“Nice to meet you guys. I’m Harmony,” I reply.

Gareth nods then looks toward my driveway before turning to me once more. “The boys were playing ball in the front yard and hit your car, broke out the taillight.”

“We’re sorry,” both boys say in unison, and I look at them and smile softly.

“It’s okay.” I slide my eyes from them to look at their dad. “Can you give me a few minutes to get dressed and I’ll come check it out?”

“Sure.” He nods.

“Thanks, be right back.” I shut the door and head for my room. I go to my closet and pull on a pair of sweats, grab a bra and a long sleeved T-shirt, putting both on before heading back toward the front door. Sliding my feet into my flip-flops, I open the door and find them still standing outside waiting for me. I follow them to the back of my car and find that the taillight is not just broken, but shattered. Even the bulb is busted.

“Who hit the ball?” I ask, and the boys look between each other while their dad goes tense at my side, probably thinking I’m going to lose my mind. “Just saying whoever did could play for the Mets.”

“It was me,” Mitchell says, his chest puffing out with pride. “But I don’t want to play for the Mets. I want to play for the Yankees.”

Smiling at him, I listen to his dad laugh then watch as he ruffles his son’s hair playfully.

“We’re really sorry about this,” Gareth says, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Not sure how you wanna take care of it, but I work part time at a shop in town. If you come in, I’ll fix it, or you can bill me. Whatever works.”

“Can I let you know?” I ask, wondering if my warranty will cover the cost of having it fixed.

“Of course,” he agrees, giving me a smile, and that smile makes him even more gorgeous.

“Dad, I’m hungry,” Max says, and he pulls his eyes from me to look at his youngest boy.

“When aren’t you hungry, kid?”

“I don’t know.” Max shrugs, looking down at his feet.

“I’m hungry too, Dad. Can we go to McDonald’s?”

“Christ,” Gareth mutters, and his eyes come back to me when I laugh.

“Go feed your boys. I’ll let you know what happens with the taillight.”

“Right.” He lifts his chin. “Nice meeting you, Harmony.”

“You too, and thank you for being honest about this.” I toss out my hand toward the trunk of my car.

“Anytime. Later.” He lifts his chin once more, turning on his boots.

“Later.” I smile, watching the boys run, skip, and push each other as they cross the street and head up their walkway.

Pulling my attention from them, I look at my taillight and mentally add getting it looked at to my list of things I need to do, before I head back inside to finish making coffee. Once the pot is done brewing, I take a cup with me outside and lean against the railing, wishing I had at least something to sit on. I need to get some chairs, a table, and maybe a barbeque for out here, but my first priority is rugs for the living room and my bedroom. Winter will be here before long, and wood floors tend to be cold, so I need something to help counteract that. I also need a bed for my guest room, and maybe a desk and chair for my third bedroom, but I still haven’t decided what I want that room to be yet.

Thinking about all the things I still need to buy for the house and all the money I will eventually have to spend, I sigh. I love having a place to call my own and a house to decorate, but not having an endless supply of money to do what I want sucks. Taking a sip of coffee, I watch Dizzy for a few more minutes then go back inside, leaving the door cracked for him to get in.

I take a quick shower, leaving my hair dry so I don’t have to blow it out again, then get dressed in a pair of jeans, a lavender long sleeve, scoop-neck T-shirt, and a pair of strappy cream-colored sandals. After I finish getting dressed, I do minimal makeup—mascara, bronzer, and blush—then go in search of Dizzy. Finding him still running around the backyard, I call him inside, close the door, and lock it before grabbing my bag and my keys from the island. I stop when my cell starts to ring, and I pull it out of my purse. Seeing a local number I don’t recognize on the screen, I put it to my ear as I head toward the front door.

“Hello,” I answer, grabbing Dizzy’s leash that’s wrapped around the handle of the coat closet in the hall.

“Harmony Mayson?” a woman asks, and I frown.

“Yes.”

“Hi, this is Julianne Drudgery. I teach the trauma and critical care class at the hospital.”

“Hi, Julianne,” I say, looking down at Dizzy, who’s waiting impatiently for me to hook his leash to his collar.

“I just had a student drop out of the class and wanted to know if you’d be interested in filling her spot. Of course, you’d have to make up a couple of assignments, but it shouldn’t take much to get you caught up.”

“Really?” I whisper in surprise and happiness.

“Really.” She laughs. “Are you interested?”

“Yes!”

I hear her smile when she murmurs, “That’s great news. Can you come by the hospital today to pick up the paperwork you need to fill out and the assignments to complete by class next week?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good, just come to the basement. You’ll see a sign directing you to the classroom as soon as you get off the elevator. I’ll see you when you get here, and we’ll talk then.”

“Thank you so much. See you soon.” I hang up.

Staring at my phone for a moment, I smile then toss my hands up in the air and let out a loud whoop. Dizzy barks, spinning in circles at my feet, happy because I’m happy. Picking him up, I hold him to my chest. “I’m sorry, boy, but since I gotta go to the hospital, you can’t come with me.” I kiss the top of his head and he licks my chin. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring you back something special from the store.” I rub behind his ears then set him back to his feet.

Hanging his leash back up on the knob, I head for the door, feeling like I’m floating on air. Getting in my car, I start it up, back out of my driveway, and head straight for the hospital. When I arrive twenty minutes later, I get in the elevator and head down to the basement, and just like Julianne said there would be, there’s a sign with an arrow pointing to the classroom that’s at the end of a long hall. When I reach the door, I find the lights out and the door locked.

“Harmony?” a woman calls loudly, and I turn to find a petite, older woman with lots of curly white hair coming toward me from down the hall, wearing bright blue scrubs and white clogs.

“Yes.”

“Sorry, I had to run upstairs.” She comes forward and sticks out her hand to me. “I’m Julianne. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I smile while I wrap my hand around hers.

“Dr. Hofstadter said you were pretty. He didn’t lie,” she says, and the smile I’m wearing slides right off my face.

“Dr. Hofstadter?” I ask, and her head tips to the side.

“He’s the one who recommended you as the replacement student for the class,” she explains, and my stomach drops.

“Oh,” I whisper, wondering how he knew I wanted to take the class. We never spoke about it, and I never even mentioned I want to work in the emergency room when I was around him.

“Isn’t he such a nice guy?” she asks, keeping hold of my hand, and I try to focus on her and not the unease filling my stomach.

“Uh, yeah. Nice,” I agree, and she grins.

“Well…” She gives my hand a squeeze before letting it go. “You’ll have to take him out for coffee as a thank you for the recommendation.” She turns and unlocks the door, and I stare at her back, thinking, That is never going to happen. “Come on in,” she calls, and I come unglued from my spot just outside the door and move into the room behind her. Looking around the empty class, my stomach turns with indecision. I know I don’t want to miss out on this opportunity, but I also don’t want to owe Dr. Hofstadter anything, and I have a feeling that if I take this class, I will be setting myself up for just that.