Sugar Springs by Kim Law Read Free Book Online Page A

anything she knew about him would have come purely from the residents. “Seems there was a guy who came to town once a week back then, but not a full clinic. I don’t remember his name, though.”
    “That’s right. Dr. Goldberg. Crotchety old man, from what I hear. He retired a year before I opened this place. Okay,” Keri said, pushing herself up out of her seat. “Enough lollygagging. Let’s get to it. I’m going with the theory that if I stay busy, this little guy will decide to make his entrance just to disrupt something else I have going on. We’ve got a couple surgeries scheduled for today, as well as getting you acquainted with the staff and equipment.”
    As they made their way through the treatment rooms and small laboratory, Cody learned that the clinic could handle most common diagnostic tests and treatments. Routine surgeries were performed almost daily, and only for the more difficult cases did they have to refer patients to a larger clinic, simply because Keri hadn’t yet managed to afford the needed equipment.
    “I’m impressed,” he said. “For a town this size you’ve got a really good setup.”
    “Thanks. We’re beginning to get more patients from surrounding areas, so I try to budget in as much as I can to grow. It’s difficult when it’s all yours and you have to make the big decisions, but I’ve never been more thrilled.” She patted her protruding stomach. “Little Eli and I love that this is where we landed. I couldn’t be happier.”
    As long as you didn’t mind everyone knowing your business, it wasn’t a bad place.
    “Come on, I want to formally introduce you to the techs, assistant, and my receptionist slash office manager. I also have a groomer who comes in twice a week and a part-time receptionist who works here after school. She’s a senior this year, sharp kid. The groomer doesn’t live in town, but the rest of the staff does.”
    Cody spent the remainder of the day getting acquainted with everything in the office and performed the two surgeries on the books. He apparently passed the test, because by four thirty Keri had her feet propped on a low stool and a satisfied smile across her face. “You’ll handle things just fine while I’m out, I think. Thanks for coming on such short notice. You’ve no idea how much I appreciate it.”
    “It was no problem. Worked out perfectly in fact. Especially seeing as it’s on my way to my next contract.”
    “I just hope you don’t go stir crazy while here. The pace is far removed from that of LA.”
    He chuckled. “Tell me about it. But I knew that coming in. Also, I’m rarely in LA anyway. It’s my base, but I travel the majority of the year. I actually spend many of my weeks in towns similar to this one, so I’ve gotten used to entertaining myself.”
    “That’s good. As long as you know what you’re up against.” She raised herself to an upright position and begangathering the papers from her desk. “There’s not much going on this weekend. A bake sale up at the junior high, then a basketball game over at the high school tomorrow night, I believe. Unless you’re interested in helping put out Christmas decorations with the town council. They’ll finish up this weekend, so the lights will be ready to be turned on the day after Thanksgiving.”
    “Sounds like lots of options,” he murmured. When she’d mentioned the bake sale, his mind had immediately returned to Lee Ann. He’d thought about her on and off throughout the day, unsure what the best plan of attack was. He kept telling himself that if he put off approaching her too long, that would make it even harder when he finally got around to talking to her. He preferred to deal with things head-on and get them out of the way. It was a practice he’d started some years back, and so far it had been working for him. “Actually, someone mentioned the fund-raiser to me earlier. Holly over at the diner offered to go with me.”
    He wasn’t about to call it a