Page 59 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘It was a small issue. Not a big deal.’

‘I’m glad it’s you there,’ he mumbled. ‘Was a bit worried about who might take that apartment. Since my fiancée’s TV show took off, we’ve had a lot of out-of-towners move in. I didn’t want her living next to a stranger.’

I almost said she was in good hands, that I’d look out for her, keep her safe, but suspicion still lingered in his eyes.

The line inched forward and I tried to be subtle as I kept an eye on Piper. By the way Silvio and Greta kept laughing, it was clear neither of them were ready to tell anyone about what was happening with her health.

A tall, bald guy in the booth shouted ‘Next!’ in my direction.

‘I’ll let you get to your order,’ Beck said. ‘Welcome to Ivy Falls, doc. Let us know if you need anything.’

The band returned a few minutes later with another fast song. A woman with reddish-brown hair and several young girls in purple dresses spun in circles on the dance floor. I set the lemonade down next to Piper as she let out a loud whistle, cheering them on. They turned in her direction and the three girls raced toward her. She gave each of them a firm hug while the woman quickly scanned me, eventually turning her interest to Piper.

‘Are you going to make introductions?’

‘Tessa, I’d bet twenty bucks you already know who this is. And if you don’t, I’d say the Ivy Falls gossip train is losing its steam.’

One of the girls who looked to be around thirteen said, ‘He’s the new doc. Everyone knows that.’

‘Thank you, Lou, for proving my point.’ Piper winked at her and the girl lit up.

‘Hey.’ The woman shot out her hand toward me. ‘I’m Tessa and these are my girls, Iris and Rose.’ The two girls gave me smiles that had more than a few teeth missing. ‘And this cutie,’ she pointed to the teen girl, ‘is my boyfriend Manny’s daughter, Lou.’

She gave my hand a firm shake. ‘Barb and Susan at Sugar Rush told me you’ve been to Africa. Have you seen lions or elephants?’

That got the other little girls’ attention.

‘I’ve been on a few game reserves. Seen both lions and giraffes.’ I lowered my voice. ‘Zebras and hyenas too!’

‘Oh, that’s cool,’ Lou said like she was trying not to be impressed.

A big guy with dark hair ambled in our direction. ‘What kind of trouble are you all causing over here?’ He reached out and clenched my hand. ‘Hey, doc, I’m Manny.’

It still shook me a little that everyone in town knew who I was.

‘Pop, he’s seen zebras! Like the kind in the wild not at the zoo,’ Lou said, that chill façade slipping.

He ran a loving hand over her hair. ‘Louisa loves all kinds of animals.’

‘I’m gonna be a veterinarian. Take care of all kinds of animals big and small like that Dr Oakley on Nat Geo.’

Piper smiled at Lou like she’d be the first one cheering at her graduation.

The last chord of a song rang through the air and the lead singer announced it was the final song of the night.

‘Girls, shall we?’ Manny bowed to each one and swung his arm in the direction of the dance floor. Tessa and the girls followed and they joined hands in a circle and swayed back and forth.

I’d never pictured myself with a family but they sure made it look tempting.

Silvio led Greta out to the floor. Most of the town joined them including Maisey and her husband, and Beck and Torran, who continued to shoot curious looks toward our table.

‘What do you say, Bird? Want to dance one more time?’

She took my hand as the band played a slow ballad I recognized.

‘No one else should sing “Wild Horses” except for the Rolling Stones.’

She scoffed. ‘The cover by the UK band The Sundays is much better.’