Page 101 of Caught in the Axe
“They all devoted their lives to Lovewell. It’s my destiny too. I know that. But I thought I’d have a little time for myself first. I’d get my three years in New York so I’d know what it was like to just live for a while before all the responsibility kicked in.”
As she drained her wineglass, Magnolia gestured to Jim to bring the bottle.
“These were supposed to be my years. I’d do my fellowship in New York, work normal hours, and have a life. I’d date. I was going to get in shape. I was even going to find a few hobbies.”
Magnolia arched an eyebrow at her. “Really? Dr. Willa Savard is going to develop hobbies?”
She frowned, affronted. “Maybe table tennis. Or knitting.” She tilted her head. “Or falconry.”
“Falconry. Now you’re just fucking with us.”
“Falcons are very majestic birds,” she said, covering her mouth to hide her giggles. Willa had no poker face.
God, even when things were rough, I could always laugh with my girls. I was so lucky they’d stuck with me through all the Cole drama. Each had warned me about giving up onmyself and my future several times. They’d even staged an intervention before we moved to Florida, but I wouldn’t hear their concerns. I was sure that if I could just be a better girlfriend, if I could wear the right clothes and do my makeup perfectly, be friendlier, more supportive, then things would get better, and eventually, I’d get the happily ever after I’d been searching for since I was a kid.
I closed my eyes and thanked the universe for bringing these insane, beautiful people into my life.
“This is why I love you,” Magnolia said. “You are going to be just fine, Dr. Willa Savard. We won’t let you miss out on anything.”
“I shouldn’t even be saying this stuff out loud.” She deflated. “I’m such a terrible daughter. I could have lost my dad. Really, I’m so grateful he’s okay.”
I covered her hand with mine and gave it a squeeze. “You can say anything to us. It’s not selfish to have complex feelings about something this major. Your plans and priorities are shifting, and that’s hard. We’re always here and willing to listen without judgment.”
And the tears were back. She blotted at her eyes with the cocktail napkin again. “He’s always been my hero.”
My heart clenched. Willa had the kind of loving nuclear family I had longed for as a kid.
“It breaks my heart that he’s hurting. There’s no question that I will pick up the slack. I’ll get things worked out at the clinic. I have to finish my residency program in June, but I owe it to him to do my best. It just feels like so much.”
“It is a lot,” Magnolia said, scooting closer and putting her head on Willa’s shoulder. “But you can do hard things. And you won’t be alone. I can come up every couple ofweeks and help however I can. We can come here for drinks. Ooh, I have an idea.” She perked up and flagged Jim, the curmudgeonly owner of the Moose, down. “Jim, would you be opposed to going to mixology school? I’ll pay. That way we can elevate the cocktail game in this place.”
Jim threw a bar towel over his shoulder and scowled before stomping to the other end of the bar.
“Okay, we’ll work on him. I’ll get you New York caliber cocktails, babe, just wait. There’s not much I can do about the waffle fries, though.”
“You can’t change the waffle fries,” I said. They were unarguably the superior fry in Penobscot County, but sadly, until Jim invested in a dedicated fryer, I couldn’t eat them. So instead, I got a side of celery that usually accompanied the buffalo wings. Not exactly the best bar snack.
Magnolia popped one into her mouth and chewed. “True. They’re not sushi at Nobu, but they taste pretty damn good.”
Willa broke out in a watery smile. “I love you both so much. But let’s not kid ourselves. I’m going to be working nonstop, keeping up with patients and billing and insurance and making house calls. Any hope of having a life has vanished. But it’s okay. It’s a privilege to serve the people of Lovewell and keep them healthy. I’ll probably have to move in with my parents, but I’ll make it.”
“Wow, that’s the spirit,” Magnolia deadpanned. “How about this? Take my house. Live there. Do whatever you want.”
“I couldn’t. What if you need it?”
“Given that it’s a seven-bedroom lakefront mansion, I’m pretty sure there’s room for me to visit.” She picked upanother waffle fry and dipped it in ketchup. “It rarely gets used. After all the money I spent on the damn roof last year, someone should live there and benefit from it.”
Willa worried her lip and studied her wineglass. “I’m not sure.”
“You were going to live in my house in New York. Why not live in my house in Lovewell instead? I’ll make sure Mr. and Mrs. Lewis take good care of you.”
“They’re still alive?” The Lewises had been caretakers of the house back when we were kids.
“Yup.” She sipped her wine. “I built a retirement cottage for them on the property. They don’t do much anymore except call me when something needs to be fixed. But I love them. They have been far kinder to me than any of my actual relatives.”
This was textbook Magnolia, so generous and so loving.
I nudged Willa. “Do it. You could wake up every morning with a view of the lake. I’ve been living here for more than a year now. Trust me, there are a lot of plus sides.”
