Page 57 of Saving Wyatt

I just hoped he’d eventually talk to me and that what had happened between us didn’t make him shy away from me forever.

“Problems in paradise?” Mrs. Austen asked, and I turned to glare at my faithful patient.

She must’ve been a glutton for pain. I couldn’t explain why else she’d drop by almost every other day for “necessary” blood tests. Especially considering she hated needles. Though by this point, I’d realized the blood tests were just an excuse, and she quickly forgot about those as soon as there was hot, fresh tea to serve.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I told her.

I most certainly didn’t need to feed her with any more gossip. Which was why I picked my phone up, put it in the drawer, and focused on her needs for the day.

“Oh, come on, Dr. Ari. Aren’t we friends? Tell me your troubles. Did you and your husband have a little lover’s quarrel? Was it about the distance?”

I rolled my eyes and smiled at the elderly woman in front of me. “If that will be all, Mrs. Austen, I was gonna pick up some lunch.” I stood up and made it clear I wasn’t messing around.

“Now, now, Dr. Ari. I was just saying. The people of Mayberry Holm care about you. They want to make sure you’re happy here.”

I walked her to the door, and just before I opened it, I said, “I’m perfectly happy doing my job. You don’t need to worry about me. Have a good day.”

Mrs. Austen smirked and grabbed my hand so she could step out of the van, and just as she left, Warren showed up.

He didn’t miss me staring daggers at the back of my patient, and he frowned inquisitively. “What did she say now?”

I shook my head and locked the door behind me. “Nothing. Just being a regular, old busybody.”

He chuckled. “I thought you could handle those. Didn’t you say where you grew up is full of gossips?”

“Yeah. But still,” I answered, and Wyatt appeared in my mind, all needy and vulnerable under me last night.

I could handle busybodies, but not when they could mess up something beautiful. And she already had enough fuel after everything that had happened to destroy Wyatt’s reputation for good.

“Shoot. I forgot my phone.” I returned to the van and grabbed it from the drawer and then went off to get lunch with Warren.

As soon as we sat down in Carson’s Grill, he pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes.

“What’s up? Problems in paradise?” I asked, mimicking Mrs. Austen, but since he hadn’t been there earlier, he didn’t get the joke.

“I don’t know,” he grumbled. “Dare told me Wyatt was seen at the town hall yesterday, after the funeral.”

I choked on nothing but air and blinked as if that would change what he’d just said. “He was what? What was he doing there?”

Warren shrugged. “God knows. But he was seen being dragged out, and that can’t be good.

I sucked in a breath and held it there while I pictured every possible scenario of what he could have done at the mayor’s office. None of them were good. None of them were safe.

Was that why he’d looked so beaten down yesterday? I assumed it was from the funeral but perhaps it was something else too.

I unlocked my phone and started dialing his number when I realized Warren was there, so I just put my phone back down and focused on him.

“Have you spoken to him? Since yesterday?” I asked.

I was hoping he’d just been avoiding me but maybe he was avoiding everyone, and I dreaded to think what for.

Warren shook his head. My heart jumped to my throat just as the waiter arrived with our drinks, and I almost downed my glass of water in one gulp.

“Are you okay?” Warren asked.

“Just thirsty,” I said, out of breath when my glass was empty. “You said you haven’t heard from him? From your brother, I mean?”

“Oh…kay,” Warren muttered with a suspicious glare. “I haven’t, but Autumn said he dropped by the Sanctuary to check on Donovan this morning.”