Return to Lone Oak (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Amy Knupp Read Free Book Online

Still, she groaned. “No. No doctor.”
    “Honey, that’s not something you can ignore. Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll take you in.”
    Katie finished chewing her cereal. “I’ll drive myself.”
    Her tone was sharp, making confusion and hurt appear on Claudia’s face, but Katie wasn’t in the mood to back down.
    “I can take care of myself. It’s no big deal.”
    Claudia sat in the chair next to Katie. “Katie.” Tentatively, she touched Katie’s forearm, and though Katie’s instinct was to pull away, she didn’t. “I know you’re still struggling with the idea of your dad getting remarried.”
    Katie met her gaze but said nothing.
    “I’m not trying to fill in for your mom, honey. We’ve always gotten along in the past and I know it’s going to take you some time to adjust. I just hope we can get back to that comfort level we used to have.”
    Katie slumped in her chair, pulling her arm away at the same time. She was acting like a bratty twelve-year-old stepchild and she knew it. The thing was, she didn’t dislike Claudia at all. She didn’t blame her for marrying her dad and didn’t even really blame him for marrying her. In her mind, she understood they were in love and were happy together, and theoretically she wanted that for her dad. It was just that her heart hadn’t caught up with the logic. She couldn’t force herself to swallow such a gargantuan change and go on as if nothing was wrong.
    “Claudia, I’ll get there... I hope. But I’m not there yet.” She stood, shoveling one last bite of cereal onto her spoon. “I’ll drive myself to the doctor and I’ll be fine.” She carried the empty bowl to the sink.
    Claudia nodded, looking less than happy, but was wise enough not to push the issue.
    Katie found the number for the clinic and dialed it on her cell phone as she made her way upstairs.
    “Fletcher Family Practice.” Eve’s formal voice made her grin again.
    “Hey, Eve. Katie Salinger.”
    “Hey, what’s going on?”
    “I need to get in to see a doctor this morning. My stitches are infected. Is there any way I could see Old Man Fletcher today?”
    “What’s that all about?” Eve asked nosily. “Seemed like you got along okay with Dr. Noah the other day.”
    “He doesn’t like me. I’d rather see his dad.”
    “He doesn’t like anyone. You’re not special.” Eve chuckled. “Seriously, though, I’m supposed to give all call-ins to Dr. Noah.”
    “Why? What if the patient requests his dad?”
    “Well, I might be able to get away with it, but he’ll find out. He checks a couple times a day. Doesn’t trust me.”
    “So you’ll get in trouble?”
    “I wouldn’t say that. If you request his dad, that’s your prerogative, right?”
    “That’s my thinking. What’s he trying to do? Take over the whole practice?”
    “You noticed he likes control, did you? He claims it’s because he doesn’t want his dad working so hard. I promise you if Dr. Ivan Fletcher finds out, you’ll hear the blowup from there.”
    “Wouldn’t blame his dad a bit. I’d blow up, too.”
    “Okay. I’m writing you down for Dr. Fletcher, senior. But there’s one condition. You’ve gotta fill me in on what’s going on when you get here.”
    “There’s nothing. Really. We just met up on the jogging path last night and he disapproves of me and everything I do. I’m not in the mood for a lecture about how to live my life.”
    Eve chuckled again. “That’s so not ‘nothing.’ Can you make it by nine?”
    Katie glanced at the clock. Ten after eight. “Yeah, I’ll be there. See you then.”
    She headed upstairs for a quick shower. If she had to go out looking like a swollen lobster, she was at least going to make sure she didn’t smell.
    * * *
    K ATIE SAT ALONE in a different examining room this time, feeling slightly sick to her stomach. It was all she could do to stay awake while she waited. When this was over, she planned on a very long date with her pillow. Her body