Page 70 of Dr. Alaska
A sniff. “Well, it would if it’s a big enough storm.”
Lee held her tongue. “Fair enough.”
Silence spread out between them like an old lace tablecloth.
“Still there?” Lee asked.
“Yes.”
“But?”
“Your father and I will miss you.”
“Wherever I am, you can always come visit. I’ll be back from time to time.”
“Where would I stay?”
“Best cross that bridge when we get to it.”
A clink of a glass on the verandah tabletop. “You’re happy?”
She sat up straight. “Yes, I truly am. It’s been a rough few years, and this work is good for me in so many ways.” It was a relief to finally articulate her thoughts to Mom.
Another weight lifted from her shoulders.
“You have friends?”
“Oh my gosh, I’m thirty-five and you’re asking about friends?” Lee chuckled. “Yes. Lots of friends, Mom.”
“Then I’m happy for whatever it is you do out there.”
Lee swiped at her damp cheek. “That means a lot.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“See, with thiswhole Dr. Tipton situation, what you need to do is take that relationship bull by the horns, Mav.” Tuli stood behind the deli counter on Friday evening and made a ridiculous horn-grabbing motion with his hands.
Louise smirked and drank her Three Bears coffee. Their EMS shift had started an hour ago. No calls so far, which meant Mav and his partner could grab a snack before the store closed.
Unfortunately, no calls meant that Tuli, the area fire chief, remained at his post at the Three Bears deli, with an abundance of free time and opinions.
Tuli’s gregariousness had reached a whole new level of annoying tonight.
Mav’s mood? Not quite as good. He had texted Lee about getting together to talk, and she seemed to push it off until later this weekend. Since receiving her reply, a knot of dread had lodged in his gut.
Yesterday, Dee and the CEO had made an official offer from the hospital for Lee’s permanent employment here in Yukon Valley. Technically, it was a counteroffer to the proposed Utah locums gig. Unfortunately, Yukon Valley, while in need of good doctors, wasn’t flush with money. The way his sister explained it, the offer was heartfelt but not lucrative.
To his knowledge, Lee hadn’t signed anything yet. No word.
Which meant, no word on Mav and Lee’s future. He had given her space. Now he wanted to clear the air and make his own offer.
Mav smirked at Tuli’s antics. “What would you know about taking the relationship bull by the horns?”
His friend’s gaze flicked toward Louise and away, but not before a crimson flush crept up his neck. Huh, so it was like that, was it?
Tuli opened and closed his mouth.
Mav shrugged. “All I’m saying is, sometimes it’s better to give people the time they need, and—” His phone alarmed. Dispatch.
