CHAPTER FIVE Hunter

J ill was waiting at the door of her café when I pulled up. The place was empty inside, normal for two in the afternoon at this time of the year. The farmers came to town early for breakfast, bottomless coffee, and to debate the world's events. They'd be gone for farm chores for most of the afternoon. The café would be slow until the evening crowd arrived for her daily specials. Where else were you going to get a plate full of home cooking for under ten bucks?

"Check this out," she said, pulling herself into my Tahoe and shoving an iPad in my face.

"Geesh, woman. Give me a sec, will ya?"

"Don't read the boring story. Scroll to the pictures," she advised.

The Sheridan County News headline read, ‘ New Doctor joins Hawthorne Medical Center .' I scanned the story until I found the icon to scroll the page. I wasn't expecting what filled the screen next. I remained silent while my eyes locked on the man in the image.

"See?" Jill asked. "Did I tell you? Did I tell you?" she repeated, slugging my arm.

"Jesus Christ!" I huffed, my breath exhaling as my libido woke up for the first time in two years. "So… so…"

"Handsome?" she asked. "You were gonna say handsome, right?"

"Handsome doesn't do him justice," I whispered, instantly mesmerized by the man staring back at me.

"Check out those eyes, Hunt," she giggled. Her finger scrolled to the next page. This time, the man was standing in a hallway of a hospital in a white jacket. "Yummy, right?"

"He's here?" I demanded. " Here? " I repeated, turning to face her. "In Plentywood? He's actually coming here? You're sure?" She pointed to the small print under the photo, verifying the fact.

"He's not coming here," she corrected. "He's here. Now."

"That's right," I agreed, wondering if I looked okay. I even checked the rearview mirror to see if I'd shaved.

She scrolled to the next page. The stunning man sat in a fancy chair next to a fireplace. An amazingly regal hound of some sort sat at his feet. A fire burned behind him as he smiled into the camera. He looked like a millionaire who hadn't a care in the world.

"Look at his name," Jill urged, again pointing to the fine print. "He's a Hawthorne. Benedict Alexander Hawthorne Jr." I handed the iPad back to her and looked out the driver's side window of my rig. "What?" she asked, tugging on my arm.

"He's rich and stuck up," I stated. "He has that look about him."

Jill turned in her seat. "He sure does have that look, Hunt. The look of my next husband!" she exclaimed. "So keep your eyes off this one."

"He's gay, Jill. Calm your hole down."

"You think every hot guy is gay," she argued. "He is not gay. Not this one. God heard my prayers and sent him for me." She held her hand up, gazing at her ring finger. "Mrs. Benedict Hawthorne," she whispered, living the entire wedding in her mind. "Our kids will be gorgeous."

"He's gay, sis."

She bounced up and down on the seat. "He is not!" she exclaimed. "I know these things." She tapped the side of her head. "Women's intuition, Hunt."

I tapped the side of mine. "Gaydar, Jill."

She grabbed her seat belt, all in a huff. "He is going to be straight, and he is going to love me at first sight."

I started the Tahoe and grinned at her. "Is that why you're wearing makeup, silly girl?"

"He's going to be straight, Hunt. He just has to be," she said, sticking her pouty bottom lip out.

I reached for her hand. "You look pretty, sis. If he is straight, which he isn't, but if he is, he's gonna love meeting you."

"You sure?" she asked, nearly tearing up. "I need a man, Hunt."

"I had my great love," I stated, pulling onto Main Street. "I had my one chance at happiness. Now it's your turn."

"Mark was even more handsome than this guy," she said, tapping the side of my thigh so I'd hold her hand. "I wonder what Mark would say if he was here right now?"

"He wouldn't let me out of the house, and he'd instantly hate the new doctor. But then…" I turned to her, and we both started laughing.

"… they'd be best friends the next day," we said in unison, laughing out loud.

"That felt good thinking about Mark that way," Jill said. "We're going to be okay, honey."

"I hope so," I whispered. "Because, to tell you the truth, sis, there are days I don't care if I wake up."

"Don't say that, Hunt. I can't be here by myself without you," she said. "You gotta promise me. I mean it too. Promise me right this second."

I glanced at her the moment a tear escaped my eye. "I'm trying," I croaked, my throat closing. "Today is day one of year three, Jill. They said it gets easier." A cry slipped out of my mouth before I could clamp down on my emotions. "It doesn't."

I pulled the SUV into the parking lot of Hawthorne Mansion and put it in Park. Like always, I stared straight ahead through the windshield. Each time, every single day, it was like I was searching for something just over the horizon. Maybe a new life? Maybe a happier place to live than this one. Maybe a place to escape the agony.

"Hey," Jill said, tugging on my arm. "You still have me, Hunt. I need you. I lost a brother and a best friend. I know you lost what you thought was your entire life, but we both need to look forward."

"How?" I asked, slamming a fist on the steering wheel. "Mark was my world. I have nothing without him. So, you tell me how I'm gonna look forward?"

"Because Mark would hate the man you've become, Hunt. That's why!"

"It doesn't matter," I muttered, balling my fists, trying my very best to hold on to my insides before I split in half. I'd already been split in half, and I still sat here breathing, like life just rolls along. I hated what had happened to me. "You don't like me anymore?" I whispered.

"I love you like you're my own brother, Hunt, and you're my best friend as well," she soothed. "But your sadness has completely engulfed your life. Mark would hate seeing you like this, honey. You were Mark's rock. You were the man that Mark worshipped because you are the strongest man he had ever met." She waved her hand toward me. "But this man? He'd hate it, Hunt."

"That bad, huh?"

"That bad, honey. How about we actually try to do better? Can you do that? For me, and for Mark?"

I took a deep breath and then exhaled, turning to face her. "I'll try harder," I agreed. "How about we go meet the new doctor?"

Jill pulled the visor down and dabbed at her eyes. "How do I look?"

"Like the type of woman any man would want to be with. You look amazing, sis."

"I love you," she spoke softly.

"Me too," I replied.