The Doctor and the Single Mum

“Don’t worry.” She turned to the yogurt dispenser and depressed the handle to let the creamy stuff make a volcano-shaped mound in the cup. “Even if I weakened, I know I can count on good friends like you to pull me back from the edge.”

“Darn right,” Norm said.

“That’ll be seven dollars and three cents,” she said.

Norm put down his cup and reached for his wallet. “It’s too bad.”

“I know, but Maggie wouldn’t make any money if the order was free,” Jill teased.

“Not that,” he said, waving away her words with a twenty-dollar bill in his hand. “It’s a shame you can’t go after the doc. He seems like a real nice young man.”

So did the last doctor, until he left. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, Jill thought.

After handing over change, she said, “So, how did your appointment go? You guys doing okay?”

“Pretty good,” the man answered. “I’m not gettin’ any younger, but I got a strong body. Doc said it’s like a muscle car. If you put junk in the tank, you’re gonna get a junk performance.”

“So you have three scoops of ice cream,” his wife said wryly.

“Only two, dear.” His blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

“Dr. Stone told us we have the time to take care of ourselves because we’re retired. We want to enjoy it.”

“Of course you do.” Who wouldn’t? Jill thought. She just couldn’t imagine leisure time for herself. Ever.

There were bills to pay and a son to raise, plus a little bit to put away for the college fund he would need someday. She barely scraped by now and only had herself to depend on. The idea of not working was a luxury she couldn’t even think about. “But you guys are okay?”

Diane nodded. “The doctor says we’re both healthy, but to watch our cholesterol and blood pressure.”

“So Dr. Stone didn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know?” Jill asked.

“No. But he spent a lot of time doing it, not like the one who always rushed us in and out. Dr. Stone said our hearts are strong. Walking is a good exercise and he couldn’t think of a more beautiful place than Blackwater Lake to do it in. Clean air. Majestic mountains. Trees. Said a person could exercise body and soul at the same time.”

The bell over the door jangled and in walked the doctor/poet himself. Jill wondered if her own heart was strong enough to survive the pounding it took every time she saw him, and now was no exception. The Schurrs looked like twin deer caught in headlights. Or kids with their hands in the cookie jar.

“Dr. Stone,” Diane said. “Speaking of the devil. We didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Besides being the devil,” he said with a straight face and a gleam of amusement in his eyes, “I’m also the food police.”

“This is yogurt.” The older woman’s voice was only a little bit defensive. “Ask Jill.”

Apparently Adam hadn’t noticed her behind the tall glass case, because he looked surprised. “So you’re the witness for the defense?”

“Mrs. Schurr is telling the whole truth and nothing but.” She couldn’t stop a smile. “And as chief of the food police, you should deputize her. She cut Mr. Schurr back from three scoops to two.”

The doctor nodded. “Have you thought about coming out of retirement and taking on a new career in diplomatic negotiations? You’d be good at it.”

“I should be after all those years in the classroom. Girls and boys need a firm hand and the voice of reason.” She finished the last of her yogurt and looked at Jill. “Norm and I have to be going. It’s good to see you, sweetheart. Take good care.”

“Will do,” Jill answered, reading the real meaning between the lines. “Night, Mrs. Schurr. Mr. Schurr.”

The two waved, and then the bell above the door jangled before they walked out and she was alone with Adam. He was wearing worn jeans and a black T-shirt that snugly covered his broad chest like a second skin. The sleeves stretched over his biceps and drew her attention to the contour of muscle there. The devil impressed her female hormones, she thought. And it was okay to be impressed as long as that didn’t blind her to reality.

“So, you didn’t really come in here to be the food police, did you? That could put a big dent in Maggie’s income. She does a lot of business with the town’s retired demographic.”

“No, I’m not checking up.” He laughed. “I have a confession to make, though.”

Being married, having a girlfriend and leaving tomorrow were the top three declarations of guilt that popped into Jill’s mind. But all she said was, “Oh? What?”

“I can’t say no to ice cream.”

“Neither can my son, which I guess makes me the food police.”

“Good luck with that. C.J. is resourceful and could join Mrs. Schurr in diplomatic negotiations.”

“Or undiplomatic,” she added. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have what Mr. Schurr had.” Adam folded his arms over his chest and studied her as if she were a new and exotic flavor in the display case.

She scooped the ice cream into a cup, then took the ladle to drizzle caramel over the two vanilla mounds. She was grateful to have something to do with her hands and very aware that his gaze never left her. “Is something wrong?”

“You tell me.” He took the cup she handed him. “Where’s C.J.? And what are you doing here?”

“My son is with Brewster and his wife, Hildie.” Not that it was any of his business. “And I’m here because Maggie Potter is pregnant and having contractions. Her brother drove her to the hospital.”

“The closest one is over seventy miles away. And she’s only seven months along.”

“How do you know that?”

A wry expression chased away the concern for a moment. “This isn’t my first time here in the parlor.”

“Right. Ice cream obsession.” She nodded.

He moved to the lower counter where the cash register was located and braced a hip against it as he ate. “Why did her brother take her? Where’s her husband?”

“He was in the army. Killed in Afghanistan. She found out not long ago.” And obviously hadn’t shared the information with a stranger, even if he was a doctor and a regular customer.

“Damn it. I don’t even know what to say. That …” Adam jammed his plastic spoon into the ice cream and set it down. He shook his head and the sympathy in his eyes was wrapped in an anger that looked sincere. “It just sucks.”

“I know.”

“The shock could have brought on early labor,” he said. “I hope not. Baby’s still small.”

“She’s pretty upset,” Jill confirmed.

“So you’re filling in.”

“It’s the least I can do,” she said. “Maggie and Dan built this business from scratch. I’ve known them both since we were all in kindergarten together. They were high school sweethearts. He was the love of her life and my good friend. No one can bring him back, but if there’s anything I can do to save his child, I’ll do it. And keeping this place alive is as much for him as for Maggie.”