no reason for a woman of your health to worry about such minor discomforts. It’s very unlikely…”
“Are there things a newcomer to the area would need to be concerned about?” I persisted, this time with a new agenda. Why take home a prescription, if you could take home the doctor? “Spores, contaminants in the water, poison oak? Maybe you should give me a primer. Over dinner.”
“I…”
The door opened and a nurse with violent pink lipstick popped her head in. “Dr. Looking Horse? Liz Goldberg is here—it’s an emergency. Tommy fell out of a tree and broke his arm.”
“I’m sorry,” he said to me. His regret looked genuine. “I must go.” Then he smiled. “I imagine you’ll survive any Unknown hazards just fine.” And with that he was gone, and I had to decide on my own whether he was being intentionally funny.
On Monday morning I bounced down Red Road to the Little Read Book, eager to embrace my new job. Whether nervousness or excitement, I hadn’t been able to sleep a wink after 6 A.M. , so I’d already done my chores for Ruby and gone for my run.
No one was in the shop when I entered, and all the lights were off.
“Hello,” I called, walking to the register. A note on the counter read,
IOU. I got that book. Ronnie Two Shoes.
“Hello?” I repeated. “Cujo?” I wondered if there was another power outage, but when I flipped the lights, they came on. I walked toward where Noah had disappeared on my first visit.I’d spent a fair amount of last week hanging around Tuesday, giggling over the attractive doctor and Oliver’s new words. But I’d never ventured into the back, and hadn’t seen Noah. I found him in his office, but hesitated in the doorway.
N.E. Case was playing with his dolls. Specifically, he was sitting on the floor, swimming an action figure through a tub of water, muttering to himself. That, and the way his hair stood straight up, decided me not to interrupt. I backed away, but my movement caught his eye. He looked up, confused, a thousand-mile stare.
“I’m Maeve,” I reminded. “I’m starting work today?” It came out as a question, but he couldn’t have forgotten so quickly.
“Oh.” He looked distressed. “I don’t have time to train. Is Tuesday here?” He seemed torn between the toys and me.
“Nice dolls.” I couldn’t resist.
His expression became haughty. “They are not dolls. They are creative visualization devices. They help me when I’m blocked.”
“I hear there’s a sale on Scuba Steve down at the five and dime.”
Green eyes squinted at me. “My sister had that Wonder Woman T-shirt too. When she was eleven .”
Score one to Noah for jabbing back when he was caught swimming his action figure.
I lost his attention.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t train you. I need…”
“You need a shower, no more coffee, and some sleep.” Tuesday bustled in and cut him off with authority. Noah looked back at his tub.
“I’m close. I think. I mean…”
“I didn’t see your car all weekend, which means you’ve been here and are probably sugar deprived, which makes you cranky, which makes me cranky. It is therefore in my self-interest to feed you and send you home. Up, up, up.” Her hands under his armpits were firm as she lifted him to his feet and propelled him out into the café. I trailed after them. “I know you hate to take time away when you’re on a roll, but you need a break.”
“I have to finish ten chapters of The Boy Who Could Breathe Underwater by Friday,” he protested. Then reverted to muttering, “How does he get back? Does he…”
“Noah, you were playing with your toys, which means you’re stumped. I’m making you breakfast then sending you home. You’re banned until tomorrow.”
He blinked her into focus, and frowned. “They are not toys. They are creative visualization devices. They are professional tools. Like Rorschach tests. Or…or…something.”
“Visualize this: You eating breakfast and going
“Are there things a newcomer to the area would need to be concerned about?” I persisted, this time with a new agenda. Why take home a prescription, if you could take home the doctor? “Spores, contaminants in the water, poison oak? Maybe you should give me a primer. Over dinner.”
“I…”
The door opened and a nurse with violent pink lipstick popped her head in. “Dr. Looking Horse? Liz Goldberg is here—it’s an emergency. Tommy fell out of a tree and broke his arm.”
“I’m sorry,” he said to me. His regret looked genuine. “I must go.” Then he smiled. “I imagine you’ll survive any Unknown hazards just fine.” And with that he was gone, and I had to decide on my own whether he was being intentionally funny.
On Monday morning I bounced down Red Road to the Little Read Book, eager to embrace my new job. Whether nervousness or excitement, I hadn’t been able to sleep a wink after 6 A.M. , so I’d already done my chores for Ruby and gone for my run.
No one was in the shop when I entered, and all the lights were off.
“Hello,” I called, walking to the register. A note on the counter read,
IOU. I got that book. Ronnie Two Shoes.
“Hello?” I repeated. “Cujo?” I wondered if there was another power outage, but when I flipped the lights, they came on. I walked toward where Noah had disappeared on my first visit.I’d spent a fair amount of last week hanging around Tuesday, giggling over the attractive doctor and Oliver’s new words. But I’d never ventured into the back, and hadn’t seen Noah. I found him in his office, but hesitated in the doorway.
N.E. Case was playing with his dolls. Specifically, he was sitting on the floor, swimming an action figure through a tub of water, muttering to himself. That, and the way his hair stood straight up, decided me not to interrupt. I backed away, but my movement caught his eye. He looked up, confused, a thousand-mile stare.
“I’m Maeve,” I reminded. “I’m starting work today?” It came out as a question, but he couldn’t have forgotten so quickly.
“Oh.” He looked distressed. “I don’t have time to train. Is Tuesday here?” He seemed torn between the toys and me.
“Nice dolls.” I couldn’t resist.
His expression became haughty. “They are not dolls. They are creative visualization devices. They help me when I’m blocked.”
“I hear there’s a sale on Scuba Steve down at the five and dime.”
Green eyes squinted at me. “My sister had that Wonder Woman T-shirt too. When she was eleven .”
Score one to Noah for jabbing back when he was caught swimming his action figure.
I lost his attention.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t train you. I need…”
“You need a shower, no more coffee, and some sleep.” Tuesday bustled in and cut him off with authority. Noah looked back at his tub.
“I’m close. I think. I mean…”
“I didn’t see your car all weekend, which means you’ve been here and are probably sugar deprived, which makes you cranky, which makes me cranky. It is therefore in my self-interest to feed you and send you home. Up, up, up.” Her hands under his armpits were firm as she lifted him to his feet and propelled him out into the café. I trailed after them. “I know you hate to take time away when you’re on a roll, but you need a break.”
“I have to finish ten chapters of The Boy Who Could Breathe Underwater by Friday,” he protested. Then reverted to muttering, “How does he get back? Does he…”
“Noah, you were playing with your toys, which means you’re stumped. I’m making you breakfast then sending you home. You’re banned until tomorrow.”
He blinked her into focus, and frowned. “They are not toys. They are creative visualization devices. They are professional tools. Like Rorschach tests. Or…or…something.”
“Visualize this: You eating breakfast and going
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