felt like a god. And he got it. He understood why his brother had married Tansy. He understood why Dirk couldn’t see past Natalie, a woman he hadn’t seen in years.
Lars understood because he’d found his goddess.
He was ass over end in love with Delphi Reynolds.
15
THE SOUND OF Nelson locking the front door of the clinic was music to Delphi’s ears. It had been a very long day. And it wasn’t over yet. The two exam rooms had to be readied for tomorrow, which was another packed day.
“So, what’d you think?” Skye asked, slipping off her white lab coat. If anyone had told Delphi her friend would willingly, openly refer to herself as Dr. Skye she’d have laughed. But it suited Skye now. She was like a brighter, happier version of the friend Delphi had known throughout college. Vibrant. That was the word. Vibrant described Skye these days. With her mass of wild red curls and glowing happiness, she was positively radiant.
The three of them began prepping the first exam room.
“What do I think? I think I’m amazed at how much work you guys do.” Delphi was ready to drop.
“It won’t be this busy all the time,” Nelson said as he replenished the bandage drawer.
“I know. I’m the new girl in town and everyone’s sad to see you go. Well, happy for your opportunity, but they’ll miss you.” Delphi could easily understand why Nelson was so beloved in this community. Quiet, he possessed an extremely dry sense of humor. If you weren’t paying attention his wry observations would go right over your head.
And Skye had told her he was the shaman-in-training for his clan. It had taken all kinds of special dispensations for him to work out going away to medical school without giving up his shaman status. Delphi didn’t understand all of it but she was glad it had all worked out for him.
He was a nice guy, and his wife had stopped by with his lunch earlier today. She was beautiful in an equally quiet way. Seeing the two of them together had been like watching the flow of a river—quiet, strong but deep.
She’d seen the two of them and thought about Lars. It was easier to pinpoint the few times that she hadn’t thought about Lars. Let’s see...none. It was as if he’d been simmering on the back burner of her brain all day. You’d think with the office being so busy and all the things Delphi needed to assimilate to take over from Nelson, she wouldn’t have had the mind space to spare him a thought. Er, no, he’d parked his fine self on some prime brain real estate in her head. It was quite disconcerting.
Delphi couldn’t wait to stretch out in that claw-foot tub and let the water soak away her aches.
“I’m going to make some quick notes on the charts while you guys finish up the second room, if you don’t mind,” Skye said, putting her hand in the small of her back and stretching.
“No problem.”
“Sure.”
They moved into the second exam room. There were only the two. Delphi wasn’t quite sure if she would get used to the giant smiley faces painted on the walls. But then again, she didn’t have to. Three months would fly by before she knew it.
“How’d you like Mirror Lake?” Nelson said.
He laughed at her start of surprise. “Everyone knows most everything that goes on in Good Riddance,” he added.
“It’s one of the coolest places I’ve ever been.” She told him about the dragonflies swarming at the water’s edge. “I’d never seen anything like that before.”
He regarded her solemnly with his coal-black eyes. “It’s a message.”
“Huh? A message? What kind of message?”
“Dragonflies are a powerful totem. Animals appear to us with messages. Sometimes we must figure out what message the animal carries. However, the dragonfly carries the message of change. Change is coming to you.”
“Well, I am here.”
“It is not Good Riddance. It is far more fundamental to you, internal to you. And the change will bring peace, harmony, purity with it.” He nodded. “And the lake bottom trembled while you were there, also, did it not?”
Okay, everybody was truly up in everyone else’s business here. “Yes, it did.”
“Yet more change. Your messages are clear and strong.”
Delphi wasn’t sure she was exactly comfortable with being pegged with change messages. “Lars Reinhardt was there, as well.” Not that she needed to tell Nelson—she was sure that was common knowledge, as well. “Maybe the messages were for him.”
“You were there together?”