Chapter 5
Adrian
“Are you okay?” Keith’s voice is low beside me.
“Yeah,” I say, but my mind betrays me, and my gaze drifts back to Amelia.
She’s standing near the end of the table, her camera in hand as she scrolls through photos. She smiles at something a dark-haired woman says, but it’s the same unguarded one she gave me earlier. One that made her seem real.
It’s a shame. When I first met her, she seemed easy to talk to…
funny and warm. Someone I could’ve liked, maybe even trusted.
But now, knowing she wrote the article, I see her differently.
She’s a reminder that my past isn’t something I can outrun.
She could make things worse. Make it impossible to forget.
“Come on, let’s sit,” Keith says.
I follow him because I have no idea where I belong in all this, and I’m tempted to leave.
As we weave through the crowd, I feel them…
whispers that carry through the air, eyes assessing me.
They think they’re subtle, but they’re not.
A prickle runs down my spine, my appetite fading fast. I remind myself that it’ll pass.
The staring and the murmurs will eventually die down. I just have to keep my head up.
I take my assigned seat, and of course, Amelia’s right in front of me.
My mouth tightens, but I force my attention to the woman next to Amelia.
She looks very similar, though older, with pale skin and bluish shadows beneath her eyes.
Her hair is Amelia’s natural brown, but with no blonde streaks, unlike Amelia’s, and there’s something weary about her.
Amelia is fussing over her, filling her plate, and making sure she eats.
“Are you alright?” Keith’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
I hesitate, watching as Amelia rises and moves toward a group of kids. For a split second, I wonder if they’re hers. I glance around, half-expecting to see a guy in the mix… someone hovering close. But there’s no one.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “I think I’ll grab some food.”
I fill my plate, ignoring my lack of appetite. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttery cornbread, and mac and cheese. When I sit back down, Keith is caught up in conversation with someone, and I expect to eat in silence.
The woman beside me leans in slightly, smelling of lavender and something powdery. Her deep brown eyes study me, and I brace myself for the familiar sting of judgment.
A trace of red lipstick lingers on the rim of her wineglass. She swirls the liquid slowly.
“How are you settling in?” She’s in her mid-forties, with a face that carries kindness. At least she’s not whispering, not giving me that judgy look.
I swallow my bite, forcing it down. “Good. Only been here a week, so… we’ll see.”
She smiles, her eyes meeting mine. “I’m Diane. I work at the pharmacy.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, meaning it.
“I’m actually starting at the hospital tomorrow,” I tell her, if only to fill the space.
“I thought you were living with Keith and working for him?”
I take a sip of water. “He’ll bring me on when the practice expansion is finished. For now, I’ll work at the hospital. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares to the city.”
Diane nods. “That’s right… You’re from New York. I went once, when I was little.”
“How did you like it?”
A loud crash startles me, my gaze snapping toward the commotion on my right. A child…one near Amelia has knocked over a plate.
Amelia’s already moving, crouching down to clean up the mess. But she’s not alone. A woman beside her grabs napkins and rushes over. Then a man in a plaid shirt, I vaguely recognize from earlier, kneels beside her with a broom. Another teen passes a stack of fresh plates like it’s all rehearsed.
No one scolds the kid. No one makes a big deal out of it. They just move in quietly, like they’ve done this before.
I watch Amelia in the middle of it, calm, steady, and still somehow making it all look easy.
Her eyes flick to mine, catching me staring. Heat rushes up my neck, and I quickly look away. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea. We have nothing to say to each other.
Plus, she’ll only twist it.
“So,” Diane continues, rescuing me from the moment. “After the speeches, the dancing starts. That’s pretty much it. Everyone just talks, drinks, and has a good time.”
“I don’t dance.” I haven’t danced since seventh grade, and for good reason.
It was a middle school dance in the gym.
I’d psyched myself up for days, convinced myself I was going to dance with the prettiest girl in school.
I walked across the gym toward her, but just as I reached her, I tripped over a backpack, right at her feet.
She laughed. Fuck, everyone laughed. Even the DJ made a joke into the mic about me breakdancing.
I stood up, red-faced, and walked straight out the door.
So yeah. I don’t dance.
This would be a good time to leave.
But Diane leans in like she’s about to share a secret. “Sorry to tell you, but that won’t fly here. Good or bad, you get up there and try. You’ll be dragged up if you don’t.”
I huff a quiet laugh. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to leave before that happens.”
“Not happening,” she says, amused. “They won’t allow it.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. Amelia’s gathering the kids, and the two older women join her. It looks like they’re leaving, all of them, moving together like a well-practiced unit. I’m relieved because she won’t be able to write a story about my bad dancing.
“What’s her story?” I ask Diane before I can stop myself.
Keith interjects, finishing talking with the person beside him. “Their dad left before Felix was born. And recently, their mom’s atrial fibrillation has been unstable.”
Atrial fibrillation. It’s when the heart beats out of rhythm… fast, chaotic, like it’s panicking. Blood doesn’t flow the way it should, which means clots can form, strokes can happen. Sometimes medication helps. Sometimes people need surgery. Sometimes... it gets worse.
I glance over at the kids. My stomach knots. “And those kids—”
“Her siblings.”
They’re loud, messy, and bickering over dinner. And all of them live with a mom whose heart might give out without warning. Whose next dizzy spell could land her in the hospital, or worse…
“How many?” I whisper.
“Seven kids in total.”
A breath escapes me. Seven.
The sight of them disappearing down the street makes me think of the Brady Bunch. There are so many of them. Did they come here on a bus? A truck? A car? What kind of car even fits that many?
Once they leave, the night carries on. The plates are cleared. Dessert is served.
And Amelia is gone.
I can finally relax.
A chair scrapes back somewhere near the end of the table, and someone stands.
I don’t recognize him. He’s tall, well-dressed, a little too polished for this.
He clears his throat, not loudly, but somehow, it cuts through the noise, making conversations stop.
Even the kids go still, like they can sense the change in the air.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for being here. It’s always a pleasure to bring the community together, and tonight, we have a special reason to celebrate.
As many of you know, we take great pride in our town, its history, its people, and the way we look out for one another.
And part of that means making sure we have the best medical care possible.
That’s why we’re grateful to welcome Dr. Adrian Pierce to Pulse Point.
“Adrian comes to us with years of experience and a dedication to medicine that will serve this town well. I know some of you may have already met him, and I hope the rest of you will take the time to do so. Now, I won’t stand here and pretend that change is always easy.
But I will say this… Every new beginning is an opportunity.
And having another skilled doctor in our community is something we should all appreciate.
So, let’s show Dr. Pierce the kindness and hospitality this town is known for.
Welcome to Pulse Point, Adrian. We’re glad to have you. ”
It hits me… This must be the mayor.
I nod, then keep my head down so I don’t have to see their reactions. Not everyone agrees or wants me here. The tension coils in my stomach, twisting tighter with every polite word masking unspoken judgment.
At least he doesn’t mention the article, doesn’t touch on the controversy swirling around me. At least he has the sense to avoid that. Then the mayor turns, smiling. “All right, if Adrian could come up and say a few words.”
Fucking hell.
Keith’s hand clamps onto my shoulder. “You got this.”
I don’t.
Everything in me screams to stay seated, but I won’t let them win. Not tonight. I rise, walk toward the front, feeling every stare prickling against my skin. I shake the mayor’s hand, grip the microphone, and focus on Keith.
“Thank you.” I smile, ignoring the way my pulse is rapidly beating hard against my ribs.
“I appreciate the warm welcome. I’m grateful to be here, and I hope you’re all having a great night.
” I pause to take a breath. “This is more than I expected, more than I’ve ever had, actually.
I appreciate you opening your doors to me.
And hopefully, I’ll see you all around. Just… not in the hospital.”
A few chuckles ripple through the crowd, exactly as I intended.
My shoulders finally relax. I actually pulled it off without completely embarrassing myself.
I hand the mic back and return to my seat.
Keith leans in. “Good one, man. You did great.” A firm pat on my back, and then he turns back to his dessert.
I stare at my plate, grateful for his support.
I don’t get a chance to pick up my fork when a tap on my shoulder startles me.
I turn to find a woman in her seventies standing there, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s tradition, dear.”
“Sorry, what?” My mind races. Please don’t ask what I think you’re asking.
“The first dance,” she explains, extending a delicate but firm hand. “Goes to me.”
I hesitate. “And… who are you?”
She winks. “Floral. I’m as old as the town itself.”
“Nice to meet you, Floral. I’m Adrian.”
She hums in approval. “Very handsome, Adrian.” Then, without warning, she tugs at my arm. “Now, come on. We have a dance to start.”
“I don’t really dance.” I try one last time, but there’s no graceful way out of this without looking like a complete jerk to a sweet old lady.
“Nonsense,” she says as she pulls me to my feet. “I’ll teach you.”
I don’t get a choice when Keith encourages her. She holds on to my arm as she guides me to the town hall, where overhead strands of twinkling lights weave through the beams. The space is both cozy and yet suffocating, a contradiction I can’t shake, much like this entire night.
The band strikes up a song, one I vaguely recognize, and before I know it, I’m following Floral’s confident lead. Her hands are small in mine, her frame light as she guides me with surprising strength.
“So,” she says. “I have a granddaughter.”
Here we go.
“She’s single. A hairdresser. Very pretty. You’re single, right?”
“I am.”
But before I can tell her I’m not interested in being set up, her eyes light up, and she speaks. “Wonderful! You two would look great together.”
“I’m not interested, sorry.”
“What do you think about cougars then?” She winks.
Fuck me… I gotta get out of here.
The song ends, but before I can make a break for it, another woman steps in, taking my hand.
“I’m up next,” she says cheerfully.
Jesus Christ.
Over her shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Amelia, and I freeze.
I thought she left. The sight of her startles me.
She’s watching, and I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but I’m sure it’s nothing good.
My stomach churns. Is she taking photos or notes?
Filing away every interaction to twist into another piece?
I force myself to ignore her, to focus on the next dance, but it’s impossible to shake the intensity of her stare.
By the time the second woman approaches, I’m done. But to avoid offending someone or starting more rumors, I mutter about needing a drink and break away, finding Keith near the hay bale seating.
“You ready to go?” I ask.
A smirk crosses his face. “Why? I thought you were having fun.”
“Yeah, well, why don’t you go out there?” I nod toward the dance floor. “They’d love you.”
“Because I know exactly what they’re up to,” he says, amused. “They’re trying to set you up.”
“Nailed it.”
Keith chuckles. “Welcome to town life.” Then his tone shifts. “Be careful, though. If you break someone’s heart in this town, it won’t end well. People hold grudges. Just… don’t get serious unless you’re absolutely sure.”
“I’m not planning on it.” I only just moved here, and dating someone is the last thing on my mind right now.
As we leave, I say goodbye to a few people.
They seem surprised I’m leaving early, but understand when I mention having to work tomorrow.
I’ve noticed the whispers have died down now, and the looks are more subtle.
Maybe it was just the initial shock of my arrival, or maybe it’s only just begun.
Either way, tomorrow, I plan to start fixing my reputation.
I have to. I need a fresh start. I need to put the past behind me.