The Doctor's Christmas

So it didn’t matter to him in the least that knowing his motives had disillusioned Maggie.

Not in the least.

Chapter Four

“You sure keeping the boy out of school is the only way of handling this?” Aunt Elly still looked worried on Tuesday morning as Maggie headed for the office.

Maggie paused, wishing she didn’t have to hide Joey away from his friends. Was she overreacting? Letting her own fear of the county social worker govern what she did with the children? The memory of the deputy’s visit was too fresh in her mind to allow her to judge.

“I know he doesn’t want to stay home.”

She glanced toward the living room, where Joey was trying to convince his siblings to play school. They didn’t seem impressed with the idea of sitting still.

“I just don’t know what else to do. If he’s in school, it’s too easy for Mrs. Hadley to find him.”

Aunt Elly gave her a searching glance, as if plumbing the depths of Maggie’s soul. “What did his teacher have to say about it?”

“She agreed it was just as well.” Nobody at the small Button Gap elementary school would want to give them away, but they also couldn’t risk running afoul of the county. “That way they’re not to blame. It’s not long until Christmas vacation anyway, and Emily Davison will tutor him. He won’t fall behind.”

“Guess maybe it’s for the best.” Aunt Elly’s agreement sounded reluctant, but really, what else could they do? “How are you going to explain it to Grant?”

Her fingers clenched. “I’m not.” She shook her head. “Honest, we can’t take the chance. He can’t know about Joey being out of school.”

“I don’t want to lie to the man.” Aunt Elly’s blue eyes darkened. “I’m not saying I won’t, in a good cause, but I surely don’t want to.”

“We can’t risk telling him the truth.” Aunt Elly might think Grant could be trusted, but Maggie wasn’t so sure. She kissed the older woman’s cheek, its wrinkles a road map of the life of service Aunt Elly had lived. “Trust me. We can’t depend on him.”

Aunt Elly nodded, clearly still troubled. “I’ll go along with you, child. But keep your mind open. The doc might be a better man than you take him for.”

Maggie slipped out the door, shrugging her jacket closer for the short walk to the clinic’s door. Aunt Elly always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.

We can’t depend on him. She didn’t even want to depend on the man. He was an outsider, and he didn’t mean a thing to her except as an obstacle to keeping those children safe. Not a thing.

She opened the clinic door. Grant, in the hallway pulling on a lab coat, turned to her with a smile lighting his normally serious face. Her heart gave a rebellious jump.

“Morning.”

She concentrated on hanging up her jacket. What did Grant have to smile at, anyway? Certainly the last words that had passed between them the day before had been anything but friendly. She reached for her lab coat, only to find that Grant was already holding it for her.

“Thank you.”

“Sure.” His hands brushed her shoulders as she slipped the coat on.

With an effort, she steadied her breath and took a step away from him. It was just the effect of his closeness in the dim, narrow hallway—that was all. She certainly didn’t have any longing to lean against him or to rely on him. Absolutely not.

“You came in early.” She slipped past him, rounding the corner into the reception area and snapping on the overhead light.

He followed, leaning against the door frame. The harsh light picked out the fine lines around his eyes, the slant of his cheekbone. His usual neat pants, pale blue dress shirt and lab coat seemed to advertise the fact that he was out of his sphere.

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