She was a chatterbox, but a delightful one.
“Well, I think you’re all set here, unless you have any questions for me,” Lizzie said, closing the chart.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Susan asked, unfazed by the dire look her mother sent her way.
Lizzie felt a blush heat her cheeks.
“Don’t answer that,” Sarah said, turning to Susan. “Suze, that was rude.”
“You’re always saying you want Uncle Josh to date. You can’t throw Summer Arnold at him forever.”
Now it was Sarah’s turn to blush and Lizzie gave an uncomfortable laugh.
“Where on earth did you get that?” Sarah demanded.
“Grandma said it last week after church.”
There was a moment of awkward silence. “Sorry,” Sarah apologized. “Sometimes I think she’s ten going on twenty-five.”
Lizzie flapped a hand. She’d seen a lot of things in emergency departments, had been propositioned and proposed to once by a man dressed in drag with alcohol poisoning who was brought in by his friends during a bachelor party gone wrong. One ten-year-old being slightly inappropriate was really no biggie.
Except that it did make her blush, because she actually had noticed Josh that morning and found him quite attractive.
“Your uncle and I work together, that’s all,” she said with a polite smile. “And you, Susan, are perfectly healthy. It was good to meet you.”
Susan hopped down from the examination table. “You won’t tell Uncle Josh what I said, will you? About Summer?” She looked a little worried. The bravado of earlier had been curbed by her mother’s sharp admonitions.
Lizzie smiled reassuringly. “Of course not.” Like she’d repeat the notion to Josh, or talk about her personal life at all. That was strictly off-limits. She winked at Susan. “Doctor-patient confidentiality. It’s our secret.”
Susan smiled … and so did her mom.
As Susan tied her shoes, Sarah picked up the conversation. “So, how are you enjoying Jewell Cove?”
Lizzie thought of her morning run along Fiddler’s Beach and had to admit the fresh air and space were growing on her. “It’s very beautiful. And everyone has been so friendly.” Too friendly. Even out at Fiddler’s Rock, her arrival had prompted a basket of baked goods and a casserole showing up from well-intentioned neighbors. So much for privacy.
“Our Fourth of July celebrations are in a few days. There’s always lots happening on the docks, and there are fireworks, too. You won’t want to miss it.” Sarah angled her head a little. “In fact, our family always throws a picnic on the Fourth. You should come. Charlie and Dave have accepted an invite, and you are Josh’s coworker after all. You could meet some people in town.”
Way to put her on the spot. She certainly didn’t want to horn in on a family event, especially since she and Josh had only shared a few sentences today that weren’t about work.
“I’ll definitely think about it,” she offered, trying to be positive but noncommittal. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Sarah nodded. “Our family is always coming up with excuses for get-togethers. If you can’t make it, there’s always the next time.”
After Sarah and Susan were gone, Lizzie took a moment to sit on the rolling stool and let out a breath. How did Charlie manage to keep the patient/doctor relationship professional in such a small, intimate town? Lizzie had already noticed how residents waved and greeted each other on the street. The gossip mill was alive and well, too, if the chatter at the café was anything to go by.
This wasn’t her style at all. And yeah, maybe she needed the change of pace to de-stress, but the thought of staying here indefinitely? Not in a million years.
She left the exam room and went to the reception desk to find Robin and instead found a wicker basket covered with a pretty napkin sitting on the middle of the counter. She lifted a corner and saw plump, golden muffins tumbled about the inside. There was a small card attached to the handle and she removed it, sliding the little cardboard note from the envelope.
Welcome to Jewell Cove, Dr. Howard.
It was signed from the Jewell Cove Business Association. Good heavens, a welcome wagon?
At that moment Josh came from his office and stopped, lifting his nose to the air. “What’s that smell? I’m starving.”
“Muffins,” she answered.
He sauntered out, curiously examining the basket and lifting the napkin. “Banana chip. Yum. Welcome present?”