“Honey, after the night you had I’m sure you needed the sleep!” Ms. Brandy replied kindly. “Think nothing of it.”
The morning passed quickly as she showed Maggie around the shop and taught her how to use the register. Business was steady throughout the day. It amazed Maggie that Ms. Brandy seemed to know what occupied each and every nook and cranny of the crowded store. If someone came in looking for a specific item Ms. Brandy knew without hesitation whether or not she had it and exactly where it was located.
As the afternoon wore on the foot traffic from the street slowed down and Maggie was given the chore of dusting the crowded shelves of the curio cabinets that lined the walls. Maggie took her time, meticulously cleaning the shelves as she admired the objects they held. There were delicate china, old silver sets, ceramic pitchers and washing bowls, carved wooden figurines that could have been over a century old. As Maggie moved along she came across an apothecary table that held a display of medical instruments from the early 1800’s. Maggie recognized some of the devices from her text books. She picked up the antique stethoscope and stared down at the object, marveling at how such a delicate item had survived over a century.
“I got that set when old Doc Robbins passed away a few years back. He was the town doctor, just like his father before him. This set had belonged to his grandfather, and I found it boxed up in his attic during the estate sale,” Ms. Brandy said as she walked over to see what had caught Maggie’s attention.
“It’s amazing that it’s in such great condition,” Maggie commented as she gently laid the stethoscope back down in the velvet lined box.
“We haven’t had a town doctor since Doc died. Sure was nice havin’ one around. Now we gotta drive up to the main hospital for every little thing,” Ms. Brandy commented nonchalantly as she walked around Maggie to fluff some silk pillows that were piled on an antique settee.
“There’s no Doc Robbins Jr.?” Maggie asked conversationally.
“Mrs. Robbins never did have any children.” Ms. Brandy shook her head sadly. “Speaking of babies, how exactly did you know how to deliver that little one last night?”
Maggie felt as if she’d walked into a trap. She suspected this conversation had been headed in this direction all along.
“Back in Boston I went to Harvard medical school,” Maggie answered honestly.
“So you’re a doctor?” Ms. Brandy asked in an off-handed way. Maggie assumed her seeming lack of interest was feigned, but she decided that perhaps this would be a good time to practice the conversation that she was going to have with Aaron that evening.
“I didn’t finish school,” Maggie admitted. “So no, I’m not a doctor. Not yet.”
“Hmmm. You know Mercer has a pretty good med program in Savannah,” Ms. Brandy mentioned as she continued to meander through the shop, adjusting and fine-tuning the placement of items on shelves.
Maggie stopped short, still holding the feather duster mid-way to the top shelf of a china hutch. “In Savannah?” she asked. She immediately thought of Aaron and the new job he’d just found in Savannah.
“Harvard may have a big, fancy name. But it ain’t the only place you can learn to be a doctor, and Boston ain’t the only town that needs ‘em,” Ms. Brandy told her, this time facing her and looking her straight in the eye. Then she shrugged casually as she turned to head back up to the front of the shop and greet a customer who had just entered.
Although Ms. Brandy had said very little, she’d given Maggie a lot to think about. Her mind was working over the possibilities the rest of the afternoon.
Maggie left work with high spirits. Perhaps there was hope after all. She was ready to face Aaron, ready to face the future. She didn’t want to put it off any longer, so instead of driving back to Devereaux Manor, she took the turn off on the dirt road that she was sure lead to Aaron’s place. She still hadn’t been there, but it was time. It was time for everything to be put on the table. Maggie was very aware of the fact that the decisions she was facing were not hers alone. Before she could decide whether or not she would stay, she first needed to find out if he even wanted her to. Tonight would be a turning point for them.
As she drove up the rutted out driveway she saw the roof of the old barn coming into view. She decided that she should call rather than just knock on the door. She pulled out her cell phone and smiled when his name was the first to come up on her contact list.
“Hey, beautiful,” Aaron answered.
“Hey there, yourself,” Maggie replied. “Got any plans tonight?” she asked coyly.
“Well, I was hoping to have a hot date,” he teased.
“Oh… then maybe I should turn around,” she playfully pouted.
“Turn around?” the alarm in his voice did not sound affected.