Page 122 of It's a Wonderful Knife

“Okay.”

“While I was there, I got some very troubling information from Susan.” He glanced up, worry shimmering in his blue eyes.

“What kind of news?”

“News about my clinic.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know if it’s true. I need to call Mrs. Numi.” He frowned. “But my gut says it probably is true because I’ve known all along River is a snake.”

“River?” I frowned. “What does he have to do with this?”

He clenched his jaw. “According to Susan, the property my clinic is built on has been sold. Guess who bought it?”

Shock jolted me. “River?”

“Yep. If she’s right, River will be my new landlord.”

Uneasiness shifted through me. “But why would he buy that land?”

“To get rid of me,” Max growled. “It’s been his plan from day one. I’ll bet you he moved hereafteralready buying the land. He’s been conniving since the beginning. The way he ingratiated himself with the town council and Penelope. He could get them to change the damn zoning, and I wouldn’t be able to have my clinic there.”

“I… I don’t believe he’d do that,” I murmured. “Do you really think he would?”

His mouth was a hard line. “I think River Martin will do whatever it takes to make room for Lucas. He brought him here to be the GP of Rainy Dale. Why else is Lucas still here? He’s here because he’s known the plan all along too.”

It was hard to imagine River being so cunning even before he’d arrived. But he did seem to be a man with relentless drive and grandiose ideas. “Well, call Mrs. Numi, and we’ll go from there. No need to panic just yet. I mean, River leased you a spot in his clinic, so maybe we’re misreading him.”

Max looked unconvinced. “I’ve known this day would come, even though everyone kept telling me I was misjudging him. I could just feel that he meant me harm.” He scowled. “He wanted to take you from me too.”

“Well, that’s never going to happen.”

He didn’t respond.

The doorbell rang, and I stood. “That’s the salads.”

Max stood and followed me to the door. He picked up the gift bag he’d dropped earlier, and I opened the door. I expected to see the Crazy Cactus delivery guy, but instead it was a guy in a plaid shirt with a cowboy hat and a clipboard.

“Mr. Royce Callum?” the guy asked.

“Yes,” I said in a wary voice.

He pulled a pen from behind his ear. “I have a Christmas tree delivery for you, courtesy of Giggly Elves Farm.” He held out the pen. “If you’d just be so kind as to sign on the dotted line.”

“You’re delivering a tree to me?”

He nodded. “Yep. I own the Christmas tree lot on the other side of town. Mona and me we go way back.” He grinned. “She bought one of my biggest Fraser firs and paid extra to have it delivered.”

“What in the world?” I blinked at him.

Max cleared his throat. “You probably ought to sign and let the man do his job.”

“Oh, uh, right.” I took the pen he offered and scribbled my signature on the line. “I’m in shock. I had no idea she was buying me a tree.”

The guy laughed. “I could tell. I’ll just go get the tree.” He strode off.

I turned to Max, who was smiling. “I can’t believe she did that.”