simply couldn’t bring myself to discuss it. My attorney has my will, and in it you will learn that I’ve left you the clinic. There is no one on this earth better equipped to run it than you. I know you will be an amazing doctor. The care I see in your eyes when you handle the animals is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Do good things with it and continue to make me proud.

  Your dear friend

  Joel Kramer

  I sob, holding the paper pressed to my chest. I can’t believe he’s leaving me the clinic. He needs to fight, not give up. “Why? Why are you giving up already?”

  I drop the paper on the chair and sit on the bed next to him. “I’ve been so lucky to train by your side, and I’m honored to do as you ask, but please don’t give up yet.” The steady beeping of the monitor suddenly changes to one long, constant beep. It’s like he knows I’ve read it, and so he can let go, but I’m not ready. I’m not ready. The doctor—I hadn’t even realized he’d left—comes running back in with some nurses. Vaughn wraps me in his arms and pulls me away to allow them some space to work. He runs his fingers through my hair and consoles me in my time of need.

  I look up into his eyes. “Please don’t leave me tonight?” My lip trembles.

  “Angel, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here for you. As I should have allowed you to be for me.” He kisses me on the head and wraps me in his arms yet again.

  From where I stand in the corner of the room, I hear the dreaded words no one wants to hear. “Time of death. Three-thirty-five.”

  I take a deep breath. “I need to call my staff.”

  He places his hands on my cheeks. “Why don’t we go home? You can call from there.” I nod my agreement, and hold up my finger, asking him to give me a minute.

  I walk back over to the doctor. “Thank you for doing all you could for him. May I have a moment?”

  “Of course.”

  “You dear man. Thank you so much for taking me under your wing and teaching me so many amazing things. You are loved dearly and will never be forgotten. I promise to work hard in your clinic, honoring your memory.” I kiss him on the forehead and walk out of his room where I find my brother Remy, my father, and Vaughn. Remy thanks Vaughn for being here for me. They shake hands, we all hug, and the four of us leave the hospital together.

  When we get back to my place, I take a seat at my brand new kitchen table and rest my head in my hands for a second. Vaughn is with me, but he’s silently moving around in the kitchen, probably trying to learn the place since he hasn’t been here since we first looked at it together. My head is pounding and I need to call the office. Part of me wants to go there, but I can’t, not now.

  “Angel, what can I get you?” His voice is soft and caring.

  “Tea and some aspirin would be great.” I grab my phone, noticing that I have texts of condolences and some laced with concern.

  I let out a breath and dial the clinic. Courtney answers and I can tell she’s been shaken up, waiting to hear from me. “Dr. Kramer’s office, how may I help you?” I lose it at her greeting. “Hello. Brooke, is that you?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I just left the hospital. He’s gone.” I cry so hard into the phone.

  Now I can hear Courtney crying into the phone. “Who is left in the clinic?”

  “We have one client left, and then it will be Raeanne and I.”

  “Close as soon as you’re done. Call our patients for this week and tell them the clinic will be closed due to the loss of Dr. Kramer. Be sure to let them know that the clinic is not closing permanently, and that
we will re-open in a week or so. I’ll stop in to check on the animals that weren’t ready to go home.”

  She sniffles. “There are only three still here.” She gasps. “Wait—did you say it’s not closing?”

  “No. I discovered today that the clinic is being left to me. I need to work things out with his lawyer, but it will remain open.”

  “That’s great, Brooke. Get some rest, and let us know about arrangements.” She sniffles once again.

  “I will. I’m sorry I couldn’t come back in. I just need the night before I go in again.”

  “I understand.” She cuts the call. I’m so drained, and it’s only a little after four.

  Vaughn hands me a cup of warm tea and the aspirin I asked for. “Angel, why don’t you lay down for a while? I’ll make you something to eat.”

  “What about Brody?”

  He pulls me toward the couch. He puts a coaster down on the table and places the hot cup on top of it. “I’m going to call Callen and ask him to walk him and bring me some clothes.”

  “Will you ask him to bring Brody here?”

  A small smile appears on his gorgeous face. “You want him here?”

  I nod. “I miss him and I think he’ll cheer me up.”

  “Rest, I’ll make the call.”

  I lay on the couch and close my eyes while he calls Callen. I can hear him asking if he would mind bringing Brody to the house with a change of uniform and clothes for him. My eyes are heavy, and despite my fighting it, I doze off.

  I wake to my buddy Brody licking my face. It makes me laugh. “Okay, Brody, okay.” I laugh some more as he barks, excited to see me. I sit up on the couch to stretch, and that’s when I take in the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. “What are you making? It smells heavenly.” My stomach rumbles, reminding me I skipped lunch.