Page 10 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

I take a breath, and the familiar floral notes of her perfume fill my lungs as my chest cavity clenches, powerful and painful.

“What…” Lily steps back, cradling the containers in her arms. “I can’t believe it.” Her eyes dart down me, then back up, and I quickly stand a little straighter, hoping she likes what she sees. “What are you even doing here? I–I don’t understand.”

“A shock, I know.” I smile gently and swallow around my tongue, which suddenly feels too fat for my own mouth. “I, uh…” Clasping my hands together for strength, I choose the most honest route. “Well, right now, I’m living here at the Fir Tree. Likely outstayed my welcome by this point, but I’ve yet to take the leap and secure real property elsewhere.”

“Staying here?” Lily’s brows shoot up to her hairline. “But why? Why are you stayinghere?”

I realize at that moment that she doesn’t know. It was foolish of me, but late at night, I would entertain the fantasy thatsomehow, Lily would learn I was here and come waltzing into the medical center demanding to see me.

Foolish, I know.

My fear of reaching out seems to have made me too good at staying hidden.

“I work here.”

“Here?” Lily glances around and confusion etches itself across her face.

“Well, nothere. I’m the new gynecologist down at Evergreen Medical Center.”

“Wait.” Lily laughs softly. “You’re the new hot shot doctor?”

“I don’t know if I’d call myself a hot shot.” I smile back at her. “But yeah, you could say that.”

“I… I had no idea.” Lily adjusts the containers in her arms. “I mean, I knew there was a new doctor and everyone’s been raving about how good you are, but usually when some arrogant big wig takes up a post at the center, they never last long. They never expect a small town to be so demanding.” Then Lily’s eyes widen and she quickly shakes her head. “Not that I’m saying you’re an arrogant doctor, I just mean that…” The crimson flush on her cheeks deepens. “Y’know, other doctors.”

“Ahh, of course.” I laugh with her. “Don’t worry, I understand. And I can empathize on some level with the arrogant ones. The job posting was very lax on the details aboutjusthow much help was needed, but I do like a challenge.”

“So…” Lily’s eyes dart back and forth. “That means you’ve been here for about three months or so? And I’ve…” Finally, her eyeslock onto mine, and it’s like she’s punched me right in the chest. “I’ve never seen you.”

Heat slides up my spine like a snake, and I suddenly grow very aware of my hands and where to put them. In my pocket? On my waist? Should I cross them?

“I’ve been…busy,” I reply carefully. “Hence why I’m still living in the motel and not in my own place. Too much work to catch up on and not enough time to go out and explore the town, so I’m not surprised.”

“Right…” Lily nods slowly. “Wow. I still can’t believe you’re actually here. I never thought we’d see each other again. I mean just…” Lily clears her throat softly. “How we left things and your, uhm… your family.”

Ah. Yes. My family and their ever-tightening leash.

“Perks of a small town!” declares a cheerful voice. Just like that, the bubble bursts and I remember there are other people in the lobby besides me and Lily.

“Does that count, Dad?” Lily says, turning to the man at the counter.

My stomach tightens.Dad? He’s her father… It seems so glaringly obvious now that I consider the wooden sign hanging outside declaring that the Fir Tree Inn has been loved for thirty-five years by the Thompsons. Mr. Thompson had insisted I call him Adam from the moment I arrived, and I never thought any more about it.

Small town, indeed.

“Of course it counts.” Adam chuckles. “Just because it took three months for the two of you to run into each other doesn’t meanit doesn’t count. It’s the beauty of a small town. Sometimes, you run into the same person every day for six months, and other times, you don’t see that person for eight.”

“Maybe.” Lily laughs and adjusts the containers in her arms once more. “I just…” She glances back at me. “It’s so… surreal.”

“Why, do I look that different?” I joke, trying to break the static influx of nerves flooding my chest.

“No,” Lily says, and it’s suddenly like she’s talking to me in a way only I can hear. “You look exactly the same.”

“I’ll take that.” I chuckle. “Better to look twenty-five than thirty-two.”

Seven years. Has it really been that long? It feels infinitely longer and yet now that I’m here, talking to her, it feels like no time at all.

“Oh, Mr. Anderson!” Hillary, who I now know to be Lily’s mother, suddenly pops up from behind the counter. “Just the man I was looking for.”

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