She’d tried to ride it out. Drawing on her medical training, she gave herself the same advice she’d have given one of her patients. Grief is a cycle. It has to run its course. Your fears are part of the process. It didn’t matter what she told herself. The idea of getting out of the city where Danny had died became fixed in her mind. She had started to think small town. Safe town.
Although Flora had family in the Denver area, her parents were dead. Her father had died when she was just out of her teens, and her mother had succumbed to a brief, violent illness a few years ago. Danny had had no close family, so it wasn’t as if she would be taking the boys away from their grandparents by moving.
Those thoughts had been barely formed when she’d seen the advertisement for the position in Stillwater. Now, she parked her car near the Ryerson Center and got out. As she gazed up at the beautiful modern structure that had been designed to fit into its surroundings on the edge of the Ryerson River, doubt hit her for the first time.
Safe town? Are you sure about that?
“Oh, my goodness. What happened to your car?” A woman had approached the building on foot from the river path.
Although recent events told her she should be cautious, this woman’s sympathetic expression drew a slight smile from Flora in response. “I guess it lost a fight with someone’s keys.”
She tried to keep her voice light, but it didn’t quite work. From the measuring glance the other woman gave her, Flora was fairly sure she’d given away some of her hurt and frustration.
“I’m just on my way inside to register as a new patient. I’m new in town, and my own car had an argument with the gatepost the first day I arrived. I found a guy in town who did a great job of fixing it. I could give you his number.”
Was it wrong to want to hug a stranger? Flora settled for a genuine smile this time. “That would be wonderful. I’m new in town myself and I was dreading that whole performance of trying to find someone reliable to do a paint job.” They walked up the steps together. “I’m Flora Monroe, by the way.”
“Then you’re the doctor I’m here to see. I’ve heard a lot about you already.” The woman at her side caught sight of Flora’s expression and halted in her tracks. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
Flora shook her head, annoyed that, even for that split second, she’d let the whisperers get to her. “No.” She held open the glass door and let her companion pass through ahead of her. “Welcome to the Ryerson Center.”
The lobby of the center had a domed roof that caught the sunlight and bounced its rays off a floor-to-ceiling colored glass model of a strand of DNA. The effect was both beautiful and dramatic.
The new patient gazed around her with wide eyes. “Wow.”
“I think that’s the effect the designer was hoping for.” Flora stepped behind the reception desk. “Now, let me take some details.”
“I’m Eve Sloane and I don’t mean to sound critical, but when you’ve invested in a lobby this eye-catching wouldn’t it be wise to also employ a receptionist? First impressions are about more than aesthetics.”
Flora sighed. “Tell me about it. Unfortunately, our receptionist quit on the day the center opened. We’re advertising the post next week. In the meantime, everyone lends a hand with the front-desk duties.”
“I might be able to...um...help you out with that.”
Flora looked up sharply from the computer screen. “I’m going to need you to tell me more.”
“Well, I’ve never worked in a medical center, but I have been employed in a number of hotels and offices in administration. I could step in until you get someone permanent.”
While it sounded like a dream offer, there was a lot to think about. Recent events had made Flora wary. Three years was a long time and, while this woman didn’t look like Luella French, she had learned to be vigilant. Luella could have ditched the spiky blue hairstyle and done something about the tattoos since the last time Flora had seen her. She might even have lost about fifty pounds in weight, but Flora didn’t think she could have grown six inches.
Flora’s personal situation wasn’t the only reason to approach this stranger’s offer with caution, however. Medical center employees had access to patients’ private information. Even if Flora had the authority to employ a new receptionist then and there, she wouldn’t have done so without putting some checks in place.
“Look, I can see the idea is about as popular as a porcupine on a waterbed—”
“No.” Flora couldn’t help laughing at the image. “But I’m going to need references, then I’ll have to talk to the center’s trustees.”
“Okay. In the meantime, why don’t I give you my details and then we can take it from there?” The woman held out her hand with a smile. “You’ve got my name.”
“Well, Eve Sloane, why don’t we start with a little role-play?” Flora frowned at the blank computer screen as she spoke. “You be the receptionist and I’ll be the new patient. Where would you start?”
“Maybe by doing this?” Eve leaned across the desk and turned the power switch on.
“Congratulations. You just passed the first test.” Flora huffed out a frustrated sigh. “My brain seems to be working against me right now. As you can see, your services are definitely required.”
“I can start whenever you need me.” There was something behind those words. It wasn’t quite desperation, but Flora sensed
