Hunnie made her way over to the kids, squeezing honey on a graham cracker for one.
“It’s not big-city standards, but it’s a pretty family-focused day around here. Friends and family, I guess.”
Smiling, she said, “I’m liking it. Fireworks always give me a headache, or maybe it’s all the specialty cocktails served with them at parties. Either way, this has been nice.”
“I’m glad. You know what’s making my holiday?”
Murphy stared at me, and if I thought I wanted to kiss her earlier, I was wrong. I really wanted to kiss her now, so much so, I wasn’t sure how I managed to resist. Reaching for her hand, I held her soft fingers in mine.
“You,” I told her. “It’s really nice seeing you.”
“Back at you, Doc,” she teased, but her eyes told me she meant it. It was almost as if a flash of relief passed over her features as her brow smoothed out and her eyes brightened.
We stood there for a while, taking each other in until my phone rang, breaking the moment.
“Shit,” I mumbled as I glanced at the screen. “It’s the hospital.”
Taking the call and walking away from the fire a bit, I learned a group of kids—thank God, not including Branson—were in an ATV accident. Two broken legs needed to be set, and a potential broken clavicle. It was going to be a long night.
“I have to go,” I said, rejoining the group at the fire. “It’s always this way on the Fourth, lots of kids jerking around and accidents. Thanks, Hunnie.”
Pulling Murphy into my arms, I whispered in her ear, “Thanks for being my big-city fireworks,” before kissing her cheek, letting my lips linger for a beat. And then I was out of there and headed toward the hospital in Montpelier.
13
Ben
“Hey, dude, what’s up?” I said as I answered my phone the following Tuesday while walking out of the hospital. It had been a long holiday weekend of surgeries and follow-ups and running interference between doting parents, nurses trying to do their jobs, and cocky teenagers.
I’d stopped into the Bean twice for coffee since the Fourth, and both times I’d missed Murphy. Yesterday, I had a meeting in Boston, so I’d been gone most of the day between the drive and the traffic.
This morning I’d had a surgery, and I couldn’t say I was disappointed when the second surgery was canceled because the patient was running a fever. It meant I could stop by the Bean and see if Murphy was working. Of course, I could call and ask Zara if Murphy was in, but what fun is that? I still didn’t have Murphy’s number, but I liked seeing this side of her—a little frazzled, more real, less robotic.
My nephew’s voice came over the line. “Mom wanted me to ask if you could take me to dinner. I’m fine staying home alone, but she worries. She’ll check to make sure I called you, but it’s okay if you’re busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you, Bran. Of course I’ll take you to dinner. I’m actually heading that way now, but I need to stop off and run a quick errand in Colebury first.”
Clicking the locks on my Jeep, I popped the door open and slid inside.
“Why?” he asked. “Are you stopping by Oh, For Heaven’s Cakes?”
I decided it was easier to agree rather than start explaining Murphy to Branson. He already had enough to deal with when it came to relationships. Lord knows when Brenna got upset, she blew a gasket.
“Yeah, I was thinking of getting some goodies for my office staff for when I go in tomorrow. And the Bean for a coffee for me. How about you? Want something for later?”
“Nah. I don’t like all that sweet icing, but Mom does.”
“You’re right. I’m going to grab some treats for her too. So, I’ll be by in a while to get you. Want to go to Wayside?”
“Yeah.”
“See you in a bit,” I said and disconnected the call.
On my way to Colebury, I thought about Branson not having a father in the picture. Sometimes he resisted spending a lot of time with me, so I wondered why he gave in so easily this time. Maybe girl trouble? After all, he was sixteen.
I needed to see my parents too, and I’d thought about asking them to join us for dinner but decided against it. Poor Hunnie was going to harass me until the cows came home if I didn’t talk to them again about the petting zoo.
I spent the rest of the drive on a call with my nurse, telling me about an emergency appointment she’d scheduled for me tomorrow, a friend of hers with severe knee pain who she promised I’d see. It would be doing her a big favor.
Hey, that’s the life of a small-town doc.
Pulling into the Bean, I spotted Murphy’s beat-up Toyota in the lot and smiled to myself.
I snatched my Yeti and ran to the front door. Trying to contain my excitement, I took a deep breath before yanking the door open. For a second, I’d wondered if Murphy would want to go to the bakery with me.
“Earth to Ben,” Zara said, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Sorry, was thinking of a patient,” I lied.
Zara smirked. “Yeah, right. Americano, extra hot? Murphy can make it for you.”
“I guess you don’t miss a thing.”
Shaking her head, Zara rang up my order before sending my mug down the bar. “Your secret’s safe with me,” she whispered, “but give Murph a minute. These New Yorkers have her working on some type of rainbow drink their kid must have, and of course they’re walking her through the steps.”
“Rainbow?” My voice was also hushed as I took in Murphy, concentrating as she squeezed multiple syrups into frothy white milk.
“As luck would have it, Gigi had dropped off some syrup samples that were sent to her bakery a while back.
