Page 54 of The Love Dose
Chacha will be here soon and I should give her a heads-up. I’m just not in a hurry to do so. Things are perfect now. I can’t recall the last time I felt this at peace. Why rock the boat?
Chapter Forty
Caroline
My head is in the clouds. This morning, playing in the snow with Calvin, was magical. Maybe it’s woo-woo, but for a short time I connected with my inner child. I mean, when was the last time I started a snowball fight? Perhaps, never.
The blizzard proved a gift. It’s like Calvin and I are on our own island. Despite being outside for over an hour, we didn’t see another soul. Not even a car. All we heard were the distant sounds of revving snowblowers. Granted, it’s still early and the snow makes for a perfect sleep-in morning.
I’m back upstairs, thawing out after a hot shower. I’m invigorated, ready to take on the world. Exactly what Dr. Handsome prescribed for me.
I need to find a way to thank him. I give it a moment’s thought and come up with an idea.
My phone beeps, startling me. Service is back, sparking a sense of disappointment. It was wonderful being completely offthe grid for a little while, no one able to reach me, my troubles on pause.
I reach for my phone, seeing several messages have come through. Evie, Paul, Sam.
I shoot a quick text to Evie, telling her I’m fine, that I’ll call soon. After a moment’s consideration, I do the same for Sam. I’ll have to phone Paul or he’ll enlist the armed forces to track me down. But not right now.
Before I put the phone down, it rings.
“Hi, Sam.”
“Are you crazy!”
“Hello, to you, too.” It’s the first time I’ve heard Sam raise her voice. “What’s the matter?” I ask, sitting down on the bed.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to go places with strangers?”
I’m taken aback. “Calvin is not a stranger.”
“Other than having a pretty face, what do you know about him?”
Sam can be a worrier but this seems like an overreaction. “He’s my doctor. He works at the hospital. You met him.”
“For five minutes! Is he married?”
“No!”
“How do you know that?”
I pause.
I hear her exhale, her tone somewhat softer. “Precisely.”
I’m sure the next question will be if he has dead bodies in his basement. But she’s made her point. Maybe I should have done some due diligence before going off with him to some remote house in the dead of winter.
“Okay, so I don’t know as much as I’d like about him. We’re relatively new friends. Oh wait, he likes animals.”
“Seriously? That’s all you’ve got?”
It feels like I’m on the witness stand, staring down a relentless prosecutor ready to tear me apart. Which could prove to be fine practice for what may soon be in my future.
I know Mama Bear Sam means well. She’s a mom to two teenagers. If she wants to add me to her worry list, I’ll take it.
To be fair, my friends met Calvin only once, at the hospital. But Calvin has been in my home several times, we shared drinks, laughs. I never saw a dark side. At some point, I need to trust my judgment.
I hit the speaker icon and plop backward onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “You do realize if Calvin was going to kill me, he would have done it by now.”
