Page 40 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

Chapter Twelve

FORD

Earworm

I’d never planned on helping out at the theater. After a long day at the clinic last week, I was headed toward Minnie’s Market to pick up a few groceries and passed Silvio and the local handyman, Ferris, sitting on the bench by the fountain. Their voices carried across the square like they were having an argument.

I had every intention of scooting past them when Silvio waved me over and asked if I knew anything about carpentry. A part of me wanted to pretend I hadn’t heard him, but then Janice’s comments about getting to know the people in town filled my head.

‘Just some basics,’ I’d answered.

‘Ferris keeps insisting that the two of us can build the sets needed for the show at the theater, but I’m pretty damn sure it’s too much work for us. Do you have time to help out?’

With the two of them staring at me with a hint of desperation, I’d agreed. Now, two days later, my back still ached, and my hands were covered in new calluses thanks to all the sawing and hammering.

It didn’t help that I’d been on my feet for twelve hours today. The clinic was packed with allergy cases, several kids who had hand, foot and mouth, and a wrist that was broken in two places thanks to a loose dog and a bad bounce on a trampoline, according to one of the mothers in town who spent twenty minutes telling me the entire story.

I wouldn’t trade my aches and pains for anything though. Being at the theater had given me another chance to be in Piper’s orbit. To witness how she easily connected with the kids. When she sat down at the piano and sang ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’, I nearly dropped the hammer I was holding on my toes. Her voice was what I imagined an angel would sound like: sweet and shimmering like a morning sunrise. Listening to her made that thrum in my chest grow louder, the blood dance in my veins. She’d undersold her talent by a thousand degrees.

With the song playing on a constant loop in my head, I headed down the hallway to Dr Sheridan’s office. As the light faded from the windows, I finally got my first break of the day. Unfortunately, my work wasn’t done yet. Before she’d left for the day, Janice had reminded me there were reports and case files on my desk that needed to be reviewed.

I sank into the rickety wooden desk chair and thumbed through the paperwork. A report attached to Mrs Vanderpool’s file made me stop. Her echocardiogram showed what I expected – atrial fibrillation. The notes from the hospital described the plan of treatment, and the blood thinner prescribed to help with the problem.

My thoughts returned to Piper. Her panic and fear outside the clinic. I couldn’t tell her what was happening with her friend, but I hoped Mrs Vanderpool would let her know about her condition when she was ready.

I thumbed through the rest of the reports and came across a Post-it taped to the inside of her file. It noted that Silvio had called twice today with questions.

I picked up the phone and dialed his number. A gruff, male voice barked, ‘Hello.’

‘Silvio?’

‘That you, Doc Foster?’

‘Yes, I saw you called twice today. Is there a problem?’

‘Hold on a minute.’ The phone went muffled and then there was a sharp snick of a door closing. ‘Had to go outside cause Greta is in a mood.’

‘Tell me what’s happening.’

‘She’s been lying to me.’

‘About what?’

‘I’ve been asking if she’s taken the prescription the cardiologist prescribed. She said she has but I noticed the bottle today. Doesn’t look like a single pill is gone.’

‘Did you talk to her about it?’

‘She admitted that after the pharmacist gave her the pills she read the side effects and it scared her. Now she’s refusing to take them.’

‘Put her on the phone.’

‘Could we come see you instead? I know Greta. You gotta look her in the eye. Tell her how serious this is.’

From the way everyone watched her at Sugar Rush, it was clear people wanted to know what was going on with her health, and Piper had made that clear with her prodding after Mrs Vanderpool left the clinic. Perhaps a quiet, face-to-face conversation was better.

‘All right. I’ll wait here for you.’

‘Thanks, doc. You’re the best.’