Four Wishes (Liberty Series Book 4) by Christine Nolfi

Author:Christine Nolfi [Nolfi, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christine Nolfi
Published: 2014-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

In a town the size of Liberty, gossip traveled faster than Internet chatter.

Arms filled with an energy drink, purse, and her medical bag, Mary climbed the final steps to her medical practice. Producing the key to unlock the office, she nearly stumbled over the assortment of gifts tucked before the door. The festive grouping looked like offerings at a shrine.

Sweetly wrapped packages sat alongside an assemblage of envelopes bright enough to do a rainbow proud. A handful of chocolates was stuffed inside a pink coffee cup. Lest Mary think the locals were only rooting for a girl, there was also a blue Teddy bear with a tiny baseball cap on its fluffy head. Someone had even tied a balloon to the doorknob. The purple dirigible was emblazoned with the words: We’re having a baby!

By the time her staff appeared, she’d consigned the baby booties, nappies and festive salutations from patients and friends to a corner of the receptionist’s desk. Tonight she’d need a box to drag it all home. Or a wheelbarrow.

The oldest of her nurses, Alma Lindgren, batted the lively balloon away from the phone that would soon start ringing, and wouldn’t stop until they’d seen the last patient of the day.

Alma was the natural leader of Mary’s staff. A six-foot tall commando with blunt cut golden hair, she possessed the build of a weightlifter. Although she didn’t in truth lift weights, she was quite adept at restraining feisty retirees and truculent children on those rare occasions when drawing blood or administering a shot proved trying. Despite her stern demeanor, patients were reassured by her listening skills and easy humor. Even when the office was crammed with people, she never rushed a patient along.

Now her face betrayed no injury as she waited for an explanation as to why the town was apprised of news kept from Mary’s devoted employees. The other women on staff, ears perked and eyes lowered, hung sweaters and deposited purses in preparation for the morning’s first arrivals.

How to form an apology to soothe the proud nurse and the others?

“I wasn’t trying to keep you out of the loop,” Mary told Alma. She regarded the others. “Any of you. I just found out I’m pregnant. Just a few days ago. Last night Delia shouldn’t have blasted the news across The Second Chance. In fairness, she didn’t know my pregnancy was a secret.”

“She’s the least of your problems.” Alma’s composure was so complete, it was impossible to gauge a reaction on her square, bulb-nosed face. “Ethyl Lynn must’ve burned the midnight oil. It couldn’t have been Finney. If she knew you were keeping the news private, she wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A dozen women are waiting for the craft store to open. They want to get started knitting whatnots for your bundle of joy.”

“You think Ethel Lynn called them last night?” A distinct possibility—Ethel Lynn did enjoy gossip.

“That’s not all. If I had to guess, half your patients are building a phone tree. Last night I got four calls in row.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.