Page 15 of Love's Cure

CHAPTER SIX

The next morning, Danicame into the Café with Brad and Aaron Collister. Crystal walked over to their table. “Are you having a full breakfast or just a coffee break?”

“I want the works,” said Aaron, smiling at her with those deep, brown eyes that always seemed to know what people were feeling.

“Okay, then. What’ll you have?” Crystal said, quickly jotting down their orders and delivering them to the kitchen window opening before returning to the table to talk.

“What’s going on with you besides having dinner with our new doctor?” asked Dani, giving her an impish grin.

Crystal shook her head. Lilac Lake did have a drawback or two, one of which was having no secrets. “Emmett and I have a deal. Every time I deliver a luncheon order, he’ll take me out to dinner. Fins was special. It will be a little more low-key than that in the future. It’s just a friend thing while he gets acquainted with the townspeople.”

“He told us earlier that you were helping him,” said Aaron. “We’re doing the work on the house, and our day starts early, hoping to complete the work on schedule. He’s got an outstanding piece of property.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

“You should see the design for the house renovations,” said Dani. “It’s going to be fantastic.”

“A lot more open,” said Brad.

“That’ll be lovely,” said Crystal, waving to an older couple who’d just arrived. “Gotta go. Nice to see you.”

She left them and walked over to Edie and Bob Bullard, who owned the hardware store in town. “Good morning! How can I help you?”

They smiled as they greeted her. “You look especially nice today,” said Edie. “But then, you’re always beautiful.”

“Thanks,” Crystal said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. Edie had been one of the women in town who’d helped her with makeup and outfits for many of the high school dances. Her daughter, Sarah, now widowed and living out of town, always sought her out when she returned to Lilac Lake for a visit.

“Still keeping that hair purple, huh?” asked Bob, and both Edie and Crystal chuckled. Bob was a conservative guy who never got the reasoning behind Crystal’s choice and Edie’s love of it.

“We’ve met the new doctor in town,” said Edie. “Bob had to see him about a cut on his hand.”

Bob held up his left hand which was bandaged nicely. “He did a superb job of stitching me up. Seems like a great guy.”

“He’s very nice. Dr. Johnson is happy with him.”

“He told me he’s renovating the house, and Collister Construction is doing the job for him,” said Bob.

“It’s nice that all of you young folks are together again. It adds something wonderful to the town.” Edie teased her with a knowing smile. “And Dr. Chambers is really cute. And available.”

Crystal tried to stem the flow of red to her cheeks, but she could feel how hot they’d become. She seated them at a booth inside. “Here’s your waitress now.” She turned and hurried to the kitchen. Darned if the whole town wasn’t trying to put her together with Emmett.

Later, when he called to place an order, Crystal hesitated and decided she wouldn’t let gossip or her friends’ eagerness for her to find someone stop her. She’d just keep working and living as she normally would.

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