Page 16 of The Orc's Sweetheart
I’m not making the mistake of having someone slam into me again from behind. Well, not in that way. Maybe in that way. But just more… No, Tilly! Stop it.
Starry Hill is so dreamy.
Old stone buildings are burrowed into the hill, three rows deep. Their various shades of browns and beiges harmonize seamlessly with the vivid green hill. Across their facades, vines of wisteria, jasmine, roses, and bougainvillea climb, breathing new life into the earthy colors with their purples, whites, oranges, and pinks.
A stinging sensation builds behind my eyes and I blink the emotion away.
No, Tilly. Today is for work only. Process emotions in the privacy of your home later tonight. With scrapbook supplies so you can try to catch a semblance of the town’s beauty in your memory book.
When I’m sure I’ve got myself under control, I follow Bodin’s directions and turn down First Street and head for the building at the end.
I pass The Winged Apple and The Sparkling Cauldron on my right, and stop in front of The Bandaged Heart. My brain doesn’t have the current capacity to guess at what types of shops the first two are, but looking at the blood-stained bandage wrapped around the wine-red heart, it’s very clear that I’m in front of a building that provides medical treatment.
“She’s here! She’s here!” comes an excited whisper from inside, and I smile to myself. I think someone is underestimating human hearing.
Pushing my shoulders back, I straighten my spine and open the door. A blur of orange suddenly floats in front of my face and I fight my instinct to swat at it.
“Oh, dear. My apologies,” the blur says and pops into her larger form. Standing at about five feet tall is the most beautiful monarch fairy, her orange butterfly wings almost a perfect match for the vibrant color of her waist-length hair.
“That’s okay. It’s one way to make a strong first impression,” I joke, and the fairy thankfully giggles at that.
“I’m Katie,” she says and holds out a delicate hand. “I’m not usually in my small form at work, but I was trying to remain inconspicuous while I watched through the window in the door.”
I place my hand in hers and she surprises me with her strong grip. “Hi, Katie. I’m Tilly, but I guess you already knew that.”
Katie beams. “Of course, I did! We’re so happy to have you in Starry Hill. I heard Beryl say she’s your new best friend, but I’d like to know if you’re open to taking any other applications. I’m your best source of information—not gossip—and can give you the breakdown of each creature on the island, including medical history, likes and dislikes, dietary requirements, romantic prospects—”
A throat clears behind Katie. “That’s the definition of gossip, my dear. Give Tilly some breathing room before you bombard her with information and friendship requests.”
Katie’s wings droop with the reprimand and she sticks her bottom lip out. “Yes, Doc Calla.” I can’t decide if she’s seriously sulking or if she’s just playing a part, but the quick wink she sends me tells me it’s all for show.
I turn my focus to the small goblin heading my way and I bend at the waist so I canshake her hand.
“It’s lovely to finally meet you in person, Tilly,” the doctor says and holds my hand in both of hers. The last of my nerves dissipate as I meet her kind hazel eyes.
“The pleasure is all mine, Doctor Knaggs. Starry Hill is more beautiful than you described and the residents have been very welcoming.”
“Have they now?” she asks with an arched eyebrow tells me rumors about Bodin might already be swirling. I’ll have to watch my every move here if I don’t want to become an even bigger talk of the town.
“They have,” I say with what I think is conviction. Out of the corner of my eye I note the tilt of Katie’s head as she pretends to busy herself with paperwork. It reaffirms my stance to remain professional at work and not to bring my personal problems past the door.
“Let’s sit in my office and we can chat more about what your daily schedule will look like. And for everyone’s sake, please call me Doc Calla. I can only handle so much formality. Katie, dear, please bring us some tea.”
“Coming right up, Doc.”
As I follow after Doc Calla, I realize I don’t see any computers and that Katie is literally doing paperwork with actual paper. That’s going to take some adjusting for me.
Doc Calla pauses in the hallway leading to the right. “The clinic is really small. The office is here on our right and the exam room is across from it.” She turns and points back the way we came. “The area next to Katie’s desk is the waiting room, then the bathroom and kitchen are down that hallway and on theright. There’s also a small treatment room across from them, and a mini lab all the way at the back.”
I stretch onto my toes but can’t make anything out except the door leading to the rooms she described. Focusing on the best news, I say, “You’ve got a lab here. That’s great to have on hand.”
Doc Calla speaks over her shoulder as she walks into her office. “Just for basic tests. If anything requires more serious testing then we send it to Cape Easton University Hospital. But you already know that since that’s how you learned about this position, right?”
I nod and try not to think about the event that led to me taking this job. “Yes, I remember that about Starry Hill cases.”
Doc Calla climbs up the steps to a chair that seems to be custom-made for her. It puts us at exactly eye level and I realize my chair never had me worried about if my hips would fit.
Maybe they special order all their chairs here. It would be really nice if I could figure out how to get something made for the garden. I’d love to have tea among all my flowers every morning. Even have dinner outside and watch the sunset in the evenings.
