Doctor to the Rescue

Bri put a camouflage monkey in the cart. “For Kate.”

Ian met Bri’s gaze, and grinned like a slow dawn. “I never would have guessed. She’s obsessed with those things.”

Bri cleared her throat and kept stride with Ian as he pushed the screechy cart. “Tia did mention a couple of things she wanted.”

The squeaking wheels silenced as Ian paused the cart.

“She mentioned wanting a pet. Specifically a yellow dog, but if she can’t have that, she’d settle for a fish named Jonah.”

Ian’s hands tightened around the cart. She tensed. “I’m frustrated she told you and not me.”

“So, you’d consider a dog?”

“No. We don’t have time to give it proper care and attention. The fish, however, is doable. If I can find a place to get one. I’ve been too busy to scout the town.”

“That’s partly my fault. And there’s a pet store down the road.” Bri pursed her lips. “I’ll show you after we leave here.”

Ian faced her. “Didn’t mean to make you feel like a burden. Sometimes I don’t think before I speak.”

Sometimes? Bri bit her tongue from saying it. She needed to cool her jets and keep the peace. “I’m gonna look around.”

Ian became subdued again “Fine. See you at checkout.”

Fine? Like she needed his permission to shop. Ian was seeming more like domineering Eric every day. It was going to be tough to work as his babysitter, but she’d do it for Tia’s sake, and for saving the lodge’s sake.

Bri found a set of fairy books for Tia for Christmas and a gift card for Caleb, so he could load apps and games into his phone. Despite her anger, Bri added a second digital card for Ian when he wasn’t at the checkout lanes. Where had he gone?

Two customers away from the cash register, Bri tried to open her wallet one handed. Couldn’t. A strong hand pressed it back into her purse. She looked up. Ian stood behind her. He crammed a fistful of bills into her handbag. “What’s that?”

“An advance on your paycheck.”

Anger flashed. “I don’t need your charity.” She didn’t want to make a scene, so she paid using his cash. Her fingers trembled, and her insides quivered as if they’d been set to broil. Someone as distinguished and well-off as Ian couldn’t possibly understand why accepting handouts was so hard.

But she was about to let him have it.

Chapter Four

Ian’s peripheral vision caught some motion happening at his car in the Tinker’s Toys lot.

He turned around to see Bri whirling at him.

“Why did you do that?” Angry hurt flashed from her eyes.

Mind blank, he blinked. “Do what?”

She slammed her shopping bags into his open trunk. “Make people think I’m poor! Everyone saw the horrible thing you did!”

Was she kidding? What woman in her right mind would call two hundred free bucks horrible?

Ian couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing.

That did not go over well. Fists balled and lips clenched, she got nose-to-chin with him. Few women could do that with his six-foot-four frame. She hissed through her teeth.

He partially turned, calmly dug the keys from his pocket and eyed her.

“I didn’t know you had anger issues.”

She shook her head. Threw the passenger door of his truck open and flung herself inside. “I don’t have anger issues.” She jabbed toward the street. “And the pet shop is that way.”

“I didn’t say you did. I’d like to know why you have a problem with people helping you. Had I known you’d be embarrassed, I’d have been more clandestine and considerate. I’m sorry.”

Her shoulders relaxed, face calmed. “Unless you’re up to your eyeballs in debt, I can see by the fact you have two new cars and a half-million-dollar home on the lake that money’s not an issue. So it would probably be hard for you to understand.”

No debt. Just good money management, disciplined spending habits, wise investing and savings. “Try me.” He followed the road she pointed to, where the pet shop must be.

“I have a tough time accepting help and handouts because it reminds me too much of Mom having to scrounge for food, clothes and shelter after Dad left us destitute.”

“Caleb mentioned your dad left you guys. I’m sorry, Bri.”

“Why? You’re not the woman who lured him away, then left him to rot in a nursing home alone. Never mind. End of subject.”

They drove several blocks in silence. Ian tried to forget her vanilla perfume infiltrating the car and concentrated on the quaint town’s bright and cozy Christmas village-style decor.

Green wreaths with regal red bows adorned the lampposts that lined both sidewalks. A pristine army of iridescent angel figurines blew trumpets along the median on Eagle’s Way, the main street running through the center of town.

Starlit decorations were tacked above every street sign. Strings of lights draped nearly every shop. Ian bet this was beautiful to drive through at night. He needed to bring Tia to see it.

“Still up for being my tour guide?” He eyed Bri’s arm in a doctorly fashion. But he was really assessing her mood. At this point, her fidgeting gave the impression she was more embarrassed at her outburst than angry at him.

He bit back a smile when he realized she’d kept the change.

“Sure. We’ll get Tia’s fish on the way out of town. Go there.” Bri indicated the far end of Eagle’s Way. His car jostled over parts of it that were still cobblestoned, causing Bri to cradle her arm. He slowed.

She pointed to an eclectic-looking shop. A sleek purple building with black-light effects. “That’s On the Edge. It’s an art and florist shop, plus interior design. She’s in competition with the woman across the street whose business is sewing, home decor and custom drapes.” Bri pointed to the establishment named Fringe. He slowed the car, taking the town in.

“The women are archenemies and their brawls are just about the most excitement we have in town. The cops go there regularly, but I suspect it’s mostly because the coffee shop next to Fringe has better donuts than Dee-Dee’s Donuts beside the police station.”

Ian chuckled. Mitch had been right to tell him this town was a perfect place to raise a child. Yet the number of closed shops concerned him. He knew the town’s lifeblood could hinge on whether Bri’s lodge reopened and thrived, and whether they were able to expand the trauma center and thus provide local jobs.

Next Bri indicated a brick-style brownstone turned into a storefront. “That’s MeadowLark Laundry, owned by twin siblings, Meadow and Lark. They’re two of the few people our age in town. But Meadow’s away at college right now and Lark’s in some kind of skip-tracer school. He’s a P.I. on the side.”

“Hey, that’s my neighbor’s shop.” Ian indicated the LOLZ sign. Ellie told him she had an internet coffee shop catering to young people but he hadn’t seen it yet. “She mentioned part of her business proceeds go toward cancer research and anti-text-and-drive ads.”

“I remember the conversation you had with her about chemo when Tia wandered to her home. I hope Ellie’s going to be okay.”

“Me, too. She’s raising a granddaughter named Mara.” He cleared his throat. “She was in a tragic accident earlier this year while trying to save a classmate. Long story, but that’s why Ellie moved here.”

“Beside Fringe is Gulpie’s Gas. Only station in town. Used to be called Not Your Mother’s Guzzler. At the other end of town is EMS, police, city hall and the fire department. Lem’s library is there, too. I’d like to take Tia once I can drive again.”

“Tia loves to read. Much like you,” Ian said.

She brushed a stray hair behind her ear and nodded ahead to the town square, really a circle. “You know Sully’s, obviously, since we went there the other night.”

He remembered. Unfortunately he also remembered the ache that gripped him to see Tia interacting with a mother figure.

“Next to that is Dulce Jo’s Nook, a Victorian coffee shop and bookstore. Then, above the bank is an upscale restaurant called Golden Terrace.”

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