Page 56 of Mistletoe and Christmas Kisses

“What about the fire in the church?” At Elle's blank look, Savannah continued, “Caleb’s fault, too?”

Elle’s lips curled as she ducked her head. “No, that was all me. But Noah, as usual, saved the day. My hero.”

“Lucky for us the Garrett brothers are such excellent judges of character.”

Elle nodded to Savannah’s four-month-old daughter, Regina, sleeping soundly in a bassinette situated in the warmest corner of the parlor. “Zach most of all, it seems.”

Savannah propped her elbow on the sideboard and dropped her chin to her fist. “If we figured out what to do about Caleb, life would be close to perfect. And getting the vote in all the states, not only the four out west, would help tremendously, too.”

Being around two women reveling in newfound adoration was utterly disheartening when you were so far removed from it. Macy was beginning to see why Caleb’s mood had decomposed like a fish stranded on the shore if this is what he had to endure every day. Although hearing about him as a boy was fascinating.

Her childhood—no siblings and aloof parents—had been dismal and forlorn. Macy shifted as her heart gave a squeeze and tapped her pencil against the desk.

“Oh,” Savannah murmured, her eyes rounding as she came to a full stand. Elle popped her hand over her mouth, sending a chalky streak across one cheek.

They’d forgotten she was there.

They hadn’t called MacyMousein medical school for nothing. Small, insignificant, and easily overlooked. “Don’t worry, ladies. I’m not going to repeat a familial conversation. I—” She halted. I,what? I understand Caleb Garrett of the solemn eyes and captivating hands. A little. And maybe you—and this town—have it all wrong. Have him all wrong. Wouldn’tthatbe interesting? “I wasn’t even really listening.” She waved the leaflet in the air, proof of diligent industriousness.

Elle ironed her palm down the front of her skirt and circled her hand in a loopy gesture. “You see, we’ve tried…” Another hand loop accompanied the partial explanation. “More than once. With Caleb. Advice. Suggestions.” She brushed at the chalk on her skirt. “Not receptive.”

“Private.” Savannah dipped her pinky in a teacup and executed a sluggish stir.

“Stubborn.”

“Inflexible.”

Elle sighed. “Pigheaded.”

Macy smothered a smile while imagining theiradviceandsuggestions. “Recovery from heartbreak”—which she wasn’t entirely certain he was experiencing after his comments and the split-second fiery look in his eyes when she thought,maybe he’ll kissmethis time—“certainly takes time. Like any wound.” Like the one she’d stitched the previous evening. Oh, the tantalizing scent of his skin still danced through her mind if she let it. Fantasizing about how delightful a patient smelled had never happened before.

Not once. Not ever.

In fact, until meeting Caleb Garrett, she’d been a veritable model of decorous behavior.

Elle chewed on her lip, her resolute expression quite fearsome. “You could talk to him.”

Macy slid back in the chair until her bottom bumped the posts. “Me?”

Elle shrugged as if her suggestion made perfect sense. “Nudge him along. You’re a doctor. Recovery is your game.”

“Of the body, not the mind,” Macy heard herself say.

Savannah propped her elbow back on the sideboard and slipped into the first slouch Macy had ever seen of her. “Can it be that different? Someone impartial to talk to can be curative. The Hippocratic Oath must include this type of treatment in its text.”

“Neutral. Not family,” Elle added.

Savannah sucked tea off her pinky. “Definitelyno family. He’s sick of us.”

Macy clenched her hands around the seat of the chair. “Why, I—”

“It’s quite perfect,” Savannah agreed and dipped her finger in the teacup for another go. “And even if it isn’t, we’re desperate. The boys are starting to bicker beyond what we can stand. Last week, they destroyed my favorite bookcase roughhousing over something Noah said to Caleb that he didn’t like. And right now, he doesn’t like much.”

No, no it wasn’t perfect. Not perfect at all.

She was building a sizable crush on the man as swiftly as he was building boats.

Macy wondered if she had the startled look on her face she’d seen on the faces of others who tried to oppose these two. No wonder most in town turned and ran the other way when they saw them coming. “I barely know him. You comprehend this trivial but significant detail, right?”