Page 95 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

Doc Galindo must see the shock on my face because he doesn’t wait for me to respond before continuing. “I need a partner in the pharmacy, Brenna. I’m sure you’ve spent enough time there to know that Wally refuses to do vaccines.”

I nod. I have noticed that. It’s impossible not to, considering there is a large sign posted in the pharmacy that vaccines aren’t administered there. When I asked about it, Mr. Hovland told me he couldn’t be bothered with them. That didn’t make sense to me. It’s not like the store is so overrun with prescriptions to be filled that it would take too much time away from that function of the job. Also, it’s not that much additional paperwork with the insurance companies.

“Flu season is around the corner,” Doc says. “Which means that it’s vaccine season. Hickory Hills Drugs not being an option for the vaccines only leaves my office here in town. Which means people have to make an appointment, and I have to charge them a co-pay. Then I don’t have appointments available for people who need to be seen for other reasons—real reasons. Over something that can be handled at the pharmacy.”

“And you’ve talked to Mr. Hovland about this?”

“Many times. He refuses. Says he⁠—”

“Can’t be bothered,” we finish the sentence in unison.

My insides squeeze. Knowing that so many people in town don’t have an easy option to get the vaccines they want or need breaks my heart. Part of the oath of a pharmacist is to consider the welfare of humanity—and putting your community in a situation where they can’t get a doctor’s appointment or have to pay a co-pay they might not be able to afford is not doing that. At least not in my opinion.

Things I didn’t realize I was going to be upset about today.

Still, it’s not that easy.

“Doc, I hear you. I get it. But…” I sigh. “Even if I were to say yes, sure, I’ll stay, and I’d be open to doing vaccines, either right away or after Mr. Hovland retires, we’d still have to clear that with whomever actually owns Hickory Hills Drugs. And I don’t know who that is.”

“Hovland.”

The answer hits me smack in the face. Like it’s an arrow and I’m the bullseye.

Mr. Hovland owns Hickory Hills Drugs. Did I know this? I think back to all the conversations he and I have had about me taking over the pharmacy. About him retiring and his plans. My brain moves as fast as it can, scanning each conversation in detail. But I come up shorthanded. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Not once did he mention that he owned the store. That him retiring and me taking over would mean that I would take over the entire business, not just the pharmaceutical part. Holy shit. That changes things. All the things.

“Mr. Hovland owns the whole store?” Mell asks, stealing the words from me.

“Yeah,” Dr. Galindo confirms. “You didn’t know that?”

I shake my head. “He left that part out.”

“Unless there is something I’m missing, which I don’t think there is from the way he’s talked about it to me, he’s hoping to turn the whole thing over to you. Which is why I’m hoping I can convince you to do this. Because like I said, I need a partner. Someone I can work with. There is so much we could do between the practice and pharmacy for this town.”

“From the sounds of it, just getting the vaccines out of your office would be a game changer.” I chuckle.

“Brenna, you have no idea. But more than that, the people of this town—they’re not getting any younger. And more and more, we’ve got folks who don’t just see me, they see specialists over in Tifton. So I have no idea what meds people are on when they do come see me, and askin’ them…it can be a nightmare.”

“You’d be open to doin’ MTM?” I perk up, my pulse jumping with excitement.

“MTM?” Mell asks, looking between Doc and me, clearly lost.

“Medication Therapy Management,” I explain. “Once a month or so we’d invite people to come in, bring all their meds, and we’d sit down and review them, then make a comprehensive list. I can review what’s what, so that we can know if there are any potential interactions we don’t want, plus then Doc here can keep that list some place safe in case it ever needs referencing. It’s a big thing in senior communities.”

I fight back a smile, excitement coursing through me so fast I’m almost vibrating. These are the kinds of programs I want to run. The reason I became a pharmacist. The reason I don’t want to work for Big Box USA. None of this would ever fly with all their corporate red tape. Hell, when I asked about doing it with the Well Nest, that seemed sticky enough. The only saving grace there was that I was told that once I had a few years under my belt with the store, I would have more flexibility to set up community outreach. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

Is it really possible that what I’ve been looking for could be mine, and in Hickory Hills? It all feels a little too good to be true. As if the universe is playing a trick on me. I need to control my emotions and not get ahead of myself. Just because Doc Galindo says all this, doesn’t make it real. I need to confirm all this with Mr. Hovland first.

“So, whaddya say?” Doc asks.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Drumming his hands on the table, Doc stands up, spinning the chair back around and putting it back at the table where he found it. He says his goodbyes, leaving Mell and me, both of us more than a little taken aback by the conversation.

“So, just one question,” Mell says, breaking the silence.