“I agree,” Adam said. “The fire hall should come first.”
Terrence shook his head. “Our little town keeps growing. I remember, when I was a lad, there weren’t more than a couple of dozen homes occupied here, and the pharmacy was the only business in town. I mention that because, along with the inevitable baby boom, comes a time when the population shrinks for a few years.” Then he gave them a sly look. “Although I know we’ve grown by one very recently.”
“You’ll like our Pamela.” James grinned. “We were a bit worried how she’d make out, coming so far from her home. But so far, she’s handling everything with…well, with the same kind of grace Amanda Jessop-Kendall and Sarah Carmichael Benedict displayed.”
“My Madison will have a report for me at supper, I’m sure. She’s good at taking a person’s measure.”
“Excuse me?” Adam thought he couldn’t have heard right, although that look his uncle had just sent them did belie that.
Warren and Terrence both laughed. “The women will likely be visiting with her about now, I expect,” Terrence said. He’d consulted his watch, which made Adam do the same thing. It was just after ten in the morning.
“Define ‘women,’” James said.
“Dinna fash yerself.” Terrence delivered one of Aunt Madison’s favorite sayings. Warren just folded his arms and grinned.
Adam had to admit his uncle had the Irish brogue down pat. Then Terrence reached over and patted Adam’s shoulder. “Women are stronger, and smarter, that we men want to believe. You need a little faith.” He nodded. “In your Pamela, and in the rest of the women of Lusty. And by women, of course, I mean most of the ones who are nearest and dearest to you.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “The last I heard, Pamela will be receiving Madison and our daughter-in-law, Joan, and your mother, of course.” He looked over at Warren.
“Maria wouldn’t miss it,” Warren said.
“Kate and Miranda were attending, as are Bernice and Samantha, Miranda’s daughter-in-law, who happens to be in town this week. Oh, and both grandmothers, of course.”
“Of course,” James said.
Adam thought his brother didn’t sound well. Adam himself knew one instant of panic. And then he shook it off. Uncle Terrence was right. He recalled how well Pam had gotten along with Bernice on Saturday. The truth was, he did have faith in Pamela. He’d set aside his concerns for now. The work day here would go quickly, and before long, they’d be with her again.
Come to think of it, she and Bernice had been as thick as thieves on Saturday. It wouldn’t surprise him if their woman was fully aware she’d be having a bit of a get-together today.
“Now, if we’re done our gossip session, let’s take a tour of the facilities, here,” Warren said. “We need your newly trained eyes to tell us what supplies we should order, and what improvements, if any, we can make to the patient flow. Our first one is due in an hour. There aren’t that many today, so it’s a good day to get you organized. Of course, you never know if there’ll be any emergency calls, either here in town or in the outlying region.” Warren looked at each of them. “I’ll still be available in a pinch.”
“Yes, sir. We noticed a few more farms in the area during the drive home,” James said.
More farms meant more farmers and, unfortunately, every once in a while, farming accidents. The custom was for the doctor on call to attend any emergency in the surrounding area, if possible. It was a custom he and his brother had already promised to uphold.
Doctor Adam Jessop looked around his new office. He experienced a moment—a sense of history as well as of continuation. Today, for all intents and purposes, was their father’s last day at work. In a few short weeks, Terrence Jessop would retire, as well, handing over the reins of this practice to them completely. Who knew? Maybe in some distant year in the future, he and James would have a son—or a daughter—who would, as they were now, begin to learn the ropes and, eventually, carry on from them. The sense of rightness, of destiny, that he felt in that instant was nearly overwhelming.
The circle of life. Lusty was a damn fine place, he decided, to be living his.
Chapter Ten
“These roses are officially called Marie Van Houtte, and they’re a tea rose,” Madison Jessop said. She gently stroked the deep green-colored leaves of the plant. “It’s also known as an antique rose. I looked this one up, because I do enjoy the way the blooms contrast with the dark green leaves. The buds look like they’ll be yellow, but once in full bloom, they’re deeper yellow in the center, but toward the tips, they show pink to lilac shades.”
“The shrub is certainly lush. Are they fussy to deal with?” Pam’s mother had loved roses but not the work involved in them. That hadn’t stopped her from having a couple of bushes, however.
“No, not at all. Antique roses are my favorites for that very reason. I’d be happy to advise you through the seasons. It’s warm enough the year round, you don’t need to worry about your gardens being barren.”
“Over the years, we’ve planted a variety of flowering plants and ground cover plants in the gardens so that there’s always something showing life.” Grandmother Chelsea also caressed the flower. “This variety of rose is documented to have been introduced in
