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I grinned. “Are you going to be discharged soon? You’re moving well with the new hip.”
“Larcombe was supposed to see me two weeks ago but I’ve heard rumours he’s ill. Been waiting for the new doctor to start house visits again. I didn’t want to trouble Dr Harry tonight about it.”
“It’s no trouble. I’ll get Harry now.”
Granny Lynn squeezed my hand, her eyes flicking to something behind me.
“Stacey, who’s that over there? Your boyfriend?”
Butterflies took flight in my stomach.Had Harry come back in?
I suddenly felt hot. Why was I even thinking of Harry as my boyfriend?
I glanced over my shoulder.
The man in the entryway was tall, slightly hunched, with mussed-up hair and a permanent scowl. He wore an old tee shirt with two holes in it. One arm was covered in a full sleeve tattoo.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s just Ryan.”
Granny Lynn squinted as he approached. “Huh, it’s the strangest thing. He looks just like his great-grandfather in this light. For a second there …” She shook her head in disbelief. “You know, when Ryan comes over to mow my lawn, sometimes he takes his shirt off.”
She fanned herself with a sigh. Some things I just didn’t want to know.
“Hey Stace, I towed your car to the shop. I texted but Mum said you were here tonight.” Ryan waved to Granny Lynn. “Hey Mrs Hughes, how’re you going? How’s the hip?”
He held out his hand and Granny Lynn batted it away. “Pfft, give an old woman a hug and a kiss.”
Ryan placed a quick peck on the cheek and gave her a quick hug.
“Ready to go, Stacey?” Harry walked up, stopping when he saw Ryan beside me.
My brother narrowed his eyes. “You’re staying at the pub. Didn’t catch your name.”
“Ryan, this is Dr Harry Cain,” I said, moving to Harry. “He’s the new doc taking over for Doc Larcombe. Harry, this is Ryan, my older brother.”
“Didn’t realise you were the new doc,” Ryan grunted.
“Ryan …” I hissed but he ignored me.
Harry offered his hand to my brother. “Stacey said this morning you’re a mechanic as well as a bartender?”
“That’s right.” Ryan clasped Harry’s hand tight.
“Stacey’s car was in bad shape this morning,” Harry said with an edge. “Hadn’t been maintained in a long time.”
They both tightened their grip on each other.
“It’s an old car.” Ryan ground out.
“She could’ve been in an accident. Luckily, I found her on the highway. Stacey, I’m more than happy to do some work on your car to get her running again, if your brother’s too busy.”
Ryan growled.
“Granny Lynn,” I said too loudly. “I don’t believe you’ve met Dr Larcombe’s locum. Meet Dr Harry.”
Harry and Ryan reluctantly let their handshake battle end. Granny Lynn was highly amused.
“You can call me Mrs Hughes, or Granny Lynn. I don’t mind either.”
