just remembered that she hadn’t combed her hair back into place after being out in the wind.
“Am I interrupting something?” Amy walked over to the desk. “I can come back.”
Amy was always neatly dressed, and Maryann didn’t want to look like a hooligan. Not that she was competing with Amy for anyone’s attention. It was just that all women liked to look their best.
Maryann smiled. “No, I just—well, my hair.” Then she reached up to smooth her hair back into its usual bobbed shape.
Amy laughed a little. “That happens up here, especially this time of year. I know it’s happened to me. Of course, Ben always thought it was funny. I’d be there with my hair going every which way, and he’d be grinning like a kid at the circus.”
The widow’s laugh faded as she remembered her late husband. Then she seemed to shake off her memories. “Well, I just came around because I’m putting together a choir for the Christmas pageant, and I wondered if you’d come help us sing.”
“Oh, I can’t,” Maryann said as she heard footsteps in the hall. “I’m not much of a singer.”
Amy shrugged. “That’s not important. Ben always said it was the spirit of the thing that counted. I’m hoping to do the best pageant ever, in his honor this year, but I’m not sure I’m up to it. I figure if we can get started early by practicing the carols, we’ll have a chance of pulling it off.”
Alex entered the room. “The pageant is nice. Every year it gets a little better.”
“Well, that’s going to be hard to do this year,” Amy said, as she sat down in one of the waiting room chairs. “I’m hoping that, if we can get going now, maybe we’ll gain some enthusiasm.”
“Well, I’m sure whatever you do will be great,” Alex said, then he looked at the woman more closely. “Are you all right?”
Maryann watched Alex walk over to Amy. Now why did he have to stand there and look at the woman as if she was a delicate flower?
“I can give you a vitamin B shot if you need one,” Alex offered as he reached out his hand to touch Amy’s forehead. “You’ve been going through a tough time. If anything troubles you, let me know.”
Maryann hoped none of the fancy women heard about Alex being willing to treat Amy, even though she wasn’t a child.
Amy looked up at him and Maryann wondered if the two of them needed to be alone.
“I have been worried,” the widow said softly before Maryann could think of an excuse to leave. “Something’s been missing and I don’t know where…well, it’s the treasure map we talked about. You know the one?”
Then Amy dropped her voice even further, until Maryann couldn’t hear her words. Maryann walked toward her desk and sat down to finish the filing she had to do. She told herself she should be happy. She wanted Alex to stay in Treasure Creek. If he fell in love with Amy, he’d have to stay. Maybe the treasure map that Amy’s sons had found would bring them together. Some people thought the map showed where an ancestor of Amy’s had hidden the gold.
Maryann saw Alex frown as he looked down at Amy. “That doesn’t sound good. Have you reported that it’s gone?”
Maryann couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t act anything like The Ice Man when talking to Amy. He leaned over her most solicitously. Maybe it was only nurses and fancy women Alex wanted to avoid. She supposed he figured one was work and the others were gold diggers.
“I don’t want to report it to anyone official yet,” Amy said in a louder voice and gave a glance at Maryann. Then she shook her head and turned back to Alex. “I just wanted to ask you to keep your eyes open.” Alex nodded.
“Anyway,” Amy said with a bright smile that included Maryann, “I hope you can both sing in the pageant.”
“I’ll pass,” Alex said as he turned to go into the exam room.
Maryann tried to remind herself of her goal to get Alex to stay in town.
“You should sing,” Maryann said.
Alex frowned. “What’s the point? I’m not going to be in town for the pageant.”
“Well, coming to a few practices wouldn’t hurt,” Maryann said. “Maybe some other men will join if they see you’re practicing.”
Alex lifted an eyebrow in protest. “I’m not that influential.”
“You are,” Amy stepped in, fairly gushing. “And it’s not just the men you’ll inspire. I’m sure half of the single women in town will volunteer, too, if you do. That’ll give me plenty of people for the choir.”
Maryann figured Amy had underestimated the doctor’s impact. If all of the single women were there, the single men wouldn’t be far behind.
“You won’t need to wear a costume or anything,” Amy promised.
“But,” Alex tried again, “You need to remember I won’t be here at Christmas. I’ll be down in Los Angeles, putting together my new clinic.”
“Oh,” Amy said. “That’s right.”
Maryann felt her enthusiasm fall to the floor right along with Amy’s. He was still so set on leaving town.
“You could still practice with us,” Amy finally said. “Even just one or two times might be enough to get the women there. You wouldn’t even need to sing. Just stand around. I could put you in charge of lighting or something.”
“I could do that,” Alex said. “I’m sorry I won’t be here for the pageant.”
“Thanks,” Amy said, and then straightened up as if she was bracing herself. “I was going to wait a few weeks to start rehearsals, but I better get them going now.”
“Three weeks,” Alex reminded her. “That’s how long I’ll be here.” Then he grinned. “Maryann will be there, too. She can take over my place when I’m gone. Singing.”
“But I—” she sputtered.
“That’s perfect,” Amy beamed at them both and stood. “I better get going so I can tell everyone. We have the tour team meeting tonight so we’ll plan to meet Thursday night at the church for the carol rehearsal. Let’s say five-thirty to nine.”
“People can’t sing for three and a half hours,” Maryann managed to gasp. “Not amateurs anyway.”
“You’re right,” Amy said. “We’ll need snacks and something to drink. Maybe hot tea. We’ll take a nice long break.”
“They’ll still strain their vocal chords,” Maryann added.
“That’s it.” Amy snapped her fingers and looked at Alex. “You can be the choir doctor. You won’t have to sing a note.”
“I treat children,” Alex protested.
“That’s why you’re perfect,” Amy said as she headed for the door. “Children are screaming all the time.”
Maryann and Alex both watched her walk toward the door. Just before she got there, Amy turned around. “Oh, and Maryann, why don’t you come to our team meeting with Alex tonight? I’ve wanted to get your perspective on our tours, since you’re new in the area. You know, specialty tours, that sort of thing.”
“But I—” Maryann protested.
“It won’t take long,” Amy assured her as she turned the knob and half-opened the door. “We’re meeting for hamburgers in the back room at Lizbet’s Diner at seven.” And then Amy turned to flash a smile at Maryann. “I hear you like eating there.”
With that, the other woman turned to walk through the door.
“She knows,” Maryann