Page 98 of My Fake Dating with the Grumpiest Highlander
I head downstairs.
Mary’s already in the kitchen making coffee.
“Morning,” she says with a smile.
“Morning.”
She hands me a mug.
“You have appointments today?”
“Four. Assuming they don’t get canceled…”
“They won’t. And something tells me you’re about to have a lot more patients than you expect.”
She says it with such confidence that I almost believe her.
My phone vibrates.
A text message.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Dr. McLeod, this is Fiona Campbell. Robbie is doing much better this morning. We’re seeing the specialist this afternoon. Thank you again for everything. I’ll never forget what you did for him.
I show the message to Mary.
“See?” she says softly. “You broke down the wall.”
“One wall, maybe. There are still plenty left.”
“One at a time.”
Mary was right.
I’m starting to realize she usually is.
Over the next few days, something changes in Glenfield.
Mrs. Campbell keeps her promise.
She tells the story.
To everyone.
The butcher greets me on the street.
The bookstore owner smiles at me.
Old Angus schedules an appointment “for real this time, doctor.”
Even Duncan Fraser—who until now mostly commented on my relationship with Mary—gives me a respectful nod when I walk past the pub.
One evening, I return to the guesthouse after a full day of appointments and find Mary in the kitchen making dinner.
“How was your day?” she asks.
I lean against the counter.
