Page 16 of Skipping Stones
“I never wanted to,” she replied. “Silver Lake is my home.”
“But you could have. You didn’t want to work at a cutting-edge practice?”
“I love my work. And people in small towns deserve health care just as good as those in big cities.”
“But what is there to do after work is done? There are no museums, no art galleries, no lectures to go to. And you don’t have restaurants and pubs like we do. It must be so boring.”
“Leave her alone, Mac.” Linney jumped in to rescue her friend. “Small-town life isn’t so bad—and of course, Silver Lake has a restaurant! More than one in fact. And the landscape is our art.”
Mac caught a waiter’s arm and asked for another drink. “You ran away from it. You told me you hated it.”
“Yes, I did.” Linney had to give him that. “But that’s because I wanted to do something that I couldn’t do there. And I appreciate that Kirsten and Anna stayed. They’re part of a community that’s helping me take care of my grandmother. You know that.”
Mac knocked back his drink as the waiter came by with dessert menus. “I think we’ll have to agree to disagree.” He stood up. “Now ladies, I’m going to let you enjoy the rest of your evening.” Linney looked up at him with surprise. He wasn’t staying. “I have to go join my mates. Kirsten, good to meet you. MJ, Linney, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” He leaned down and put his hand behind Linney’s head, kissing her roughly. It wasn’t a kiss she was used to getting in public and Kirsten was so embarrassed she had to look away.
Kirsten didn’t see Mac again until her last night when she and Linney met Mac and MJ for a late dessert. “This has been such a great trip,” Kirsten said, as she took another bite of the sticky toffee pudding that the table was sharing. She looked at Linney with gratitude. “Thank you for everything. I know you’ve been busy, but I’ve had such a good time. And it’s been great to meet the storied Marie-Josée, who is now a friend!” Kirsten then glanced at the man with them. “And you too, Mac. I had to meet the man who keeps Linney in London.” She smiled weakly.
“Don’t be fooled,” he replied a little too loudly. “She stays for the work. I’m just a bonus.” The table erupted into laughter.
“I don’t mind saying, though,” he began when they quieted, “I am looking forward to having her back to myself.”
Linney kicked him sharply under the table and did her best to repair the damage. “You are always welcome, Kirsten. Always.”
MJ jumped in. “Now that I know two people from Silver Lake, I might just have to stop in the next time I’m home.”
Mac rolled his eyes. “Silver Lake. Always Silver Lake.” He caught the waiter’s attention. “I’ll leave you to one last evening together.” He paid the bill, and they all stood up for parting hugs. Mac whispered in Linney’s ear. “Tomorrow night you’re all mine. I’ve missed you.” Linney’s knees almost gave way.
* * *
Even Kirsten couldn’t help but notice the attention her new hair and makeup were getting. It was ridiculous, she thought. She was still the same person underneath, but she’d noticed some admiring glances, which felt very different from the leering she was sadly used to. She mentioned it to Anna when she visited shortly after getting home.
“You look amazing,” Anna told her. “You should be getting looks.”
Kirsten took a sip of her coffee. “It’s a bit unnerving,” she admitted. “I’m used to stares, but this time people are looking at me, not my—” She gestured to her chest, always feeling awkward.
Anna rolled her eyes. “You’re a beautiful woman, with a figure most would die for. I’d love to have a few more curves.”
“You already have your guy. And he loves you just the way you are.”
“Yeah,” Anna said, a faint blush coming over her cheeks as she smiled. “I got lucky.”
Danny’s truck rolled into the driveway. When he came to a stop, their daughters tumbled out of the back seat.
“Go put your wet things in the dryer,” Danny called out to them as they ran into the house. He’d picked them up from a pool party.
“Wow!” he said admiringly, as Kirsten stood up to give him a friendly hug. “What happened to you over there?”
Kirsten blushed at the compliment and explained about MJ’s magic. “It’s just a haircut and some new makeup,” she said.
“Well, whatever it is, you look great.” Danny sheepishly looked over at his wife. “And so do you, dear.”
Anna shooed him away and asked Kirsten more about her trip.
“You’d like MJ, but I have to admit, I don’t know what Linney sees in Mac—I mean, he’s handsome, and there’s the accent and all—but he’s a bit of a bully, and he drinks an awful lot. She seems happy with him, but I just wonder …” Kirsten trailed off, not sure how to explain what she was thinking.
“Do we need to be worried about her?” Anna’s brow was furrowed, and she stirred her coffee aggressively.
“No, I don’t think so. He’s just not the kind of guy I would have pictured her with. I always thought she’d be with someone more like Derek.