He pushed back his chair and walked out to the lobby, flicking on the small lamp near the counter before unlocking the door.
On the other side stoodLukeCarter—broad-shouldered, ball cap pulled low, the kind of guy who carried himself with an ease that came from living in one place your whole life.Declanhad met him a few times since moving toPickwickBend—at the diner, during the softball game whereRose’steam had trounced the competition.Lukehad a quick smile, easy humor, and the kind of handshake that made you feel like you’d known him longer than five minutes.
“Evening,”Declansaid, pulling the door open.“Everythingokay?Don’ttell me your hound found another porcupine.”
Luke chuckled, stepping inside.“No, not this time.Daisy’skeeping her nose clean lately.FiguredI’dstop by sinceIsaw your light on.Didn’twant to interrupt if you were busy, though.”
“Busy is a strong word.”Declanmotioned toward the chairs by the counter.“Havea seat.”
Luke sat, stretching his long legs out.Heglanced around the clinic, taking in the tidy reception area, the freshly painted walls, the little bulletin board with flyers about pet adoption and obedience classes.“You’vedone a good job fixing this place up.OldDocBradleylet it go the last few years.”
“Thanks,”Declansaid.Herubbed the back of his neck, hesitating before asking, “CanIbe straight with you about something?”
Luke raised an eyebrow.“Thatsounds serious.Goon.”
Declan sat across from him, leaning forward.“You’velived here a long time.Youknow people.Youknow the… dynamics.”
“Meaning?”Lukeasked, though the corner of his mouth tugged up like he already knew.
“MeaningRose.Acen.Briana.Andme.Thenewcomer who apparently walked into the middle of a story already half-written.”
Luke let out a low whistle.“Yeah, that about sums it up.Thatwhat’s got you burning the late evening oil here in the office?Hidingout?”
Declan sighed.“Idon’t like being manipulated.Brianawas at thePickwickInnlast night and we talked.”
Luke raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“She made sureIknew she andRosehad history, hinted at things but didn’t spell them out.Leftme with more questions than answers.Meanwhile,Acen’sback in town, and everyone keeps looking at him like he’s the prodigal son.Andthen there’sRose, who… well, she’sRose.”
Luke chuckled, but his gaze was steady.“Andyou want to know where you fit in?”
“Exactly.”
For a moment,Lukedidn’t answer.Heleaned back in the chair, crossing his arms, looking like a man who’d seen this dance a dozen times before.“Here’sthe thing aboutPickwickBend,” he said finally.“We’vegot long memories.Folkshere don’t forget who you were in high school, who you dated, who you broke up with.Whoyour folks are all the way back generations.Itsticks, like gum on your shoe.AcenandRose?That’sa story most of us thought was finished years ago.Nowhe’s back, and people are curious.Maybehopeful.”
Declan nodded slowly.
“As forBriana,”Lukewent on, “she’s always been… ambitious.Smart, sure, but the kind of smart that wants leverage.Ifshe’s sniffing around, it’s not because she cares aboutRoseorAcen.It’sbecause she sees a way to tilt the board in her favor.”
Declan’s mouth curved grimly.“Thattracks.”
“And you,”Lukesaid, pointing a finger at him, “are the outsider.Whichain’t a bad thing, but it means you’re playing catch-up.Folksdon’t quite know what to make of you yet.Somethink you’re good for the town.Othersare waiting to see if you pack up and leave after a year.”
Declan absorbed that, then asked quietly, “AndRose?Whatdoes she want?”
Luke’s expression softened.“Rosewants to be happy.Troubleis, she doesn’t trust it when it shows up on her porch.Notafter what happened before.”
Declan sat with that for a long moment.
Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“Ifyou want my advice?Don’tletBrianabait you, and don’t waste time trying to measure yourself againstAcen.You’lllose every time, because he’s got the weight of history on his side.Whatyou’ve got is different.You’renew.Fresh.Rosemight need that more than she knows.”
Declan exhaled slowly, tension easing from his shoulders.“Appreciatethe honesty.”
“Anytime,”Lukesaid, standing.“Andfor what it’s worth,Doc, sometimes being the outsider gives you the clearest view of what’s really going on.Don’tdiscount that.”
Declan walked him to the door, the night air cool when it swept in.
AfterLukeleft,Declanstood in the doorway a long time, staring out atMainStreetagain.Thelamps still burned steady, the town as quiet as before.Butinside him, something had shifted.
