Last Chance Hero by Cathleen Armstrong Read Free Book Online

been more or less forced to accept Elizabeth’s invitation. If the evening so far was a harbinger of her life here in Last Chance, she was going to be very happy.

4

    J ess never thought of herself as a food fanatic, particularly. She just ate sensibly, as she saw it—whole grains, plenty of steamed vegetables, lean meats and fish, and fresh fruit. She would never express it, but secretly, she wondered how anyone could eat any other way. Now she knew. Elizabeth’s table held some of the best-tasting food she had ever eaten in her life.
    â€œHave some more chicken.” Elizabeth passed her the platter of golden fried pieces. “One little piece of white meat can’t have filled you up.”
    â€œOh, but it did.” Jess held up a hand to ward off the platter. “With the mashed potatoes and gravy, and all those vegetables, and the biscuits, I’m completely stuffed.”
    Elizabeth passed the chicken on to Andy, who speared a drumstick before passing it on to Ray. Undeterred, she picked up the basket of bread. “Then at least have another biscuit while they’re warm and some of this plum jam. It was my mother-in-law’s recipe, and I’ve made it every year for about as long as I can remember.”
    Jess eyed the biscuits. She really did feel as if she were about to pop, and she had eaten more bread tonight than she usually ate in a week, but those biscuits were beyond anything she had ever tasted. The battle she fought with her conscience was short, brutal,and over in the amount of time it took her to smile and accept the basket offered her. “Thanks. Maybe just a half.”
    â€œTell us more about this office you’re opening here in Last Chance.” Elizabeth tried to pass the nearly empty bowl of mashed potatoes to Lainie and then to Ray. Both declined. “We had a doctor here years ago when my children were small, but when he passed on, no one took over his practice and everyone just got used to going on up to San Ramon.”
    â€œSo I hear.” Jess shrugged. “In fact, just about everybody I’ve met has told me how happy they are that Last Chance has its own doctor, and then in the same breath told me that they already have a doctor in San Ramon who’s been looking after them for years. Not that I’m trolling other doctors’ practices.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be your first patient.” Lainie smiled at Jess. “I don’t have a long history with some other doctor. And I’d love it if I didn’t have to run up to San Ramon to see a doctor.”
    Jess couldn’t miss the quick glance Ray and Elizabeth exchanged before Ray cleared his throat. “Um, Lainie, you don’t have a long history, but you have already seen a doctor. Do you think it’s a good idea to switch now? I mean, he already knows you and everything.”
    â€œI’ve had one appointment, and I saw a nurse practitioner. She just confirmed what we already knew, gave me a bunch of vitamins, and told me I should come back in about six weeks to see the doctor.” Lainie reached for the last biscuit and broke it open on her plate. “Pass me that gravy, would you, please?”
    When the gravy was passed in silence and no other conversation was forthcoming, she looked up. “What? I’m eating for two now, you know.”
    It was Jess who broke the uncomfortable silence. “Well, as you say, you have about six more weeks before you need to see a doctor. I’m sure you and Ray will be able to decide the best coursefor you to take.” She watched Lainie ladle the cream gravy, rich with chicken cracklings, over the split biscuit. “Although I’d like to send over some information on prenatal nutrition, if you wouldn’t mind. He may be little right now, but he’s growing at a rate you wouldn’t believe, and I know you want to make sure he’s getting everything he needs.”
    Lainie’s fork