Page 9 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

“Just Avery, please. We’re not much on formalities around here.”

“Is this your clinic then? You mentioned an apartment upstairs.”

“Mine and the bank’s.” She’d paid her medical school debts with her mom’s life insurance and used what was left for a down payment on the clinic.

“You run it on your own?”

“Oh no. I have a nurse and a nurse practitioner, plus office help. I could sure use another doctor, but that’ll probably takesome time.” In the meantime she’d continue working seventy-hour weeks.

Wes started on his sandwich, nodding as he chewed. “This is good.”

“That’s my brother’s favorite. I’m partial to the chicken salad, but I thought that might be a bit much for your stomach.”

“He your only sibling?”

“No, I’ve got two older brothers.”

“Two boys and a girl—all-American family, huh?”

She snorted. “Not quite. My dad was married before, to my mom. But she passed away. Then he met Lisa and fell in love—Cooper and Gavin were part of the package.”

“Blended family. Sounds tricky.”

“There were rough patches for sure. I created my fair share of them. But it all turned out okay. How about you? Siblings?”

“Only child.” There was a pause as he seemed to contemplate his next bite. “I’m sorry about your loss. My mom passed away when I was a child too.”

Avery’s heart squeezed, partially in memory of her own pain and partially in empathy for his. “I’m sorry. That’s a rough thing for a child to endure. What is it you do, Wes, when you’re not hiking the Appalachian Trail?”

He held up a finger while he finished chewing. “I’ve spent the past several years in South America, working for Emergency Shelter International. Before that, I did a little of this and a little of that.”

Avery smiled to herself at his vague answer. “Where are you from?”

“The Midwest mostly. Moved around a lot growing up. I settled in Indianapolis for a while.”

“Is that where you’re headed once you finish the trail?”

He started to say something, then hesitated.

Awkwardness settled between them. She was used to professional exchanges with patients, superficial chats with neighbors. But otherwise, her social skills were a bit rusty. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer my questions. I guess I’m not used to having company.”

“That’s all right. I’m planning to settle in Albany once I finish the hike.”

“Haven’t had enough cold winters?”

They shared a smile. At least she thought he smiled. His eyes crinkled at the corners and his mustache twitched a little. His eyes were really striking, a beautiful color that reminded her of the bluebells growing at the back of the property behind the carriage house.

“Who’s over the hill?” he asked.

“What?”

He wadded up the sandwich wrap, the crinkle loud in the quiet evening. “The bag you were carrying earlier.”

“Oh.” She laughed. “That would be me. The big three-oh and my brother’s idea of a joke.”

“Yesterday was your birthday—and you spent the evening taking care of me.”

“Part of the job. Besides, I was all partied out anyway.”