Like a Charm Page 3

  I gave her another hug. “I love that you always know exactly what I need.” From the corner of my eye I thought I saw a shadow, but when I turned to look I didn’t see anything.

  Must have been the trees outside…except there isn’t any sunshine to make shadows.

  When I faced Mrs. Canard again, she gave me a strange look. “I’m the librarian, Kira. It’s my job to know.” She gave me a tight squeeze, then pushed me toward the door. “Look at the time—didn’t you say you had a doctor’s appointment? When you feel better, come back and see me. We can catch up.”

  “Uh.” No, I hadn’t told her about the doc visit. At least, I didn’t remember saying anything. I tried to turn around to look at her, but she kept pushing me. “Take care of yourself, Kira. You have an important job to do.”

  I shrugged. “Okay.”

  She was getting up there in age, but she’d always seemed together mentally. Now I wondered if Mrs. Canard might be heading toward senility. While she’d never said much about it, I knew she didn’t think corporate law was the right occupation for me. I distinctly remembered her face when I told her I’d be studying law at Harvard. There was disappointment there along with wariness. I never realized she thought what I did at Zeb Corp. was important.

  Of course, I didn’t even remember telling her about my doctor’s appointment, so I had no right to point fingers at her for acting a little strange.

  As I stepped out of the library, I heard a voice before the doors closed. “She’s not ready,” a husky-voiced man said. Mrs. Canard answered back, “She will be, and you’re lucky she didn’t see you.”

  No one else had been in the library during our brief chat. I wondered who had been talking.

  I arrived at the doc’s right at eleven, signed the various forms, and handed over my insurance card. I sat in the waiting room. I hadn’t been sick much as a child, and when I was, my mom used home remedies. Still, I’d been to see my old doctor, Dr. Levy, for sinus infections and various other ailments the herbs couldn’t quite cure.

  The waiting room hadn’t changed. The white walls were covered with pictures of hunting dogs, and magazines from the nineties and some of the same worn children’s books I’d read years ago graced a small wooden coffee table. There was a brown plaid couch and some chairs that matched.

  I must have been the last appointment for the morning, because no one else was there.

  Five minutes later, the nurse said, “The doctor will see you now.”

  She led me down the hallway to a small room. “Have a seat.” Sticking a thermometer in my mouth, she grabbed my wrist. Once she had my pulse she wrote it down and told me I had a temp of one hundred.

  I’d actually been feeling better until she said that.

  “He’ll be here in a minute.”

  About the time I wished I’d brought one of the library books with me, the door opened. I looked up and gasped. “Sam?”

  The magnificent hunk of man smiled. “Yep.”

  “What are you doing here?” I hadn’t seen him in years, not since he graduated from Harvard. He was going to medical school while I was studying law. We had met in a pub when we were both on horrible blind dates and become the best of friends. He’s gorgeous, with dark wavy hair and a body most actors in Hollywood would pay big bucks for, but he’s always been like a big brother to me. “I mean, I thought you were working in Chicago.” I jumped off the table to give him a hug.

  “I’ve been in Dallas the last few months. Dr. Levy’s a friend of my dad’s and had asked him if he knew anyone who could help while he takes care of his mom in Omaha. I needed a break, so here I am.”

  “Wow.” I saw something in his eyes and realized there was more to the story. I’d been keeping up with him through the grapevine and I knew he was on his way to becoming one of the best neurosurgeons in the country. After his residency, every hospital in the country wanted him. I’d also heard his engagement had been called off at the last minute, but I never knew why. “It’s…weird for you to end up here of all places, but it’s really great to see you.”

  “So what is the woman who was set to take over corporate America doing back in Sweet?”

  She had a mental and physical breakdown and needed her mommy. “This illness. My parents insisted I come home.” I sat back on the table, and he moved closer. Putting his hands on my neck, he checked out my glands.

  “Hmmm,” he said. I hate when doctors do that.

  “I can’t stay much longer though, because I have to get back to work. But my brain feels like it’s in some kind of weird fog. I can’t concentrate, and I keep forgetting things.”

  Taking out his stethoscope, he listened to my breathing. When I took a deep breath, I coughed with a horrible hacking sound.

  Sam clicked his tongue. He took some blood and finished his exam. “You really should be in bed,” he chided as he wrote notes on my chart.

  “Well, I didn’t think you’d have time to make a house call.” I smirked.

  “I would for you,” he said without looking up. “I’m afraid you are going to have to call the office and tell them you can’t work for a while longer. You don’t need the stress on your mind and body.”

  I wondered what he’d say if he knew I’d been talking to Justin daily and e-mailing paperwork back and forth. I did rest, but there was still so much work to do. I had to get back. It worried me more than anything that things had run so well without me.

  “Sam, I can’t just hand everything over. I’m in the middle of some huge contracts.” The sound of paper tearing made me look down. My hands held two fists full of the paper that had lined the examining table.

  Sam stared at my hands and then gave me a strange look. “You have to take some time off for your physical and mental health. If you can’t take care of yourself, I’ll haul your ass back into the hospital.”

  I clasped my hands in my lap, willing myself to stay calm. “Maybe I can rest the next few days.”

  I leaned back and stared up at the ceiling for a minute and then back at him. “Why can’t I remember what happened on the roof? Am I going crazy?”

  Reaching out, he squeezed my shoulder. “I’ve always thought you were a little soft in the head, but no, you aren’t going crazy. Your mind isn’t ready to deal with what happened to Melinda.” I blanched. The mention of her name sent chills over my body.

  Holding up the file, he said, “The doctors at the hospital faxed over your records. I’m sorry, really sorry, for everything you’ve gone through. Obviously very traumatic events have transpired, and your mind and body are defending you by shutting down. There’s some healing that needs to take place first, which is why I want you to go home and rest.”

  I shrugged. “Okay, okay. I’ve already loaded up on books. I plan to stop at the Piggly Wiggly for supplies, and Lulu’s for a real meal. My mother’s been feeding me nothing but tofu and veggies. I’m craving beef.”

  He laughed. “That’s actually your body trying to fight the infection. You do need more protein, of which tofu is an excellent source.” He paused. “But I can’t eat that crap either. How about I buy you a hamburger at Lulu’s for lunch? But then you have to promise to go home and go to bed.”

  I smiled. “That’s the best offer I’ve had in weeks.”

  Lulu’s has the best food on the planet. It’s good Southern fare with a few surprises thrown in here and there. Seventy-year-old twins, Ms. Johnnie and Ms. Helen, who, according to the pictures on the wall, have lived a raucous life, own the café. There are photos of all kinds of famous people littering the walls of the cozy diner, including presidents, rock stars, and basketball teams, and the twins are in most of the pics.

  Known for their colorful personalities, as well as their clothes, the twins never disappoint.

  “Well, look at that. Kira’s home and she already has the handsome Dr. Sam in hand.” Ms. Johnnie winked at me.

  “Kira?” Ms. Helen peered through the opening between the kitchen and the dining room. “I’ll h
ave you some lemon meringue out in just a sec.”

  Much like the library, Lulu’s had been a sanctuary for me. My mother would never let me have sweets, or red meat for that matter. In high school, I would save birthday and Christmas money from relatives so I could buy hamburgers and pie. The twins even let me sweep the café for a free meal now and then. Sometimes I’d just come to visit, and they’d regale me with stories from the good old days while they piled plates of food in front of me. I loved them like family and felt guilty that I hadn’t been back to visit in so long.

  Over the last few years, time had slipped away and my life had become about whatever the next project might be. Looking back I realized how much work had taken over my world.

  “You both are as beautiful as always.” I patted Ms. Johnnie’s arm. Today she wore jeans with a bright red sweatshirt bearing a terrified looking turkey that read, “Thanksgiving, already?”

  She seated us in a booth at the back of the café. “Special’s chicken fried steak today.” Her words made my mouth water. I’d been set on eating a hamburger, but I couldn’t resist.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Me too.” Sam added.

  She brought us out some iced tea and hot biscuits with butter. We were enjoying the carb-loaded delights when someone walked up to our booth, a handsome man with sandy blond hair. He wore low-riding jeans and a denim shirt, but it was his eyes that transfixed me. Deep lapis blue, almost black. Then he smiled and I suddenly found myself very interested in everything he had to say.

  “Hey, Doc.” He reached to shake hands with Sam.

  “Caleb, good to see you. When did you get back in town?”

  “A couple of days ago. I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch. I just wanted to say hi and thanks for that sinus medicine. Best stuff I’ve ever taken. I couldn’t have made the trip without it.” There was something about his scent, pine mixed with man. I had an urge to reach out and touch him. Which is weird, because it had been a while since I’d even been on a date. I hadn’t met a man who had seemed worth the time.

  “I’ve been rude. Caleb, this is my friend Kira.” Sam waved a hand toward me.

  Caleb tipped his head. “Nice to meet you.” He looked like he was going to say something else but stopped himself.

  “Hi,” I whispered, not really trusting my voice.

  “Would you like to join us for lunch?” Sam offered.

  “Tempting,” he smiled down at me, “but I need to get back. Deliveries are coming in—new tile for the bathrooms and the wood floors for the rest of the house.”

  “Oh, are you remodeling your home?” My voice sounded a little throaty and I heard Sam snicker. I shot him a death stare.

  “Not my place, just helping out a friend.” Caleb turned to Sam. “I’ll see you later, Doc. Nice to meet you.” He waved good-bye to me.

  “Now that was interesting.” Sam laughed.

  “Shut up.”

  Thankfully, Ms. Johnnie showed up with our food.

  We’d been eating for a few minutes when Sam said, “I bet you haven’t been on a date in months. I could set you up. He’s a really interesting guy.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  I threw a green bean at him.

  “Don’t play with your food,” he teased.

  “Stop being annoying. And how would you know if I’ve been on a date? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

  His eyes zeroed in on me. “You’re the same driven woman I knew in college, and you didn’t date much then either. I’m just saying it wouldn’t hurt for you to mingle with the human race now and then. I bet I can guess exactly what you’ve been doing every single day since I last saw you: work, work, work.” The last words were said with a smirk.

  Picking up another green bean, I made a threatening gesture. “I’m mingling with you. And you’re the one who told me I needed to go home to bed. Besides, as soon as I’m better, I’m out of here and going back to the real world.” I raised an eyebrow. “A place where my doctor doesn’t try to fix me up with strangers off of the street.”

  “Ohhh. I think she liked him,” he said in an annoying singsongy voice.

  “You really need to stop. You never could sing.”

  He threw a hand against his chest. “I’m crushed. I can’t believe you said that. Just because some guy’s hot for you doesn’t mean you have to take it out on me.”

  The lemon meringue showed up and it quite possibly saved Sam from living the rest of his life with a green bean sticking out of his forehead.

  The truth hurt. I hadn’t dated much, or had any fun for that matter. In fact, I didn’t want to think about life back in Atlanta at all right now. It had been too long since I’d had a vacation. Though I did worry that maybe I should have Justin FedEx some of the contracts I’d been working on to the ashram. We’d been in the middle of two big deals, both of which depended on mergers coming off as planned. It was my job to make sure everything ran smoothly.

  “It’s going well,” a voice said in my ear. I turned to see who it was. No one sat behind us. The lunch crowd had thinned out and the café only had a few customers. The only diners were up near the front of the café.

  “Did you hear that?” I looked at Sam.

  “What?” He dug into his pie with manly gusto.

  “I thought I heard—nothing.” Great. I’m hearing voices. This mono thing is worse than I thought.

  He eyed me warily. “Maybe I should drive you home.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Sam shrugged.

  Maybe I really was losing my mind.

  * * *

  Five Things I Like About Sweet

  The library

  Lulu’s

  Free coffee at the Piggly Wiggly

  Wide open spaces

  Caleb

  * * *

  Chapter 4

  I don’t like work—no man does; but I like what is in the work, the chance to find yourself.

  HEART OF DARKNESS

  By Conrad, Joseph, 1857–1924

  Call #: F-CON

  Description: 146 p.; 22cm

  For three days I did nothing but sleep, eat, and read, with the occasional walk to the vineyards. After so many years of ninety-hour weeks, I’d practically forgotten what it was like to relax. Okay, I did make a few calls to the office, but much to my chagrin Justin seemed to have everything under control.

  It bothered me a little that the world of corporate law seemed to keep on turning even though I wasn’t there. Irked me, really, but I had to concentrate on getting better so I could get back to it.

  My body responded by healing faster than anyone expected.

  Sam came out to check on me at my parents’ place and deemed me fit for short excursions into town. “Nothing too taxing,” he warned. Then he wrote me a prescription for chicken fried steak. This is why that man is my friend.

  He also mentioned that a certain someone was curious about me. “I had a strange call the other day.” Since he’d just stuck a thermometer in my mouth, I could only give him a perplexed eyebrow. “Seems Caleb needed refills on his sinus medication. At least that was his excuse for calling. Of course what he really wanted to know is if you and I are dating.”

  I snorted. Sam had never been anything more than a big brother to me. I don’t know why, but we’d just never had that kind of chemistry.

  “Yes, that’s what I told him.” Sam grabbed my wrist and took my pulse. “Looks like you may have an admirer.”

  My stomach did that flip-floppy thing that happens when a boy you think is cute likes you too. It’s so high school but it’s true. Though I didn’t experience much of that in my teens. I certainly noticed boys, but I was the “smart girl” with frizzy hair who wore hippie clothes, and they paid me no attention.

  I couldn’t tell Sam that. He turned away to write something in the medical file he’d brought with him.

  “He can be interested all he wants. A couple more days and I’m out of here.” I tried to sound nonchalant, but I
was just the tiniest bit excited. It’d been a really long time since a hot guy had shown any interest in me other than for my brains. I know, I shouldn’t complain, but every once in a while it’s nice to be thought of as something besides a “damn fine lawyer,” as my boss always called me.

  “I don’t know about that.” He waved the chart in front of my face. “You won’t be ready to go home until well after Thanksgiving.”

  I leaned forward in the chair. We were in my room at my parents’ place. “Oh, no. That won’t do at all. I have two separate contracts that have to be written up by the end of the month.”

  “Kira, you aren’t going to get well if you start back to work too soon. In fact, there’s an eighty percent chance of relapse if you do. You can maybe handle a couple of hours in town, but that’s it.”

  I waved him away. “But I feel so much better.”

  He stared at me for a moment. “It’s up to me to write your release papers, and you’re not going back to work until I feel like you are ready.”

  “Sam, I’m the one who should judge how I feel and—okay, okay.” He was staring me down again. “Fine. I’ll do some more resting if that’s what you want.”

  I looked at the prescription he’d written. “I don’t suppose you could add some pumpkin pie to this?” I held the white piece of paper where he’d written, “Chicken fried steak, twice weekly.”

  Taking it from me, he wrote, “And as much pie as she can down.”

  I stood and hugged him. “So are you heading to your parents’ in Chicago for the holidays?”

  “Nah. I’m on call here over at the nursing home and at the office.” He loaded his instruments back into his brown leather doctor’s bag. I’d never actually seen one before except in movies, and it was kind of cool.

  “Why don’t you come out here to celebrate? Mom and Dad would love it, and I want the company. Maybe you could stop by Lulu’s and pick up one of their meals to go with turkey and all of the side dishes and pumpkin pie. In fact, I’ll go order it tomorrow if you’ll pick it up. Then my mom can’t say anything.”