A Home for the M.D.. GINA WILKINS

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      On the other side of the glass door, Waldo barked for attention, his feathery tail swishing rhythmically. He missed Alice today, she thought, stuffing the grocery list in her bag. He barked again, giving her his best please-notice-me grin. Caving, she set her bag aside. There was no hurry to go shopping; she might as well play with the dog for a little while to make him feel less lonely.

      Waldo expressed his gratitude with full-body wiggles and eager swipes of his big, wet tongue. Laughing, Jacqui pushed him down. “You silly dog. You act like you haven’t seen anyone in a month. I just gave you a good brushing this morning before I fed you breakfast. And Alice will be home in just a few hours. You’re hardly neglected.”

      Panting, he leaned against her, gazing up with happy dark eyes. She sighed. “Okay, I’ll throw your ball for you. But do not get me dirty. I don’t want to have to change before I go shopping.”

      She didn’t at all trust the grin he gave her in response to that admonition.

      Half an hour later, she was still outside, tossing a tennis ball for the dog, who seemed to never run out of enthusiasm for the mindless game. He would have liked even more for her to throw the ball into the pool; there was nothing Waldo loved more than to throw himself into the water after a toy, especially on a hot July day like this one. But she left the gate to the pool firmly closed despite his blatant hinting. With a wet dog climbing all over her, there was no way she’d stay clean enough to go shopping.

      “Okay, Waldo, last throw,” she told him firmly, raising the ball in preparation. Like his owners, she’d gotten into the habit of speaking to the big yellow Lab mix as though he could understand every word she said. And like them, there were times when she suspected he understood quite a bit. “One more time, and then I absolutely have to go do the shopping.”

      “Aw, just one more?”

      Her heart gave a thump. She turned to find Mitch standing in the kitchen doorway, leaning against the doorjamb as if he’d been there a few minutes. “Don’t encourage him,” she said with a faint smile of greeting. “He’d keep me out here all day if he could.”

      “Can’t blame him for that.”

      Giving the ball one last heave, Jacqui turned toward the house. Waldo collected the ball and then, sensing the game was over, moved resignedly to his water bowl. Jacqui followed Mitch into the kitchen and closed the door behind them.

      She washed her hands thoroughly in the kitchen sink, saying over her shoulder, “You’re back earlier than I expected.”

      “I try not to work full days on weekends, unless I’m on call. Usually have to go in for an hour or two, but more than that is just begging for burnout. Of course, there are plenty of times I get tied up there all day even then.”

      “I can imagine.” She glanced at the microwave clock, noting it was just before noon. “Have you had lunch?”

      “No. After that nice breakfast you made for us, I haven’t been hungry yet.”

      “I’m just about to leave for groceries. I could heat a can of soup for you before I go, maybe make a sandwich, if you like.”

      “Have you had lunch?”

      “Not yet. I’ll probably get something while I’m out.”

      “Why don’t I go with you? We can take my car. We can have a quick lunch and then I’ll help you get the groceries.”

      She blinked. “You’re offering to go grocery shopping with me?”

      He laughed quizzically. “Why do you look so startled? How do you think I’ve gotten food for myself during the past decade that I’ve lived on my own? The grocery fairies don’t visit this area, as far as I know.”

      “I just assumed a busy surgeon would pay someone to do that for him.”

      Chuckling, he shook his head. “Until a couple of months ago I’ve been a student or a resident. My extra cash has been going toward paying off student loans. I do my own cleaning, my own cooking—when I bother—and my own shopping.”

      “I’m sure you’d like to relax after working this morning. Just let me know anything you need, and I’d be happy to get it for you.”

      “If you’d rather I stay here …”

      Something about his expression reminded her very much of Waldo’s please-play-with-me face. She found herself just as unable to resist with Mitch. After all, she rationalized, he had lost his home. She supposed he was feeling at loose ends today, maybe in need of distraction, even if it was for fast food and grocery shopping.

      “You’re welcome to come along,” she said lightly, tucking her bag beneath her arm. “That way you’ll be sure to get exactly what you like.”

      He smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

      Her steps faltered a little toward the doorway, but she lifted her chin and kept moving. It was too late to back out now.

      They had lunch at a bakery-café not far from the supermarket where Jacqui usually shopped. Mitch had a turkey panini with chips and a pickle spear; Jacqui ordered half a veggie sandwich and a cup of vegetarian black-bean soup.

      Glancing at her plate, he cocked his head in curiosity. “Are you a vegetarian? I noticed you skipped the bacon at breakfast.”

      She shrugged lightly. “I’m not a true vegetarian. I like fish and chicken, occasionally, but I simply prefer veggies and fruits.”

      “I like veggies and fruits myself. If you prefer cooking vegetarian, that’s perfectly fine with me.”

      “I have no problems cooking meat. Your brother-in-law is most definitely a carnivore.”

      Laughing, Mitch reached for his water glass. “Well, he is a lawyer.”

      She smiled wryly. “Low blow.”

      “Just kidding. I like the guy. I’m glad he and Alice are part of our family now.”

      “The three of them make a lovely family.”

      Jacqui had been a silent spectator during much of Seth’s courtship of Meagan. Meagan had initially interviewed Jacqui for the job as Seth’s housekeeper when his previous employee had fallen and broken her leg, but Meagan had been helping out only as Seth’s friendly neighbor at the time. From the relative anonymity of her job, Jacqui had observed during the next few months while Seth and Meagan had grown closer, then moved apart. The busy attorney and harried surgeon had been afraid their demanding careers and other obligations would be insurmountable obstacles between them. Jacqui suspected they had worried as much about hurting Alice as about having their own hearts broken. But love had overcome their fears, and they had become engaged at Christmas.

      Jacqui had attended their small, tasteful wedding, and she didn’t think she’d ever seen a happier couple. Since that time they’d managed to arrange their hectic schedules to allow as much time as possible for each other and for Alice. Jacqui liked to think her capable behind-the-scenes management of their household had smoothed the way for them, at least to some extent.

      “Hey, Mitch.”

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