Page 35

We changed subjects, talking about Hayes’s auto shop and the trouble he was having finding a good mechanic to come and help him out. Then we chatted about the new dispatcher working nights at the courthouse. And before I knew it, lunchtime was over, and I had to get back to work to make the next appointment. But I still couldn’t get Knox’s question out of my mind.

Or the fact that it bothered me so much that Liv might say yes.

* * *

That afternoon,I realized I had a gap in patients and a meeting on my schedule instead of a patient visit. When I asked Brenda about it, she said, “That meeting’s for us. Doctor Deb wants to speak with both of us in the kitchen.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised. “I thought she wasn’t coming back in until next week?”

Brenda shrugged. “Maybe she wants to see how things have gone without her.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You mean outside of the daily calls you two have while you’re out walking?”

Brenda’s cheeks warmed. “How did you know about that?”

I winked. “Small town.”

She took my arm, walking us both back toward the kitchen. “I’ll have you know, all my reports were positive, aside from the fact that you’ve disappointed half the moms and grandmas by turning down dates with their daughters.” She gave me a pointed look.

I chuckled; glad she was taking it good-naturedly.

We reached the kitchen and Doctor Deb smiled up at us, wrinkles deepening on her skin. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her outside of a lab coat, so it was strange seeing her in chinos and a silk buttoned shirt.

“You’re looking great,” I told her. The scabbing on her neck and chin was almost completely gone, leaving light scars that would hopefully fade soon. “Are you raring to get back to work?”

She folded her hands on the table. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you both about.”

The room seemed to grow heavy, and Brenda asked, “What’s up, doc?”

Deb cracked a smile. “Buh dee, buh dee, buh dee.”

I chuckled at their joke. “Is that all folks?”

With a sad smile, Deb said, “These past few weeks have given me a lot of time to think, and I’ve realized it’s time for me to retire. I’ve held back for so long, because I wanted to make sure this town was taken care of, but seeing what a good Job Fletcher’s done this past month...” She shook her head. “It’s my time to go.”

“Deb...” Brenda said softly.

I put my hand on Brenda’s shoulder to comfort her and said to Deb, “I was looking forward to working with my former pediatrician.”

Deb cackled. “If that isn’t a sign it’s time to retire, I don’t know what is.”

Brenda wiped back a tear. “I’ve worked with you longer than I’ve been married.”

Deb said, “Now our relationship will be even better—we can just enjoy each other’s friendship.”

Brenda smiled. “What happens next?”

I wanted to know the same thing.

Doctor Deb said, “I’ll be selling the practice. Fletcher, I know you just got here, but I hope you’ll think about purchasing it. If you don’t want it and I need to sell to someone outside of town, they might not understand the way things work in Cottonwood Falls.”

Her words caught me off guard. “Me, buy the practice?” I’d only finished my residency a few years prior. “I’m not sure I have the experience, and I have so much going on with Maya...”

Deb held up her hands to stall me. “You wouldn’t be doing it on your own, Fletcher. I’m willing to consult, of course, and Brenda knows just as much about running a practice as I do. We wouldn’t leave you high and dry.”

I looked between the two women. “Can I have some time to think about it?”

Deb nodded. “I’ll give you two months. How does that sound?”