The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love - By Beth Pattillo Page 0,47

to play it cool. Draw his attention away from Daphne and Evan.

“My car’s behind the five-and-dime,” she said as they exited the movie theater. They always parked behind the store, in the small gravel lot. “It would almost be quicker to walk to Doc Baker’s office, but we’ll need the car afterward to get you home.”

“Fine,” he mumbled, and despite herself, Maria felt some sympathy for the man. He was clearly in a lot of pain.

In less than ten minutes, they had walked to the car and then driven to the dentist’s office. The small brick building sat a few blocks north of the town square, not far from the tiny hospital. The lights were on, which meant Dr. Baker had already arrived.

The dentist greeted them at the door and immediately ushered James into a treatment room. Maria plopped into a chair in the waiting room, picked up a magazine, and idly leafed through the pages. She could hear Doc Baker talking to James, who could only grunt and moan in reply.

“You’ll just feel a pinch,” the dentist said, and she envisioned the silver-haired doctor holding the syringe with its long needle behind his back. He was very good at never letting you see what he was about to stick you with, one of the things Maria appreciated most about him.

The anesthetic must have worked, because she didn’t hear James groan anymore after that. Instead she heard a one-sided conversation that made her blush clear to the roots of her hair.

“Maria Munden’s a nice girl,” the doctor said, his words interspersed with the whine of a drill. “Couldn’t do better. Except for Daphne, of course.”

James grunted a wordless reply, which could have meant anything from “I agree” to “You’re an interfering busybody.”

“Shame about Tom Munden. And losing their home. But maybe it will be good for them. Time for a fresh start.”

James’s unintelligible grunt this time was clearly a question.

“You didn’t know about their father? No one saw that coming. Maria will take care of them though. She’s got too much of her father in her to let her family down.”

Now Maria flushed with both embarrassment and pride. She’d forgotten what a gossip Dr. Baker was, but she was also flattered to be compared to her father.

“Don’t know why the young men around here didn’t snap up those Munden girls long ago.” Okay definitely embarrassment again. Maria leafed through the magazine in vain in an attempt to distract herself. “Some folks say they’re too particular. I say they just haven’t found the right fellows.”

Maria wanted to throw down the magazine, run into the treatment room, and drag James Delevan away from Dr. Baker, but all she could do was sit, listen, and hope he would change the subject. Fortunately, he soon did. The rest of the time he worked on James, the dentist kept up a running commentary on the town’s excitement at having Dante Brown back to coach the high school football team. Finally, Dr. Baker finished and the two men emerged into the waiting room.

“All done,” Doc Baker said, slapping James on the back hard enough to make him wince. “Told him he’s too old for Milk Duds. Better stick to Junior Mints after this.” He handed Maria a small square of paper. “Here’s a prescription for some pain medicine. I can call Hank to come open the pharmacy if you’d like.”

James raised a hand. “Not necessary. I’ll be fine.”

The dentist shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Thank you, Dr. Baker. We appreciate it.” Maria hesitated. “Should James call the office in the morning about settling the bill?”

Dr. Baker winked at her. “This one’s on me. Just call me Dr. Cupid.”

Maria wished that the floor would open up and swallow her, and James looked like he was thinking the same thing. He reached for his back pocket and drew out his wallet, but Dr. Baker waved his hand.

“No sir, young man. No need.” He nodded toward Maria. “Save your money to spend on this young lady.”

Could she be any more humiliated? Probably. Which meant she’d be better served by hustling James out of the waiting room and back to Sugar Hill rather than standing and arguing with Dr. Baker about payment. Thankfully, James seemed to be of the same mind. They said their good nights to the doctor and headed for her car.

They were on their way out of Sweetgum toward Sugar Hill before either of them spoke. Maria hated the awkward silence, but she had no idea what to say to