Читать книгу Blessings - Lois Richer - Страница 10

“What have you done with my daughter?”

As fresh beginnings went, it stunk.

Barely an hour in a picturesque town with the unusual name of Blessing, Colorado, and already an irate father loomed.

“Where is she? And while you’re at it, Arvilla, direct me to the unfeeling lout who ran over her. I’d like to press charges.”

Blessing? They should have called it Catastrophe Corner!

Dr. Nicole Brandt gulped, fingers tightening on the stainless-steel kidney dish she was holding. The husky male voice continued its furious diatribe, though now it was muffled by the door Nicole’s tiny patient quickly closed.

“That’s my dad,” the little girl whispered. “But don’t worry, he’s just scared. He always talks loud when he’s scared.” Tiny fingers curved around Nicole’s lower arm, infusing warmth. “He’s just pretending to be fierce.”

He’s doing a good job.

“Thanks, sweetie. I hope you’re right.” Nicole led the little tyke back to the table and lifted her onto it. “You’d better wait right here for him. Okay?”

The angel-wisp hair barely moved with the nod before they were interrupted.

“Ruth Ann?”

In a whoosh the door whacked back against the wall, knob thudding into the doorstop with a dull bump. A man stalked in, his long legs swallowing the considerable distance across E.R. room number two with ease. He stopped in front of the child, eyes searching her pale face, hand half-stretched as if he didn’t dare touch.

“Are you all right, baby?” The words dragged out of him.

“I’m fine, Daddy. I hurt my arm.” The little girl smiled sweetly from her perch on the examining table.

“You scared me to death, Ruth Ann Elizabeth.” He closed his eyes, leaned back on his heels and lowered his voice. “To death.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” China-blue eyes big as saucers filled with mournful tears. “I didn’t mean to do it. I never do. It just happened, Daddy.”

Nicole smothered a smile as Ruth Ann’s sad tears melted away and a cherubic look flew in to take their place.

“But it’s okay now ’cause the lady fixed it.” She held up her almost dry cast. “See? I got a cast.”

“Huh?” The raven head jerked up from his chest, eyes flew open. He bent over her. “What did you say?”

Nicole stepped forward, wanting to reassure him. Her steps faltered as his enormous shoulders stiffened into a rigid line.

“What lady fixed it, Ruth Ann?” The words hissed out between clenched lips.

“This one.” Nicole waited for him to face her, heart thudding when he did. “I fixed it.”

Wow! Her eyes absorbed his chiseled good looks only until she realized they were marred by an angry frown. He had a right to be upset, Nicole reminded herself. No matter how gently you put it, his little daughter had been injured. Of course he was worried!

“Dr. Nicole Brandt, sir.” She stuck out one hand, smiling. “I just happened to be in the area.”

He didn’t take her hand. Didn’t even acknowledge it was there. Nicole let it drop to her side as his eyes completed their in-depth scrutiny of her blond hair, loosened now from its usual upsweep. With one assessing examination he took in her dusty green shirt, faded jeans and grubby, worn sneakers. Her moving clothes.

“You’re the new doctor.” It was not a question.

Nicole held on to her dignity by a thread.

“Yes, I am. I arrived this morning. I’m sorry about your daughter’s arm. I happened to drive past the accident on my way from a tour of the hospital. The policeman had seen me here earlier. He said the ambulance was busy, but he thought it would be all right if I drove everyone here. Fortunately, the break was clean and easily set.”

“You don’t say?”

Something in the way he said that made Nicole choke back the rest of her rushed explanation. She examined his face more closely. His eyes glowed the same rich blue as his daughter’s, but there were fine lines at the corners. Worry lines. And a harshness lay behind his eyes that Ruthie certainly didn’t have, an icy bitterness that warned her of something he kept banked up, hidden from prying substitute doctors.

She swallowed and tried again. “The housekeeper— Mrs. Tyndall, isn’t it?” His head jerked, once.

“Yes, well, she was there. I brought her and your other daughters with us to the hospital. Mrs. Tyndall assured me she was fully authorized to consent to treatment for Ruthie, and since the nurses didn’t object, I decided—”

“You decided?”

To say he smiled was to overstate that grim uplift of his mouth. So…arrogant. As if he questioned not just her brains, but her ability.

Nicole shrugged the thought away. It was a small-town thing, that’s all. Once she was established in the clinic, had the local guy’s blessing, they’d come to accept her.

She hoped.

“Excuse me? You were saying?” One black eyebrow flicked up at her in silent demand.

“Yes. Sorry.” Nicole flushed, the hot red stain burning her cheeks, then plunging down her neck. She summoned her courage.

“I was going to say that I decided it was best to treat your daughter quickly, get the arm into a cast as soon as possible. Since we did have permission.” She smiled at Ruthie, wishing her father would lighten up. “Kids this age are pretty active.”

“I’m well aware of the antics of children this age.” His eyes frosted over to a glacial chill. “You may remember that I have three of them.”

“Oh.” Actually he might have ten for all Nicole knew. No doubt he thought the nurses had already told her. “Yes, of course, Mr.—?” She glanced up, wondering if he’d ignore the hint, as before.

“Darling,” he finished smoothly. “Joshua Darling. And it’s Doctor.”

“Ah. I see.” Oh, no! Nicole prayed for courage. This was the man she’d be working with? Her heart did a nosedive straight to her toes. Good one, Nici. Alienate him first thing. Excellent beginning.

She forced herself to smile.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Dr. Darling.”

His dubious look cast doubt on her statement. “I’d like to see the X rays. Now.”

“Yes, of course.” She turned to find the nurse who’d hovered while she set the arm, but there was no one else in the room. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where she’s taken them.”

“Arvilla!” Dr. Darling barked the word out loudly enough that the whole hospital could have heard.

“Yes, Doctor. I’m here.” The short, bustling woman handed him a big brown envelope. “I suspected you’d want to see these, so I didn’t file them—yet.”

He snapped the pictures out of the envelope and onto the light screen, peering at the outline for several minutes before he turned his glare on the petite nurse.

“You didn’t suspect I’d want to set my own daughter’s arm?” His blue eyes dared the nurse to flinch. “You know that nobody treats my family but me.”

“You were out of town, Joshua. At the clinic. We didn’t know when you’d be back. Ruthie had a simple fracture. Since Dr. Brandt has already been approved by our board and the forms have all been processed, I saw no reason she shouldn’t go ahead and help your daughter.”

“Really?” Dr. Darling glared for two seconds longer, then returned his gaze to the pictures.

Arvilla looked small, but Nicole just knew she was one of those people with a mighty spirit. She could tell it from the way the nurse refused to back down. That thought cheered her immeasurably when her own knees threatened to buckle under his icy regard.

“She was hurt, Joshua,” Arvilla whispered. “And we could help her. Isn’t that exactly what you would have wanted us to do?”

He sighed then, tiredly, as if he’d had one too many emergencies today. A large capable hand raked through his hair before he gathered the little girl in his arms and hugged her against his chest. His words whispered out over the angel-fair ringlets.

“I’m sorry, Arvilla. Of course you did what’s best for Ruth Ann. I know that. It’s just that I remembered—”

To Nicole’s surprise, Arvilla stretched one chubby arm up and patted the forbidding doctor on the back of his football shoulders, forestalling whatever he’d been about to say.

“I know, Dr. Darling,” she murmured, her eyes kind as they met his. “I understand. And this little monkey is fine, thanks to your new partner. That’s the important thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” He glanced over Ruthie’s head, his blue eyes meeting Nicole’s.

The ice didn’t exactly melt, but Nicole thought there was a Chinook in the offing.

“Thank you for helping my daughter.” He set the child down.

“You’re welcome.” She glanced from doctor to nurse, unsure of how she should proceed. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong.”

But Joshua Darling ignored her to kneel on the floor in front of his child.

“What happened, honey? How did you break your arm?”

The little girl fidgeted, her eyes avoiding his until at last she met his scrutiny. “Riding the scooter,” she mumbled.

“In the street?”

He stayed exactly where he was, but Nicole saw the tightness grip his body, felt the tension surge into the room.

“Just on the edge.” Ruthie’s eyes dropped and her bottom lip trembled. “I was showing Roz and Rach how to do a trick an’ it bounced on the curb and flew up. I couldn’t stop it fast enough.” The words tumbled out helter-skelter.

“I’m afraid the scooter is a write-off,” Nicole admitted with a rueful smile. “Perhaps I could help her choose a new one?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Joshua Darling never even looked at Nicole. “When something is ruined because we broke the rules, we can only blame ourselves. Isn’t that right, Ruth Ann?”

“Uh-huh.” She sniffed back a sob, dashing one dirt-smeared fist across her cheek. “I’m really sorry, Daddy.”

“Sorry that you broke it, or sorry that you got caught?” He let her think about it for a minute. “You’re Rosalyn’s older sister, Ruth Ann. She looks up to you. What if she tries to copy you next time and a car comes along? She could be very badly hurt. Being a big sister who disobeys is dangerous. Do you understand?”

Ruthie sniffed, her flaxen head bobbing up and down once in silent agreement. “I won’t ever do it again, Daddy. Promise.”

“Good. Now Arvilla will take you to Mrs. Tyndall and the other girls. Tell Mrs. Tyndall I said you can all go home in a taxi. We’ll talk about your punishment later.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Good.” He kissed the top of her shiny blond head and received a hug in return. “Off you go.”

As the child left the room with the nurse, Nicole watched Dr. Darling rise to his feet. He looked haggard, defeated. His shoulders slumped under the tired tweed of his jacket.

Nicole simply stood, watched and waited.

At last he remembered her, his eyes sliding up to meet hers. At that moment a mask slid over his face, concealing the worry and fear she thought she’d glimpsed. In one second he went from concerned father to the doctor in charge.

“Dr. Brandt, I am truly glad you’ve arrived, though I apologize for the circumstances. I shouldn’t have barked at you so rudely. Please accept my excuse of absolute fear and allow me to begin again. I’m Joshua Darling.” At last he thrust out his hand.

“It’s very nice to meet you.” Nicole shook it, assessing the firm grip. It was the kind of grip you could depend on. “I was actually looking for my new home when I ran into your daughter.”

Uh-oh, bad choice of words. His lips pinched in a grim line as he frowned at her.

“This is Thursday. Surely you realize that you don’t actually start the job until Monday?”

“Oh, I realize that was the arrangement you and Professor Adams came to, but I didn’t want to leave everything till the last minute. I thought I’d get settled in, take a look around the hospital, see the town this weekend and be all ready for work Monday morning.” I also had to get out of the city before my father could change my mind.

Dr. Darling nodded as if her reasons were perfectly normal. He checked his watch, then beckoned.

“Follow me. I have a few scripts to write, then I’ll show you where Aunt Winifred lives, though I can’t fathom how you could miss the place. Not after the detailed description I gave your professor.”

Now might not be the time to admit she hadn’t exactly been looking at the house numbers. Nicole had a hunch Dr. Darling was already suspicious of her abilities, so he’d hardly understand she’d been caught up in the homey scene of kids playing on big green lawns, of dogs barking and porch swings swaying in the April breezes. He probably took all of that for granted, living in a place called Blessing.

Once he’d signed the appropriate paperwork, Nicole trailed behind Dr. Darling out of the hospital and across to the doctor’s parking area. He stopped beside a nondescript beige four-door station wagon that looked as if it had seen many miles of tough country road.

“I’m assuming you have your car with you?”

She nodded, pointed to the red sports car her father had given her last winter. The contrast between it and his couldn’t have been greater. Joshua Darling’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You got them all in that?” he squeaked. “Even Mrs. Tyndall?”

Nicole subdued her smile, nodded.

“It wasn’t easy, but then, we didn’t have far to go.”

“Thank heavens.” He grimaced at the folded-back roof. “Not exactly meant for kids. It might be best to ride with me for now. That way I can point out a few landmarks on the way. I’ll bring you back later to collect…that.” He jerked a thumb at her car. “I have to come back for rounds, anyway.”

“Fine.”

So he didn’t like sports cars. Or maybe it was the color. That was a switch. In Boston the medical residents had tried to bribe her to go out with them just so they could drive it.

Nicole shrugged and told herself she didn’t much care either way, as long as it got her where she wanted to go. It was just a car, not an indication of her personality. In fact, she would willingly have tossed the keys back at her father, returned the expensive vehicle in a second, for a chance to hear him say the words she’d longed for all these years.

But Shane Brandt had never said he loved her, not since her mother’s death twenty-four years ago.

Dr. Darling tugged open the door on the passenger side of his car and Nicole climbed in. He got in the other side, then started the motor.

“I guess we’ll start with the main part of town. That brick building is the office. We’re open Monday to Friday, nine to five. Receptionist, one lab tech and a nurse. Closed for holidays and weekends. Town hall, recreation center, library, church.” He rattled off the information, waving a hand here and there as they rolled along at a sedate twenty-one miles per hour.

“Those are apartments for seniors. Out of fashion though it may be, we still occasionally make house calls there.”

He seemed to be waiting for her to comment, but Nicole only nodded, scanning the pretty town curiously.

“This is the oldest part of Blessing, as you can see by the houses here.”

“It’s lovely.” Nicole gaped at the huge wraparound porches and burgeoning flower beds that perched on vast green lawns like the backdrop in some whimsical fairy tale.

“Most of them have been kept up pretty well. Some are historic sites.” He waved a hand toward a small blue lake. “The newer architectural wonders in Blessing are over there. They don’t take near the same amount of upkeep, have normal heating bills and enjoy a great view.”

“Oh, but these old houses are chock-full of character. They’re charming.”

Except for the one on the far end. It looked…neglected? No, that wasn’t exactly the word. The paint was fine. It was more the shaggy lawn and unplanted flower beds that seemed out of place here in never-never land.

Nicole ignored it and focused instead on the maple-lined streets. “The town is lovely.”

“Yes, it is. This one is Aunt Winifred’s home. It’s way too big for her, of course, but as the self-appointed matriarch of Blessing, she feels compelled to maintain her place in the history of the town. Besides—” he grinned, his lips curving with affection “—she grew up in this mausoleum and won’t hear of leaving it.”

Nicole swallowed, stunned by his good looks when he let go of that forbidding reserve. “I can understand why she doesn’t want to leave,” she murmured, glancing at the house, which she’d admired earlier.

He pulled up to the curb and stopped the car.

“Come on. I’m sure she’s home. It’s Thursday afternoon, after all.”

Whatever that meant.

Nicole climbed out of the car and followed him through the white picket gate and up a sidewalk flanked by hordes of sunny daffodils waving in the gentle breeze. The house was a masterpiece of pure Victoriana. It was the same house she’d been ogling just before Ruthie had clashed with the pavement. So how come this woman—their aunt?—hadn’t offered to help?

They climbed five sparkling-white steps bounded by climbing shrubs and huge clay pots with dark purple pansies peeking out, to arrive at a brilliant red door.

“She’s a bit eccentric, but she has a good heart. This door is about the only thing she’s changed in the place.” Dr. Darling rapped the brass knocker with authority, then twisted the handle to open the door.

“Aunt Winifred? It’s me.”

A woman bustled into the foyer, wiping her hands on an immense white apron as she did. She had to be over sixty, but she was obviously not living in the past. Her soft fawn-colored hair lay in short, stylish waves about her face. She wore a periwinkle-blue blouse tucked into matching slacks, pure white sneakers and a smile as big as all outdoors.

“Joshua! My dear, how are you?” She hugged him exuberantly, as if she hadn’t seen him in months. “Come in. I’m glad I made it back before you arrived. Thursday afternoons are supposed to be my time off, and I usually go shopping. But it’s so busy in the afternoons that buying groceries always takes longer than I expect.” She frowned, brushed his hair back off his forehead. “You look tired, dear. What have those girls been up to now?”

“More of the same, I’m afraid. Ruth Ann broke her arm today.”

“Mercy!” The older woman tut-tutted her dismay, but her eyes were on Nicole. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.”

One mystery solved.

“Aunt Winifred, this is Dr. Nicole Brandt. She’s going to be working with me. And staying with you, if the deal’s still on.”

“Of course it’s on. How lovely you are, dear. Your hair is quite gorgeous. I always did say blondes have more fun.” Miss Winifred winked as she shook Nicole’s hand firmly. “I’m going to love having company here. This big old house rattles with just me in it.”

“You could move out, you know. Those new condos on the hill are much smaller.” Joshua glanced around, grimacing. “There’s too much work here for you.”

“Nonsense! This place has been standing since Matthais Blessing first built it in 1874. The Blessings have always lived here. Besides, what would I do without my gardens? Come.”

She led them out to a screened porch that sat at the back of the house. Here, too, flowers dotted the deck and the yard beyond in a riot of color.

Nicole cleared her throat. “Excuse me, I don’t think I understood. You mean you’re one of the original founders of this town?” She glanced at Joshua. What about the “aunt” relationship?

“We’re not related by blood,” Joshua muttered.

“Actually, I’m not an original, either.” Miss Winifred fluffed her hair, preening just a little. “I am the last of the direct descendants, however.”

“Yes, of course. Er, that’s what I meant. Sorry.” Nicole winced at her tactless words. “You must be very proud that the town has done so well. It looks like a lovely place to live.”

“It is, rather. We have our problems, but we manage. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else.” Miss Winifred set a pitcher of iced tea on the table, then fetched three glasses. “Joshua did tell me where you were from, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten.”

“Boston.” Nicole let it go at that. There was no point in explaining. People seldom understood.

“But how wonderful! I lived in Boston when my father sent me to finishing school.” Miss Winifred smiled. “He thought it was important for me to be trained in society. Of course, people don’t worry about that anymore, but it was a big thing then.”

“My father sent me to Lucerne to be ‘finished.’” Nicole regretted saying it the moment the words left her lips. It sounded pompous, as if she were bragging.

But Miss Winifred merely nodded, her eyes far away. “A lovely place. I always wanted to visit Switzerland.”

“Yes, it is special. But so is this.” Nicole took a sip of the drink, eyes widening at the flavor. “Your tea is wonderful.”

“Raspberry juice, dear. Gives it a hint of fruit flavor without overpowering.” Miss Winifred sat down opposite Joshua. “Boston’s elegant in the springtime, too, of course.”

“Yes. I’ve loved it there. But a change will be nice.”

Up to now Joshua hadn’t said anything. Suddenly he cleared his throat.

“I understand that Blessing is just a short stop on your path,” he said quietly, as if testing Nicole.

Don’t be so touchy! He’s probably worried that you’ll take off at a moment’s notice.

“Well, Professor Adams did say you wanted a temporary doctor,” Nicole reminded him. “I believe that was the arrangement with your first candidate, though I understand he never actually showed up?”

“No, he backed out at the last minute.” His face tightened, lips pinched in a tight white line.

“I see. Well, I can’t commit to staying permanently, but I’m willing to help out for six months or so, less if you don’t need me anymore.”

“That’s fine. I shouldn’t think it would take much longer than six months to find a new partner,” he mumbled, obviously considering the shortness of her visit a blessing.

“But, Joshua, six months isn’t long at all! I had hopes Nicole might enjoy it here and want to settle down.” The older woman seemed disturbed by this news, as if she hadn’t known her houseguest wouldn’t be a permanent resident of the town.

“Oh, I’m sure I shall enjoy every minute, Miss Winifred.” Nicole glanced around. “Especially in this wonderful home. You can just feel the history, can’t you?”

“Besides, Aunt Winifred, in six months she won’t have a chance to tire of the scenery before she heads back to Boston. Isn’t that right, Ms. Brandt?”

Nicole blinked. Was he afraid she’d stick around too long?

“I thought you were a doctor?” Miss Winifred fiddled with the condensation on her glass, forehead furrowed. “I understood you were fully qualified to work with my nephew.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then why on earth wouldn’t you want her to stay, Joshua? A lovely young woman like this would be a boon to our town.” Miss Winifred studied him curiously. “Certainly the single men will think so.”

She had the same vivid eyes as Dr. Darling, Nicole noted, vaguely surprised by the discovery. Hadn’t he said they weren’t blood relatives?

His sigh was audible.

“I told you all this before, Aunt Win. Remember? I’m looking for a partner, someone permanent, like I had before….” Joshua Darling’s voice died away. His eyes seemed to lose their shine and harden. Clearly he detested explaining.

“Yes, but…”

Nicole jumped into the awkward moment.

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stay anyway, Miss Winifred.”

“Oh. Why, dear?” Miss Winifred looked faintly troubled by the words. “Are you engaged?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that.” Nicole could just imagine her father’s response to that. “I’m waiting for a spot to open up so I can take some advanced surgical training. A professor of mine thought I should use this time to make sure I won’t regret my decision not to stay in general practice.”

“I see.” Miss Winifred seemed disturbed by this news. “That’s too bad.”

“No, it’s good for us, Aunt Win. It gives me a little more leeway to find a new partner. It’s an important decision and I don’t want to rush it, but I can’t spend every waking moment at the office or the clinic. I’ve got to spend some time with the girls, too. Especially now that they’re growing so fast. This way some of the pressure will be off.”

By the look of his face as he raked a hand through his black hair, Nicole thought Dr. Darling needed a break. His head tilted back. He leaned against the wicker chair and closed his eyes, weariness evident in the etched lines on his face.

Nicole felt a rush of sympathy for him. She actually knew very little of his history except that he was a single parent and his partner had left rather abruptly.

“I was told that you run satellite clinics as well as your regular office. How do you manage that and the office hours?” Perhaps there was more than one way she could help.

“It isn’t easy. For the past month I’ve done the clinics every other week. On those days I open the office here in Blessing from five in the evening until nine, after I return from the satellites. Today’s one of those days.”

No wonder he was tired!

“I could go with you tonight, if you like. Just to give you a hand. Surely with two of us, things would go faster?”

He sat up with a jerk, suddenly wide awake.

“That’s, er, very kind of you. But no, I think I can manage for the rest of this week.”

“But why—” She stopped, surprised by the stern look on his face.

“Look, Dr. Brandt. It’s very important to me that my office operates on a certain routine, within prearranged parameters. I don’t make sudden changes and I don’t adjust anything unless I’m certain it will be either cost-effective or serve my patients better. I’ve managed to keep my practice very successful by following a precise organizational method, and I would like, as much as is possible, for you to adhere to that schedule.”

“Well, yes, of course.” Nicole blinked. What on earth have I gotten into? “I was just offering to help.”

“Which I appreciate.” He drained his glass and stood, peering down at her. “But I think you’ve done enough today. Ruth Ann’s arm was above and beyond the call of duty.”

“It was just a cast!”

Nicole hated to have him towering over her, so she stood and faced him. Something strange was at work here. She just wished she knew what it was. Then she saw the little nerve ticking just under his jaw, and realized there were many things her new boss wasn’t saying. Perhaps it was better to back off now, and find out what was behind all this from his “aunt.”

“If that’s your wish, Dr. Darling, it’s perfectly fine by me. If you change your mind, just let me know. Otherwise I’ll see you in the office Monday morning at eight.”

He blinked, then nodded.

“I hope you won’t mind if I catch a ride back with you. My car’s still at the hospital.”

“Yes, of course. And I still have rounds.” He bent to press a kiss against Miss Winifred’s white powdered cheek. “You’re sure you want to do this? It won’t be too much?”

She laughed, a light musical trill.

“I’ll love it. Nicole, you come on back and we’ll get you settled in. Then we’ll have a chat—just us girls.”

That laugh was infectious. Nicole found herself grinning as she climbed into Dr. Darling’s car and waved at the tiny figure surrounded by flowers.

“Your aunt’s quite a woman,” she murmured, retracing the route with her eyes as they traveled.

“Yes, she is. I hope you’ll enjoy it there, but if you feel the need to be on your own, she’ll understand. She possesses a very strong intuition where people are concerned.”

“You sound as if you expect the worst.” Nicole stared at his frown and decided to bite the bullet. “Perhaps it might be better if you just said outright what it is that’s bothering you about my presence here, Dr. Darling.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” He slid into his spot at the hospital, switched off the engine and turned to face her. “I hope you won’t find this offensive.”

“I’ll manage. Please speak freely.” She blinked at the relief that flooded his face. What on earth—

“The position you are filling was only ever meant to be temporary.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “No matter how much you like it in Blessing, no matter what my aunt says, I am not looking to you as a permanent partner.”

“I thought we’d settled all this,” she sputtered, more than a little surprised by the vehemence of his words. “I intend to return to school.”

“Good. Because when I take a partner, I intend for that person to be perfectly suited to my practice. I’ve spent years devising certain strategies that have proven themselves over time. I have no need or desire to change my approach. Whomever I take on will have to accept my ways and get used to them.”

“I see.” She unlatched the door, then twisted to look up at him. “In fact, you’re looking for the perfect partner.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“And apparently you believe that person is not me.” She shrugged. “Well, don’t worry, Dr. Darling. It doesn’t sound like my kind of thing at all.” She took a breath, then let out the words she knew she’d regret. “Actually, what you’re describing doesn’t sound like a partnership at all. More like a dictatorship.”

He didn’t seem offended.

“Maybe it is. Whatever you want to call it, that’s what I intend to have. I hope you’re willing to stay under these conditions, knowing you won’t be a permanent fixture in town.”

Well, really! Could he be any more blunt?

Nicole climbed out of the car, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to say. But only one thing was really important.

She slammed the door, then leaned down to speak through the open window.

“I’m a doctor, just like you, Dr. Darling. My patients always come first. After that, I’ll do my best to follow your, er, dictates. See you Monday.”

As she walked across the pavement to her car, Nicole had to force herself not to dig in her heels. She was so mad!

Cranky, rude, sourpuss—the names bubbled up. Those three sweet, innocent little girls were his daughters? How could such a thing be possible? He was so…cold.

“Welcome to Blessing,” she muttered to herself as she got into her car. She drove out of the lot and took the first right turn back to Miss Winifred’s, plotting her conversation as she went.

Miss Winifred. Yes, I do believe I’ll take you up on your offer of that talk. But I think our main topic of discussion had better be Dr. Joshua Darling.

Nicole pulled up in front of the gorgeous house and switched off her car. All around the sound of children’s laughter permeated the air.

“Yes, indeedy. By the time Monday morning comes around, I ought to be well prepared to deal with Dr. Joshua Darling.” She flicked the trunk lock open and climbed out, preparing to carry her cases inside.

“For my first question—how in the world have the good folks of Blessing allowed a crusty grouch like him to retain the name Darling?”

As beginnings went, maybe that wasn’t a bad place to start.