“I wouldn’t count on it.”
Neither would Willow. Which was why she was taking a backpack full of emergency supplies for any unplanned visits to the hospital.
Zac checkedthe piece of paper Pastor John had given him. If he’d followed the directions correctly, Doc Reilly’s consultation rooms were in the old building in front of him. With its red-brick exterior and large front window, it could have easily been another retail store on Main Street.
The bright yellow front door was wide open, so Zac stepped inside. A bell interrupted the relative calm of the waiting room.
Emma, Willow’s friend, looked up from the magazine she was reading. “Hi, Zac. Doc Reilly won’t be long.”
“Are you waiting to see him?”
“I am, but not as a patient. I’m hoping to convince him to stay in Sapphire Bay a little longer.” She placed the magazine on the table beside her and sighed. “I talked to Pastor John yesterday. He told me about what you did for Jesse. Thank you.”
“It was good to be able to help. When is Doc Reilly retiring?”
“As soon I can find a replacement,” a deep voice said from the other side of the room.
Zac turned around. Doc Reilly must be in his late sixties. With thinning gray hair and an easy smile, he would be a welcome sight in a town struggling to provide any medical services.
Holding out his hand, Zac stepped toward him. “Hi. I’m Zac Hilary. It’s good to meet you.”
Doc Reilly pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Are you the doctor Pastor John was telling me about?”
Zac’s eyebrows rose. “It depends. What did he say?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. I take it you’re here to look around my surgery?”
Emma looked bemusedly at the two men. “Does this mean my mission to find a doctor is over?”
Zac took a deep breath. Staying here was a big commitment. But for his sake and Willow’s, he would do everything he could to make it happen. “I still need to sort out a few things but, in the meantime, I’m happy to help.”
“Thank goodness,” Emma said. “It will make a huge difference knowing you’re here while we’re petitioning the county for more health services.”
Doc Reilly shook Zac’s hand. “You won’t regret your decision. After I’ve shown you around, I’ll talk to the clinical director in Polson. If they want you to provide medical services in Sapphire Bay, they’ll put together an employment package. If you still want to work here after you’ve seen the contract, we’ll talk about a handover process.”
“That sounds like a good plan to me.”
Emma picked up her jacket and bag, and smiled at Zac. “Would you mind if I told Pastor John you could be our next doctor?”
“Just make sure he realizes there’s a lot of work to do before it’s official.”
“I will. But for what it’s worth, you’ll enjoy living here.”
Zac hoped so. Up until now, he’d been a nomad, moving from one humanitarian crisis to another.
Living in Sapphire Bay could either be the making of him or create even more issues.
The next day,Willow glanced at her watch. Zac would be here soon to take her to dinner. She straightened the skirt of her dress and, for what seemed like the twentieth time, studied her reflection.
Her red dress, with its sweetheart neckline and long sleeves, would suit any of the casual dining options in town. If Zac wanted to go somewhere more formal, she’d add the soft mohair jacket her mom had knitted her.
Thinking about her parents made Willow reach for her phone. A few weeks ago, they’d flown to Israel for a vacation. Her mom had always dreamed of visiting the Holy City. And, now, six months after they’d booked their airfares, they were staying in a hostel in the middle of Jerusalem. Their days were spent walking for miles and enjoying the company of people from around the world.
Willow found the latest email from her dad and smiled. He’d included a few photos of their travels to the Old City. She touched the screen and smiled. Her mom’s short gray hair was a tangled mass of curls. Her dad had grown a beard. It wasn’t as well trimmed as Zac’s, but it suited him.
By the time she’d scrolled through the photos, Willow felt a lot calmer. Her parents had always been a steadying influence on her life. They’d raised her to think for herself and be true to who she was. For a while, she’d lost sight of everything they’d taught her. But not anymore. After her manager stole her songs, she listened to advice only from people she trusted. And she always double-checked anything that didn’t make sense.
Willow turned off her phone and pulled back the living room curtain. She wasn’t joking when she’d told Zac she hadn’t been on a date in years.
