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They ate in silence for a few beats as Avery thought back to the night before, to bumping into Wes at the Trailhead. To the rest of the evening when she’d been hyperaware of his location. She thought of her parting with Rick at the end of the evening and the guilt that consumed her. Then she thought of Wes and the time they were spending together. She didn’t want to lead him on.
But this wasn’t the same thing at all. They both knew he was leaving soon.
She shook away the thoughts. “So, how’d that pool game go last night? I was concerned when I saw you neck-deep in a game with Stewie.”
“He’s not as good as he thinks he is. I won the games, at any rate.”
“Good for you. Did you wager anything fun? Supper? Money? Your firstborn?”
“Nothing as serious as that. But we did get to talking while we played. Did you know he’s a certified plumber?”
Avery frowned, chewing. “Doesn’t he manage the Shady Pine Motel?”
“Yep. But back in his twenties he worked for Bleeker Plumbing—I confirmed that information this morning as he’ll be installing that new tub and sink of yours for free.”
“What? You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“That is great. Plumbers charge a fortune. We’ll definitely deduct that from your tab.”
“Not necessary. It only cost me a few games of pool.”
But he could’ve won something for himself—he obviously wasn’t swimming in cash. Her heart squeezed tight at the gesture. “That was very kind of you.”
“Well”—his lips tilted in a sideways grin—“you’ve been very kind to me as well.”
She shrugged. She’d only been neighborly, offered him a meal here and there. He’d saved her a heap of money with that bet.
“So help me understand,” he said. “How does a woman your age own a medical clinic? It takes so many years to get an MD. Shouldn’t you still be in residency or something?”
“I got an early start on college—skipped fourth grade—so I graduated high school at seventeen. And I had life insurance money to fund my higher education, so I didn’t have to work much in college. Four years of undergrad, four years of med school, and three years’ residency in Pennsylvania. Came back home, opened the clinic, and here we are.”
“You make that sound pretty simple, but you’re not fooling me. You’ve been on quite the career track, Doc.”
She smiled wide. “I’m a very determined woman.”
“I can see that.” He held up his glass, his eyes smiling. “To strong women who know what they want and how to get it.”
She clinked his glass. “Hear, hear.” His words warmed her. After having been treated like a delicate flower by her family and written off as intimidating in college, she appreciated his perspective.
Whyhadthose college boys found her intimidating? Because she was strong? Because she knew what she wanted? She loved that Wes didn’t seem put off by those qualities; instead, he seemed to admire them.
“So, the next phase in your plan includes a second doctor?”
“Among other things. Eventually I’d like to become a full-service clinic.”
“What would that entail?”
“Longer hours. More equipment, such as an X-ray machine, a small lab machine, and an ultrasound machine. I’ve been trying to get funding through grants, but there’s a lot of competition for those dollars.”
“I have no doubt you’ll keep at it until you’ve succeeded.”
“Thanks.” They’d only known each other for days, but he had such a high opinion of her, and she didn’t want to doanything to alter that. His words gave her a much-needed shot of energy. And after being weighed down by the responsibility of the clinic for months, his optimism was an adrenaline rush.
Avery set her fork down. “Getting that carriage house remodeled is crucial to finding a doctor, so I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.”
“Trust me, it’s a win-win.”
