Page 2 of Love's Cure

Whitney laughed. “I guess you could say that.”

A customer knocked on the door.

Crystal became all business and went to open the door. It was time to get back to real life.

###

That night, Crystalsat with Dani and Brad Collister in Jake’s, a favorite spot for locals in Lilac Lake. After working in the Café all day, it was a great place for her to unwind and grab a light dinner.

Melissa Hendrickson, who was a chef at her parents’ restaurant, Fins, showed up with a man Crystal hadn’t seen before.

“Hey, everybody, I want you to meet, Emmett Chambers. He’s visiting from New York and is thinking of going into medical practice here. He came to my parents’ restaurant last night. You all know how my mother talks to everyone when she’s acting as hostess, and she convinced him to get out and meet some of the people in town.”

As Brad stood to shake hands with him, Crystal studied the newcomer. Of average height, he had straight brown hair and unusual eyes, a mix of blue and green. He was dressed in jeans, a green golf shirt, and moccasins. He was attractive, but the look he gave them was reserved, making him seem a little stiff.

Crystal returned his smile and listened as everyone asked him questions about the kind of medical practice he was interested in.

Emmett spoke about attending Cornell, specifically The Weill Medical School in New York, and the agreement he’d made with the school to practice in a rural area for a full year after his residency before opening a practice elsewhere.

“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “Lilac Lake and the surrounding area was one of the places they’d listed.”

There was something about him that didn’t ring true. He made it seem as if he was a hard-working guy who’d made it on his own. But his manner suggested otherwise. Gazing around the table, she noticed that she seemed to be the only one who felt that way. Were her disappointments in life making her cynical? She drew a deep breath and told herself to relax and enjoy a new face in the crowd.

“I’m glad you chose Lilac Lake,” said Melissa. “Dr. Johnson has been here for years, but he’s ready to retire. Portsmouth Regional Hospital is closest to us, and, of course, there are the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Centers here in New Hampshire, and Boston and all the facilities there are not that far away, except for emergencies.”

“My sister had her baby in Portsmouth,” said Dani. “But as someone who lived and worked in Boston, I would choose to travel to Boston for something more serious.”

“I like the idea of Family Medicine,” said Emmett. “That’s why I chose to enter that field. I want to get to know my patients and their families.”

“Well, then, you’ve come to the right place,” said Dani. “Lilac Lake is a true small town where everybody pretty much knows everyone else.”

“Where are you staying?” Crystal asked.

“At the Lilac Lake Inn,” Emmett said. “It’s beautiful.”

That nagging feeling of not knowing who Emmett really was traveled through Crystal. As she studied him, his turquoise eyes settled on her. She felt her face burn and drew in a breath as a rush of desire caused her pulse to race. She looked away, wondering why he was bringing out so many different emotions inside her.

“If you chose to work here for a year, where would you live?” asked Melissa. “I’ve just built a house in The Meadows, a new development of Brad’s.”

“That’s a possibility,” said Emmett. “Dr. Johnson wants me to buy his house.”

Crystal stood. “Guess I’d better go. You all know how early I must rise.”

Her friends said goodnight to her, and she turned and walked away.

###

In her apartment overthe Café, Crystal tried to get comfortable in bed. But her earlier thoughts about wanting to settle down became mixed up with her strong, uncertain reaction to Emmett Chambers.

She stared up at the ceiling and drew deep breaths as she tried to settle herself. Her life was nicely organized. She had many friends who truly cared for her. She’d never been anxious to have a deep relationship with anyone until Nick convinced her that it was safe, that unlike her mother, friends could be loyal, kind, and loving.

Now, honesty was something she demanded of anyone close to her. That’s why it bothered her that she had the feeling Emmett wasn’t being open with them.

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