Tessa smiled. “There’s a saying we have here in Vale Valley.”
“Yeah, and what’s that?”
“We are a small town with a big city feel.”
“That about sums it up.”
They both chuckled just as the doors to one of the offices opened and two beautiful ladies walked out smiling.
“Calista dear, you must come over for dinner when Chance and Grayson get back from their honeymoon.”
“I will, and you tell your grandson to come by and see me. I’ve missed him since he left us all those years ago.”
“I’m hoping he’ll stick around for good.”
“Excuse me, Madam Mayor, and Doctor Pond,” Tessa said interrupting the two women as they talked. Both women turned to look at them. Doctor Calista Pond was tall with long red hair and the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. The mayor was just a bit shorter than Calista with dark hair and bright green eyes that shined with the kindness of an old soul on her youthful face.
“Yes, Tessa, what is it?”
“Doctor Pond, Doctor Sirius Henson is here to see you.”
“Oh, wonderful. Calista, glad to see that you’re hiring a new doctor.”
“We’re in the interview process,” Calista said. “Doctor Henson…”
“Sirius please, all the formality makes me nervous.”
“Very well, Sirius, this is the town’s mayor…”
“Acting and former Mayor Rosemary Vale.” She stepped closer to him and shook his hand, staring into his face as if she was searching for something. After a few seconds, she gasped then released his hand stepping back. “Excuse me, Calista. I just remembered I promised to visit a friend,” she said in a hurried tone and was out of the office before anyone could say anything or stop her.
“Okay, that was a little weird,” Sirius said not realizing he’d said that out loud.
“You’ll get used to it once you start working here,” Calista said to him.
“Wait, does that mean I got the job?”
“Most defiantly.” Calista smiled. “Did you think I had Tessa give you a three-hour tour for nothing.”
He turned to look at Tessa. “I knew you were up to something.” He looked back at Calista. “Thank you, and I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I’m keeping you to that promise.”
“So, when do I start?”
“Not for a bit, there are a few things we need to go over first.”
“Oh, gods, not a week of orientation.”
Both Tessa and Calista chuckled. “Nothing as crazy as that but there is something we need to discuss regarding the hospital and the town. Let’s go into my office and talk.”
“Sounds ominous,” he said following her into her office. Calista didn’t respond, and it worried him just a bit.
“Why don’t you have a seat,” Calista said as she sat behind her desk.
Sirius did as he was told, realizing that it was the second time he’d followed instructions without question. It was as if his mind and body were on autopilot. They sat in silence, and he waited for Calista to speak, but all she did was stare at him. Sirius was becoming unnerved by it. Granted there wasn’t anything screaming danger at him, but he hated being stared at as if he was a science experiment.
“Um…” he said breaking the silence between them. The tension was far too much for him to sit quietly. “You said you wanted to talk.” His voice quivered for a second, and he didn’t know why.
