The Rescue Doc's Christmas Miracle. Amalie Berlin

a showdown? Was that some kind of carry-over from yesterday’s battle, or was she really sick?

      Grilling Lawson wouldn’t get him answers, and they had a job to do: someone waited for their help. He buckled in and put on his headset. “Go.”

      Making the decision to focus didn’t mean it was so easy to do so.

      Penny was stubborn, perhaps the most stubborn person he’d ever met, so it was entirely possible she’d called off to make some kind of point. Last night had started out better than it had ended, but he’d thought the situation at least set to neutral when he’d gone home.

      If she called off but didn’t call him, did that mean anything? Could she have just called off to go to the doctor?

      If she had called off on her own because she was ill, she must be very badly off.

      “What’s wrong, boss?” Lawson’s voice cut through his thoughts.

      He turned to look at the pilot. “Nothing. Why?”

      “You just sighed massively. I didn’t just come off shift or anything, I’m not going to be operating at some lower level today than any other shift. Chill.”

      Chill.

      “I know. We’re good,” he said simply, no desire to engage in further conversation about it. It would be even more futile than the thoughts ricocheting around his cranium.

      Whatever was wrong, she should’ve damned well called to tell him. So much for all her talk last night of wanting him involved.