A Mummy For His Daughter

“Joe told me that you had come home.”

The woman came out from behind the counter and before Evelyn could stop her she was being wrapped up in the woman’s arms and crushed in a bear hug.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” the woman asked, her smile not disappearing.

“No, I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay.” The proprietor walked back behind the counter. “You left so long ago. Your father used to come in here every day to get coffee. I’m Sally.”

Evelyn smiled at Sally. “Nice to meet you...again.”

Sally grinned. “No worries. What will it be, Evie...? I mean, Dr. Saunders. That’s going to be hard for me to get used to saying. I can’t believe you’re a doctor. Your dad would be so proud.”

Just the simple mention of her father caused Evelyn a pang of longing. And then the memory came back to her.

Yellow curtains filtering in the bright sunlight on those odd days when the sun would peek through the clouds. Chocolate milk and her father blowing the steam across the top of his coffee before he took a sip. And her. That woman Jocelyn with her bright smile and golden hair. The one who’d tried to take her mother’s place.

Evelyn shook the memory away. She had to focus on today.

“Can I have a coffee, please?”

“Of course, Dr. Saunders.” Sally turned and picked up a carafe of coffee. It smelled heavenly. “Would you like it to go?”

“Yes, that would be great, Sally.”

Evelyn took a seat at the counter, her pulse thundering in her ears because nothing had changed. The drapes were faded, but everything was the same. She’d forgotten about this place, but the moment Sally had mentioned her father it had come flooding back to her.

And the pain was just as raw as it had been twenty years ago.

She hated feeling it again.

You knew this would be hard. That’s why you’re here.

The door chimed again and Derek walked in, pulling down the hood of his hoodie.

“Brisk out there today, Sally. Can I get...?” He trailed off as those brilliant gray-green eyes locked onto her, sending a shiver of the dreams from the night before through her.

His eyes were the most intense she’d ever seen.

“Good morning,” she said, breaking the gaze so she could look away and try not to let him see her blush by hiding behind her long hair.

“Good morning,” Derek said carefully, and took the stool next to her at the counter. “I see you got up early.”

“I told you that I would.” She held out her arm and pointed to her watch. “See—it’s set on Alaska time.”

A brief smile flitted across Derek’s face. “So it is.”

“And I have my key. So I’m not going to be a burden for you.”

Sally handed her a coffee. “There you go, Dr. Saunders.”

“Thanks, Sally. How much do I owe you?”

Sally shook her head. “Not today. It’s on the house. A welcome back gift from me.”

“Thank you!”

“Hey, I’ve been your physician for fifteen years—how come I don’t get a free coffee every now and again?” Derek complained.

Sally frowned. “You’re not local.”

“I’ve been here longer than she has,” Derek teased.

Evelyn playfully stuck out her tongue and beamed at Sally. “I’ll see you later, Sally. Thanks for the coffee.”

She felt like skipping out of that coffee shop, but she refrained.

She didn’t get very far before Derek, carrying his own paper cup, came jogging up beside her. “You won over Sally pretty fast,” he said, sounding impressed. “Not many people do.”

“She seems cheerful enough.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “She knows you—but you don’t remember her, do you?”

“I told her that,” Evelyn said. “I was young when I left. Are you telling me she’s usually a grump?”

Derek frowned and took a pull of his coffee. “Maybe she’s only a grump with me. She said once that she didn’t like doctors.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I’m a doctor,” she said lightly.

“Yeah, but you’re Thorne Saunders’ daughter, and those who remember you have a warm fuzzy feeling when it comes to you. Which will change when you leave again.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Evelyn asked as Derek sidestepped her to open the door of the clinic. “And how do you know my father’s name? I never told you.”

“Come on—you’re not going to be here forever, Saunders,” he said as he stepped through the door and flicked on the fluorescent lights. “It’s just a phase. And I did some research last night. Your father was the first general practitioner to stay in Wolf’s Harbor. He was the first to stay and help the people here. I’m impressed.”

That gave her a punch in the gut that she hadn’t been expecting, because he was right. They remembered her father with fondness, but really they were just being kind. These weren’t her people.

She’d been gone too long.

And you’re the reason why your father’s dead.

“I’m just here to do my job. I can’t control people’s reactions to me. But if I instill some kind of trust in them while I’m here, then all the better.”

“Don’t get your feathers ruffled,” Derek said as he set his coffee cup on the counter. “I’m just stating a fact.”

“Yeah, because you’re annoyed by the townspeople’s reaction to me. My guess is they never really warm up to the other doctors that rotate through here. Am I right? And that gives you some sort of power.”

Those intense eyes flickered with something close to anger and she realized she’d struck a nerve.