Blessings

“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.

Chapter Two

Monday morning, armed with determination, her black bag and a prayer for patience, Dr. Nicole Brandt thrust back her shoulders and walked into the offices of Joshua Darling, M.D.

Did I really need this detour on the road to surgery, God?

Since she’d been asking the same question for days now, she didn’t wait for an answer, but sucked up her courage and smiled at the woman behind the desk as she saluted.

“Dr. Nicole Brandt. Reporting for duty.”

The nurse grinned, sharing the joke as she tossed off a slightly lopsided salute in return.

“Penny Zane, Dr. Brandt. And this is Carole Court, our resident lab tech. Edwina Jessop, our receptionist, only comes in for afternoons. You’ll meet her later. We’ve been expecting you.”

“Uh-oh. That sounds ominous. Who squealed on me?” Nicole pulled her lips into a pout of complaint.

“Ruthie. We saw the cast.” Penny’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Don’t ever tell her a secret. She’ll spill it every time, usually at the worst possible moment.”

“I’ll remember that.” Nicole grinned. “She is a sweetie, though, isn’t she? All that wispy fair hair makes me think of a little cherub.”

Carole and Penny shared a look.

“What did I say?” Nicole didn’t understand the flicker of understanding that passed between them. Was there something wrong with Ruthie?

“Dr. Brandt. I’m glad you could make it.” Joshua stood in the doorway, his expression stern. “I’m assuming that you’ve already met my staff and signed the appropriate forms, so we’ll get started.”

He waited a moment, then lifted one black eyebrow in a query that silently spoke volumes. Nicole stifled her sigh and nodded.

“Yes, of course, Dr. Darling.”

“I’ll take your bag and put it in your office while you have a look around, Dr. Brandt.” Penny whisked the article out of Nicole’s hands, her lips barely moving as she leaned closer to whisper, “We’ll do the sign-up later.”

“Thank you, Penny.” Nicole offered her a huge grin of gratitude.

“No problem. If you need anything, just let me know. Technically Dr. Darling is the boss, but I’m really in charge of this place.” She tossed Joshua an impudent grin that was not returned, then sauntered down the hall. Carole followed her.

“Your staff seem very nice,” Nicole murmured, searching for some way to open the discussion.

“They do a good job.”

That wasn’t what she meant, but Nicole let it go. He directed her to a small gloomy room.

“This is your office. Penny or Carole will leave the patient’s file here.” He continued on with a litany of instructions that delineated each and every action she was expected to perform during office hours. “Any questions?”

Nicole blinked.

Questions? She had a ton of them, and most began with why. He had a system, that much was clear. But was it a system that worked as efficiently as it could? Not so far as she could see. Changes rippled through her brain one after the other and she opened her mouth to suggest a few.

But one glimpse at Joshua Darling’s face had her clamping her lips together without uttering a single word. Now was not the time. She was the new kid on the block, hadn’t even seen a single patient, excluding Ruthie. Prudence would be wise.

“I asked if you had any questions, Dr. Brandt.”

“Yes, I heard you.” She swallowed, her eyes trailing around the dull, barren little office.

At least I can change some things in here. It is my office, after all.

“And your answer is?” He shifted from one foot to the other, impatient to begin his own work.

“I think perhaps it would be best if we dealt with my questions as they arise. I’m sure there will be some, but let’s not anticipate them.”

“I’ve found anticipation helps circumvent a number of problems. It makes you prepared, Dr. Brandt.” He stood there, a dubious look on his face. “You’re sure you can handle this? We’re fully booked up for the entire week. If it gets too much for you, I’d like to know as soon as possible.”

He thought she was going to leave him high and dry.

The revelation shocked her. Did he really assume she was such a poor doctor that she’d hightail it out the moment life got complicated? Then he had no idea of Nicole Brandt’s durability. She didn’t run out when things got tough. Not ever.

Pride and determination coursed through her veins. Compared to the rest of her life, this job in Blessing would be a piece of cake.

“I’ll be fine, Dr. Darling. I’m used to being busy. I promise you I won’t collapse under the strain.”

He wasted several more seconds peering at her as if he couldn’t ascertain whether or not she was serious. Then he shrugged.

“Fine. I’ll admit I’m rather relieved to hear that, Dr. Brandt.”

“Feel free to call me Nicole.” She grinned. “After all, in a town this small, everyone must know everyone else’s business. Surely first names wouldn’t be out of place?”

“I prefer to retain a degree of formality in the office, Dr. Brandt. It engenders patient trust.” His eyes flashed an unspoken warning.

The words slipped out before she could control them.

“Are you saying that your patients don’t trust you unless you call them by their surnames?”

As a joke, it fell flat.

His whole body stiffened.

“My patients think of me as their doctor, their physician. When they walk through those doors, they expect me to treat their diseases.” His lips pinched white. “What they believe or chatter about outside of this office is none of my concern. Now, if you’ve nothing else, your first patient is waiting.”

Dr. Joshua Darling turned on his heel and left the room.

“Ouch!” Nicole flopped down on the edge of her desk, her eyes wide with shock. “Why do I feel as if he doesn’t really want me here?”

“Because he doesn’t.” Penny slipped through the door and whipped it closed behind her. “I mean, he does want your help. He can’t possibly function without it anymore. But he hates change and lately he’s had to deal with a lot of that.”

“Miss Winifred told me about his wife. How sad.”

“It was horrible, of course. Cancer always is. But that was only the beginning.” Penny straightened a tilting stack of files and opened the first one on the desk. “Sign here.”

“You mean about his partner leaving for South America?” Nicole took the hint and moved to sit while she scrawled her name across the papers presented. “Yes, I can understand how difficult that must have been.”

“He never said a word, of course, but I think he felt abandoned. They’d been quite close. Then, when you add all of that to his problems at home. Well.” She threw up her hands. “I guess it’s no wonder he gets a little testy now and then. The next one, too, please.”

“At home?” Nicole signed. “What’s wrong at home?”

Penny chuckled. “Stick around, Doc. You’ll understand after a few days. Those little cherubs you saw can wreak a lot of havoc. We’re trying to make allowances for him.”

And that, Nicole guessed as the nurse scurried out of the room, was blatantly obvious. She knew from Miss Winifred that Dr. Darling’s wife had died of cancer almost two years ago. But he was a doctor—he’d seen death before. Of course, it was far worse when it was someone you loved, but he had his daughters. Surely he was learning to cope?

“Your patient is in examining room two, Dr. Brandt. May I show you the way?” He stood in the doorway, watching her.

“No, thanks. I just need a second or two more with this file. I promise I won’t knock your schedule off too far.” She smiled, then glanced back down at the case history.

“See that you don’t.”

Nicole made a face at his back, then snatched up the file and stalked toward the room. Tonight she was going to give Professor Adams a call and beg, bully, even bribe him to push up her place on the waiting list. She’d made up her mind, and coming here had only reinforced it.

General practice was not her forte. Hadn’t she always known that? She wasn’t good with people. She was a loner, used to dealing with her own idiosyncrasies. But when it came to reading others, she’d always been a flop. Wasn’t that why surgery seemed so perfect? Technique was number one with surgeons. People skills came a distant second when you were removing an appendix.

But that’s not the only reason you’ve chosen it, is it?

Nicole paused, her hand on the doorknob.

You think your father will finally love you for yourself if you can do the one thing your mother never achieved.

Sometimes being a loner wasn’t so great, especially when you talked to yourself—and yourself talked back.

Thrusting that little voice to the back of her mind, Nicole opened the door and breezed inside the treatment room, a smile pasted on her face.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Brandt. How can I help you today?”

Twenty past five and she still had three patients to see!

“I’m really glad to have met you. I think you’ll find that medication will take care of your rash with no problem. Okay?”

Nicole tried to hurry the woman, but to no avail. To tell the truth, she’d rather enjoyed the garrulous Millicent Maple. Her words shed new light on Dr. Darling and his rambunctious daughters.

“I’m sorry to babble on so, doctor. But you promise you’ll stop by our bake sale on Friday? We’re featuring quilts, too.”

“I’ll try my hardest.” Nicole waffled her fingers in a wave and scurried out the door.

Maybe he wouldn’t notice. Maybe he was tied up with his own chatty granny, catching up on all the latest Blessing news.

“You’re behind, Dr. Brandt.”

She almost groaned. Instead, Nicole fixed a saccharine-sweet smile on her lips and turned around.

“Yes, I am, Dr. Darling. Since every patient is new, it does take some time to go through the case histories. I’m sure you can understand that. Excuse me.” She opened the door and walked inside, determined to meet each need without watching the clock.

At ten after seven Nicole sat down to finish her files. At twenty after eight, with Penny’s help, she managed to get the whole lot off her desk.

“There we go. All ready to start fresh and clean tomorrow.”

Penny grinned, but her next words were cut off.

“Dr. Brandt, why have you kept my staff overtime?”

Nicole twisted to face him, her face burning.

“Just a moment, please, Dr. Darling.” She turned to Penny. “Thanks so much for all your help. I’m really sorry I’ve kept you so long, but I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

“Not a problem. Actually, I enjoyed it. Good night.” Penny lifted the stack of files, grinned at Dr. Darling and sauntered out of the room.

Nicole closed the door behind her.

“Now, Dr. Darling. What was it you wanted to talk about?”

“Your lack of organization,” he muttered, staring at the mess she’d made of her office.

“I am not disorganized—I am new in this town. I am trying my best to do a good job here, but I will not sacrifice time with my patients to satisfy your need for a timetable. I’m sure that, given time, your ‘quotas’ will be met.” She got up, pulled on her jacket and lifted her purse. “Now, if that’s all, I’ve had a very long day. I’d like to get home.”

She was too tired and too frustrated to wait for his assent. She walked out of her office, out of the building and down the street toward Miss Winifred’s.

It really was a glorious evening. The sun was just beginning its descent and the spring air had cooled off enough to bring a quickness to her step. It felt good to stride along, stretching muscles that had been tense for far too long. Her stomach rumbled as she walked, reminding her that lunch had been a long time ago and rather puny at that.

Once on “her” street, as Nicole had begun to think of it, the tension slipped away as she strolled under awnings of newly budded maples, drawing in the scent of crocus, hyacinth and daffodils that blossomed in every yard but the last.

She paused for a moment at the gate to Miss Winifred’s to stare at the house just down the street, across the way. The Darlings lived there. She should have guessed it that first day, but it had taken Miss Winifred to point it out. There were bicycles strewn across the driveway. Bright pink balls, a green plastic doll carriage and a child’s yellow jacket spilled across the still-shaggy grass.

But there were no flowers in the window boxes or tumbling out of the big urns that sat beside the front porch.

“Hey, it’s her!” Ruthie barreled out the front door and down the steps of her house, clad in a flowered pink nightgown and a pair of fuzzy slippers. “Hi, Doc! Remember me?”

“How could I forget?” Nicole grinned. “Hi, Ruthie. How’s the arm?”