Norah decided she officially loved Carolanne. “I’ll take one with a broody gaze and washboard abs.”
Carolanne’s laughter pealed and something in Norah loosened for the first time in days.
“Oh, you meant the cupcakes.”
“Try one.”
Norah bit in and groaned as pure decadence exploded in her mouth. “I’ll take half a dozen.”
As Carolanne rang up the sale, Norah finished her coffee and cupcake. “Thanks for the caffeine and chat. I think I’m awake enough to make it without passing out at the wheel again.
She handed over the box with a smile. “Welcome to Wishful, Norah. I hope you’ll stay a while.”
Fatigue still dragged at Norah as she stepped outside and back to her car. She drove past the large green that stretched the entire length of Main Street, scanning the shop windows from afar. The buildings themselves looked worn and aged. Comfortable with themselves. Much of the signage was faded, and definitely many of the awnings could use replacing. A few businesses had planters in front of their display windows. Empty this time of year. Everything would perk up, come spring. Local business owners would distract from the ancient brick and peeling paint with fresh plantings and clean, sparkling windows to display their wares. But for now, downtown looked frayed at the edges, as worn down and tired as Norah felt. But everything was still here. Not until the relief bled through her did she realize she’d expected Wishful to be as decimated as Morton.
The last few days had brought so much change. She needed something familiar. She needed Miranda, needed the rest of the crazy Campbell clan.
Norah didn’t know what she’d tell them. She wasn’t ready to admit she’d been fired. Burkes were raised not to make mistakes and ignorance didn’t mitigate the enormity of the one she’d made.
Would it be better not to have found out? To go on with her high powered-life none the wiser?
No.
She recalled the look of derision on Philip’s face, the disgust on Pierce’s. No matter what happened from here on out, she was better off without them, better off knowing what kind of men they really were.
The receptionist was on the phone when Norah stepped into Miranda’s clinic. The waiting room, like the parking lot outside, was almost empty. An older gentleman in a shearling coat sat reading a magazine. He looked up as she shut the door and gave her a wrinkled smile. Norah nodded and smiled back. He didn’t appear to be sick, or agitated by the wait, so she assumed he was waiting on a patient in the back. Good. Maybe that meant Miranda was nearly through for the day.
A door beside the reception desk opened and a nurse in turquoise scrubs walked out. “I’m so sorry. We’re just about to close, so this really isn’t a good time for you to meet with Doctor—” The nurse cut herself off, eyes widening in surprise. “Norah! Oh my gosh, I thought you were a drug rep.”
Norah grinned. “Hey Piper. Long time no see.”
“Well I’ll say. Damn, girl, how long’s it been? Six years?”
“Seven.” Norah shifted the cupcake box to give the other woman a one-armed hug. “Not since before you finished nursing school. You look fabulous.”
Piper waved a hand. “I look like I’ve been dealing with a mad rush of flu patients. Don’t worry. We’ve all been practically bathing in disinfectant. Miranda didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“She didn’t know. I had an…unexpected opportunity to get away come up, and I took it.”
“Well hallelujah for that. Miranda’s going to be beside herself. Hang on a sec.” Piper turned to the man in the corner and raised her voice to that register everyone used with the hard of hearing. “Mr. Tolleson, your wife is just about finished. We had to take some blood, so you be sure and take her to get something to eat straight after this. I hear it’s meatloaf day at Dinner Belles. I know how Winnie likes her meatloaf.”
Mr. Tolleson gave her a thumbs up.
Piper turned back to Norah and dropped her voice. “She has to come in for regular blood work. We help her make sure she gets a dinner date out of it.”
Norah grinned. “I expect you could use some sustenance after such a long day.” She lifted the cupcake box and opened the top.
“You are a saint. No, a goddess. Statues shall be erected in your honor.” Piper grabbed a cupcake and wasted no time in taking a bite. Her head lolled back and she moaned theatrically.
The receptionist, a fortyish woman with a spray of freckles and vivid green eyes behind horn-rimmed glasses, hung up the phone with a clatter. “I swear, if I have to talk to that woman one more time this week…” She let the threat trail off.
Norah offered the box. “Cupcake?”
The woman lifted her fingers in the sign of the cross. “Get thee away, Satan!”
Piper took another bite of cupcake. “Shelby’s on the Atkins diet.”
“And after the week we’ve had already, my will power is at an all-time low. But thanks for the offer, sweetie.”