Chapter Fourteen

Tracy Novak waved Alex over to the table where she sat with a group of nurses in the hospital’s small cafeteria. When he reached their table, he set his tray at the empty spot beside Tracy.

“Alex, I was just telling everyone about the fundraiser we’re trying to organize for Edie and Aaron.”

“A fundraiser?”

“Yeah, something to help offset some of Edie’s medical expenses. Julia’s trying to put together a dance and an auction where people can bid on prizes. We’re trying to come up with some donations, things people can get excited to bid on.”

Julia. How like her to try to help her friends. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Maybe you can make a cash donation. I’m taking up a collection here at the hospital so we can buy some prizes for the fundraiser.”

Alex reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He took out two twenties. “This is all the cash I have right now. I’ll talk to you again after I have a chance to go to the bank.”

“Thanks, Alex. Much appreciated.”

Some of the other nurses made donations, as well. Brenda, a tall blonde woman who worked in the family medicine clinic attached to the hospital, handed over a five-dollar bill.

“I’ve known Edie since we were kids. Julia said she planned to have a bake sale to go along with the fundraiser, so I’m going to do some baking when I’m off later this week.”

“I’ll make a poster and let everyone on the second floor know you’re collecting money, Tracy,” Gloria said.

“I could send out a mass e-mail.” Alex knew Connie worked in the administration office. “I’m sure my boss won’t mind, but I’ll clear it with him first. That way everyone who works at the hospital will hear about the fundraiser and the need for donations.”

“My mother-in-law volunteered to help with cleaning at Edie’s house. She and Aaron’s mom are good friends,” Denise said. “I’m taking over a casserole tomorrow.”

Alex was astounded by their generosity. “It’s good of all of you to help the Cosgroves out.”

Gloria shrugged. “It’s what you do in a small town. When someone’s in trouble, you help them out.”

“I know that if I ever got sick and needed help like Edie does now, my community would be there for me,” Connie said.

“We’re pretty tight here,” Tracy said. “Lobster Cove is a very special place.”

Alex was beginning to see she was right.

****

Alex used his scissors to carefully remove the stitches in Aaron’s thumb. After flushing the affected area with a saline solution, he applied an antibiotic cream and wrapped his hand with clean gauze.

“How does that feel?”

Aaron flexed his hand. “Better. I couldn’t bend my thumb before, because of the stitches.”

“Would it do any good to tell you to stay off work until it healed?”

Aaron grinned. “Probably not.”

“At least humor me and promise you’ll keep the wound clean.”

“I’ll try.”

That was probably the best he was going to get. “Good. So aside from the thumb, how are you doing, really?”

Aaron hung his head for a moment before looking up at Alex with a rueful smile. “Better than the last time I saw you. I’m hanging in there.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Tracy told me about the fundraiser. You have a lot of friends in town.”

He laughed softly. “I’ve lived in Lobster Cove all my life, and I knew it was a great community, but I had no idea how great, until Edie got sick. People have been there for us every step of the way. From the day we came home from the hospital after her surgery, someone has been over every day to look after the kids so Edie can rest. Someone else cleaned the house. Every evening another person shows up with a new casserole or a dessert. And now this fundraiser is coming up. It’s been remarkable, and very humbling.”

It was remarkable. Alex had never heard of anything like it.

“What I’m really thankful for is that Julia has already arranged for people to drive Edie into Bar Harbor for her radiation treatments when they start next week. Like I told you before, I can’t afford to take time off work. Our parents all work, too, and they were prepared to take some time off, but this takes the pressure off all of us. We know someone we trust will be driving Edie and looking after her.”

“Julia arranged for drivers?”

Aaron smiled. “Yeah, Julia’s our master organizer. She had lots of help, from what I understand, but if you want to get something done, give the job to Julia. If you want to get the job done in a hurry, tell her it can’t be done.”

Alex laughed at that. She was really something, his Julia.

His Julia.

“She’s an amazing woman.”

Aaron gave him a curious look. “Yeah, she is pretty amazing. Some men find that intimidating. Like Russ, her ex-husband. He never appreciated her.”

He couldn’t help himself from asking, “You knew him? What was he like?”

“Sure, I knew him. We all grew up together, Edie, me, Julia, Tracy, Russ. Julia and Russ started dating in the tenth grade. They seemed like the perfect match. Both were smart, and they both wanted to be teachers. But when I think back now, there were cracks in their relationship even back then. Julia had always been a sports nut, an athlete. You’ve seen her play ball.”

“Yeah.” When she committed herself to something, no matter what it was—a ball game, an issue at her school, a fundraiser—she gave it everything she had. It was one of the things he admired most about her.

“Russ wasn’t much of an athlete, so he made fun of her love of playing ball and other sports. It was subtle, but when they came back to Lobster Cove after living in Thailand, she didn’t play ball the summer after Ava was born. She said it was too soon after the birth, but then she didn’t play the next summer, either. She didn’t start playing ball again until Russ left.

“I think he was jealous of her. Back in high school, if she got a higher mark than he did, he’d get upset. I remember him going back to our chemistry teacher and arguing with him about the mark he got on an exam. The teacher finally caved in and gave him two extra marks on a problem, which just so happened to give him a higher mark than Julia.”

“He sounds like an insecure ass.”

“I guess he was, but we didn’t realize it back then. He was funny, and we all had a good time together. Julia adored him.” Aaron frowned. “I didn’t realize how bad things were between them until Julia was offered the job as principal of the school and, essentially, became Russ’s boss. That’s when he started insisting on going back to Thailand.”

It sounded like he couldn’t handle his wife having a better job than he did, so he found a way to take it away from her. “But Julia didn’t want to go?”

He shrugged. “As far as I knew, she was planning to. I’m not sure what happened to change her mind.”

“Any man who’d let a woman like Julia slip through his fingers is a moronic jerk.”

Aaron lifted his eyebrows and grinned. “Are you talking about Russ or yourself? Sounds like the words of a man who has a serious addiction to a cute, blonde, ball-playing teacher.”

He hadn’t meant to let his feelings show. “Just shut up and try not to mangle your other hand.”

“Aye, aye, Doc,” Aaron said with a grin and a crisp salute. As he hopped off the table, his demeanor sobered. “Look, I get that you like Julia. She’s a terrific girl. But you’re only here temporarily. I wouldn’t want her to get hurt, you know?”

“I wouldn’t want her to get hurt either.”

Aaron stared at him with solemn hazel eyes. Finally he nodded. “Good. Are we done here?”

“We’re done. Remember, if you or Edie have any questions, if you need any medical advice or you just want to talk, you have my number. Call any time.”

“We will, thanks. The same goes for you, you know. Well, not the medial advice, but the talking part. That’s what friends are for, right?”

It had been a while since he’d had a close male friend, probably not since his early college days. The last few years he’d maintained a laser focus on his studies and his career, to the detriment of his personal relationships. He was touched by Aaron’s offer.

“Yeah. That’s what friends are for.”

****

Two weeks later, Alex walked up the sidewalk to the Lobster Cove High School. Even the outside of the school had been decorated for the fundraiser. Twinkling lights outlined the main door of the school, which opened to a corridor leading to the gymnasium. The place was already packed with people of all ages: adults, kids, even the elderly. Everyone in Lobster Cove, and beyond, wanted to support the Cosgrove family. Alex was surprised to see players he knew from the opposing ball teams in Bar Harbor, Cranberry Island, and Tremont. It said a lot about Aaron and Edie that so many people cared about what happened to them.

It said a lot about the community, too.

Inside the gym, a deejay had people on the dance floor doing an energetic jive. Little kids on the edges of the floor tried their best to imitate the older dancers. Tables had been set up along the perimeter of the gym, except for one section in the far corner where silent auction prizes were being displayed. Money quickly changed hands as people bought tickets on the prizes. Alex knew that every dollar raised would go to Edie’s substantial medical expenses. He bought fifty dollars’ worth of tickets and dropped his entries into the paper bags taped next to the prizes.

Next to the silent auction tables, some older ladies manned a table loaded with baked goods for sale. The offerings were impressive—fresh breads, pies, cookies and at least twenty different kinds of cakes. Before he left, he’d pick up a couple dozen cookies to take to the emergency room for the people who couldn’t make it here tonight.

“Alex!”

He turned at the sound of his name and saw Edie and Aaron heading toward him. Edie embraced him.

“I’m so glad you could make it!” she said with a beaming smile.

“I wouldn’t miss it. This is quite the production you’ve got going on here.”

“It’s great, but we can’t take any credit. We didn’t do a damn thing,” Aaron said.

Edie’s eyes were misty with tears. “Our friends did all this for us. It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

He put his arm around her shoulder. “You have great friends. You’re very lucky.”

“Yes, we are.”

“How do you feel?”

“I actually feel very well, very rested. I haven’t had to lift a finger since my surgery, with so many people looking after us. I’ve gotten quite spoiled.”

Alex squeezed her shoulders. “You deserve to be spoiled. I understand your radiation starts next week. Are you okay with that?”

“I say bring it on! The sooner I get rid of all those nasty little cancer cells, the better.”

Her attitude was remarkable. “Go get ’em, Tiger.”

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Alex.”

“For what? All I did was send you on for further testing. You’re the one who found the lump.”

“You took the lump seriously. At the cancer clinic in Bangor, I met a woman not much older than me whose breast cancer had spread to her lungs. She went to her GP about the lump she found in her breast, and he told her it was nothing, that someone as young as she was didn’t need to worry about cancer. By the time she sought a second opinion, it was too late. Her cancer was incurable. So, thank you, Alex.”

He swallowed hard. “You’re welcome.”

He didn’t know what else to say. All he knew was that he was profoundly grateful he’d investigated Edie’s lump when he did.

Aaron shook his hand. “We should probably say hello to more folks. Thanks for coming, Alex. We’ll talk soon.”

They walked off and were soon mobbed by more well-wishers. Alex smiled to himself. If anybody deserved to be looked after like this, it was Edie and Aaron.

He spent the next hour mingling. People he didn’t know made a point of introducing themselves and of introducing him to others. There were people he knew from the hospital, a couple of fellow doctors, and many nurses and technicians. Maggie from Maggie’s Diner was there, along with her business partner Jill. Jill introduced her friend Marge, though he already knew Marge since she’d been cutting his hair at her hairdressing shop since he moved to Mount Desert Island. Beth, Julia’s secretary at the high school, was there with her kids and her husband Marty. Tracy’s brother Logan introduced himself, as did her parents, Opal and Leo Novak. He hoped there wasn’t a quiz after the party, because he wasn’t sure he’d remember everyone’s name.

“Dr. Alex!”

A familiar child’s voice drew his attention. Ava ran toward him at full throttle. She threw herself at him with her arms wide, and he picked her up and hugged her close.

“I knew you’d be here,” she said in his ear. She smelled of shampoo and soap and sunshine. A tender emotion squeezed his heart. He knew Julia didn’t want him getting close to Ava only to break her heart in a few months when he left, but it was getting harder and harder not to fall in love with this child.

“Where’s your mom, Sweet Pea?” The endearment came out of his mouth before he remembered he wasn’t supposed to call her that.

“She’s busy, so I’m here with my Grandma and Grandpa.”

Alex was surprised to hear that Paul Dawson had brought Dora here, until he saw an older couple coming up to him, and he realized she was talking about a different set of grandparents. The man held out his hand.

“I’m Wyatt Stewart, Ava’s grandfather, and this is my wife Lily.”

Alex shook hands with them, balancing Ava on his left arm. “Alex Campbell. Good to meet you.”

Lily Stewart arranged Ava’s dress and straightened the barrettes holding back her blonde curls. “You certainly like Dr. Campbell, don’t you, Sweet Pea?”

Ava turned to Alex. “See? Grandma calls me that, too.”

“That’s because you’re so pretty, like a Sweet Pea. And you smell kinda good, too, at least sometimes.”

Ava giggled and put her arm around his neck. He saw her grandparents exchange a look and wondered what it meant.

“I understand you’ll be leaving Lobster Cove next February when your contract is up,” Wyatt said.

At least he didn’t beat around the bush. “Yes, that’s my plan.”

“Ava’s welfare and happiness is very important to us,” he said.

“I’m sure it is. It’s important to me, too.”

Wyatt smiled, though there was no warmth in the gesture. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I would hate for us to have any misunderstandings.”

“Wyatt.” Lily Stewart’s voice held a note of warning for her husband. She placed her hand on his arm, her smile strained. “Let’s just concentrate on having fun with our granddaughter tonight. Please?”

He sighed and placed his hand over hers. “Yes, you’re right.” He looked up at Alex. “I hear good things about your medical skills, Dr. Campbell. You’re a welcome addition to the community. It would be a shame if you left Lobster Cove just when we’re getting to know you.”

He didn’t know how to respond. Luckily, Julia stepped up to the mike on the stage at that moment, preventing him from having to speak.

“Can I have your attention, everyone? Our big auction extravaganza is about to begin!”

Whoops of excitement filled the gymnasium. Ava whispered in his ear, “Doesn’t Mommy look pretty tonight? I helped her pick out her dress.”

“You did a great job, Sweet Pea. Your mommy is very pretty.”

The word “pretty” hardly expressed how Julia looked tonight. Gorgeous, sexy, delicious, sprang immediately to mind. Her pale blonde hair gleamed under the stage lights. She wore a sleeveless blue and white print dress that hugged her curves and ended several inches above her knees to show off shapely, toned legs. High-heeled sandals accentuated her well-formed calves. For a petite woman, she had legs that went on for miles.

“Our auctioneer tonight is Jacob Wright from Wright Country Auctions in Bar Harbor. Mr. Wright is donating his services tonight, so I want you to put your hands together and give him a warm Lobster Cove welcome and a big thank you.”

The crowd complied with generous applause. “There’s still time to purchase an auction paddle for a nominal fee at the ticket booth. Remember, you’ve got to have a paddle in order to bid on the fantastic goods and services we’ve gotten together.”

Alex wasn’t sure if he was going to bid on anything, but he set Ava on her feet and stood in line at the ticket booth to purchase a paddle, number two hundred twenty-one. He wondered if it was his lucky number.

By the time he got back to his spot next to Ava and the Stewarts, volunteers were carrying, or wheeling, the auction items onto the stage. Ava tugged at his pant leg.

“I can’t see, Dr. Alex.”

He picked her up once more, settling her in his left arm. “No problem, Shorty. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of the action.”

She grinned at him before draping one arm across the back of his shoulders, and idly stroking the hair at the nape of his neck.

The lights in the gym went on, signaling that the bidding was about to begin. First on the block was a fifty-inch flat-screen TV. Julia described the television’s make and model. “This TV was donated by Addison’s Furniture and Appliances in Bar Harbor. A big thanks to Merv Addison. And now, I’m turning the mic over to Jacob Wright. Take it away, Jacob.”

“Thanks, Julia.” Jacob walked to the edge of the stage and addressed the crowd. “Okay, everyone! We all know we’re here to support one of our island families, so let’s all be generous. What do you say we put this fundraiser in motion? Let’s start the bidding on the TV at five hundred dollars.”

Paddles shot up all over the gymnasium. In his auctioneer’s patois, Jacob Wright acknowledged each outstretched arm, until finally there was only one hand left raised. “Sold for two thousand five hundred dollars to paddle number seventy-five!”

Alex was reasonably sure twenty-five hundred was above the retail price for the television, and he was also sure everyone in the room realized that. But he knew the person who purchased the TV was okay with paying a little more if it meant Edie could afford her treatments.

A long list of electronics went up for auction: another television, DVD players, laptops, tablets, MP3 players, and e-readers. The crowd bid enthusiastically. Alex stuck his paddle in the air for several of the prizes but was outbid every time.

Next up were services donated by local businesses. Marge the hairdresser donated two prizes: a year’s worth of haircuts, and a year’s worth of cuts and colors. Maggie’s Diner offered three separate prizes: a catered sit-down dinner for up to twenty people, a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres for fifty, and a meal a month for two for a year in the diner. The vet clinic donated a free spay or neuter for a dog or cat, as well as a year’s supply of pet food. A dentist in Bar Harbor offered free teeth cleaning for a family of four. Many other local businesses on the island donated their services. Paddles rose furiously. The Stewarts bid on both the haircuts and the diner meals. They were successful in their bid for the meals. Lily Stewart raised her arms in triumph at the auctioneer’s, “You bought it!”

“Yay, we did it!”

“Yay, Grandma!” Ava cheered with a pump of her tiny arm. Alex tightened his hold on her as she squirmed.

“Now it’s time for the last two auction items to go up for bid,” the auctioneer said. “These are the items marked as surprise entries on your list of auction prizes, and we’ve kept them top secret to this point. So without further ado, let me bring out your first surprise auction prize!”

He swept his hand toward the back curtain, and, after some rustling and shaking, the curtain opened and Tracy Novak stepped through. A murmur of surprise and lots of claps and cheers rippled through the crowd. She stood next to Mr. Wright and spoke into the microphone, talking directly to Edie, who stood with Aaron in front of the stage.

“You’re the only person in the world I’d do this for, with the possible exception of Julia. I love you, Edie.” She threw her a kiss.

“Tell the folks about your prize, Tracy,” Mr. Wright said.

She took a deep breath that was clearly audible over the sound system. “I am offering a dinner and movie date with me as my prize. The location of said dinner and movie is the winner’s choice. I’m really hoping someone bids on my prize, aside from my relatives. And it goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: Please, no bids from married men. Or women.”

Everyone laughed. Alex knew Tracy well enough to realize putting herself up for display like this was not easy for her. Though very confident and competent in her work, she was actually quite shy. But tonight, her desire to help her friend had trumped her usual reserve.

Perhaps he could boost her confidence a little while helping Edie and Aaron.

“What do think, Sweet Pea? Should we bid on Tracy?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes! Can I hold the paddle?”

“Sure. I’ll tell you when to stick your hand up.”

Lily Stewart grinned at him. “Tracy doesn’t give herself enough credit. You’re going to have to do some serious bidding if you want to win a date with her.”

“We’re ready, aren’t we, Ava?”

“Yes!”

Lily was right. Six other men bid on Tracy in rapid-fire succession, moving the price of her prize to five hundred dollars in a matter of minutes. Finally it came down to him and one other man.

“One thousand dollars!” the man shouted from the floor.

“That’s Rob Perkins,” Wyatt whispered to his wife.

“Fascinating,” Lily replied. “I had no idea the school superintendent was interested in Tracy.”

“Neither did I. But now the whole town knows,” Wyatt replied with a grin.

It looked like Tracy needn’t have worried that no one would bid for her. Alex whispered in Ava’s ear. “Put the paddle down, Sweet Pea.”

She obediently complied. A minute later the auctioneer pointed at Perkins and cried, “You bought her! Come and get her!”

The gymnasium erupted in spontaneous applause, apparently approving the purchase. Perkins weaved through the crowd and bounded up the stairs to the stage. Tracy stuck out her hand to shake his, and he took it, then leaned in and gave her a brief hug. Hoots rose from the crowd. As they left the stage, he took her hand again to help her down the stairs. Alex noticed the shy smile she gave him, and he realized Tracy approved of the purchase, as well.

When the crowd settled down, the auctioneer began speaking again. “We’ve come to our second top secret prize, the last auction item of the evening. I’ll turn the floor over to my co-host, the lovely and talented Julia Stewart.”

Julia took the mic from Jacob Wright, and for the first time this evening, Alex sensed her nervousness. She took a step toward the front of the stage.

“Like Tracy said, I wouldn’t do this for anyone but you, Edie. I’m not even sure I’d do it for Tracy anymore, since she was the one who talked me into this. In any event, my prize is an all-expense paid date with me. The winner has the choice of a round of golf at the beautiful Mount Desert Island Golf and Country Club, a day of sailing, or hiking in Acadia National Park. Our day of adventure will be followed by a lovely meal at Maggie’s Diner, and Maggie has promised to whip up something special that she doesn’t normally serve on the menu, so that should be a real treat. I guess that’s about it.”

She handed the mic back to Mr. Wright. “Before we start the bidding, I just want to say that both these ladies have worked tirelessly the last few weeks to put this event together. Not only are we raising money to help Edie through her treatments, we’re having a lot of fun doing it. So please show your appreciation for Tracy Novak and Julia Stewart.”

The crowd burst into applause once more. Julia raised her hand in acknowledgement, looking somewhat embarrassed by the praise. Pride for her swelled in Alex’s chest. He knew from Tracy that because of her schedule at the hospital, Julia had done the bulk of the planning. She’d had help from a lot of different people, including Lily Stewart, but she’d been the one to put it all together.

The auctioneer began the bidding. “Can I have two hundred dollars to start? And remember, no married men or women need apply.”

Dozens of hands shot up. “Can I have three, four, five, gimme six, now gimme seven.”

Lily leaned close. “Why don’t you bid, Dr. Campbell?”

He hesitated, not wanting to embarrass Julia. She’d been pretty clear about not wanting to be with him again. It still hurt.

“I don’t think Julia would want me to.”

“I think you’d be surprised. Trust me.”

Something in Lily Stewart’s smile made him lift Ava’s arm into the air. She waved the paddle with enthusiasm, squirming with excitement in his arms. He wasn’t even sure where the bidding was at.

“We’ve got nine hundred. A thousand anyone? Going once, going twice, sold to the good doctor for nine hundred dollars! You bought her! Come and get her!”

Alex’s heart thumped painfully. As he set Ava on the floor, his gaze collided with Wyatt Stewart’s. Pain flashed across the older man’s face, and he wondered at its cause.

“Grandpa, Dr. Alex won Mommy!”

“I know, sweetheart.”

People within earshot chuckled at Ava’s statement. Mr. Stewart smiled for his granddaughter, laying a gentle hand on her head. But there was no happiness in his face. Would he have objected to anyone dating his son’s former wife, or just him?

Ava pushed at Alex’s leg. “Go get her! Quick!”

“All right, all right.”

He headed through the crowd, accepting good-natured congratulations and slaps on the back. His feet felt heavy and leaden. Would Julia be angry with him? He decided he wouldn’t push her to go on the date. He’d leave the decision to her. If she was interested in seeing him, she had to make the first move.

He climbed the stairs to the stage and accepted Julia’s outstretched hand. Her smile felt strained, like he was the last person in the room she’d wanted to win the bid. His heart fell. As he gave her a brief one-armed hug, he whispered in her ear.

“I’m sorry.”

But he couldn’t stop himself from breathing in her scent or squeezing her hand. She blinked at him when he stepped back, confusion flashing in her eyes before being replaced by a bland smile.

Edie and Aaron stepped on the stage, and Edie wrapped her arms around Julia. Aaron shook his hand, his face full of emotion. Alex clapped him on the back in a gesture of support.

Edie let Julia out of her embrace, but held tight to her hand. The auctioneer passed her the microphone. A hush fell over the crowd as she took a couple of minutes to compose herself before speaking.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. I can’t tell you how much your support means to Aaron and me. You’ve turned one of the darkest times of our lives into one of the brightest.”

The crowd cheered. When they quieted, she spoke again. “Lobster Cove is a very special community. We look after each other here. We care for each other. There’s no place else in the world I’d rather live, no place else in the world I’d rather raise my children. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Another cheer rose from the crowd. “I especially want to thank everyone who made this night possible, especially my two best friends, Tracy Novak and Julia Stewart. I can’t express how thankful I am for you two. I love you both.”

She hugged Julia once more. Tears rolled down Julia’s face as she clung to Edie, and Alex knew she was hanging on to her composure by a thread. He fought the urge to go to her and pull her into his arms. She wouldn’t thank him for showing his feelings in front of the entire population of her hometown.

He stepped off the stage as inconspicuously as he could, and made his way to the table manned by Jill from the diner and several other volunteers who were collecting the proceeds of the auction. Writing a check for his purchase, and adding an extra hundred dollars to make an even thousand, he handed it to Jill.

“Thank you very much for your contribution, Dr. Campbell,” she said with a smile.

“Please, call me Alex. I spend so much time in your diner I feel we should be on a first-name basis.”

“All right. Alex it is.” She wrote a receipt and handed it to him. “You made a very fine purchase.”

“Yeah.”

He couldn’t help turning his attention back to the stage. Edie and Aaron had stepped down, leaving Julia alone to handle the master of ceremonies duties. Her voice sounded shaky, as if she was still struggling with her emotions.

“I invite you to take a look at the silent auction prizes we’ve assembled. There’s something there for everyone. We’ll be picking the winners in an hour, so there’s still time to get your tickets. And the ladies at the bake sale booth tell me they still have some items for sale. Everything has to go, so please go see them. I’m going to turn over the mic to our deejay now. Let’s get this party started!”

Alex closed his eyes. He had to get out of here. He couldn’t listen to Julia’s voice anymore, couldn’t watch her, and still pretend there wasn’t something between them. He couldn’t hide his feelings any longer.

He was in love with her.

“Dr. Campbell? Alex? Are you okay?”

Jill stared at him with a concerned look on her face. She probably thought he was crazy. Maybe he was. He couldn’t be in love with Julia. He was leaving in six months.

He made himself smile. “Yeah I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

“Go home and get some rest. We can’t have our favorite doctor keel over from lack of sleep. We need you!”

“No rest for the wicked, I’m afraid. I’m heading to the hospital to work a partial shift so Dr. Willson can take in some of the festivities here.”

“That was good of you.”

Alex shrugged. “He would have done the same for me.”

“True, but you look like a guy who needs some pampering. Come into the diner this week, and I’ll fix you up with some home cooking. Gratis.”

“Thanks, Jill, I appreciate that. I’ll see you soon. Good night.”

“Good night, Doc.”

After saying good night to Edie and Aaron, Alex bought two dozen cookies and some brownies to take to the staff at the hospital. Then he looked for the Stewarts so he could say goodnight to Ava. He spotted them not far from the stage, talking with Julia. She looked up when he approached, her expression guarded.

“I have to take off for work now,” he said, shaking Wyatt’s and Lily’s hands. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Good to meet you, too,” Wyatt said. Alex wondered if he meant it.

Ava tugged at his pant leg. “Good night, Dr. Alex. When will I see you again?”

He laid his hand on her head, and stroked her soft curls. “There’s still a couple of games left in our ball season. I guess I’ll see you there.”

“But I don’t get to talk to you there. When are you coming to our house again?”

Alex glanced at Julia. She blinked and looked away. He picked up Ava and gave her a hug. “I’m not sure, Sweet Pea, but I’ll be thinking about you.”

She hugged his neck. “I’ll be thinking about you, too.”

He squeezed his eyes closed and did his best to compose himself before setting her down. He turned to Julia.

“You did a great job tonight. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, but I had a lot of help from people like Lily.” She gave him an uncertain smile. “Thanks for bidding on my prize. I guess I’ll see you on our date. What would you like to do?”

Visions of making love to her danced through his head. He pushed them away, desperately trying to keep his expression neutral.

“I’ll leave that up to you. I should get going. Good night.”

“Good night.”

He left the gymnasium as quickly as he could manage, but he couldn’t outrun his thoughts. He was in serious trouble. He was in love with a woman he couldn’t have. A woman who didn’t want him.