The Bride Wore Red Boots by Lizbeth Selvig Read Free Book Online

September.” The underlying hint of condescending amusement in his words finally brought up the desire in Mia to throttle him, but he continued, oblivious.
    â€œThe fondness is not mutual, Mr. Harrison, but that’s beside the point. You’re supposed to advocate for and with the entire family.”
    â€œAnd here I am on the phone doing exactly that. Fulfilling my client’s wishes to the letter.”
    â€œOh, for the love . . . Don’t use your smug semantics on me, Buster—” She stopped short, realizing she’d just used the name of the man she’d promised to locate on Rory’s behalf. Her anger deflated. Why was she wasting her energy on this stubborn man when she had things to do? “Look, tell me what exactly Joely needs, and I will do it if I can.”
    â€œHer next appointment is in two weeks—Tuesday, the fourteenth of November. If it’s not possible for you to be here, she’d like to know if you would be willing to Skype during the appointment.”
    Mia’s mind scanned mentally through her calendar. She’d taken some time off in August for her father’s funeral and then again in September for Joely’s accident, but vacation wasn’t her problem; she had time to spare. She did, however, have surgeries scheduled in two departments through Thanksgiving. And, in one week she fully expected to have a new job as chief resident. That would put a vise grip to her ability to travel.
    â€œAmelia?”
    She refocused. “I may not know until next week if I can get any time off, but of course I’ll be happy to speak with her specialist. What’s his name?”
    â€œPerry Landon, with twenty-five letters after his name. Look him up. He’s one of the best spinal surgeons in the country.”
    â€œGood friend of yours, I presume?” She smirked.
    â€œNever met him before today.”
    â€œOdd. I thought you knew everybody in the VA personally.”
    â€œI don’t. But they all know me.” A confident smile in his words turned his voice whiskey smooth.
    â€œWell, then. Thank God for you.”
    The laugh he returned, easy and smoky, did something to transform her annoyance into a flutter in her chest. Siccing her anger on the quivery sensation, she snapped at him again. “Is there anything else, Mr. Harrison?”
    â€œThere is. And seriously. Call me Gabe.”

Chapter Three
    F IFTEEN MINUTES AFTER that delightful conversation, Mia received two pages from social workers: one she expected from a woman she’d contacted about trying to find Buster. The other call was from her friend Samantha, who specialized in children’s issues. Both worked for New York County social services, but both kept hours twice a week in the hospital’s Outreach Clinic.
    She dreaded what Sam might have to say, knowing the meeting with Shawna Murray hadn’t exactly led to a new BFF, so she sat first in front of Hannah White, watching her scribble on a yellow legal pad.
    â€œI had a little bit of luck, believe it or not,” Hannah said. “I made calls to three different shelters in the area you said your little patient mentioned. The woman I spoke to at one of them, St. Sebastian’s Shelter in Brownsville, knows a man everybody calls Buster. His real name is Aaron Sanderson. They didn’t know anything about a cat or remember that he ever had a child with him, but he fits the description. The downside is he doesn’t show up on any kind of regular schedule.”
    â€œBut someone there might be able to find him?”
    â€œI assume you know what that area of Brooklyn is like, Dr. Crockett. If I were you, I’d do my best to handle this by phone.” Hannah tore the piece of paper she’d been writing on from the pad and handed it to Mia. “Here are the name and number of the woman I spoke with. What you might do is ask them to pass on a message to your guy the next time he shows