Wiping her hand along her cheek, she tucked her phone between her legs and took in a deep breath. Then she waited. And waited and waited. She was so frustrated and on pins and needles that when the door opened, she almost came out of her skin. Dr. Bellows was a thin older man, with gray hair and a gray mustache that he curled at the tips. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, he carried Lacey’s chart in his hand, flipping through the papers as he dropped down on his stool. The tension was unreal, and Lacey could hear her heartbeat in her ears.

“Well,” he said quietly, moving the papers up and around the file. “Looks like it’s not cancer.”

“Oh, thank God,” Rachel cried out, raising her hands like she was praising the good Lord above.

Lacey sucked in a deep breath before wiping her face and letting out her breath in a whoosh. When she felt someone’s hand on her back, she let go. She had been holding it in all weekend, telling herself that she was fine, and she was. But at that moment, it was like she was taken back to the time when she sat on that bench and Dr. Bellows’s diagnosis was way different. She remembered the shock she felt, the way her father didn’t understand, and how everything seemed to stand still. All she could remember was the chemo, the pain, and then the surgery that took her breasts. She could still see the look of pure heartache on her dad’s and brother’s faces. The way they cried when she did and how they begged for answers. She could still feel the sobs that would crash out of her because some days she wished she would just die, but then others she begged to stay alive. There was something worth living for out there, and she didn’t know it at the time, but it was Karson.

Sucking in a deep breath, her body shook as she sat up to see that it wasn’t Rachel comforting her, but Dr. Bellows. “You okay, Lacey? You heard me, right? It isn’t cancer.”

“Yeah,” she nodded, wiping her face. “I was convinced it was, though.”

“Eh, I was a little worried, but thankfully it isn’t. You have a guardian angel looking after you.”

Her lip started to wobble again as she slowly nodded.

Her mom.

After learning of her new diagnosis, which was a very mild case of hypercalcemia, Lacey walked with Rachel to the car in silence. There was so much information that Dr. Bellows had overloaded her with, and while she was glad it wasn’t cancer, hypercalcemia seemed like a pain in the ass. A manageable pain in the ass, but a pain nonetheless. She was going to be fine though, and she was thankful for that. Just a new morning med and blood work every month to make sure her levels were good.

“That was intense, but I am so glad you are okay,” Rachel said, wrapping her up in a tight hug.

Smiling, Lacey hugged her back tighter. “Me too, thank you for coming and driving me insane.”

“Anytime. I’m sorry I had to be your stand-in for you husband,” she said, and the way she said it was almost like a jab. Or maybe she was being paranoid like Karson. She wasn’t sure, but one thing was for certain, she didn’t like the way Rachel said that.

“No reason to drag him all the way here for nothing. I am fine.”

“You didn’t seem fine. I’m pretty sure you thought you had cancer, but it’s whatever. It’s over with.”

Lacey looked away as she shrugged. “You’re right, it is over with. Got my prescription and I’m ready to get my levels all normal. Thanks anyway for coming.”

“Anytime. I’ll call you. I gotta go meet Zander for lunch.”

“Give him a kiss for me,” Lacey said, expecting Rachel to turn to leave but she just kept grinning at Lacey. “What?”

“I love this. I love having you home.”

Lacey smiled as she nodded. “Yeah, but it’s only for six more days. Then I’m off to go back home.”

Rachel’s brows furrowed as she shook her head. “No, this is your home.”

“No, my home is where my husband is.”

Rachel looked down as her shoulders fell. “I thought being here would remind you that this is your home.”

Lacey’s heart picked up in speed. “What does that mean?”

“I just thought being here would help make you want to stay.”

“Is Karson here?” Lacey asked, her blood pressure rising. “Because last time I checked, he lived in Nashville, which means I live there too. That’s my home.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said, and something inside Lacey broke. How dare she!

“So what, you were playing me? Just trying to get me to come back? Ugh! Karson was right,” she yelled roughly, throwing the door open to her car.

“Whoa, what? What is Karson right about?” Rachel said, taking ahold of Lacey’s arm.

She jerked her arm away, glaring at Rachel as she yelled, “That you were just being nice to me to try to manipulate me to come back!”

“Whoa! Never, not at all, Lacey. I meant every word! But I did think that if you came home earlier and stayed for a while, you might not want to leave,” she said ashamedly.

“Why would you think that, though? Or hope it? Would you leave Grady if the roles were reversed?”

Rachel shook her head quickly, a perplexed look on her face. “No, hell no.”

“Exactly. I’m married now. I live in Nashville with my husband. I love being here with you and my family, but Karson is home.”

Rachel slowly nodded. “You’re right. I was wrong to think that. I’m sorry.”