Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,24
know Dr. Sherrill handled it all himself for many years, but the town is growing, and so are the ranches. It might be more than one man can handle before too long.”
He sighs. “To be honest, I’ve put some feelers out for a vet tech. The practice can afford a decent salary, and there is a lot a technician can do that wouldn’t require my personal attention, which would free me up for house calls quite a bit. They could handle the routine exams and vaccinations while I was out of the office, and they could assist me in surgery, which would make those go quicker. They could even assist me out in the field when needed.
“I’d love to free Mom up from some of the workload she takes on. I know she enjoys working, but I think she’d prefer to go to part-time hours and be semi-retired. The problem is, there aren’t any locals with the education and skill set we need, and I haven’t come across anyone online, looking to relocate to Colorado, but I’ll keep trying. Until then, we just have to make it work,” he confides.
“I’ll be happy to do some searching on your behalf as well. Maybe some of my college friends or sorority sisters know of someone who could be interested,” I offer.
“I’d appreciate that.”
“You got it, Doc,” I say as I finish up and gather my things.
“Would you like to go to dinner with me?”
“Dinner?” I ask, surprised by his request.
“Yes, to thank you for the hard day’s work and to apologize for the hard day’s work,” he explains.
I consider him for a moment. He looks expectant. I assume he doesn’t have a lot of friends in town, and no one likes to eat alone.
“Sure, I’ll just call Momma and tell her not to expect me tonight,” I accept.
“Great. Let me finish up a few things, and we’ll head to the diner. It’s meatloaf night,” he says with a wag of his eyebrows.
I call Momma, who doesn’t seem the least bit upset that I’m skipping out on her tonight, and then I type a quick text to Derrick while I wait for Brandt.
I didn’t get the job. :(
Ugh, maybe I’ll end up taking him up on his offer for a job at Columbus. Ohio might not be so bad. I should give it a chance. Doreen could be right after all, and the Lord is just giving me a push in a different direction for my own good. I have to go with the flow and see where it leads me.
I put my phone away and decide to enjoy the rest of my evening and not think about what’s next. Worrying myself sick isn’t going to change a thing anyway.
We decide to walk to Faye’s Diner since it’s such a nice night.
“You mentioned a delivery to a house earlier. Are you moving?” I make small talk as we stroll.
“Not yet. I purchased the property for sale at the end of Mashstomp Road, and I’m going to renovate it. It’ll be a while before it’s move-in ready, I’m afraid.”
I stop dead. He realizes this, and he halts and turns to look at me. His eyebrows rise in question.
“Wait, are you telling me you bought the old Sugarman Homestead?” I ask.
“I did,” he answers.
“Oh my goodness, are you serious?” I squeal. “Do you know that place has been abandoned since we were little? Sonia, Elle, and I used to dream of buying it one day, and the three of us were going to live in it and raise our families in it, like an old, Southern Dynasty or something. Each of us with our own wing. We planned to throw posh parties and holiday balls like they did in Elizabethan London and live like high-society lords and ladies,” I tell him in my best British accent as I twirl.
His eyes alight with humor.
“I shall make sure I have a ballroom added, then, just for you ladies,” he playfully agrees.
“You have to take me to see it! We’ve only ever gotten a glimpse from the windows, and I’ve been dying to see the inside all these years.
“The Sugarmans were one of the original families who founded Poplar Falls. Mr. Sugarman built that house as a wedding gift to his bride. He spent two years here, overseeing its construction before he brought her, their teenage son, and twin daughters down from Colorado Springs. It was a grand monument to his love.”