Free The Doctor's Blessing by Patricia Davids Page B

must be lonely.”
    Tipping her head to the side, Amber said, “You’re right. She is. Her family is gone or moved away.”
    “She needs a hobby or, better yet, a cause.”
    “A cause?”
    “Yes, doing something for others helps diminish our own troubles.”
    “Very wise. Did Harold teach you that?”
    “No, my stepfather. He got my mother involved in raising money for a women’s shelter shortly after they were married.”
    “Sounds like a worthy cause.”
    “It is.”
    “What’s your cause?” She was curious about every aspect of his life.
    “Me? Getting my practice up and running and hitting the beach when I can.”
    Disappointed, she said, “Not very altruistic.”
    “Maybe I’m trying to maintain the stereotype of surfers as self-centered thrill seekers.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “I’m familiar with stereotyping.”
    Grinning, he said, “I thought you might be. If you must know, I’m on the board of a private relief agency called Surf Care. It’s an agency that combats diseases inside the prime surfing areas of Indonesia.”
    “I’ve never heard of it.”
    “I’m not surprised. A friend of mine, a doctor named Jake Taylor, started Surf Care. Jake wanted to show our thanks to the people of Indonesia for allowing us to surf in their islands. Jake was horrified at the poverty and suffering he saw when he first traveled there. He quickly saw that ninety percent of the suffering could be prevented with simple medications.”
    “That’s very noble of him, and of you.”
    “Thanks. We’ve been working together on the project since day one. To date, we’ve raised more than one million dollars for treatment teams and supplies.”
    He had surprised her once more. In a good way.
    Tipping his head, he regarded her intently. “So what is your cause, besides mothers and babies?”
    “I’m active in my Ohio midwifery chapter, and I foster animals for the local Humane Society.”
    “No kidding? Are you like a dog whisperer person?”
    “No, I’m the woman with the food bowl.”
    He laughed. The masculine sound of pure joy sent a thrill straight to her heart. Still chuckling, he asked, “How many animals do you have?”
    A number of other families were gathering in the area so they began walking toward a small footbridge that arched over the stream behind the church.
    Amber said, “I’ve had as many as four. Right now I have one. A big white cat named Fluffy.”
    “How original.” Humor danced through his voice. His smile brightened his often-stern face and made him even more attractive.
    Shaking her head, Amber said, “I didn’t name him. The shelter did.”
    “How does fostering an animal work?”
    “The shelter has a limited amount of space. When they have more pets than they have room for, they send them to fosterfamilies. Sometimes they stay a week, sometimes a month, but they always go back and then to good homes.”
    They had reached the bridge and Amber stopped to lean on the wooden railing. The water in the small stream slipped like quicksilver over and around the stones in its race down the hillside from its birthplace in the bubbling spring that had given the town its name.
    Phillip stopped beside her and leaned his forearms on the rail, too. “This is a pretty little spot.”
    “It’s one of my favorites.”
    Amber kept her gaze on the water. How did he do this? How could he twist her around so easily? Each time they were together she started out annoyed with him, and for good reason. Then before long she was sharing a sandwich or cinnamon roll or her favorite spot with him and wishing their time together wouldn’t end. It was perplexing in the extreme.
    He turned around and leaned against the railing. “I’ve found some very lovely things to admire in Hope Springs.”
    She stared at her hands. “Now you’re making fun of us. Hawaii is much more beautiful.”
    “Each place has its own unique beauty, just as each person does.”
    Surprised, she gazed up at him.