Huckleberry Hearts by Jennifer Beckstrand Page B

picked up her knitting and acted as if she couldn’t care less what happened to her foot.
    The doctor smiled, scooted closer to Cassie, and focused his attention squarely on her. She wished he wouldn’t have. It was all she could do to keep from fidgeting under his intense gaze.
    He told her about the medications Mammi would need and promised to write explicit instructions for everything. Good idea. She wouldn’t remember half of what he told her. No wonder immature college girls fawned over him. He was too good-looking to be a doctor. He’d prove a distraction to all his patients.
    He pulled a card from his pocket and wrote a number on it. “If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to call me. Here is the number for my answering service.” He cleared his throat once. Twice. “I know Anna doesn’t have a phone. I’ll need . . .” Three times. “I’ll need your phone number so that I can call and check on your mammi tonight, if you don’t mind.”
    Cassie thought her face might burst into flames. He had tried very hard to get her number in the parking lot, and she had been clever enough to evade him. But now she’d have to give it to him for Mammi’s sake.
    Her only consolation was that Dr. Reynolds seemed as uncomfortable about it as she did. She had refused to give him her number. Under normal circumstances, he didn’t seem like the type of guy who would keep hounding her about it.
    â€œIf it makes you feel better,” he said, glancing at Mammi, “I feel like a jerk asking for it.”
    He cracked a smile. She did too.
    She repeated her number, and he punched it into his phone and grinned. “I promise I’ll delete this at the first sign of temptation.”
    â€œTemptation?”
    â€œIf I’m ever tempted to call and ask you out.”
    Mammi looked up from her knitting. Dawdi didn’t budge from his Sports Illustrated . “Oh, how nice,” Mammi said.
    Why was her pulse racing? This was Zach Reynolds, for crying out loud. She lowered her eyes and put her hand to her cheek to hide the blush. “Thank you.”
    A smile played at his lips as he fell silent and briefly tinkered with his phone. “Okay,” he said. “I need your phone number again.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œJust now I was tempted to call and ask you out, so I deleted your number, just like I promised.”
    Cassie had never blushed so much in her entire life. She had to remind herself that all the doctor wanted was another notch on his bedpost. It was all guys like him ever wanted.
    â€œIs it okay with you if I change my promise a little?” he asked.
    She nodded doubtfully.
    â€œI promise to call you only if I need to discuss something about your mammi’s condition.”
    â€œOkay,” she said. Only after she said it did she realize she’d been holding her breath.
    He smiled and turned his full attention to Mammi once again. “Are you ready, Anna?”
    â€œDid you give Cassie your phone number?” Mammi said, as if the doctor’s phone number were more important than her pending surgery.
    â€œYes, and she’s got all the instructions.”
    Mammi put her knitting away for good this time. “Can I call you tonight, Doctor?”
    â€œYes, call me anytime you like, and I’ll call to check on you too.”
    Mammi reached over and took Cassie’s hand, then grabbed Dr. Reynolds’s hand as well. “And when will you come and visit us? Felty, do you have a piece of paper?”
    Dawdi looked up and smiled at Mammi. “Sorry, Annie. Didn’t bring any.”
    â€œI’ve got to have something, Felty dear.”
    Dawdi tore a corner out of one of the pages in his magazine and handed it to Mammi. “Is this okay?”
    Mammi took the paper, wrote on it, and handed it to the doctor. “Here is our address. Just plug it into the map on your phone, and