In a Doctor's Arms

by Lisa Mondello

  She was in his house, on his turf. Lord, what am I doing here? Her simple conversational words to God were always automatic. Her whole life she’d simply talked to the Lord and knew that He was listening. That hadn’t changed, but these days it always gave her pause and was even painful. Was He listening now? Did He forgive her for her part in what happened to Mariah?

  Her heart ached just thinking about it. If she couldn’t forgive herself, how could she expect that God or anyone else would forgive her?

  All she’d wanted when she’d come to Stockington Falls was peace. Dennis had a way of quieting the storm inside her, and she had to wonder if meeting him had been part of God’s plan. Having a strong faith had gotten her through most of the trials in her life, helped guide her when she was unsure. But now nothing seemed to make sense to her.

  Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that she hadn’t thought clearly about where she was going and, really, why she was staying. She’d come to Stockington Falls to clear her head of memories, of mistakes she’d made that couldn’t be erased. As she stood by the window and watched the door to Dennis’s old farmhouse seal tight, she wondered if that was too tall a goal for her to reach.

  Chapter Six

  “Are you all moved in to the hovel you chose over my lovely resort?”

  Teresa was just putting on her boots to walk the short distance from the guesthouse over to Dennis’s when Vanessa called.

  “I see you’re still pouting because I moved out of the condo,” Teresa said, balancing the phone against her cheek and shoulder while she used both hands to tie her laces.

  “Of course I am. I can’t just come over for a quick chat anymore. It was fun having you here. Everyone else is so busy having their own fun that they never have time to just sit and chat.”

  She had to admit she’d miss Vanessa spontaneously showing up at her door for no reason other than girl talk.

  “I told you I’d be by. I won’t be tied up every day at the clinic.”

  “You will be if Dennis is there. You’ll be having late-night dinners and romantic lunches.”

  Teresa laughed. “You’re such a romantic, Van.”

  “At least I’ll be able to live vicariously through your romance with Dennis.”

  With a roll of her eyes, Teresa said, “You’re impossible.”

  Unaffected, Vanessa went on.

  “Speaking of Dennis, his sister came by the resort today.”

  “Karen Dulton was at the resort?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did she want?”

  “She was asking about a job at the front desk of the hotel. I was walking by when she was talking to Garrett, the day manager, so I stopped and talked a few minutes and asked how her son was doing. Very pleasant woman. I told her she’d do much better waitressing in the restaurant than sitting behind the front desk. Those waitresses pull in some good money from tips.”

  Teresa dropped her foot to the ground and thought about the reasons Karen Dulton would have gone all the way to the resort asking for a job when Dennis had told her Karen was already working. Their car was totaled in the accident. She’d need another to be able to take Benny to treatment, and they’d need money to cover the extra expense. But Teresa couldn’t help but worry that Karen working a second job would also mean that she wouldn’t be there to run interference between Benny and his dad if there continued to be friction between them.

  Curious, Teresa asked, “So will she be working in the restaurant?”

  “I’ll put in a good word for her. I’m sure we can give her a few hours a week to fill in the gaps.”

  Teresa wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. On the one hand, it solved a financial situation that was a drain for the family. On the other, it left Benny open. Karen was the strongest supporter Benny had. Without her being there, and being overworked and tired when she was, it would be hard for her to take an active role in helping Benny adjust to therapy. Maybe she could discuss it with Dennis tonight, over dinner. A glance at her watch reminded her that he was probably waiting for her.

  “I need to run, Van,” she said.

  “I hope it wasn’t something I said.”

  Teresa chuckled. “No.” Not in the way Vanessa meant anyway. “I have a dinner date with Dennis tonight.”

  “Oh, really?” The interest in Vanessa’s voice was unmistakable. “And when were you planning on telling me this?”

  “I just told you now. It’s no big deal. It saves me a trip to the grocery store tonight. That’s all.”

  “Sure.” She sounded unconvinced when Teresa hung up the phone, but Teresa didn’t care. Vanessa had a very animated way about her, and she loved reading things that weren’t on the page. There was no harm in letting her believe this dinner was a real date. Teresa knew better.

  The temperature had dropped considerably since Dennis had arrived home. The wind that had been calm all day had picked up and was now beating against his kitchen window. He glanced out at the snow-filled path leading to the cottage. Teresa was headed over, and the battering wind blew her hair in a tangled mess around her face as she walked.

  He’d questioned his motives where Teresa was concerned ever since he’d issued the dinner invitation. He couldn’t deny his attraction to Teresa, but he wasn’t ready for a relationship. There was no room for it in his life with his work. Besides, he’d made the commitment to stay in Stockington Falls. His family, his friends, his work in the form of the clinic he’d built—it was all here. He couldn’t let himself fall for another woman who wasn’t planning to stay. Not again.

  Dennis stood at the counter over a chopping board covered with sliced scallions and carrots and waited for Teresa to make her way to the door. Teresa knocked lightly on the frozen windowpane before pushing through, not waiting for his response. He smiled, liking the fact that she already felt comfortable enough with him not to wait for a response. Perhaps she’d seen through the window that he was deep in his cutting task and decided not to disturb his momentum. Either way, it felt comfortable. The people he knew in Stockington Falls didn’t stand on formalities, and that small move made it feel like Teresa fit in to his lifestyle here just a bit more.

  He looked up when the door opened, and a gust of wind and snow propelled her into the warm house.

  “That was quick,” he said.

  Teresa shook off the snow from her coat before coming in and closing the door behind her. Even the short walk across the yard must have been chilly by the looks of how she eagerly absorbed the warmth of being in Dennis’s house by rubbing her hands. She’d never stepped foot in his house before, but here she was, slipping out of her wool coat as if this house was familiar. It felt odd. There hadn’t been a woman over for dinner since Donna.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” Dennis said, still engrossed in slicing and dicing. He didn’t need a distraction that would end up with him losing a finger.

  When he finished his task, he turned to look at her and smiled. She’d changed out of the casual pants she’d been wearing earlier and had put on dressy sweater and long denim skirt. She wore leather boots with a low heel. The height of the heel was hardly enough to help her reach Dennis’s height, but it did make her look taller.

  And she looked beautiful. He grabbed her coat and hung it up on the coatrack by the door.

  “Smells good. I’m a little hungry. Can I help with anything?”

  “You can pour us some drinks, if you’re thirsty. They’re chilling in the fridge.”

  She opened the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of root beer as Dennis rummaged through a cabinet for some glasses.

  “Should I take my boots off?” she asked.

  With his hand deep in the cabinet, he turned to her. “No, unless you’re not comfortable in them.”

  She glanced at his feet. He wore no shoes or socks, as was usual for him despite the chill outside. He’d changed out of the clothes he’d worn to the clinic and now wore military fatigues and a comfortable T-shirt.

&n
bsp; “I think I’m going to need a bottle opener for these bottles,” she said. “They’re not twist-off tops.”

  “It’s made by a local company. Good stuff. I have a bottle opener in the drawer here.” He began rummaging through an all-purpose drawer filled with items that didn’t have a better place to be stored.

  Dennis handed her the bottle opener and then the glasses. She sat at the table and dropped the glasses in front of the plates that were already set out for dinner.

  Taking in a deep whiff of the aroma filling the

  kitchen, she asked, “What’s on tonight’s menu?”

  “Chicken fajitas.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

  Dennis chuckled as he glanced her way, slightly embarrassed because he’d never made chicken fajitas before and wasn’t all that certain how they were going to turn out. Turning his attention to the cutting board, he said, “I wouldn’t be until after you had a chance to sample my culinary talents. Or lack of them. I am not much good in the kitchen. Don’t expect what you’ve been accustomed to at the resort.”

  “Well, let’s face it. Jacques is the best. But if you’re not that great in the kitchen, what made you think you could whip this up?”

  He shrugged. “Cammie just gave me the recipe this afternoon and insisted even I couldn’t mess it up.”

  She smirked. “When in doubt, ask Cammie?”

  He shrugged. “Something like that. She was happy to help, though. Whether or not I mess it up remains to be seen though.”

  The clap-clap-clap of the knife against the wooden cutting board made the sudden lag in conversation glaring. Silence made a thick wall between them, which Teresa quickly worked to tear down.

  “How is Cammie doing?”

  “Coping like she always does, throwing herself into her work.” He shook his head, trying not to worry. Cammie was strong. But even she had a breaking point, and Dennis didn’t want to see it. “She practically lives at the clinic now when she’s not with John and Drew. Not that she didn’t before, but now it seems worse.”

  Teresa poured a glass of root beer and placed it on the counter next to Dennis.

  “She doesn’t seem all that open to talking with me,” she said. “But does she talk to you about…you know, the accident? Her feelings about losing Molly?”

  He stopped cutting. “Not at all,” he said, feeling the sudden weight of his concern over Cammie settle in on him. “Except that she’s very worried about Drew right now.”

  “Molly’s son? Quite frankly, I am, too.”

  “Under the circumstances, he seems to be doing well. I noticed you had a talk with John Peterson earlier when he brought Drew in.”

  Teresa nodded. “From what little I could gather from Drew this afternoon, he doesn’t remember the accident at all. Or doesn’t want to remember it. It will be a while before he’s able to process all that has happened to him and what he’s really feeling. I’m only sorry John Peterson decided against counseling.”

  “Yeah, I was surprised about that. I don’t think he subscribes to the same belief as Benny’s dad on that point.”

  “You’re right. He did seem open to the idea. I think he’s just not ready himself. I told him that I was going to be in town for a little while and if he changed his mind he could contact me at the clinic. When he’s ready, I’m sure he’ll take Drew.”

  “That’s good to know. I only wish Cammie would reconsider talking to you.”

  Teresa’s eyes widened. “You talked to her about it already?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “It can’t be forced, Dennis, which is why I’m not sure I can be of help to Benny, either. He doesn’t seem at all open to talking to me.”

  Teresa cleared her throat before taking a quick sip of root beer, then ran her tongue over her lips before speaking. “It’s not important that any of them talk to a counselor per se as long as there is someone they can trust and open up to. Cammie is lucky to have you look after her like that. She shouldn’t be alone if she’s suppressing her grief.”

  Dennis snapped his head up to look at her, wondering where she was going with her line of thinking. “I think you should be saying that to Mac, not me. He’s the one who has been spending all his free time checking in on her. And believe me, he has his hands full as it is right now.”

  “Mac?”

  “Daniel MacKenzie, Stockington Fall’s chief of police.”

  “Oh, yes, Dan.”

  Dennis’s interest was piqued. “You’re on a first-name basis with the chief of police? Should I be jealous?”

  Teresa tossed him a grin. “We met at the clinic that first day I was brought in—before you examined my ankle. I guess it’s protocol to check out klutzy guests at the hotel. Cammie and Dan were still an item then. I’ve seen him around town a few times since.”

  “Ah.”

  She chuckled and baited him a little. “He’s kind of cute, though, especially with that Southern accent of his. I hear he’s from Memphis.”

  Dennis gave her a sidelong glance, mindful of the pang of jealousy that punched him in the gut. “Yeah, but I don’t think I want to talk any more about Daniel MacKenzie.”

  She laughed then and playfully smacked his arm. “You men are so childish whenever anyone says something nice about another man.”

  Only if the “anyone” is you, Dennis thought. He shook his head, serious for a moment. “I know how crazy Mac is about Cammie. Cammie and Mac had a thing going for a while, but for some reason it didn’t work out. She needs him. She just won’t let herself. I’m glad he’s as stubborn as she is on this issue, though.”

  She eased back in the chair. It really wasn’t Dennis’s business who Teresa Morales was interested in personally, but it surprised him that he felt a little green with the mention of Mac’s name, and he didn’t really want to bring the other man into the conversation further. But if he wanted to give Benny the best shot at recovery, he needed to be open with Teresa about everything.

  “Mac stopped in again today and asked a bunch of questions about Benny and Drew and what they may have said. He spoke with Allie Pryor, too. Seems every time he talks to someone more questions come up.”

  Intrigued, Teresa asked, “Such as?”

  Dennis shrugged. “There were a whole list of things going against anyone who was on the road that night. Mac is very thorough. I’m sure he wants to make sure the police report is as complete as possible. The road conditions, blinding snow, the party mood and any drinking done in excess probably contributed equally.”

  Teresa’s eyes widened. “Benny insists he wasn’t drunk. I haven’t seen the police report yet, but I’m sure that will be in there.”

  “His blood alcohol level was very low. He wasn’t drunk, but he did have a little to drink, which I’m not happy about at all.” Dennis shook his head. “It’s always been a worry of mine. His paternal grandfather was an alcoholic. I don’t know why he’d even touch the stuff.”

  “What about Karen’s husband?”

  “Frank never used to drink. Since I’ve been home from Iraq, I’ve wondered, though. He seems different. Their relationship has changed. I thought maybe it was just the stress of what’s been happening with Benny. Benny has pretty much retreated into himself since the suicide attempts. Did Karen fill you in on those?”

  “Briefly. He cut himself the first time. Frank insisted it was an accident.”

  Dennis drew in a deep breath. That attempt was before he’d come home from Iraq. When he’d heard the story, he didn’t believe Frank’s explanation. It was only confirmed when he saw the scar on Benny’s arm. Accidents happen but not like that.

  “The second attempt was with his dirt bike last summer, right?” Teresa asked.

  “Yeah. I was there for that one, and no amount of excuses from Frank could change what I saw in my mind. He was aiming for the tree.”

  “I believe both attempts, while very serious, were a cry for help,” Teresa suggested. “Benny could h
ave chosen a much more definitive way to do the deed. He didn’t. The doctor at the emergency room that night suggested counseling and even meds, which I think could be a good course of action since Benny is still so clearly in a serious state of mind.”

  “Frank refused.” Dennis shook his head.

  “That’s enough to upset any mother and cause friction in a marriage. Have you talked to Benny about the drinking?”

  “Yes, and he flat-out denied it, even though the blood test shows otherwise. In the end, he’s got to learn on his own. Kids sometimes do the exact opposite of what you teach them. I try to focus on positive outlets down at the community center, get the kids involved in sports and something to think of other than getting into trouble. But I’m sure you know from working in Hartford that guidance like that can only go so far.”

  “True. The rest is up to them to make good choices.”

  Dennis thought a moment. “None of it makes any sense though. Benny keeps talking about the ‘other’ truck.”

  “There was another vehicle involved in the accident besides Benny’s and Molly’s, right?”

  “Allie Pryor’s Trooper. She hasn’t remembered much of the accident until today. She was knocked unconscious after the accident and only came to when rescue workers pulled her from the car. She’s been fuzzy about the details of that night, which is normal. She may never remember them.”

  “Really? She’s still at the clinic then?”

  Dennis nodded, pushing aside the chopping board piled high with vegetables.

  “I’ll be releasing her tomorrow. Her injuries weren’t all that severe, and she’s doing well. She could have gone home that next morning, but I hesitated because she’s a widow and lives alone. With head injuries of any kind, it’s best to have someone there to watch the patient. Her brother, Andrew, is coming back from law school to stay with her for a few days until she’s better able to stay alone.”

  “Then I should talk with her tomorrow before she leaves. I need to talk to Cammie, too, although I think it’s probably best that I wait a bit. When is Molly’s funeral?”

  “Later in the week.”