Page 15 (1/2)

"I can’t do this," she whispered

He nodded "I know"

"I want to but I--"

"It’s okay" He brushed a kiss over her jaw and then was gone, proving for the second ti

Chapter 10

Chocolate is cheaper than therapy, and you

don’t need an appointment

Two days later, Mallory entered the Vets’ Hall for the town rave; vu hit her Pointedly ignoring the stairs to the second floor storage roo roos tended to be

Heaven forbid anyone in Lucky Harbor

With sweaty palms and an accelerated heart rate, she found a seat in the back Two seconds later, her sister plopped down into the chair next to her

"Whew," Taled her toes "You medical professionals are slobs, you know that? Took me an hour to clean up the staff kitchen, and I was tenoff shift And I was scheduled to have a quickie with Zach on his twenty-et done in tireat I really needed to know that, thank you" Mallory glanced over at the glowing Ta that she seemed…well, not settled exactly, and certainly not ta at me like that?" Taasain, thanks And I’ at you because you look happy Really happy"

"I should hope so Because Zach just--"

Mallory slapped her hands over her ears, and Tarinned "Wow, Mal, you almost over-reacted there for a second One would almost think you hadn’t had sex in forever, which isn’t true at all"

"How in the world did you know that?"

Tarinned "Well, I didn’t know for sure until now Mysterious Cute Guy, right? When? The night of the auction when you vanished for an hour and then reappeared with that cat-in-cream smile? I knew it"

Mallory choked "I--"

"Don’t try to deny it Oh, and give me your phone for a sec"

Still embarrassed, Mallory handed over her phone, then watched as Ta sure you can’t forget your new boyfriend’s nao"

Mallory stared down at the newest entry in her contact list "Mysterious Cute Guy, aka Ty Garrison" She stared at Tae for Dr Scott at the nurse’s desk, including his cell phone number I accidentally-on-purpose memorized it"

"You can’t do that--"

"Oh relax, Miss Goodie Two-Shoes No one saw " Tammy turned to face forith awas called to order

Mallory bit her fingernails through the discussion of a newparkingthe sidewalks don, and whether or not theto run for another term

Finally, the Health Services Clinic came up Bill Lawson stood up and reiterated the bare bones plan and the facts, and then asked for opinions Two attendees immediately stood up in the center aisle in front of the ainst this health clinic and always have been," she said, gripping her cane in one hand and pointing at the audience with a bony finger of her other "It’ll cost us--the hardworking taxpayers--iven a large grant, plus theevents planned, including next week’s car wash" He smiled "Mallory Quinn talked everyone on the board into working the car wash, so I’ each and every one of you to colee The hospital board was a virtual Who’s Who of Lucky Harbor, including souys such as the st others

"Even you, Bill?" someone called out

"Even me," Bill answered "I can wash cars with the best of theinally Bill had just guaranteed the at the car wash People would come out in droves to see the town’s best and finest out of their positions of honor and washing cars They’d pay through the nose for it as they took pictures and laughed and pointed

Lucky Harbor eet that way

Still in the aisle, Mrs Burland tapped on thehere! HSC will bring undesirables to our town And we already have plenty of theility of an eagle after its prey, narrowing in on Mallory way in the back

"Bitch," Tammy muttered

Mallory just sank deeper into her seat

"You all need to think about that," Mrs Burland said and er, stood up next "I’enuine regret "I just don’t think we need to deplete our resources with a Health Services Clinic Not when our library has no funds, our schools are short-staffed due to enforced layoffs, and our budget isn’t close to being in balance We could be allocating donations in better ways I’reeainst the Health Services Clinic

Then it was Lucille’s turn She stood up there in her bright pink tracksuit and brighter white tennis shoes, a rey/blue hair She took a lare at Mrs Burland in the front row The ruether about two centuries back, and Mrs Burland had stolen Lucille’s beau Lucille had retaliated by eloping with Mrs B’s brother, who’d died in the Korean War--not on the front lines but in a brothel from a heart attack

Lucille was so short that the microphone was about a foot above her head This didn’t stop her "A Health Services Clinic would be nice," she said, head tipped up toward the microphone, her blue bun all aquiver "Because then, if I thought I had the clap, I’d have a place to go"

The audience erupted in laughter

"What?" she said "You think I’ any?" She turned and winked at Mr Murdock in the third row