Page 35 of The Love Dose
We’re entering the downtown. At least that’s what the road sign says.
Welcome to Sugarbush Falls Historic Downtown
Founded 1788
Pop. 3,023
Same population as one square block in the city.
Downtown Sugarbush Falls consists of several quaint streets lined with cozy-looking cafés, sundry shops, a steepled church, and ski gear shops. I notice the residual snow on the ground is still white, not the quickly-blackened mess we get in the city. We’re in a valley, surrounded by the Green Mountains. It looks like a Norman Rockwell painting.
“This is hopping Main Street,” Calvin says with amusement. There are two people outside.
He slows the car down, peering at each individual business. “It’s been so long,” he says to himself.
I hadn’t pegged him as the sentimental type. Of course, I don’t know Dr. Handsome for very long. And some of that time he was in Africa. I asked him about the medical mission on the drive up. It sounds like he had an incredible and exhausting experience but I get the feeling he’s holding back on something. Just a feeling.
“It’s so quaint here. Is this where you grew up?”
“Not far. Some of these stores are still run by the same families who started them generations ago. Can’t say that for many places.” He’s driving in slo-mo, taking in each establishment, as if we’re rolling down Memory Lane.
“That’s for sure,” I say. “Just last week, I saw the bistro on my corner is now an art gallery. It happened so fast I never even noticed they went out of business.”
“Exactly.”
We roll past someone shoveling the sidewalk. Calvin nods in his direction. “That's Jenny's boy.”
He looks more like a full-grown man. Seems Calvin's falling back into his small-town dialect.
“Who's Jenny?”
“Old friend.”
Hmm. “Did you have a happy childhood?” I ask.
“Wonderful. Peaceful, idyllic.”
“Don’t hear that every day.” Calvin has to be the only New Yorker not paying through the nose for therapy.
“It’s a lucky combination of a loving, supportive family and a great place to grow up.”
“If your aunt has anything to say about it, it’s a great place to grow old, too.”
Calvin laughs, a sound I've begun to crave. “She’s something else, isn’t she?” he says.
“You’re incredibly fortunate to have her.”
We are approaching the end of the commercial area, such as it is. The next block is taken up by a hospital.
Calvin points. “Green Mountain Medical Center. Almost ended up working there. Director of the Emergency Department.”
That surprises me. “Impressive. Why didn’t you?”
“There are fewer than a hundred true emergencies in this area in a given year and most are ski related. May through October is boring as all heck.”
I hear the mixed emotion in his voice. Sounds like there are some unresolved issues. Maybe I’ll hook him up with my therapist, after all.
My stomach growls and to my utter embarrassment he looks over at me once more, this time with a question in his eyes. “Hungry?” he asks.
