Looking at me with panic, she demands, “Not modeling?”
“Not modeling,” I assure her. Then I tell her all about Edward Hall’s offer for me to buy his practice. “I’ve been over at his clinic this week trying to figure out if I’m interested.”
Her anger seems to leak out of her like a hole in a balloon. “So, you didn’t agree to accept the job offer back in New York?”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I’m ready to leave Elk Lake.”
“Because of me?” Finley’s eyes flood with new tears.
“Because of you,” I assure her. “I just didn’t want to tell you about Edward’s offer yet, because I wasn’t sure I’d be suited to private practice.”
Finley takes a moment to drape one of the throws across her shoulders. Once that task is complete, she stares down at her hands and asks, “Did you like it?”
I’m painfully aware of how much I hurt her by not being completely truthful. But I also realize she wouldn’t be this mad at me if she didn’t really care for me. That knowledge fills me with a welcome warmth. “I liked it a lot,” I tell her.
“It must be very different from what you’ve always done.” She sounds worried that I won’t like it enough to be happy here. But suddenly I know I want to stay in Elk Lake more than I’ve wanted anything in my life. I want to see what grows between meand this kooky photographer. Heck, my family already loves her, too. Not that I’m ready to declarethatemotion quite yet.
“It’s different, for sure,” I tell her. “But I left New York because I was burning out working in a big city ER. I had the opposite problem here. I was bored in Elk Lake’s ER.”
“Not to mention you were being pursued by Constance,” she adds.
“That didn’t help,” I tell her. Then I explain, “The thing with private practice is that it’s much more personal than working in the hospital. Edward really gets to know his patients and he cares about them. I feel like maybe this is something I’ve been yearning for without even realizing it.”
Finley reaches out and touches my arm lightly. Then she asks, “Does that mean you’re going to buy his practice?”
“That’s what it means,” I assure her. I didn’t know until tonight that was going to be my choice, but spending time with Finley again has completely sealed the deal. I like her so much and she’s such a great fit in my life.
“Does that mean we’re going to go on a second date?” She suddenly sounds so hopeful I want to scoop her up in my arms and kiss her.
“As soon as my family goes back to New York,” I tell her.
Finley moves her hand down my arm until she’s holding my hand. Grasping onto it she says, “I want to plan our second date.” Then she asks, “Would it be weird if I wanted your family to join us?”
“Very weird,” I assure her. “But they all seem to love you. I’m sure they’d be happy for the invite.” I’m touched Finley wants to take charge of our next outing. And I’m oddly delighted that my parents and sister will be with us. Finley fits our family dynamic to the point that she already feels like one of us.
“I’m sorry,” Finley says quietly. “I should have never messed up the prank against your parents. That wasn’t very professional of me.”
“It wasn’t,” I agree. “But it was understandable. I lied to you and I’m very sorry about that. My intentions were pure, but I went about things the wrong way. I will never lie to you again.”
Finley leans into me until she’s resting her head on my shoulder. “I forgive you,” she says. “But in the future, it’s probably best to just talk to me and tell me what’s going on.”
“That’s exactly what I will do,” I tell her. “I promise I’ve learned my lesson.” I could sit out on this porch with her for the rest of my life. Even the fact that she’s on the spectrum is perfect for me. I know so much about it from growing up with Vivie that it seems totally normal to me.
“When are you planning this second date of ours?” I ask her. I know I have to entertain my family this week, but I am really looking forward to seeing her again as soon as I can.
“How about tomorrow night?” she asks. “I’ll need the day to pull it all together.” Clutching my arm, she quietly says, “I can’t believe you’re staying just to spend time with me.”
“You’d better believe it,” I tell her. “Finley Harper, you are an amazing woman and I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
She glances up at me nervously. “You might run away when you do.”
Leaning down, I gently kiss her forehead before telling her, “Give it your best shot. But you should know I don’t scare easily.”
I think about what Vivie went through today. I would never be embarrassed if Finley shared a similar intolerance to sound, even if she screamed in public. Instead, I would want to double down and protect her from anything that caused her distress.
Right now, there are no words to describe the overpowering sensation of optimism I feel for my future. And only a small part of that is due to moving into a new avenue of medicine.
I was brought to Elk Lake for a reason, and that reason is currently sitting next to me.
