Free The Doctor's Undoing by Allie Pleiter

what, in your opinion, should we do about that?”
    An actual smile broke over Mrs. Smiley’s face—a rare sight indeed. “Much as we should do with Nurse Landway—temper their
enthusiasm
.” She gave the final word a tone of disdain.
    â€œPerhaps the September picnic could grant them an appropriate social outing.”
    She considered the suggestion with a hesitant grimace. “Grimshaw and I will discuss the idea and let you know what we decide.”
    Daniel did indeed feel as if Grimshaw and Smiley outnumbered and overrode him some days. The two of them had been mastering the students longer than he’d been director. Should they ever come to a disagreement, Daniel could never imagine how he would reject either of their suggestions. By God’s grace, it had never yet occurred.
    There was one subject that might end up testing that theory, however. “Mrs. Smiley?”
    â€œYes, Dr. Parker?”
    â€œNurse Landway has asked me for permission to arrange for the girls to receive hand-knit socks from a corps of volunteers.” He steepled his hands and chose his words carefully. “I’ve told her I’m in favor of the project so long as each child receives an equal gift. While I don’t much care what color socks the girls wear, I do think the influx of new volunteers could be of use to the Home. I trust you have no objections?”
    â€œSocks? Like Meredith’s little ones that caused such a fuss the other day?” She looked as if she found that a ridiculous idea.
    â€œYes. Socks. In colors, apparently. I know it seems...unusual...but I can’t see the harm in trying, provided no one child is singled out. Any new donations—even if they are time and talents—would be a very good thing for us. And I believe the girls would enjoy it.”
    â€œSocks?” Mrs. Smiley repeated, clearly trying to wrap her sensible mind around so ludicrous an idea.
    â€œSo it seems. I intend to give my approval, unless you have a reason I shouldn’t.”
    â€œAs long as they mind their lessons, I can’t say it matters what’s on their feet.” Her eyes narrowed. “But I think it’s silly.”
    â€œI doubt the girls find it so. But I shall keep my eye on things in any case.”
    â€œYou’ll need to do that, Dr. Parker. Mark my words.” With that, Mrs. Smiley turned and left the room, muttering something about colors and nonsense and enthusiasm.
    Daniel stood and closed his ledgers, glad to now have a task to divert him from midmonth invoices.
Who knows?
he mused to himself as he headed for the hallway.
It might be rather fun to tell Miss Landway she could go ahead with one of her ideas instead of having to constantly rein in her imagination.

Chapter Seven
    D aniel found Miss Landway carrying a load of clean white examination table covers down the hallway toward her office. Her hair, wild as usual, was striving mightily to release itself from the knot she’d wound it in at the back of her neck. Her auburn locks continually struck him as on the verge of escape—which might explain the three different-colored pencils currently sticking out of her bun. Colored pencils. It seems the woman could not even conduct basic correspondence in black and white.
    He’d stopped in her office the other day and, finding her gone, allowed himself a moment to take in the scattered collection of sketches and tiny drawings that decorated her papers and notes. He’d also noticed the bright yellow matting with which she’d framed her profession’s oath. Daniel couldn’t quite decide if he found the bits of color she always left in her wake enjoyable or ridiculous. Perhaps they were both.
    He caught up to her and took the laundry load from her hands before she could utter a syllable of protest. “Allow me.”
    She stopped, sitting back on one hip with—and there was no other way to describe her