Jasmine’s face dropped, and her cheeks blazed red.
“I’m sure all is said in the spirit of fun,” Anna said. “Jasmine doesn’t look the type to want to hurt anyone.”
Maxine harrumphed, “Who said anything about being hurt. It’s just so very juvenile, and I don’t have time for such nonsense.” With a flick of her head and a sway of her hips she sauntered away.
Iris raised her head with an expression of disgust. “She thinks she’s the queen bee around here. Since Dr. Carmichael is so easy going, she literally thinks she can boss us around. She even said the other day that the only reason she stays is because the office would fall apart without her. As if! This office ran better before she came on board.”
Rose piped in. “She’s just mad that her good friend Tamara couldn’t sink her hooks into Doctor Carmichael enough to get a diamond out of him.”
“Yeah, but too bad Tamara had as much influence as she did. It’s the only reason Maxine got hired, and now look what we have to put up with,” said Iris.
“Now, now, ladies, we’ll all try our best to rise above this kind of negativity.” Jasmine said, putting an end to the discussion.
“Can’t you see Matthew’s eyes in this little one?” she said, skillfully turning the conversation elsewhere. “She’s sure not afraid of strangers, either, the way she’s let me hold her.”
Iris and Rose took their turns with Melody, and she only too happily rewarded each of them with her winning grin.
“Ahhh, she has a dimple on the same side as Doctor Carmichael,” Rose pointed out.
Anna stood by quietly watching, but her mind wandered elsewhere. Who was this Tamara woman?
February turned into March, and they had not yet picked a wedding date. Matt remained determined Anna meet his family and friends first. He suggested they throw an engagement party, but Anna hated the idea. One-on-one proved difficult enough, but to meet all of them together horrified her, and so she committed to nothing.
Anna knew they were on different pages and needed to talk, so she set up a date for a walk in the park without Melody. Lorena had offered to babysit.
Anna took one look at Lorena and beamed. “You look fantastic, Lorena. What are you now, seven months along?”
Lorena nodded. “Yeah, I’m feeling great, and this little guy is super active, kicking all the time. Hope you’re up to a lively one.”
Anna smiled. “Whatever you decide, Lorena, is good with me, but you may well hold that baby in your arms and never let go.”
Lorena’s eyes filled with tears. “To be honest, Auntie, I think I’m more like my mom than I’d like to admit. The thought of caring for a baby 24/7 scares me to death, but the thought of a degree in microbiology thrills me to the core. Does that make me a bad person?”
Anna pulled Lorena into a hug. “Of course not, Lorena. You’re young and smart and have dreams that are honorable. God uses people in all kinds of ways, and when you’re ready to be a mom, you won’t feel this way. I have to say, though, motherhood is the best job ever.”
Lorena pulled apart and smiled. “That’s exactly why I feel so at peace with my decision, Auntie.”
Lorena had changed from a dark brooding teenager to a cheerful young woman. The transformation was like taking a trip from winter snow to summer sunshine. But the realization she would more than likely have two infants in a couple months hit Anna full on.
Matt arrived a few minutes later to pick her up, and they headed out the door. “See ya in a couple hours, Lorena. We’re going to get a good power walk along the Greenway, and then we’re heading to Moolicks for ice cream. You can reach us on the cell if need be.”
Lorena giggled, “Oh Auntie, you and your ice cream. How come you’re not three hundred pounds?”
Anna laughed, “Because I run it off.”
“No running today, Anna. You did say walk? Lorena’s my witness.”
“Oh, Matt,” she said, with a playful swat to his arm. “I know, I know. You hate running.”
“Just checking, because if the word run is included, I’m really busy.”
“Let’s go. Time’s a-wasting and we want every minute alone that we can get.”
“Now you’re talking.”
She swung an arm around his waist and nudged him out the door.
Anna loved the first hint of spring as the leaves were just budding. She breathed in the scent and stopped short. “That smell, isn’t it glorious?” Her eyes closed and her head lifted heavenward.
He inhaled deeply. “Why don’t we do this more often? I love it out here.”
Needles from the Ponderosa pine crunched beneath their feet as they followed a well-beaten trail through the evergreens. The angry chatter of a mouthy squirrel interrupted the song of birds overhead as they darted and dipped without a care in the world.
Anna stopped and bent low. She reached to pick a yellow flower on the side of the path. “Buttercups,” she said. “My favorite. They’re like finding gold dust.” She stood and thrust the tiny flower his direction.
“Anna, if only you knew how beautiful you are this instant, you would know better than to look at me with those beguiling brown eyes of yours.” He leaned into her waiting lips as she drew him close.
“Why, Doctor Carmichael, I have just the cure needed.” The taste of his kiss took all the tease out of her.
He pulled apart still holding her close. A delicious but dangerous electricity filled the air, and she opened her mouth ever so slightly as he rubbed a thumb across her lower lip. Liquid heat flowed through her body, and she was all too aware of the longing between them.
He captured her face in his hands
