The Good Doctor by Karen Rose Smith Page B

spot wildlife. Now she focused them on the arched doorway of the home. As she feared, a woman opened the door—a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties, a woman with long, straight blond hair, a woman who was very sleek in jeans and very beautiful though in Lily’s estimation very pale. To Lily’s horror and dismay, she not only saw a woman at the door, but a boy with blond bangs who looked to be about ten. He was wearing a soccer uniform and smiling. Ryan enveloped him in a huge hug.
    That was all Lily needed to see. Tears welled up in her eyes and she felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. The door of the house closed, and she sat there stunned.
    When she felt her tears on her hands, she knew she had to drive away. She knew she had to go back to the Double Crown and figure out what she was going to do.
    As she switched on the ignition, thoughts and feelings raced through her so fast she couldn’t catch hold of them. All she knew was that her heart hurt and nothing would ever be the same again.
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    The Riverwalk was a San Antonio experience and a happening place, especially on a Saturday night. In a casual blouse and slacks, Violet strolled beside Peter wishing away the awkwardness between them. When he’d picked her up at the pool house, she’d caught a glimpse of Miles watching her from the back of the big house. Both he and Clyde knew this was her auction date and had teased her unmercifully. Jessica, on the other hand, had wanted to know if she’d seen Peter at the hospital when she returned from visiting Celeste.
    The truth was, Violet hadn’t seen Peter since the afternoonafter Celeste’s surgery. He couldn’t be avoiding her because she never went to the hospital at exactly the same time. Yet tonight they seemed to have a wall between them and she didn’t know how to tear it down.
    â€œIt’s a nice night,” he commented, breaking the silence as they strolled along the gray cobblestone path.
    The aroma of grilled onions and steaks, fried seafood and garlic filled the air along with the sound of the horn from a flatbed water taxi, people talking, the drone of a plane overhead.
    Violet glanced at Peter. He looked handsome and strong and virile in khaki slacks, and a black-and-tan-striped Henley shirt. “It would be nicer if I didn’t feel as if I were on a forced date with you,” she said honestly, hoping to clear the air.
    Stopping, he looked at her and a wry smile tilted his lips. “Aah. I thought I was the only one feeling that.”
    â€œI wanted to come tonight, Peter. I just wish we could be friends instead of…opponents. We should be on the same side, not different ones.”
    After a long, silent moment, he said, “I found a hospital in New York City that has openings in its clinical trials. If Ryan qualifies, he could get a spot.”
    â€œAnd if he doesn’t want to qualify?” she challenged him.
    There was a bench under one of the oaks. Peter took her arm and led her in that direction, sitting down beside her. “I mean to convince him to look at possibilities.”
    â€œSometimes even doctors have to bow to the inevitable.”
    â€œMaybe so. But I can tell you, even an extra week is important to loved ones who are left behind.”
    That opened the door and Violet walked in. “Your family was left by your mother. Is that why you’re so determined?”
    â€œYou’re damned straight, that’s why. My mother was the personification of a life well lived. She couldn’t do enoughfor others. Her family came first, including the foster kids, but that wasn’t all. She volunteered at the thrift shop and helped in the soup kitchen. In the world’s terms, I guess she wasn’t successful, but in humanitarian terms, she was damn near perfect.”
    â€œWhat happened to her?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Peter muttered, looking across the walk at a