Her Only Chance

  Kell nudged Jamie with his shoulder, hard enough to propel her forward a step. “Jamie has something she’d like to say.”

  She glared up at Kell, then focused on Dr. Hampton, trying not to see Roberta’s shocked expression. “Dr. Hampton,” Jamie began. “Kell and I…well, we have achieved closure.”

  “Ah.” Dr. Hampton folded his hands together in his lap and crossed his legs. “I have to say that I, uh, thought as much.”

  The flames of acute embarrassment consumed Jamie’s flesh. She wished she could melt right there on the spot. What had she been thinking? Of course Dr. Hampton and Roberta had to have known—and heard—what was going on inside that other room all this time.

  “Dr. Hampton,” Jamie began, “I suppose I’ve really done it now, haven’t I? I wouldn’t blame you if you reported me to the licensing bureau—”

  “Hold on, Jamie. That reminds me.”

  Jamie exchanged a worried glance with Kell. They both watched as Dr. Hampton stood up and crossed over to Roberta. When he held his hand out, the secretary put a piece of paper into his hand. Then she gave him a pen. He signed the paper with a flourish and turned to Jamie, handing it to her. “Well done,” he said, grinning. “You’ve earned this. And I don’t mean by what you…just did. I mean by your fine work and your research. And by your efforts these past weeks to…well, you know, take care of things. I believe you when you say you have succeeded.”

  Baffled in the extreme, Jamie looked down at the paper Dr. Hampton had given her. Quickly she read it, Kell looking over her shoulder. Comprehension set in. She jerked around to face Kell. “Look—it’s my license to practice. I’m certified.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Ohmigod, I think I’m going to cry. Kell, I did it. We did it. We broke down the barriers, all the walls—and we became whole. I cannot believe this.”

  His face alight with joy, Kell swept her up in his arms and swung her around as Jamie laughed happily. When he put her down, he held her by the shoulders and stared down at her. “I am so proud of you, Jamie. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, meaning every word wholeheartedly. She turned around in Kell’s embrace and faced her mentor. All Jamie could do was stand there, clutching her license in her hands, and beam happily. “Thank you,” she said. “This opens up a whole new world to me, Dr. Hampton. But more importantly, the person I love the most in all the world—” she smiled up at Kell “—will be sharing my life with me from this day on. He asked me again to marry him and I said yes.”

  “Oh!” Roberta plucked a tissue out of a box, took her glasses off and wiped at her eyes. “I just love a happy ending,” she said, sniffling.

  Epilogue

  “IT WOULD HAVE BEEN fun to just jump on a plane and get married in Vegas. But it was better to have the ceremony here so our families, not to mention Jeff and Melanie, could be there, don’t you think?” Sitting on the couch next to Kell, who held her hand, Jamie focused on Dr. Hampton.

  Sitting in his usual chair, Dr. Hampton nodded. “Oh, I do. It was a wonderful gesture. I’d never been on a military base. The Camdens’ quarters were beautifully decorated for your wedding.”

  “I’ll say,” Kell answered. “Melanie is quite the woman. She did it all herself, even though she’s pregnant. Well, she says Jeff helped. But I’m sure she didn’t let him do much since he’s still recuperating.”

  “I’m so glad he’s doing well. Now, tell me, how is married life treating you? It’s been three months now.”

  A little misty, Jamie answered. “I love it. It’s so great just to be old married folks. He leaves for the office every morning, comes home every evening. I’m there working at home and looking forward all day to seeing him come through the door. It couldn’t be any better, Dr. Hampton.” Jamie tucked her hair behind her ears. “Have I ever thanked you for making me seek closure?”

  Dr. Hampton chuckled. “About a hundred times. Again…you’re welcome.”

  Jamie smoothed her hands over the couch’s firm cushions…and locked gazes with Kell. His face colored along with hers. Jamie cleared her throat and looked Dr. Hampton’s way. “I like your new couch.” She could barely make herself meet the man’s gaze. “And it was, uh, really nice of you to give us your other one for a wedding gift.”

  Dr. Hampton’s eyes lit with humor. “It seemed like an appropriate gesture…given the circumstances, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I would,” Jamie quickly agreed. “But seriously, Dr. Hampton, we owe you a huge debt. How can we ever repay you?”

  He brushed away her gratitude. “Oh, please, I just did my job. But who knows? If you ever write a book…dedicate it to me, okay?”

  Jamie exchanged a charged glance with Kell. A twinkle lit her eyes. She thought of her big secret—the completed manuscript she’d just turned in two days ago to Highline Publishing. “No problem.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-7108-4

  HER ONLY CHANCE

  Copyright © 2001 by Cheryl Anne Porter.

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