Page 1 of Break My Fall

The Quinn Family

ONE

“No more peppermints, Mrs. Frost, or next time it’s a root canal.”

Mrs. Frost chortled with laughter, her veined and sun-spotted hand holding her cheek where it was still numb from the filling. “Don’t you get sassy with me, Dr. Quinn.” She put heavily sarcastic emphasis on the “doctor” part of that sentence. “I knew you when you were nothing but a shocked look on your mama’s face.”

Meredith Quinn removed her gloves and tossed them in the trash before helping Mrs. Frost climb from the dental chair. “I think surprise babies make the best babies. At least that was certainly true in my mother’s case.”

Mrs. Frost patted her hand, and her hooded eyes were kind and gentle when she asked, “Howisyour mama, child?”

Meredith made sure the elderly woman was steady on her feet before she responded. “She’s good. So far no sign of a recurrence. The doctors said her cancer was growing rapidly, but they treated it aggressively and we’re happy for all the days we have with her.”

“I know you are. You’re a good daughter.” Mrs. Frost fumbled in her purse for her wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing, Mrs. Frost. It was my pleasure.” The woman had family who helped take care of her as much as they could, but she was on a fixed income and didn’t have anything extra.

“Nonsense. I have to pay you something.”

“I’d take some hot chocolate before I leave.”

Mrs. Frost gave her a shrewd look. “You’ve sure turned into a Quinn woman. I see that as clear as day. Sweet as sugar. Stubborn as a mule.”

“I’ll be sure to tell Granny you gave me such a lovely compliment.”

“You’ll do no such thing. You can’t talk about your patients. I know. There’s laws about it now.”

Meredith laughed at her superior tone. “I can’t talk about your dental condition. But there aren’t any rules preventing me from passing along well-wishes to my granny from an old friend.”

“Pshaw.” Mrs. Frost waved a hand at her. “Who’re you calling old? I should tell your mama to wash your mouth out with soap.” She opened the door that led from Meredith’s mobile dental van and stepped out. “Come inside when you’re done. I’ll have the cocoa ready.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Meredith watched until Mrs. Frost was safely through her front door before she closed herself back into the small space.

Her mobile dental clinic had been a gift from her parents and grandparents when she’d moved back to Gossamer Falls a couple of years earlier. She loved it with every fiber of her being. It was small. There was only one chair. And most of the time she had to be hygienist and dentist. But with it housed in the back of a diesel-powered Sprinter van, she could navigate the winding roads of the Western North Carolina mountains and bring basic dental services to the underserved populations who would otherwise do without.

At least one Saturday a month, sometimes more, she would drive to a nearby county and set up her van. Usually it was in the parking lot of a small church. She’d clean the teeth of anyone who came by. Most of her patients were kids, and she typically gavethem a good cleaning, a thorough checkup, and instructions for them and their parents on proper dental health.

But today had been the first time she’d made a midweek house call. Mrs. Frost lived forty-five minutes away from Gossamer Falls in what she generously referred to as a cabin.

Meredith’s brother, Mo, called it a shack. Mo was correct.

Still, as she’d pointed out, Mrs. Frost had known Meredith since before she was born, just ten months after her brother, Mo. Meredith’s arrival had shocked the extended Quinn family and the town of Gossamer Falls. A story she’d heard many, many times in her youth.

She didn’t hear it quite so much anymore. Only the real old-timers ever brought it up. To most people, she was Dr. Meredith Quinn, town dentist. Sister to Mo. Cousin to ... well, about half the town. Daughter to Douglas and Jacqueline. Granddaughter to John and Catherine.

Gossamer Falls had been her home for all but ten of her thirty-two years. She’d finished her bachelor’s degree in three years. Went straight to dental school for four years. Then worked for three years in an urban setting where her days were a mixture of typical dental practice and charity dental clinics.

She’d been talking about being a dentist since she was a tiny girl. But no one knew what she’d hoped for most. Not her parents, Mo, or her cousin Cal who was more brother than cousin, not even Bronwyn Pierce, her childhood best friend. Meredith had prayed that someday she would move back to Gossamer Falls with a husband who would want to make his life there.

She’d dated in college and a little bit while in dental school, but husband material was thin on the ground.

But when the opportunity to open a dental practice in Gossamer Falls had presented itself, she took it. Even though it meant giving up on the dream of finding a spouse. Because she alreadyknew everyone in Gossamer Falls, and a husband-to-be surely wasn’t there.

And when her mother was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer within a year of her return, Meredith knew she’d made the right choice. Even if the cost was high.

She shook her head at the way her thoughts had wandered as she went through the motions of securing all her equipment for the drive home. Once everything met her stringent requirements, she stepped outside, locked the van, and joined Mrs. Frost for hot cocoa.

And hopefully cookies.

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