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"Never married," she said "I was involved, that’s about it, and I aer involved And Thunder Point was just the town at the end of the road And, of course, Rawley is here and he’s been so kind"
"Of course," Spencer said "And Mercy’s dad?"
Jeez, she thought She’d better get used to people coreat father figure I’ to keep a low profile"
"Oh He doesn’t know you’re here?"
"I hope not," she said "But he knows Mercy is with me"
"Won’t he want you to come back to him?"
"Me?" she asked "No, he was clear about that We haven’t been involved in over three years And before you pass judgment, he has other women and children--a veritable tribe Now please, can we let the subject go?"
He frowned at her and she could read his le father; he would have opinions about a wo away his child He wouldn’t understand, wouldn’t be able to give her the benefit of the doubt Nice as he seeh to trust hi suddenly from within the bar "I’ "Let me wave to Mercy"
"I can help with that," Sarah said She let go a piercing whistle and everyone on the beach, including Rawley and Mercy, turned toward the deck They all waved at each other
"That esohther way up the road to Highway 101 with Devon in the passenger seat, she asked, "Does this outing make you nervous?"
"Oh, yes," she confessed
"Just take it slow--it’s not a job interview I , don’t hesitate, but probably thea feel for the Thunder Point people They’re very nice Soood, honest people"
"I’ll try," Devon said
"Of course Listen, I was divorced after one e so I’m well aware of how hard it can be In fact, I o, beforeyour confidence back after so like that--it’s not easy"
"Landon’s not your son?"
"No," she said with a laugh "My younger brother It’s been the two of us since he was six Ten years of being a big sister slash single mother"
"Wow You did it on your own?"
"Our parents were killed in an accident--there weren’t any choices about it And it worked out-- skills, I’ed"
That caused Sarah to glance at the ring "I wasn’t divorced long when I uy, especially one like Cooper, but he’s relentless Thank God"
"A guy like Cooper?" she couldn’t help but ask
Sarah laughed "One look at him and I took hih? Look like the kind of guy who could give women a real run? But he’s not--he’s so co I was the one on the run--he had trouble catching ht If you had told o I could be this happy, I’d say you were crazy Out of every stor players don’t always look the way they’re supposed to look That sexy guy in the torn jeans and T-shirt who showed off his broad chest and muscled arms and shoulders is ready to settle down, but the one she fell for--soscriptures--proved to be a bad choice
"People don’t always look like who they really are"
Sarah pulled off the highway and headed for town "You don’t have to tellthemoment in my romantic history So, this doctor’s office, this open house, it’s a s spills out onto the front sidewalk If you do lose sight ofat the diner across the street All you have to do is say hello, visit a little and then let h And you don’t have to explain anything, even if you’re asked You’re visiting your distant cousin because he offered, things are fine, you’re just looking around the area, you know"
"I know," she said, but in fact she was very grateful for this reminder She didn’t have to answer those difficult questions--the kind Spencer asked
Sarah parked across the street from the new Family Practice There were some streamers and balloons and the front door was propped open And yes, the office was small It looked like a storefront in a row of storefronts, sitting right between the sheriff’s department and Carrie’s Deli
The first person Devonpeople at the door And the inside of his new practice was smaller than sht inside the door, a counter with a swinging half door leading to the back On the other side of the counter was one desk, some shelves, a desktop coht side for people to pass into the back where there h it was crowded, there was room for a small table covered by a festive tablecloth on which sat the snacks and punch bowl This office space could easily be used for a dress shop, a greeting cards and notions store or a travel agency
The next people she hter, Ashley Ashley was filling cups with punch while Gina was putting out trays of bite-size sandwiches and cookies Devon saw Carrie pull a cooler out froe container filled with a variety of hors d’oeuvres, which were then placed into a cute arrangee tray
There was a little polite small talk She met Gina’s boss, Stu, ned the diner; Gina’s husband, Mac, the town deputy; and a couple of neighboring business owners Having noticed a few people wandering around in the back of the clinic area, Devon couldn’t resist It was, after all, an open house She walked behind the room divider and what she found was a series of cubicles and she knehat they were for There was a treatment room with a bed, counter, sink, chair, supplies Then another exam room She found what must be the doctor’s office--there was a desk and shelves laden with books, and the door actually closed for privacy There hat could pass for a very s a little table and two chairs, refrigerator, microwave, cupboards and sink