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as soon as she emerged from the exam room. “You have a ten-minute break.”
    “Any doughnuts left?”
    “The rep brought a dozen. I think there’s plenty.”
    Joy scanned the lounge area. “Think the sales rep is still here?”
    Chloe leaned to see down the hall to Denise’s office. “I don’t think so. She was talking with Denise for a while, but I think you missed her.”
    “Perfect.”
    “This rep seemed nice,” Chloe offered.
    “They always seem nice. That’s their act. Don’t believe it. At least this one brought something useful.” The coffee was lukewarm but tolerable.
    Chloe’s furrowed brow was enough to brighten Joy’s mood for the first time all morning. Or else it was the coffee. She handed the last patient’s file to Chloe with instructions for setting up a recheck appointment and headed for the lounge.
    Six doughnuts remained, three of which were glazed. The other three were chocolate. Joy picked out the puffiest of the glazed bunch and took a bite. Caketown Doughnuts. She savored the sugar crisp outside and then let the center melt in her mouth. Not one of San Francisco’s doughnut shops could compare. The sales rep had left a business card by the doughnut box. Alpine Connected had a logo of a mountain plugged into a keyboard. The mountain was wearing sunglasses that only added to the ridiculous look. Joy brushed her fingertip over the embossed mountain and then caught her breath as she recognized the name on the card. Kelsey West. “No way,” she said aloud. “What are the chances?”
    “What are the chances about what?” Denise asked.
    Denise had come out of her office and was staring at Joy. Standing next to her was a woman Joy would have recognized anywhere. It was too late to make an excuse and too late to walk away. Joy knew she was stalling for too long. She forced a smile and said, “I’m sorry. I was thinking aloud…”
    “What are the chances that you know the sales rep?” Kelsey smiled. “Small world, right?” Kelsey stuck out her hand. “I’m glad you remember me, Dr. Henderson. I was hoping you would.”
    Joy shook the offered hand. She couldn’t think of anything to say—at least not anything she wanted Kelsey to hear. What were the chances that Kelsey West still lived in this town? The same Kelsey West who was Raceda High’s “Most Likely To Make It To The Olympics”? And why would she possibly be working as a sales rep?
    Kelsey had grown out her short haircut. Dark brown locks fell in soft curls past her shoulders. She had eyeliner on and lipstick, but she wouldn’t have needed any makeup at all. She’d always made Joy catch her breath. Only one jade earring dotted each ear instead of the three loops that she used to wear. Professional, Joy thought. And the jade earrings were probably supposed to complement the classy look of the trim black business suit with the green silk blouse. But the whole outfit was distractingly sexy. The blouse matched Kelsey’s eyes and with the first two buttons undone, it was difficult not to stare at her. The fact that her slacks were the perfect cut to show off Kelsey’s trim figure didn’t help. Joy glanced immediately back up at Kelsey’s face, hoping no one would notice the split second she’d spent checking out the sales rep.
    “Good to see you again. It’s been a long time,” Joy said, regaining her balance when she heard her own confident voice. She’d had plenty of experience with sales reps. Reps wanted her attention, not the other way around. And she could be as smooth as Kelsey. High school was a distant memory. Joy glanced at Denise, trying to focus on present circumstances instead of the what-ifs that had accompanied the last time she’d seen Kelsey West.
    “Looks like you got a doughnut. I was worried there wouldn’t be any left,” Denise said. “Your last patient took two. But she did pick out an expensive pair of sunglasses along with her reading glasses. By the way, Kelsey only wanted me to pass