Page 1 of Mistletoe Dreams
Chapter One
"I'm really hoping we can open the clinic on Saturdays now that you're here," Dr. Terry Landis said to Dr. Hannah Reynolds.
Hannah nodded her head. "Although, I understand that you also need to slow down some," she said, eyeing Terry's stomach with a lifted brow.
Terry gave a guilty smile. "I know I need to. My husband, Judd, has been awesome about helping with the children, but this is our third child in three years, and I really don't want to miss these years with them."
"Nor should you have to. That's what I'm here for." Hannah put a hand on Terry's shoulder, and Terry smiled gratefully. There was a tightness around her eyes and dark circles beneath them that bespoke the extra hours and long nights she had pulled trying to keep her clinic solvent and trying to keep her family happy. Also, the pregnancy had taken a toll on her as well.
Hannah was thankful that she had been able to take the job, since Terry seemed like a really sweet person and would be easy and fun to work with.
Unlike her last, exceptionally high-pressure job.
A sour feeling started in her stomach, and she tried to pivot away from going back down memory lane. Although it was not easy. When someone made a monstrous mistake and was threatened with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, a person had a tendency to not forget.
Not that Hannah wanted to forget necessarily. She did not. A person could always learn from their mistakes.
But those had been some of the darkest days of her life, and not just because of her own problems. She hadn't wanted to make a mistake on anyone's medical care. No matter how honest, sincere, and well-intentioned the mistake was.
"For now though, take the weekend to settle into your new place. I don't think you told me where you were staying." Terry clicked off on the ipad she had been sharing with Hannah and pushed back away from the desk, so that they could make eye contact as the computer powered down.
"Several years ago when my grandmother passed away, I inherited her house." She paused for a moment, thinking about all of the memories that were entangled with the house and her grandmother and Mistletoe Meadows. She'd spent many happy summers here. And in fact, she and Terry had played as children. But that had been a long time ago. "It's in desperate need of some cleaning and some repairs as well. I was here over the summer taking a look at it when I applied for the job. It’s livable, but it needs work."
"If you need any help, let me know."
"I will. It's nice to know that I have people in town I can depend on, but I'm probably not going to bother you unless I really need to. You look exhausted."
"I could go for some sleep,” Terry admitted. “But I think once you get settled into your new position and the townspeople get used to you, I'll be able to take a bit more time off."
"Hopefully before the baby comes." Hannah lifted a brow but didn't probe further.
"She's due right around Christmas," Terry said, as though she could read Hannah's mind.
Hannah had wondered but didn't want to ask.
"Once we get settled in, we'll have to talk about my maternity leave. I have several thoughts in mind, but I definitely want it to be something that works for you as well."
"Fair enough. I don't think I'll have any trouble getting my bearings. Everything looks fairly straightforward, and you have things very well organized."
"And the people are awesome. Not just with visiting the clinic, but with helping out too. It's not just me that would help you if you needed it unpacking. Most people are excited about the new doctor in town."
"I'm excited to be back in Mistletoe Meadows. I loved spending time here when I was a kid visiting my grandmother. I never dreamed I would actually live here one day."
That was an understatement. She'd always thought she would go to the big city and have a prestigious practice as a doctor in a large, possibly teaching hospital. She hadn't really understood all the ins and outs of the medical education that she would have when she was younger, but she certainly hadn't pictured coming back and working in a small clinic in a tiny town.
Right now, though, that sounded like just what she needed to get her life and career back on track.
"All right. I'll meet you back here Monday morning, and we'll have you shadow me for the first few days to see how things go. Then, when you're feeling pretty confident, we'll discuss scheduling."
"Fair enough," Hannah said, as Terry pushed her bulky body to a standing position and waddled to the door, which she opened for Hannah.
"There are plenty of things to get involved with, if you're interested," she said by way of conversation as they started walking out of the clinic.
"I definitely would like to get involved in the town," Hannah said. But she also knew she had a tendency to bite off more than she could chew at times. Although she really thought the best thing she could do was to stay busy. Was she going to stay here for a long time?
It was a question she didn't have an answer for. But just because she wasn't quite sure how long she'd be in town didn't mean that she wasn't going to help wherever she could.
"There's a town meeting for organizing the Christmas festival. We're actually more on the ball this year, and we're beginning to organize in November rather than waiting until the last minute the way we usually do."
