“Thanks, Doc. Tell Justin I’ll call him as soon as I get to the hospital, as soon as I know something.” Al worked Kevin’s shoes back on while Kevin fastened his jeans. Then Al pulled the boy to a sitting position, and rather than helping him down from the exam table, he lifted him in his arms. “Let’s not jiggle it around,” he said with a nervous smile. “Hang on to that bowl.”

Al was out the door quickly. Scott pulled out his phone and called the hospital ER They had a surgeon there on another case, and they would keep him another thirty minutes to meet Al and Kevin. Scott requested a call-back from the doctor. Then he slid the phone into his pocket and looked at Peyton. “I have a feeling that was a good call.”

“That one was easy. His symptoms aren’t vague. If we’re wrong, they’re going to take out a healthy appendix. But I guarantee his white count is going to cooperate with the diagnosis.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” He walked out to Devon’s desk. “Do I have anything now?”

“Mrs. Bledsoe’s check—the usual.”

“I can take that, Scott,” Peyton said.

“Then I’m going to walk down to Lucky’s and talk to Norm and Justin, fill them in on what’s happening with Kevin. I won’t be long.”

“Everyone has your cell phone number, you deliver messages and even offer transportation to family members,” Peyton said. “An all-service physician.”

He just smiled at her. “All-service,” he said. “Here’s the thing. If the doctor was a long way from here, like in another town instead of down the street, a person might want to wait to see if they started to feel better. When people feel sick or hurt, not only do they not want to be any trouble, they don’t want to go to any trouble. And while they’re giving it another hour, the appendix can blow or that numb left arm can turn into a myocardial infarction. But if their doctor is around the corner...” He paused and gave a meaningful shrug.

“I’ve never looked at it that way,” she said.

“Why would you? The cities you’ve worked in had urgent care facilities or ERs on every corner. There wasn’t a doctor here for years. When 911 responded, they had to take the patient to Bandon or North Bend. Now there’s someone they can call. I’m not the salvation of the town, by any means. I’m just willing, that’s all. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. And thanks, Peyton. That was great work!”

He went out the door, and Peyton watched his departure. She leaned a hip against Devon’s desk.

“He is, too, the salvation of the town,” Devon said. “Have you ever known a guy like that? That responsive? That genuine?”

“Yeah,” Peyton said. “Hank on Royal Pains.” When Devon shot her a questioning look, she said, “It’s a TV show. In other words, fiction.” She thought for a minute. “The doctors I worked with have all been excellent physicians and good men and women, but they protected their time and God forbid give a patient a cell phone number. It’s too invasive.”

“Well, you won’t be expected to do that, Peyton. Scott will handle that.”

“Be sure to warn his next wife, Devon. Tell her what she’s getting into. Being married to a doctor is hard enough.”

“I’ll do that,” she said with a laugh. “Want to walk across the beach with me when we’re done here? Have something to drink at Cooper’s?”

“I’d like that,” she said. “Know what I’d love? A little peek at your new house.”

“As long as you remember—it’s a work in progress. But we’re close! So close!”

* * *

Before closing up the clinic, Devon and Peyton learned from Scott that Kevin was being prepped for surgery. Knowing that Scott would want to drive to North Bend to check on his patient, Devon took his kids off Ashley’s hands. “They like to play with Mercy,” she explained. “And they love the beach.”

“I won’t be late,” Scott promised.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll give everyone dinner, and if you’re not back by bedtime, they can stay the night. We’re doing sleeping bags this week—they’ll love it.”

They went to Devon’s house so Peyton could have a tour, and she was immediately in love with it. From the beach, one walked up a wooden staircase to the deck and entered the great room through the double doors. Everything on the main level was finished and furnished—great room, large kitchen, dining room, wide foyer, master bedroom and second bedroom. There was also a driveway and two-car garage on that level—everything a family needed, and it was lovely. The view from the great room, dining room and deck was spectacular. Devon pointed to a staircase to a loft that she explained was Spencer’s office—nice and spacious, but only one room. It was the downstairs that was still unfinished, which one could access from an inside staircase or a stone path and stairs that rose up the hill from the beachfront.

Devon left Jenny and Will in the great room in front of the TV while she showed Peyton the lower level. It was such a practical arrangement—two large bedrooms with bathrooms separated by a game room. Windows from the game room gave a view of the beach and ocean. There was a smaller deck. “High tide isn’t ever going to be a problem,” Devon said. “But in a tsunami warning, we’ll have to evacuate and pray.”

They continued the tour. “This is for the kids,” Devon explained. “I thought Mercy would want to be upstairs with us, where she’s been sleeping, but as it turns out, she can’t wait to move down here. She wants to be a big kid like Austin. I wonder where they are?”

They walked into one of the bedrooms and saw the remnants of wall texturing supplies and drop cloths. “Well, I can see how Spencer spent his day, but I have no idea where he is.”

Peyton looked around. “It’s wonderful! There’s not so much left to do. It’s bare, but ready.”

“Painting, papering, a wall unit to be installed for the TV, games, books and things, carpeting, all the final touches. Furnishing. We’re waiting for a couple of built-in desks for the kids’ rooms. Between us we had just enough to furnish most of the upstairs, so we’ve had to order furniture. But we’re almost there. We’ll be done before football practice starts,” Devon said.

When they went upstairs, Jenny and Will were gone. Devon put her hands on her hips. “Now where are they? I can’t seem to keep track of anyone!” She walked out on the deck to look down toward the dock to see if they might all be out there with Rawley or Landon, fishing. Instead, she saw everyone next door on Cooper’s deck.

Spencer waved to her, signaling for her to come over.

Devon’s eyes lit up. “I think Summer is outside. Wait till you see her.”

“Oh,” Peyton said. “I’ll just...”

“You’ll just come with me!” Devon grabbed her hand and pulled her back inside and out the front door, right next door and into Cooper and Sarah’s front door. Everyone was out on the deck. Cooper and Spencer were laughing about something, Austin was hanging out with them. The baby was in a big Cadillac of a stroller with a Great Dane standing guard and three little faces peering into it. Sarah was relaxing on a lounge.