Page 45 of Doctor Neighbor

Buster stands, taking the coffee with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Barista. And thank you, Maddie, for sharing your amazing unicorn with me."

"Her name isn't Barista!" Madeline giggles as she covers her mouth.

"I'm just messing up all the names, aren't I?"

Maddie beams up at him, then goes back to her coloring, adding more swirls to her magic forest.

I find myself caught between them, unsure where to look or what to say. Something about seeing Buster interact so sweetly with my daughter makes my heart do funny things in my chest.

I look up as the doorbell rings, surprised to see Liesle and Anna walking in. Their unexpected arrival sends a jolt through me, especially with Buster standing right here. I feel like a peacock, wanting to show him off to my sister.

"Hey, sis!" Liesle calls out, her eyes darting between me and Buster. "We were heading to the park and thought we'd surprise you. Didn't expect to see Maddie here too!"

Anna rushes to Maddie, immediately drawn to her cousin's colorful artwork. "Ooh, what are you drawing?"

I clear my throat, excited to introduce her to the man I was telling her about the other day. "Hey, Liesle. Anna. This is Buster. He's our new neighbor." I waggle my eyes to my sister to indicate he is the one. I'm sure that isn't necessary, but sometimes my eyebrows act independently.

Buster extends his hand, all charm, and easy smiles. "Nice to meet you both."

Liesle shakes his hand, her eyebrow quirking up ever so slightly. "Likewise. So, neighbor, huh?"

I hurry behind the counter, eager for a distraction. "Can I get you guys something to drink? We just made a batch of peach iced tea."

"Sounds perfect," Liesle says, her eyes still flickering between Buster and me.

As I prepare their drinks, Liesle leans against the counter. "Wondering if Maddie might want to join us at the park? We could grab some burgers after, and I can bring her back home in a few hours.”

"Oh, that would be great," I say, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. "What do you think, Maddie? Want to go play with Anna?"

"Are y'all going to Railroad Park?"

"The very one. Anna has been obsessed lately."

Maddie's face lights up. "Can I, Mommy? Please?"

"Of course, sweetie. But only if you promise to have fun and remember your manners."

As Liesle gathers the girls, Buster makes small talk, asking about the park and their plans for the afternoon. I hand over the drinks, and soon enough, Liesle ushers the excited girls out the door.

"We'll see you in a bit, Cole," Liesle calls over her shoulder, giving me a look that says we'll definitely be talking later.

As the door closes behind them, I turn to face Buster, suddenly aware we're alone.

I turn back to Buster, suddenly aware of how quiet the cafe has become without the girls. He glances around, a quizzical look on his face.

"I don't think I've ever been in here when it's so quiet. So, do you not have any employees working right now?" he asks, leaning against the counter.

I shake my head, wiping my hands on my apron. "Not at the moment. It's usually pretty quiet between the lunch rush and the after-work crowd. Normally, it's just Nelson here during this lull."

Buster nods, taking a sip of his espresso. "And today?"

"Today's a bit different," I explain, moving to reorganize some of the pastry display. "I told Nelson to take off for a few hours. I wanted to review everything myself and ensure we're ready for tomorrow's inspection. And then he will pull the graveyard shift, going over everything again.”

“Cool. Makes sense.”

"Did I tell you the health inspector is coming back tomorrow for a final check? Aric did something and got that stubborn inspector to take a second look, and I don't know. It’s something about a mix-up, and if all is well tomorrow, they will close my case."

"You mentioned it when I got here but didn't go into detail. That's great news, Cole," Buster says, his face lighting up. "I'm glad Aric could help."

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