LITMIR.BIZ

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spoke volumes. Nicole stifled her sigh and nodded.

      “Yes, of course, Dr. Darling.”

      “I’ll take your bag and put it in your office while you have a look around, Dr. Brandt.” Penny whisked the article out of Nicole’s hands, her lips barely moving as she leaned closer to whisper, “We’ll do the sign-up later.”

      “Thank you, Penny.” Nicole offered her a huge grin of gratitude.

      “No problem. If you need anything, just let me know. Technically Dr. Darling is the boss, but I’m really in charge of this place.” She tossed Joshua an impudent grin that was not returned, then sauntered down the hall. Carole followed her.

      “Your staff seem very nice,” Nicole murmured, searching for some way to open the discussion.

      “They do a good job.”

      That wasn’t what she meant, but Nicole let it go. He directed her to a small gloomy room.

      “This is your office. Penny or Carole will leave the patient’s file here.” He continued on with a litany of instructions that delineated each and every action she was expected to perform during office hours. “Any questions?”

      Nicole blinked.

      Questions? She had a ton of them, and most began with why. He had a system, that much was clear. But was it a system that worked as efficiently as it could? Not so far as she could see. Changes rippled through her brain one after the other and she opened her mouth to suggest a few.

      But one glimpse at Joshua Darling’s face had her clamping her lips together without uttering a single word. Now was not the time. She was the new kid on the block, hadn’t even seen a single patient, excluding Ruthie. Prudence would be wise.

      “I asked if you had any questions, Dr. Brandt.”

      “Yes, I heard you.” She swallowed, her eyes trailing around the dull, barren little office.

      At least I can change some things in here. It is my office, after all.

      “And your answer is?” He shifted from one foot to the other, impatient to begin his own work.

      “I think perhaps it would be best if we dealt with my questions as they arise. I’m sure there will be some, but let’s not anticipate them.”

      “I’ve found anticipation helps circumvent a number of problems. It makes you prepared, Dr. Brandt.” He stood there, a dubious look on his face. “You’re sure you can handle this? We’re fully booked up for the entire week. If it gets too much for you, I’d like to know as soon as possible.”

      He thought she was going to leave him high and dry.

      The revelation shocked her. Did he really assume she was such a poor doctor that she’d hightail it out the moment life got complicated? Then he had no idea of Nicole Brandt’s durability. She didn’t run out when things got tough. Not ever.

      Pride and determination coursed through her veins. Compared to the rest of her life, this job in Blessing would be a piece of cake.

      “I’ll be fine, Dr. Darling. I’m used to being busy. I promise you I won’t collapse under the strain.”

      He wasted several more seconds peering at her as if he couldn’t ascertain whether or not she was serious. Then he shrugged.

      “Fine. I’ll admit I’m rather relieved to hear that, Dr. Brandt.”

      “Feel free to call me Nicole.” She grinned. “After all, in a town this small, everyone must know everyone else’s business. Surely first names wouldn’t be out of place?”

      “I prefer to retain a degree of formality in the office, Dr. Brandt. It engenders patient trust.” His eyes flashed an unspoken warning.

      The words slipped out before she could control them.

      “Are you saying that your patients don’t trust you unless you call them by their surnames?”

      As a joke, it fell flat.

      His whole body stiffened.

      “My patients think of me as their doctor, their physician. When they walk through those doors, they expect me to treat their diseases.” His lips pinched white. “What they believe or chatter about outside of this office is none of my concern. Now, if you’ve nothing else, your first patient is waiting.”

      Dr. Joshua Darling turned on his heel and left the room.

      “Ouch!” Nicole flopped down on the edge of her desk, her eyes wide with shock. “Why do I feel as if he doesn’t really want me here?”

      “Because he doesn’t.” Penny slipped through the door and whipped it closed behind her. “I mean, he does want your help. He can’t possibly function without it anymore. But he hates change and lately he’s had to deal with a lot of that.”

      “Miss Winifred told me about his wife. How sad.”

      “It was horrible, of course. Cancer always is. But that was only the beginning.” Penny straightened a tilting stack of files and opened the first one on the desk. “Sign here.”

      “You mean about his partner leaving for South America?” Nicole took the hint and moved to sit while she scrawled her name across the papers presented. “Yes, I can understand how difficult that must have been.”

      “He never said a word, of course, but I think he felt abandoned. They’d been quite close. Then, when you add all of that to his problems at home. Well.” She threw up her hands. “I guess it’s no wonder he gets a little testy now and then. The next one, too, please.”

      “At home?” Nicole signed. “What’s wrong at home?”

      Penny chuckled. “Stick around, Doc. You’ll understand after a few days. Those little cherubs you saw can wreak a lot of havoc. We’re trying to make allowances for him.”

      And that, Nicole guessed as the nurse scurried out of the room, was blatantly obvious. She knew from Miss Winifred that Dr. Darling’s wife had died of cancer almost two years ago. But he was a doctor—he’d seen death before. Of course, it was far worse when it was someone you loved, but he had his daughters. Surely he was learning to cope?

      “Your patient is in examining room two, Dr. Brandt. May I show you the way?” He stood in the doorway, watching her.

      “No, thanks. I just need a second or two more with this file. I promise I won’t knock your schedule off too far.” She smiled, then glanced back down at the case history.

      “See that you don’t.”

      Nicole made a face at his back, then snatched up the file and stalked toward the room. Tonight she was going to give Professor Adams a call and beg, bully, even bribe him to push up her place on the waiting list. She’d made up her mind, and coming here had only reinforced it.

      General practice was not her forte. Hadn’t she always known that? She wasn’t good with people. She was a loner, used to dealing with her own idiosyncrasies. But when it came to reading others, she’d always been a flop. Wasn’t that why surgery seemed so perfect? Technique was number one with surgeons. People skills came a distant second when you were removing an appendix.

      But that’s not the only reason you’ve chosen it, is it?

      Nicole paused, her hand on the doorknob.

      You think your father will finally love you for yourself if you can do the one thing your mother never achieved.

      Sometimes being a loner wasn’t so great, especially when you talked to yourself—and yourself talked back.

      Thrusting that little voice to the back of her mind, Nicole opened the door and breezed inside the treatment room, a smile pasted on her face.

      “Hi, I’m Dr. Brandt. How can I help you today?”

      Twenty past

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