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by.”
    â€œBut she wanted me to call and make sure. She…uh…hmmm…well, she wants to see us together.”
    Josh frowned. “Really?” He didn’t want to see Rachel again.
    â€œYes. I don’t know why, but I hope we can be civil to make her happy.”
    â€œI’ve never been uncivil to you, Rachel.”
    A moment of silence passed.
    â€œWell, I mean, we could refrain from fighting. I— I want to apologize for earlier,” she said in a rush.
    The corner of his mouth lifted. At least one part of her hadn’t changed. The old Rachel had always accepted responsibility for her actions.
    â€œForget it.” He didn’t need her apology. He thought about what she’d asked, then made a decision. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning and I can be friendly for Mrs. G.’s sake.”
    â€œExcellent.” She sounded pleased, but he couldn’t be sure. “Goodbye, Josh.”
    â€œBye.” He slowly replaced the receiver. He hadn’t wanted to see her, but he couldn’t let Mrs. G. down. He’d tolerate Rachel if it killed him.
    And when he thought about it, the best way to annihilate any feelings he harbored for Rachel was to be around the woman she’d become. She was so aloof and distant. Much different than she’d been in high school. Then she’d been open and friendly. Always looking for someone she could help. She’d needed to be of use.
    Being a doctor must fulfill that need for her. But had becoming a doctor made her so cold? He supposed life in the big city could change a person, take warm people and turn them into an icy reflection of their former selves.
    â€œYou’re going to be friendly with Rachel, huh?” Rod broke into his thoughts.
    Josh shrugged. “Mrs. G. wants to see us both.”
    Rod looked pleased. “I might come with you.”
    â€œFine.” He didn’t want to discuss Rachel with his dad. Didn’t want to hear Rod’s opinion that he shouldn’t have let her slip out of his life. He’d had no choice. She was determined to go. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Josh turned to leave but stopped at Rod’s soft chuckle. “What’s so funny?”
    â€œI have a pretty good idea what Olivia is up to.”
    â€œYou want to let me in on the secret?”
    Rod smacked his lips and grinned. “No. I’ll let this one play itself out.”
    Josh frowned. His father and Mrs. G. were up to something. Rachel was the only girl Rod had ever approved of and Mrs. G., of course, loved her. But no amount of matchmaking was going to work. “You’re a nut.”
    Rod wiggled his brows. “Takes one to know one.”
    Josh smiled. He loved his father and was thankful he’d agreed to live with him and Griff when they moved into this house. “Dad, what am I going to do with you?”
    Rod laughed. “Hey, don’t forget to call the station.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œSleep well, son. I have a feeling you’ll need your strength tomorrow.”
    Josh shook his head in exasperation. He didn’t relish disappointing Mrs. G. and his father, but nothing could bring him and Rachel back together. Their needs, their wants in life were too different. Rachel wanted success, prestige and a position of power. He wanted a stable, secure life with a woman who loved him enough to commit to him.
    And Rachel wasn’t that woman.
    Â 
    Rachel shielded her eyes against the sunlight streaming through the curtains of Mom G.’s hospital room. She blinked several times, trying to moisten her gritty eyes. She’d spent the night sitting beside Mom G.’s bed, too afraid to leave. She didn’t want to get a middle-of-the-night call or find an empty bed in themorning. By staying, Rachel hoped she could keep death from claiming Mom G.
    She listened to Mom G.’s labored breathing. Helplessness swamped her, making her head pound