Faithfully Yours (The Forever Time Travel Romance Series, Book 1) (31 page)

It didn't matter how difficult school would be, her decision to attend had not been made in haste.  The death of her husband had been the deciding factor.  A Yellow Fever epidemic had spread through their valley.  As the only doctor, he had gone to each person in need, determined to help as many people as he could.  He had continued treating patients while his own symptoms worsened.  The valley needed medicine and a doctor who knew how to administer them.  Honor was determined to continue the work he started.

Honor looked over at Julie.  The blonde woman slid her sunglasses onto her face.  Her skills would be wasted where Honor was going. 

"You can't come with me," Honor insisted, trying to sound as gentle as possible. 

"I know," Julie said.  "I'll visit you though."

Honor looked to her side and bit on the edge of her lip.  "It might not be easy for us to get in touch once I return home."

Julie's brows pulled together.  "No cell phone towers in that part of the world?"

Honor chuckled.  She could imagine trying to explain to the valley residents what a cell tower was.  "No," she said.  "No phones, landlines or wireless." 

Honor glanced around, absorbing faces and scenery.  Tears filled her eyes.  She knew it would be hard to leave her friends, but she had no choice.  The last time she had been home, people were dying.  Her husband had been one of them.  If she brought the right medicines to them, she could save many lives.

A tall man stood across the parade grounds.  He scooped up his mortarboard and waved over to her.  The hem of his ceremonial gown flapped behind him as he walked toward the two women.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Julie asked.  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Julie," Honor scolded, and gave her friend one of those
be nice
looks.

"Look at him.  I bet he went through every tossed cap before he found his own."

Honor tilted her head and looked over at her friend from under furrowed brows.

"He doesn't like germs.  Many people become doctors because of that phobia."

Julie jutted her hip to the side and crossed her arms over her chest.  She had not accepted that reasoning when a professor had implied it at orientation. 

Honor continued to watch the tall, brown haired man from across the field.  Broad shouldered but not beefy like a football player, he could easily fill out a baseball uniform.  It was too bad his lack of coordination kept him from making the team.  Honor watched him as he walked.  She lowered her gaze and concentrated on his gait.  Did he realize his steps were perfectly balanced away from the diamond?  

"He's in love with you, you know," Julie said.

Honor couldn't determine if Julie approved of this statement or was disturbed by it.  Either way, she sighed deeply and nodded.  "I know."

Julie tilted her head as though reconsidering her assessment of Hunter Morgan.  "He may have his quirks, but he would never ask you to give up your dream, if that's what you're afraid of."      

Honor pulled her lips tight.  She knew Hunter’s character better than most students.  In many ways he reminded her of her late husband, but in other ways, he had none of the flaws that had led to her husband’s demise. 

"I know.  He would never ask me to sacrifice my dreams, and
that's
what I'm afraid of."

"Hunter," Julie said, louder than necessary, greeting him as he approached.  "Did you write your name in that thing or attach a string from the tassel to your wrist?"

"Julie," Honor admonished.

Julie smiled playfully at Honor.  "Fine.  I’ll leave you two alone to say your farewells.  I need to talk with Jeff Bookman before he leaves."  She held Honor’s arms, and their entire discussion from last night fast-forwarded in her eyes.  "Don't forget you have friends in this part of the world, too."

Fighting back tears, Honor gave a stiff nod.  "I'll never forget you."

Her ear banged against the side of Julie's head, cushioning her friend's rock hard hug.  She peered over Julie’s shoulder to Hunter.  He turned away, giving them privacy.  It wasn’t going to be any easier to say good bye to him.

"Hunter,” Julie said and kissed his cheek.  She made a sucking sound against his skin.  His face screwed tight, but he didn't pull away.  “Embrace the germ, Hunt.  Jeff, wait up," Julie shouted as she ran back into the throes of graduates.

"She'll miss you," Hunter said.  He wiped the heel of his hand against the side of his face. 

Honor watched as Julie met up with a small group of capless students.  "I'll miss her, too."  She turned back and looked at the cap he held in his hands.  "Did you write your name on the inside cover?" she asked.

His cheeks reddened, and he held the bottom of the cap to her.  A blue ink signature was smudged from sweat.

She laughed and reached over and touched his arm.  "I pretended to toss mine in the air and then dropped it in front of me for the same reason.  We're probably the only people in school who even care about the silly things.  What will you do with yours, wear it for Halloween?"

"Great idea,” he said, his smile spreading nervously across his face.  “But only if you promise to go with me."

Honor pulled her hand back and clutched her cardboard hat.  "Halloween is months away, Hunter."

"Don't you plan to return?"

Honor shifted her stance, and looked past his shoulder. 

"I'm sorry,” Hunter said, taking her hands in his.  “That was unfair of me."  He squeezed her fingers, refusing to release her.  "I’m going to miss you a great deal."

She knew he was trying to make this simple for her, but there was no painless way to tell him goodbye.  Assigned as cell and tissue lab partners, they had become instant friends.  His request to study with her had become a nightly occurrence.  He had not been clever in his deception.  Hunter was more than capable of passing his exams without a nightly study session. 

She had purposefully kept him at arm's length all through school to prevent a painful goodbye.  She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him now as much for herself as for him.  Deep in her thoughts, she could see the two of them building a life and a practice together.  Hunter Morgan was the type of doctor she would want to work elbow to elbow with, and sleep side by side with. 

"You are a fantastic doctor," Honor said.  She refused to wipe the tears from her face.  He needed to know how much he meant to her.  "Everyone you come in contact with will benefit from your skill."

She removed her graduation robe, wadded it in a ball with her cap, and tucked them into the oversized bag she carried.  Slipping her arm through the strap, she shouldered the bag.

"Honor, come to dinner with me tonight."  His voice came out in a rush, and he held to her elbow.

"I can’t.  I have to leave tonight."

"There will be other flights.  Please.  It's important."

"Hunter."  She kissed him lightly on the lips.  "I love you, but…" She walked away, holding to his hand until they were too far apart to maintain contact. 

Tears ran down her face and dripped from her chin.  Why did the right decision always come at such a dear cost to her?

****

Hunter Morgan walked behind a row of buildings.  Restaurant workers brought plastic bags from inside the establishments to garbage bins.  The smell was not the same on this side of the property as when entering the business via the front door.  Hunter kicked a stone, hurtling it into a patch of overgrown weeds.  This was not how he expected to spend the evening of such a major event in his life.

He stopped under a streetlamp and pulled a small, velvet box from his pocket.  He flipped the top open and lifted the diamond ring into the open.  The one-carat stone sparkled with as much color as the jeweler had promised.  Hunter hadn't expected a quick wedding, but as long as Honor wore his ring, he would wait as long as she wanted.  The valley where she grew up was important to her, but he had hoped there would be room in her life for him. 

His future wasn't locked into a hospital internship.  Most people thought he planned to join a private group for his residency.  It didn't hurt to let them think that way but in all honesty, he didn't mind the idea of practicing medicine in a small town.  It was too bad Honor didn’t feel the same way.  He flipped the lid closed and stuffed the box back into his pocket.

He turned the corner and headed back to campus.  Presser Hall was the largest dorm.  It had once been the original college.  The board of directors had voted to turn the structure into a dormitory at the turn of the previous century.  Fifty years later when women were given admittance to the school, two other buildings were erected next to Presser to provide housing for women students.  Smaller in size, Camden House was where he had walked with Honor every night after their library study sessions.  He most likely followed the same route tonight out of routine. 

Stepping from the grounds of one building to the other, he glanced between the brick walls to the back of the breezeway.  He stopped walking and tried to make out the form of the person at the center of the square.  The woman stayed to the fray of the light shinning down from the streetlamp.  Her auburn hair caught the light and flashed over to him.  He would recognize that shade of red anywhere.  Honor pulled her hair out of her face and adjusted the strap of her purse.  Hunter stepped closer and sucked in his breath, preparing to shout to her. 

She raised her hands in the air as though being robbed, and he broke into a run.  As he ran, he searched the area for the criminal.  Honor turned her head toward him and moved her arms vertically in the air.  He was still several feet away from her.  He hoped there would be no shot fired.  She turned her body to face the opposite direction, and Hunter ran harder.  Sparks emanated from her.  Hunter leaped toward Honor, wrapping his arms around her as they fell.  Turning to absorb their fall, he wasn't sure which lasted longer, the darkness or the tumbling sensation.