The Doctor and the Single Mum

“Adam.” The other man’s smile was sincere and friendly, a first for the day. “Heard you moved here, but didn’t think I’d have to see you in a professional way so soon.”

“Your boy’s not feeling well?”

“This is Tyler.”

“I didn’t wanna miss school, but my froat hurts,” the child informed him. “And I don’t like shots.”

“Me either.” Adam smiled as he studied the boy’s feverish eyes and flushed cheeks. “Would it be okay if I just take a peek in your throat?”

“Just look?” The boy didn’t trust him, but that had nothing to do with Jill Beck and everything to do with being six years old.

“I want to feel your neck, too, but it won’t hurt.”

“Promise?”

Adam crossed his heart and held up his palm. “Word of honor.”

“Okay.”

Beside the exam table on a metal tray, nurse Virginia had put out some things. He picked up the wooden tongue blade and the handheld light and told Tyler to say “ah.” Then he ran his fingers over the boy’s neck and asked the father, “Has he had a cough or runny nose?”

“No.”

Adam took the stethoscope from around his neck and listened to the small chest and back. “Strong heartbeat. Good bilateral breath sounds. No wheezing from upper or lower lobes of the lungs,” he said.

“What is it, Adam?”

“My guess is strep throat. It usually shows up late fall to spring, so this is early, but symptoms are classic, including yellow patches on the back of his throat. I’ll swab it and we can do a rapid strep test to confirm.”

After Cabot nodded approval, Adam promised the little guy a “good boy” toy, then rubbed a cotton swab in the back of his throat. When Virginia came into the room he asked her to do the test on the sample and Tyler went with her to pick out his reward. That gave Adam a chance to talk to the man who’d befriended him when they were boys.

“Don’t worry, Cab. It’s not serious. Strep usually goes away without treatment and only rarely turns into something more serious. I’ll give you a prescription for an antibiotic, but it’s just a precaution.”

“That’s a relief.” The rugged man clearly had a soft spot where his son was concerned, and that was as it should be. “Anything else I should do?”

“Make sure Ty gets over-the-counter meds for the fever and lots of fluids—soda in moderation, popsicles, juice and water.” But Adam wondered about Cabot’s wife. It was most often the mother who came in with a sick child. “So, when did you get married?”

“Six years, eight months ago.” There was no mistaking the anger that slid, hot and intense, into those dark eyes. “And I got divorced right after Ty was born because she walked out. Left me with an infant and no idea how to take care of him. Still, he’s the best thing she gave me and I have to thank her for him. Just an FYI, don’t bring a city girl to Blackwater Lake. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a local girl your wife.”

“Had a wife once,” Adam said. “Don’t want another one, thanks.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No. You?”

“No.” His friend smiled. “So, how’s Blackwater Lake treating you?”

“Like a leper,” he admitted.

“I heard you rented Jill Beck’s apartment.”

“Guilty. And apparently that’s a hanging offense as far as people in this town are concerned, because I haven’t even screwed up yet.”

Cabot shrugged. “You’re paying the price for the doctor who rented her place and then charmed and harmed her. Folks don’t like it when an outsider dumps on one of their own.”

“She’s safe from me,” Adam protested. “I just want to be part of the community. End of story. Honest.”

“I believe you.” The other man’s expression was amused and sympathetic. “But you’ll never belong until you prove you’re not going to ‘do Jill wrong.’”

“Tell me how to convince folks and I’ll do it.” Adam figured he’d take all the help he could get, especially from someone who knew the locals.

“You’re on your own with that.”

Before he could say more, Tyler came back into the room to show off his toy car and Adam was no closer to solving his problem. He liked Jill. He was attracted to her, but starting something was problematic. A single mom in Blackwater Lake would want promises and vows, and that was something he’d never do again.

To start anything he had no intention of following through on would make him no better than the last doctor, which would only drive the wedge deeper between him and the community. He didn’t get through medical school being stupid, so somehow he’d find a way to live under her roof and not complicate the situation by getting personal.

The best approach was to take the advice he so often gave his patients. Give it time. Unfortunately, he wasn’t patient.

Potter’s Ice Cream Parlor wasn’t busy on a weeknight now that the kids had returned to school from summer vacation. Jill was filling in for her friend Maggie and it was kind of a relief to be here as opposed to her own house where she couldn’t stop thinking about Adam Stone and the fact that only a ceiling separated them. Glancing at the display case, she made sure none of the ice cream flavors needed a refill. Beside it, all the sundae toppings, including nuts, crushed candy and fruit, were all full.

In front of the counter, all the cute little chairs with heart-shaped backs were tucked neatly under circular tables. The walls were filled with brightly colored prints of candy sprinkles, nuts and cherries. Right behind the cash register was a photo of Maggie Potter and her husband, Dan, in his Army National Guard uniform, hugging and happy on the day they’d opened this place a couple of years ago. Now her husband was dead and Maggie was dealing with everything by herself. Jill was going to help as best she could.

There wasn’t much to do, so she grabbed a damp rag and started to wipe down the stainless-steel counters. With her back to the front door she relied on the old-fashioned bell above it to alert her to a customer. When it rang she turned to see who was there.

“Hey, you two.” She smiled at Norm and Diane Schurr, friends of her mom. He was about six feet five and thin, with white hair. His blonde wife was about a foot shorter and always watching her weight. “What’ll you have?”

“Three scoops of vanilla in a cup with caramel and nuts,” Norm said.

Like the retired school teacher she was, Diane gave him a stern look. “You’re supposed to be watching your cholesterol.”

“Okay, then,” her husband said good-naturedly, “make it two scoops.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” His wife laughed and shook her head. “I’ll have the nonfat cookies ’n’ cream yogurt—a small.”

“Coming right up.” While Jill worked on filling their order she asked, “What’s new?”

“Not much with us, but Brewster Smith says you filled your vacancy. Mercy Medical Clinic’s new doctor.” Diane’s gaze was full of warning.

“It’s true.” Gosh darn it.

“The doctor is very good-looking,” the woman added.

“You’ve met him?” Jill handed over Norm’s sundae above the high glass of the display case.

“Had an appointment today for my checkup,” he answered.

“We both did,” his wife said. “The thing is, sweetheart, you shouldn’t let a pretty face tempt you into letting your guard down again.”