CHAPTER TWO
C rystal was busy going from cooking in the kitchen to the front of the Café to speak to guests when she noticed Dr. Johnson seated at a table with Emmett Chambers. He saw her and waved her over.
“Hi, Crystal, I want you to meet my replacement, Emmett Chambers. I told him that for the best food in town, he should come here for breakfast or lunch.”
“Thank you, Dr. Johnson. I met Emmett last night at Jake’s. But I want you to know how much I appreciate your support.”
He nodded. “I also told him about the deal I have with you regarding people who need a healthy meal and can’t afford to pay.”
Crystal could sense Emmett’s beautiful eyes on her as she responded, “Yes, that’s worked well for us in the past.”
Dr. Johnson turned to Emmett. “Crystal is a remarkable woman—someone I truly admire.”
She was forced to turn to Emmett. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Great, thanks.” He smiled at her. “Like I said, it’s a beautiful place. Lilac Lake is lucky to have an inn like that in the area.”
“I’ve warned Emmett that the living quarters assigned to the practice aren’t as fancy. He’s going to look at it after breakfast,” said Dr. Johnson.
“It’s a very nice house,” said Crystal. “And easy to find, which is important.”
Dr. Johnson gave her an approving look. “Yes, I think so too.”
A waitress came over to their table with a tray of breakfast dishes for them.
Crystal stepped away. “Nice to see you, Dr. Johnson, Emmett. Now, I’ve got to get back to work.”
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A t lunchtime, Crystal was pleased to see Whitney’s youngest sister, Taylor, and her husband, Cooper, sitting at a table outdoors. She went right over to them. “Glad to see you in town. Are you here for a while?”
Taylor got up to hug her. “I’m going to stay for a couple of weeks to finish my latest novel. I work best at the cottage where it’s peaceful.”
“As her editor, I’ve ordered her to do it,” said Cooper giving them both a big wink. “It’s good for us to get out of New York for a while. I can edit anywhere.”
“And I can write anywhere,” said Taylor. “I also want to see GG and my sisters.”
“Little Timothy is growing fast. Better spend as much time with him as possible,” said Crystal.
“I will,” said Taylor. “I heard a rumor that Dr. Johnson has found someone to take over his practice. What news do you have?”
“I’ve met him. His name is Emmett Chambers, and he’s from New York City. Do the two of you know him?”
Cooper hesitated. “The name sounds vaguely familiar. I’ll ask my sister. You’d think in a city the size of New York that it would be impossible, but people tend to run in the same circles.”
“Oh, yes,” said Crystal, adding to her suspicion that Emmett was hiding something from them. Cooper’s family was a very prominent one in New York City, which meant that Emmett’s family must be as well for the name to be known to him.
Taylor leaned forward. “So, tell me what this new doctor is like. I heard from Dani that he’s very handsome and has beautiful eyes.”
“He seems nice enough, but I get the feeling he’s holding something back,” Crystal said. “I don’t want to say anything more because I don’t know him that well. I’ve said little beyond hello to him.”
“Well, it’ll be nice to have a new face in town. I wonder what GG will say about her old friend, Dr. Johnson, leaving town after all these years,” said Taylor.
“It’ll be a change for a lot of people. I’d better get back to the kitchen,” said Crystal. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yes. We’re going to Jake’s for dinner,” said Cooper.
Smiling, Crystal left them and hurried into the kitchen to help her staff. As usual, the Café was crowded.
After the Café closed, Crystal boxed up some cookies and drove to The Woodlands, the senior-assisted-living complex at the edge of town. Brad and Aaron Collister, with GG’s sponsorship, were the general contractors for those buildings, which gave them the qualifications to work on the renovation of the Lilac Lake Inn. GG had owned and operated the inn for as long as Crystal had known her. Over a year ago, she agreed to sell the inn and live at The Woodlands. GG, the dear woman, had always been there for Crystal, making sure she and her sister had everything they needed. She’d even paid for Crystal to go to culinary school and Misty to get her teaching degree. Crystal thought of her as a beloved grandmother.
As she drove up to the Woodlands, Crystal studied the handsome buildings and the inviting landscaping around them. They’d kept to the name, leaving wooded areas open around the edges of the complex.
The receptionist at the front desk knew her and motioned her inside. “Mrs. Wittner is in her room. You can go on in.”
Crystal gave her a wave and walked down the hallway to GG’s room. As she neared it, she heard voices. The door opened and JoEllen Daniels appeared.
“Fancy seeing you here,” said JoEllen.
“Hi, JoEllen,” said Crystal, forcing herself to be polite.
JoEllen had a distinct ability to irritate people and had made a nuisance of herself to Brad and Dani. As Brad’s former sister-in-law, JoEllen had thought it only right that Brad marry her after her sister’s death. Sad as it was to have his wife gone, Brad had no intention of ever marrying JoEllen, and it had made JoEllen a desperate, unhappy woman.
Crystal walked past JoEllen and entered GG’s suite. GG was sitting on the couch with a book. Seeing Crystal, GG smiled.
Crystal handed GG the box of cookies and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello. I thought I’d stop by to make sure you knew all about the new doctor in town.”
GG laughed. “You’re the fourth person to tell me about him. Let’s hear your version. But first, will you fix us each a glass of lemonade and then sit for a while?”
“Thanks. I need time to relax. While I get our drinks, what have you heard about him?”
“I’ve heard his name is Emmett Chambers, that he’s handsome, and he has extraordinary eyes. Dr. Johnson stopped by earlier to tell me he might be leaving the area as he’s wanted to do for a long time now. He was positively bursting with the happy news about the doctor’s qualifications.”
Crystal poured lemonade into two glasses and carried them over to the coffee table in front of the couch.
“Thank you, darling,” said GG. “Now, what do you have to say about him?”
“What everyone is saying about him is true,” said Crystal.
“But? I hear a ‘but’ in your voice.”
Crystal sighed. “He’s very close-mouthed about his family. He loves the classy inn, and I don’t think he’ll be happy here.”
GG gave her a steady look. “What’s bothering you?”
“You know how I feel about lying and the need to be honest,” Crystal began. “I think he’s hiding something.”
GG studied her. “People have a right to privacy. Perhaps you’re being a little unfair.”
Crystal clamped down on the corner of her lips, something she did when she was thinking things over. Then, she said, “You’re right. I forget that everyone in town knows my story.”
GG gave her an approving look. “We all have secrets—thoughts, wishes, hidden desires. Like you’ve told me before, it’s best just to let life unfold.”
“Yes. Lately, I’ve been thinking about finding love and having a family. Maybe taking a break is what I need.”
“What are you thinking?” asked GG.
“Maybe I’ll get away in the spring. Or better yet, take a couple of days off to visit my sister in Florida.”
“You work very hard. A break might be just what you need. With Taylor here for a couple of weeks, perhaps she could help you out.”
The tension left Crystal’s shoulders like a bird taking wing. GG always made her feel better. She laughed for the pure pleasure of it. “If I decide to take time off, I’ll tell Taylor you said she’d take over for me.”
GG laughed. “You’d still have to ask her nicely. But knowing Taylor, I’d say she’d be glad to do it.”
“Even if I don’t take the time off now, I love knowing I could probably make it happen. Thanks.” Crystal finished her drink and leaned back against the couch. “Now, tell me, how are you feeling?”
“Besides old?” GG chuckled. “I’m doing quite well. Living here has been a wise choice for me. I was no longer able to maintain the inn the way I wanted, and heaven knows, operating it was getting way too hard for me.”
“I’m glad you’re here and healthy. You mean so much to me and many others. I’ve always been grateful for the help you’ve given Misty and me.”
“How is your darling sister?” GG asked.
Crystal smiled with a mother’s pride. “Her second graders love her, and she seems happy. I haven’t heard much about her boyfriend, and I suspect that relationship might be over.”
“It takes a while for some people to find the right man. I hope you fine one soon.”
“Me, too. I’ve been feeling down lately, and Whitney told me love might be a cure.”
GG chuckled. “She’s happy with Nick and the baby. She wants everyone to find love.”
“At this point, I might be willing to give it a try.”