Lucky In Love by Carolyn Brown Page A

last month. Ardmore is a nice little town, but quite a social change from the big cities.”
    “I’m sure. Well, I’m glad you’re taking care of my friend, Anthony.”
    “I didn’t catch your name,” the doctor said.
    “Amanda… Amanda Whitman… like the writer.”
    “And you’re from Ardmore?”
    “Oh, yes. I teach school in Wilson. But I could never live in a town that small permanently,” she told him.
    Beau was tired of the games the two people played. It was evident they were flirting, but who cared. He didn’t even know the tall blonde in the room with him. Maybe she was one of those women from the office who took down his, medical history. The man seemed to be a doctor and said he could go home tomorrow. Home. That’s where Amelia said she went. He distinctly remembered her saying she was going home. And tomorrow he was going home… and she would be there.
    “Where is Amelia?” he asked.
    “Your lady friend left a while ago. She stayed with you until your friend arrived,” the doctor said.
    “Okay,” he nodded and shut his eyes. Home where he was going tomorrow.
    Amanda walked to the door with the doctor.
    “So Amanda Whitman, are you listed in the phone book?”
    “Yes, I am,” she flirted. A doctor! That meant social standing and as much or more money than the Bar M, without black cows and stupid barn dances.
    “And would Amanda Whitman care if Dr. Jason Orbach called her sometime this week?”
    “She would love for you to call,” Amanda blushed again. She couldn’t believe Anthony was snoring. Evidently, he really was out in a foggy land somewhere and didn’t know who she was. If he’d been awake, he would have been standing in the middle of the bed with his fists up like a boxer, ready to duel with the doctor for her.
    “Well, then, I’ll hope to talk to you later tonight.” The doctor went on to the next room.
    She picked up her purse and started to kiss Anthony on the forehead. But why waste the energy and lipstick? And who was Amelia, anyway? Some past love he’d never mentioned? The woman who brought him in was Milli, evidently Milli Torres, if she was Jim’s granddaughter. He just thought she was someone named Amelia. Maybe Amelia was his mother. She’d heard that often a concussion sends a person back in time, so perhaps he was calling out for his mother.
    She shut her eyes dramatically and whispered, “It really doesn’t matter. Because I think I’ve found someone who can appreciate all I can bring into a relationship so much more than you. Of course, you need me more, but this is not about what you need. So get well and we’ll talk later, after I get to know this doctor a little better this week. I hate to break your heart, darling, I really do. I didn’t set out to cause you grief and sorrow. But now I really must go and wait for his call. I cannot compete with your mother. Because it is her you beg for, not your only true love, Amanda.” She sighed deeply and rushed out of the room, hoping to catch one more glimpse of the handsome doctor as she left the hospital.
    Beau opened an eye to see if she’d gone yet.
    Holy smoke, who is that woman? And what was all that about anyway? She sounded like she was deranged. I’m glad she left. What was she talking about my mother for anyway? I didn’t ask for Momma.
    At midnight he sat straight up in bed and looked around the room. Everything was as clear as a summer sky without a cloud in it. He’d topped the hill and hit a rock with the front wheel of his vehicle. He remembered it flipping over and something about a buzzard, then a dark-haired woman was bending over him. He knew this was a hospital room. He found the right button on the side of his bed and pushed it.
    A nurse poked her head in the door in just moments. “Yes, sir. Oh, Mr. Luckadeau, I believe you’re awake.”
    “Yes, ma’am, I am. What did I break?” He looked at both his legs and checked his arms.
    “Nothing, lucky for you. You’ve got sutures