Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,26

about and contacted the doctor about to give a reference for me!”

“Derrick? Are you serious?” she bites.

I nod.

“That … that … rat!” she exclaims.

I nod again.

“And get this: he thinks I should be happy about it. That I should move in with him and wait patiently while he works out a place for me at the zoo,” I tell them.

“He has gone and lost his mind,” Momma declares.

“Yep, I can’t believe it. I thought I had this job in the bag. I know Dr. Singh thought I was good. I guess just not good enough.”

“Not good enough? Are you serious? I wish you’d strike that phrase from your vocabulary young lady,” she scolds.

“It’s true, Momma.”

“No, it’s not! It’s just something you go around saying too often: How much time do you have? Not enough. How much sleep did you get last night? Not enough. You look amazing, how much weight have you lost? Not enough. How much money do you make? Not enough. You use it so much that you have started to believe it about yourself, but you hear me Bellamy Wilson, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you are more than enough. Do you understand me?”

My lips begin to tremble at her declaration and I look up and nod my head in agreement.

“Thank you, Momma,” I whisper.

She places her hand on my cheek and squeezes. “Don’t you worry, Bells. You can stay right here until you figure out your next move. And don’t you settle either. You will find something just as good or even better. When God closes one door, he opens an even better one. You just have to be patient and willing to trust Him and walk through it when the time comes.”

I grip her arm and lean into her hand.

“Now, let’s make you some breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes are great at healing the soul,” she offers.

“Thanks, Momma, but I have to get a shower and get to the clinic. We have a busy day today.”

I take one last sip of the coffee and then push back from the island and stand.

Myer doesn’t say anything. He simply envelops me in his massive arms for a few seconds. He doesn’t need words. I just absorb my big brother’s love and support.

Then, he releases me, and I head upstairs to get my day started.

Today is busier than yesterday. I’m not sure how that is even possible, but it is definitely welcome. I don’t have the time to dwell on my career status, and I keep my phone off all day, effectively avoiding Derrick and his flimsy excuses and apologies.

Once we close up for the day, Brandt asks if I have plans for supper again.

“Another date, Doc? The town is going to start whispering. I bet you and I were already the hot topic of the day at Janelle’s salon,” I tease.

He looks confused for a moment, and it’s absolutely adorable.

“No, I mean, I was going to ride out to the house and thought you might want to come along.”

“Yes! I’d love to,” I accept immediately.

“There isn’t any electricity on there yet, but there is running water, so we can stop for takeout and eat there, if you’re hungry,” he offers.

“I’ll call us in a sandwich order to Dottie. What would you like?” I ask as I pick up the phone and dial.

“Surprise me,” he says and then disappears down the hallway.

“This place is just as magical as I imagined it would be,” I say as we walk around the first floor.

Two large, hand-carved wooden doors open up to a grand foyer. A split ivory staircase with an intricate mahogany banister winding down both sides leads up to the second floor. To the right is a huge living room with an old piano in front of the bay windows that overlook the overgrown front lawn. The left leads to a parlor with a fireplace on one wall, and it sides up to the kitchen.

“There are five bedrooms and three baths upstairs and a small room off the kitchen behind the stairs, which I think might have been for the cook or maybe the maid’s quarters at one time. My plan is to gut the kitchen and completely remodel it. I want to remove this wall and turn the parlor into a dining room that opens to the living room. I’ll restore the staircase and refinish all the wood. Sand and keep all the original floors. The largest room upstairs, I’m going to turn into a master suite