“Of course not.” He huffed. “What I’m suggesting iswayworse.”
“How so?” I scrunched my face in confusion.
“Well, obviously,” he sputtered, “if you ain’t the one doing the killing, that probably means you might actually be the nextvictim.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Maxwell
For some reason, I thought it would take days and days for the construction company to remove the dental chairs, repair the floor, and install the new examination tables. In the end, it took all of two days. By Monday morning, my new clinic was finished. If I’d been mentally prepared, I could have started seeing patients that day. But I wasn’t mentally prepared, and neither was Girdy.
“We’ll open next Monday,” she said cheerfully. “We’ve waited this long; why not wait until we feel a hundred percent ready?”
“I concur.” I was relieved she was on the same page as me. I wasn’t sure why I needed another week, but I did. I was looking forward to working again, but at the same time, the clinic didn’t feel like minejustyet. The smells and sounds were all still foreign.
My bedroom furniture and bedding had been delivered yesterday, but all of my personal things were still at Royce’s. I was dragging my feet about moving any of my stuff. Perhaps because I didn’t have his answer yet on whether he’d move in with me. Taking my belongings from his home felt depressing, unless I knew for a fact he’d join me in my new home.
When had I become so needy?
“I’ll have everything shipshape by next Monday, I promise.” Girdy smoothed her handover the receptionist’s desk, looking around the room. “I feel a little giddy having all this space. I mean, I can put patients in a room now, like a real doctor’s office.”
I smiled. “I’m excited about having more than one examination room as well.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you think about Lucas taking over River’s clinic?”
I frowned. “I don’t know what to think. I have no idea what his plans are.”
“Todd said he heard Lucas will just focus on homeopathic medicine. I have no idea if his source can be trusted.”
I sighed. “No point in worrying ahead of time. What will be, will be.”
She widened her eyes. “I’m sorry, did you just say ‘what will be, will be’? You, Mr. Obsess About Every Little Thing is telling me to relax?”
I grimaced. “Maybe I have a fever.”
She laughed. “You must.”
We were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. We both turned and found Janelle Raiden standing in the doorway. I hadn’t seen her since Royce had solved her husband’s murder. She looked much the same: willowy. Blonde. Approachable. She entered the building, smiling warmly.
“Hello, Dr. Thornton.” She nodded at Girdy. “It’s so good to see you both again.”
Girdy moved toward her, smiling apologetically. “I’m afraid we’re not open for business yet, Janelle.”
Janelle nodded. “I… I know.” She flicked her worried gaze to me. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
For whatever reason, Janelle seemed to think I was her knight in shining armor. Equally puzzling was why I always responded to her call for help. Butthere was something so vulnerable about her I found myself wanting to help.
“Is something wrong? Are you ill?” I asked, waving her closer.
She swallowed. “Well, I… I think I might be pregnant.”
“Really?” I frowned. Her new husband had been murdered on their wedding day. Seeing as this wasn’t the Victorian age, I assumed they’d slept together before the blessed day. That most likely meant she was carrying his baby? Archie had turned out to be a con man and a bigamist. Perhaps that was why Janelle looked upset instead of happy about being pregnant.
“I’ve taken three pregnancy tests, and they all say I’m pregnant,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
I sighed. “Girdy, are any of the rooms ready enough for me to do an examination of Janelle?”
Girdy grimaced. “I think room one is good to go. I’ll go make sure. Give me one second.” She hurried off down the hallway, turning into one of the rooms.
