No Time to Lose

Jamie shook off a wave of regret as she pulled into the parking lot at McGuireville Community Hospital. She found a space and parked the rental Mustang--red, of course. Please have him be okay. Resting her forehead on the steering wheel, she allowed herself a moment of weakness. What would she do if he died? The world without Jimmy Tanner was too scary to contemplate, even though he'd let her down all those years ago. Somehow, she'd always felt the world would continue to rotate on its axis as long as her daddy was in the engine-building shop. Maybe because that meant there was still a chance for things to turn out right. Jamie straightened, reaching for her Detroit Pistons ball cap as she flipped down the vanity mirror on the visor. She smoothed her hair into a ponytail and twisted an elastic band to hold it, then pulled the tail through the back of her cap. She settled the brim low on her forehead. There. No one would remember her as a Poultry Princess now. And her mom wouldn't think she'd succeeded in molding her only daughter into a proper Southern lady. She pressed the lock tab for the Mustang and hurried to the double doors. Raising her chin, she prepared for what was to come. A burly guy did a double take as she walked by then let out a low whistle. Jamie ignored him. Glancing down, she realized her scoop neck T-shirt fit more snugly than she realized. Her clothes were normally chosen with care, sure to deflect rather than draw attention. Jamie shrugged. Nothing to be done about it now. When she reached the information desk, the volunteer seemed familiar. "Why, Jamie Lynn Tanner, I haven't seen you in ages. Not since the Poultry Princess pageant ." Jamie managed a smile. "I'm here to see my father. Is my mother already with him?" "Yes, dear. The waiting room is on the second floor, to the right. Tom's upstairs, too ." "Of course. Thank you, Mrs. White." Luckily, she'd remembered the woman's name. "Certainly, dear. Your mother will be so pleased you're home. I'm sure she'll have you back wearing a dress in no time," she said, smiling. Jamie suppressed a groan. That's what she was afraid of. Choosing the stairs, she took them two at a time to make herself feel strong and in control. Because if there was one thing she felt around her family, it was out of control.TOM TANNER GLANCED up from his cup of machine- dispensed coffee and stiffened. His sister, ubermechanic extraordinaire and their father's favorite, strode across rubbed him the wrong way. He responded in kind. "Hi, Metal Mouth ." Amusement lurked in her green eyes, so much like their mother's. "Thanks, Boy Wonder." It was a back- handed reference to his childhood obsession with superheroes. Tom slouched in his seat. Why did he feel like a gawky kid again? The answer stood before him in all her blonde perfection. Even in casual clothes and a ball cap, Jamie was clearly blessed with the good looks in the family. No wonder there hadn't been many left over for him. "No problem, Your Highness," he said. His sister flushed. Score one for the kid brother. "Stop it you two," their mother scolded. Shrugging off his irritation, he allowed himself to be the bigger person, as his mother had put it. His voice was husky when he said, "It's good to see you, Sis ." And, surprisingly enough, itwasgood to have her back. He just didn't want her staying too long. Jamie smiled, showing off her excellent orthodontia. She leaned down and hugged him quickly. "Hey, Tom. It's good to see you, too ." He swallowed hard. Losing his sister had been wrenching. But having her back could destroy every- thing he'd worked for. She straightened, addressing their mother. "How's Daddy doing?" "They already have him up and around if you can believe it. I thought it was too soon after a quadruple bypass, but they start rehabilitation right away ." "PWeaver, Carrie is the author of 'No Time to Lose ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373217724 and ISBN 0373217722.