Page 119 of It's a Wonderful Knife
“Girdy doesn’t wear much jewelry. I’m not sure what scent she’d like either.” I picked up a candle holder from the shelf. “She once said she likes burning candles.”
“That’s so sweet you’d remember that.”
And also shocking.
I turned the candle holder over in my hand. “This is pretty. It’s also unique. What is this made of, quartz?”
“Essentially, yes. The packaging says agate, but they’re basically the same thing to the layperson.” She smiled. “That one uses electric tea lights.”
“Electric?” The outer shell was painted gold, and the inside was purple stone.
“They’re safer than real candles. You wouldn’t believe how many fires start every year simply from people burning candles.”
“She loves purple.”
Susan laughed. “I have to say, I’m surprised to see you shopping for anyone.”
I frowned. “Are you?”
“Yes. You don’t seem to like many people.”
I shrugged. “Girdy is special.”
She touched her heart. “You’re just what I needed today, Dr. Thornton.”
That was a first. “I am?”
She nodded. “All I’ve had all day long are grumpy people complaining about the price of things and how much they hate Christmas. It’s so nice to have a customer who’s here to buy a gift for someone they care about.”
My face warmed. It wasn’t often I got compliments. I turned the candle holder over and noticed the price. $99.00. I hadn’t planned on spending that much on Girdy. Not that Imindedspending that much, and now that Susan had mentioned how cheap everyone had been all day, I felt obligated to spend that much.
“I’ll take this.” I started to hand it to her, but the cord snagged on some other items next to it, and they almost fell off the shelf. “Oh, ugg.” I grabbed one item midair and sheepishly set it back on the shelf. “Sorry.”
She laughed. “No problem. That’s the display model. It’s plugged in so people can try it out. Would you like to try it out?”
“No. I’ll just take it.”
Quickly. Before I break everything in the shop.
“Excellent. Follow me to the counter, and I’ll gift wrap your purchase for you.”
“Okay.” I followed her to the register, figuring the fact she was wrapping it for me made the price well worth it. I set my credit card on the counter.
She went into the back and returned with a box. “How’s the new clinic working out? Isn’t River Martin a joy to be around?” she asked, pushing a button on the cash register.
I gritted my teeth. Why did everyone love River so much?“I’m just using his building temporarily. Construction for my new clinic begins first of the year.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
I examined a pair of gold cufflinks in the display box next to the counter. “I look forward to having my own place again.”
She smiled and stuck a bow on the colorfully wrapped box. “It’s funny that River will still be your landlord even in your new place.”
I frowned. “No. The family who owns the land where my clinic is lives in Florida.”
She looked up, confusion clear in her eyes. “Oh, but… Mrs. Numi was in here shopping yesterday, and I swear she said that the land had been sold to River Martin.”
Shock rolled through me. “What?”
