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“What kind of crazy?”
    “They’re opening an investigation. One of the surgery techs says I left a sponge in this guy’s leg.”
    Lauren gasped. “You’re kidding.”
    “I wish I was. Listen, there’s—”
    Here it comes, she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. He’s bailing.
    “Look. About the other night, it wasn’t what you thought. I don’t know what Monique has told you, but I’ve only done what any other doctor in my situation would do. Does that make sense?”
    There it was. The subtle defensiveness. It had been cropping up more and more lately. Lauren swallowed hard and gathered her courage.
    “And the golf pro at the country club? What’s the story there?” She’d seen medications change hands on more than one occasion during their golf outings. This was new territory for her, challenging him. The steely silence that greeted her was a strong indication that he was as surprised as she was.
    “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
    Bile rose in the back of her throat. “This was your idea, Holden. You said we couldn’t set a date until you met my family. You’re supposed to be here. With me. Now.” She hated how her voice had risen dangerously close to a whine.
    Muffled voices in the background distracted him. A pregnant pause ensued. Was he with someone? Her scalp tingled. “Holden? Who are you talking to?”
    “Sorry. Something’s come up. I gotta go.”
    “If you’re really sorry you’ll catch the next flight.”
    “Seriously?” He muttered an obscenity under his breath. “You have no idea what I’m up against here, Lauren. I’ll call you later.”
    Then the line went dead.
    Lauren pulled the phone away from her ear. That’s it? Tossing her phone into her bag, she flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. How did they get here? Where was the charming, suave Holden she’d fallen in love with?
    “S-s-sister? You up there?” a male voice hollered.
    Lauren flinched, her heart pounding in her chest. Seth.
    “Lo-lo!”
    Lauren smiled as Seth barked the nickname she hadn’t heard in years. She rolled off the bed and opened the door. At the bottom of the steep stairs, she found her youngest brother. His beard was grizzly and untamed, blond hair cascaded to his shoulders in matted curls.
    Squealing with delight, she flew down the stairs and jumped in his waiting arms. He swung her around, laughing as her feet left the ground. He was six years younger but he outweighed her by a hundred pounds. She smelled the musky, sour odor of a man who missed quite a few showers.
    “W-w-what are you doing here?”
    She pouted. “Can’t a girl come home and check up on her baby brother?”
    “S-s-sure you can,” he smiled. As the oldest, she tried to mother her brothers from the minute they came home from the hospital. Matthew resisted but Seth basked in the glow of her attention. She taught him to sing when his words froze on his tongue and knocked the boys on the playground flat on their backs when they taunted him. Nobody messed with her baby brother.
    “Come sit down and tell me all about your latest adventures.” She tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow and they settled on the couch closest to the fireplace.
    “C-c-can’t tell you. Top secret.” Seth smirked and leaned out of reach as she swung a fist in the direction of his bulging bicep.
    “You smell like you’ve hiked for days,” she fanned her fingers in front of her nose. “Where have you been?”
    “Me and Toby staked a k-k-iller claim. This c-c-could be the m-m-mother lode.” He always stuttered more when he was excited.
    “That’s incredible. How long will it take to excavate?”
    He stroked his beard and stared at the ceiling. “About—”
    A thump followed by a muffled cry interrupted their conversation. Seth’s eyes, wide with fear, met hers. Granny.
    Lauren and Seth tripped over each other racing down the hallway to Lauren’s old bedroom. Mom knelt on the floor, stroking her mother’s forehead.