Pain gripped Bretts heart. It wasnt all right. Even if he didnt intend to settle down in Bedford Creek for the rest of his life, he couldnt just walk away. Somehow, he had to do something.
Rebecca sat on the front porch swing, watching the stars come out one by one in the sliver of sky that wasnt blocked by the maple trees lining the street. She should go in. She shivered, pulling her sweater more closely around her shoulders. Nights got cool in the mountains in September.
She glanced across the lawn to the house next door. She might as well admit it. She was waiting for Brett to come home from his meeting with Doc.
Shed really messed up her fine plan. She bit her lip. The plan wasnt at fault, her temper was. Shed let it get control of her tongue, and shed antagonized Brett so thoroughly that now hed never listen to her.
Lord, please help Doc do a better job of this than I did. Im sorry I spoke hastily and messed things up.
The Lord must get tired of hearing her confess the same sin over and over again, she thought. She pushed the swing with her foot, listening to the comforting creak. Each time, she promised to try harder, but trying harder didnt seem to be the answer.
She tried to picture Doc and Brett talking together over their meal. Shed like to believe Doc was insisting Brett follow through on his promise. Shed like to, but she couldnt. Doc would never admit how desperately he needed help.
Headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the trunks of the maples. Brett parked at the curb, got out, and stood for a moment, looking in her direction. Then he walked toward her, and suddenly her heart seemed to be beating way too fast.
Enough, she lectured. Brett doesnt mean anything to you anymore, remember?
His footsteps crunched through the fallen leaves on the walk. Mind if I join you?
She shrugged, moving over to make room on the swing. It creaked as he sat. He leaned back, and she tried to ignore the warmth that emanated from him. Tried, and failed.
This has to be the same swing. He pushed gently with his foot. I remember the creak.
You should. You and Angela spent enough time out here.
She remembered, too. Remembered sitting at her bedroom window in the dark, listening to their soft, private laughter and the creak of the swing. Wishing she were sitting beside him.
The good old days. He leaned back, staring up at the stars as she had done. Seems like a lifetime ago.
It probably seems longer to you because youve been so many different places since then. She bit back the words that wanted to spill out about where hed been and where he was going in the future.
I guess. He pushed again, the swing moving back and forth with a little more energy, as if it picked up on some agitation he didnt show.
She couldnt pretend she didnt know where hed gone tonight, and she couldnt act as if it didnt matter. Shed just have to choose her words carefully, that was all. Brett seemed willing to forget their earlier quarrel, and she had no desire to remind him.
Did you and Doc have a nice supper? That was neutral enough, surely.
A faint smile flickered on his lips. We ate at the Bluebird Café. Hasnt anyone in this town heard of healthy cuisine?
Only the newcomers. Let me guess. Doc had chicken and gravy.
He nodded. Got it in one. And rolls with butter, and mashed potatoes.
Nobody can resist Cassies homemade rolls. This didnt seem to be getting them any closer to the subject she needed to discuss, but at least they werent sniping at each other.
Doc should at least cut down on the butter, and he knows it. Thats what hed tell a patient. He frowned, turning to face her. The swing stopped abruptly as he planted both feet on the porch. He needs to retire.
Did he say so?
No. He gave an exasperated sigh. Of course he didnt say so. He shook his head. Go on, ask. You know you want to.
He sounded frustrated, but not angry, so maybe it was safe to broach the sore subject.
Did you tell him? She held her breath, waiting for an explosion.
His jaw tightened. Yes. I told him. I think hed already guessed most of it.
What did he say?
About what youd expect.
She swallowed hard. Thats it, then. She hated saying the words. Hes given you his blessing. You can go away and forget about the clinic. About us.
You know I cant.
She looked up at him. He was very close to her, but it was hard to make out his expression in the dark.
What do you mean? She held her breath. Maybe he was about to say
I mean you were right. I cant ignore this. I owe Doc too much for that.
Hope surged through her. Youll stay?
He shook his head, and the hope died as quickly as it had come. I cant. Try and understand that, Rebecca. Doc does.
I dont. If that was incitement to a quarrel, it would have to be. You admit you owe Doc. Is that how you intend to repay him? By leaving?
Ill help out at the clinic for the time being. He sounded grimly determined. And while Im doing that Ill figure out a way Doc can retire with an easy mind. But as for the future He shrugged. I dont think its going to be the way you wanted.
She already knew that. Dreams didnt come true, not in real life. Prince Charming didnt come back for Cinderella.
I guess not.
The swing creaked as he moved. Then he touched her chin lightly, the way hed tease a smile from a child. The warmth of his hand flowed through her, and her heart stuttered.
Dont think too badly of me, okay? Maybe none of us should be held to promises we make when we are kids. After all, you promised to marry me if Id just wait until you were grown up.
He must feel the warmth that flooded her cheeks. That was a long time ago.
Now youre all grown up, and everythings changed. His hand still lingered against her cheek. Ive changed, too. But Im going to do my best to help Doc, so I guess well be seeing a lot of each other.
A faint hope flickered. Hed be helping out at the clinic every day. Maybe being there would make him realize this was where he belonged. Maybe God was giving her another chance to convince him to stay.
The trouble was, shed have to find a way to do it without having her heart broken by the man shed given it to when she was five.
Chapter Four
The good thing about going to the café for breakfast, Brett decided, was that no one bothered you unless you wanted to talk. When hed walked in the door, the early morning regulars had greeted him as if hed been there yesterday morning, instead of years ago. Then theyd gone back to their newspapers or conversations about the weather and the state of tourism.
Nostalgia had prompted him into the third booth from the back, the one that had belonged to him, Alex and Mitch when they were in high school. The blue-padded seats looked like the same ones. With a mug of Cassies coffee steaming in front of him, he shook out the newspaper and prepared to get up-to-date on Bedford Creek news.
Halfway through the front page, someone slid onto the bench across from him. He looked up to find Mitch flagging Cassie and the coffeepot.
Halfway through the front page, someone slid onto the bench across from him. He looked up to find Mitch flagging Cassie and the coffeepot.
She got there before he could gesture again. Like old times, the two of you sitting here together. She set the heavy white mug on the table and filled it in a swift, efficient movement. You just need to get Alex here with you.
Well work on it. Mitch waved away a menu. Just coffee, thanks.
Brett raised an eyebrow. Does Anne have you on a diet?
I had breakfast two hours ago. Cops get an earlier start than doctors.
Mitch might have been up for hours, but his blue uniform was as sharply pressed as if it had just come off the rack. That was the lingering effect of years in the military, Brett had always supposed.
When I was interning, I dont think I ever went to bed. Come on, Mitch, admit it. Youve got it soft these days. Cushy job in a small town, beautiful wife-to-be
Mitch grinned. Plus a couple thousand tourists, no staff to speak of and two kids.
And you love it, Brett pointed out.
And I love it. Mitchs smile softened, as if he were thinking of Anne. Im one lucky guy. Then his gaze focused on Brett. What about you?
The mixture of relief and guilt hed felt the night before flooded back. I told Doc last night.
And?
Brett shrugged. Great, fine, I have his blessing. You know Doc. He wouldnt say anything else. Maybe that was what bothered him mostthat Doc would be so unfailingly supportive, even when Brett was disappointing him.
Look, you have to do what youre called to do. Mitch spread big hands flat on the table. That was what hed said when Brett told him the day before. We both know that. Doc knows it, too.
I wish it were as clear-cut as that. If Doc were ten years younger, it might be. But Ive seen him at the end of the kind of day hes putting in at the clinic. Hes exhausted. Its time he took it easiereven thought about retirement.
Mitch shook his head. Doc wont retire. Face it. Hed rather die in harness.
Im not going to let it come to that.
So what are you going to do? You cant force him to take it easy. Hes the only doctor in town, remember?
The decision hed made the night before still seemed right. That just means I have to act fast. I have to find someone else to work at the clinic, eventually take over for him. Thats the only way.
Mitchs skeptical look spoke volumes. Easier said than done. The clinic board tried that a couple of years ago. The world isnt filled with doctors who want to settle down in a town of five thousand, miles from anywhere. And anyone who was interested, Doc didnt think was good enough.
There has to be someone. Stubborn determination filled him. And Im going to find him. Or her. Ive already talked to Rebecca about it.
Mitch frowned. I guess we both know what Rebecca thinks you should do.
Shes made that abundantly clear, Brett said. His mouth twisted wryly. She looked about ready to have me horsewhipped when I said I wasnt back to stay.
I can imagine. She feels pretty strongly about Doc.
I know. Brett turned the bluebird-patterned mug in slow circles on the tabletop. I dont quite know why shes here, though. She could have gone anywhere when she finished her training.
Thats about when her father was diagnosed with cancer, Mitch said. You know how close they were. Rebecca came home to see him, and just stayed. Doc was in and out of the house all the time. John Forrester was a friend as well as a patient.
He was a good man. John Forresterquiet, unassuming, honesthad been part of Bretts life for as long as he could remember. I can understand why she came back then, but not why she stayed.
I guess she felt her mother needed her, Mitch said. Face it, Angelas got a good heart, but she doesnt have a whole lot of common sense. And when Quinns wife died, his little girl moved in with them. Rebeccas got her hands full, Id say.
Yes, I guess she has. And probably a big debt she felt she owed Doc.
One things sure. Mitch smiled, but his eyes were serious. If Rebecca thinks anything you do will hurt Doc, she really will horsewhip you. I guarantee it.
Rebecca couldnt let it go. She paused in the parking lot outside the clinic, lifting her face to the September sunshine. That conversation with Brett ran through her mind over and over again.
He would leave. That was the bottom line. Hed try to solve Docs problems before then, but she knew the reality of the situation, even if he didnt. He wouldnt find a solutionnot in a few short weeks, not even in a few months, probably.
That panicked sense of time running out gripped her again. What was she going to do?
She closed her eyes. Help me, Father. Please. Youll have to guide me, because I dont know what to do.
When she opened her eyes, the autumn colors seemed a little more golden. She took a deep breath, some of the tension in her shoulders ebbing. Now if she could just remember to leave the burden in Gods hands, instead of picking it up again, shed be better off. She took another deep breath and walked into the clinic.
Brett was already there. He stood at the cabinet, looking over some files, and her heart thudded at the sight of him. He glanced up, sea-green eyes frowning, and waved a chart at her.
Where are Alexs medical records?
She frowned right back. Are you seeing him today?
No. He eased away from the drawer, looking surprised that shed question him. But Id still like to see them.
She hesitated. What would Doc say to that? Brett didnt really have any official standing, but