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Lia fumbled with the lock and threw open the door.
“Surprise!” The word filled the room next door as all the people in the saloon’s main room shouted and cheered.
Lia could only stare in shock at the people and the room covered in streamers. Tables had been set up. Tables covered with cinnamon buns and muffins and breakfast burritos along with coffee and tea and juices.
“What is all this? What’s happening?” She turned back to get answers from Joe and her friends, but they were all standing grinning at her. Joe moved to put his arm around her shoulder while Flynn whistled to quiet the crowd.
Troy grinned at her. “The town wanted to thank you for everything you’re doing for us, Lia. Or should I say Doctor Moreno?”
That made her laugh. In Atlanta everyone had used the formal version, but it sounded stuffy here in Phail.
Troy continued. “We wanted to celebrate your opening day and everyone here wants to get registered as a patient.”
Everyone? It seemed like most of the town was in the room.
Troy raised his coffee mug. “Welcome to town, Doc!”
The room echoed with the chorus of welcomes and congratulations.
Joe’s arms wrapped around her from behind and he whispered in her ear. “Congratulations Doc. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
She no longer had any doubts about that.
Chapter 21
Strong As Steel
Lia found herself thinking a lot about Carlotta these days. The woman had been a wonderful foster parent. She’d cared deeply about Lia and had encouraged her to follow her heart. At that point, ten-year-old Lia’s only focus had been on becoming the best surgeon she could be.
Carlotta had given her every opportunity to follow that dream, even though she’d preferred the quieter aspects of life. Reading, listening to jazz and blues. And bird watching.
Since settling in at Midnight Lake, and now Phail itself, Lia had done some research into the birds that lived here in Vermont. Tessa had given her some hints about how to spot them and what to look for.
So now, Lia sat with a huge dog at her side and her back against what she now knew was a birch tree and watched the canopy above her for the local birds. She didn’t track the birds, simply enjoyed them and the memories of Carlotta they brought with them.
“You’d like it here, Carlotta. You’d like the birds, the lake, and you’d even like Phail, despite its wacky name.”
She would also like the fact that Lia had found more to life than just work.
Looking back, Lia could see how Carlotta had supported her obsession with becoming a surgeon even while she’d tried to encourage her to expand her horizons and find more in life to love.
“I did it, Carlotta. I found that more you always talked about. And all because I found Joe. I wish you could meet him. You’d really like him. He’s such a good man and I’m so completely in love. I never thought I’d be this happy. Never thought it was possible.”
A whistle close by had her head turning to find the man himself approaching. He always warned her he was coming even though the danger they’d been facing was gone. Moose raised his head and gave a welcome bark, but didn’t bother rising.
Lia smiled at Joe as he approached and then sat down beside her on the forest floor. He leaned in to kiss her briefly. Like all of his kisses, this one made her feel loved and accepted. And more than a little turned on.
Moose turned his head and rested it in Joe’s lap, demanding pets. When he’d loved up the dog, Joe squeezed her hand. “Find any more birds for Carlotta?”
“That family of goldfinches keeps coming back to that tree. They’re fun to watch. She would have liked them.”
Joe nodded. “I bet she would also like that you’ve slowed down enough to enjoy watching them too.”
He was completely right. “How did your session go?”
He grinned. “It was a blast. These guys were bodyguards from Detroit. They had so many great questions about how to deal with hostage situations and preventing them. The hours zipped by.”
“Which is exactly the way it should feel when you’re working at a job you love. No regrets leaving the FBI?”
