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Life just got in the way sometimes

Anyhow, I’d never spent all night talking with athose letters from Sarah had been kismet

Bailey had led Anita up to my room, and within only a few moments I ide awakeand my happy mood had taken a turn

“I didn’t want to worry Archie because I kneas probably nothing I’m a bank teller and have been my whole life so I sit in that seat bent over a computer half the time,” Anita said

She was a tall woman with tired brown eyes and a pale coh cheekbones and still-full lips that she’d once been a beauty

“So you haven’t told Archie about the back pain?”

“No” She scrunched up her face

When I’d examined her neck I found her lymph nodes were swollen And when I’d examined her lower back she cried out from the pain of my touch

“Anita, have you experienced any other symptoms?”

She nodded cautiously “Yeahs feel funny sohting off this flu for a while so I’ it’s just part of that”

“Flu?” My unease increased by the bucketload, and I suddenly reht before

“Yeah”

“Your symptoms?”

She ot a fever, chills, and can’t eat ave rin

I hoped she’d take me absolutely seriously when I said, “Anita, I’d like you to visit your own doctor And I’d like you to make that appointment today”

Anita’s eyes held worry “You don’t think I’ve got the flu?”

I didn’t want to scare her in case I rong “I’ else other than a flu is going on here I’d like you to make an appointment with your doctor so he can take a look”

She nodded, see dazed “Okay”

“Anita?”

She looked up at me “Yeah?”

“You will make the appointment?”

“Sure” She didn’t meet my eyes

Hmm “Why not make it nohile you’re here?”

“Seriously?”

I gave her my most serious face as an answer

She huffed but opened her purse and pulled out her cell Her eyes on me, she pressed a button and held it up to her ear “Hey, Liv,” she said and had to clear her throat when her words caot time to see me today?OhNo”

I made a face

She understood what that face meant She took a deep breath “It’s kind of iot so the new docYeah, that’s herYeah, I’ that’s trueYou can? OkayNo, I’ll be there right awaySee you in ten” She hung up “She’s squeezing aveat me Apparently your reputation precedes you Liv knoho you are”

“Liv is the receptionist?”

“Yeah, at Dr Paul Duggan’s practice on Main Street”

I nodded I rean aboutin a s in your business I felt a ht

“Thanks again for looking atyou’d tell hed humorlessly

“I just want a second opinion,” I assured her

“Yeah” She nodded, but her eyes filled with the fear I dreaded seeing in a patient’s eyes

I walked her out of the inn and wished her well, knowing that Hartas a sh place that if she didn’t keep me in the loop herself, I’d find out anyway

“You look worried,” Bailey said as I stepped into the dining roo breakfast was in full swing and the roouests

Patient-doctor confidentiality stoppedher just hoorried I was that Anita’s sy serious “It’s justAnita ht be my last patient for a while Maybe ever”

Bailey’s eyes widened “Okay, after you eat, you explain” Her expression told me I had no other choice and I chuckled to uests

Breakfast helped wake h it took me a while to eat because not only did I have that weird, nauseous, eet when you haven’t slept s of concern for Anita and Archie

Two hours later I was up in ure out where to start first I had ive up, a job to find here, and a new place to find to live

Just as I heard a knock at the door I got a text

From Cooper

How are you feeling this , Doc?

I smiled and quickly texted back as I wandered over to open my door

Tired But last night orth it

“Explain,” Bailey said, striding intothe door

My phone binged

Glad you think so I plan to give you ot in the way sometimes