Free A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade Page B

you’re a real doctor now? How did that happen?”
    “The usual way, only longer. But I made it.” He glanced at Lillian. “I had just started med school when I was drafted, sent to Korea. But I made it back in one piece and started all over again.”
    “That’s very admirable,” Lillian said sincerely. She admired all the young men and women who had served their country. So many had lost their lives or come home wounded beyond repair.
    “So what’s the plan, Ezra? Coming back home to set up a practice?”
    “No plans for that right now. I’m at Children’s Hospital in Boston,” Ezra explained. “I like practicing in the city. I might come back here someday when I’m old and gray and ready to settle down.”
    “Lillian lives in Boston. She works at the Museum of Fine Arts.” Oliver sounded as if he were bragging about her, Lillian thought, though he hardly had the right.
    “That’s an interesting place to work. What do you do there?” Ezra asked, leaning toward her.
    “I’m an assistant curator in the Egyptian department.”
    “Did you study art history or archaeology?”
    “A little of both,” she answered, impressed that he knew it took a knowledge of many fields to master that era.
    “Lillian’s a very unusual woman,” Oliver cut in. “And I saw her first. Remember that.” Oliver’s warning was delivered in a jesting tone, but Lillian noticed his expression was serious.
    “In this case I might be likely to forget,” Ezra retorted. He smiled at Lillian in a way that made her blush. “You would be better off with me, Lillian. Oliver has a scandalous reputation.”
    “Oh, don’t believe him. He’s just joking.” Oliver’s tone was airy and casual, but a muscle in his jaw tightened and Lillian knew Ezra had hit a nerve.
    “Yes, of course,” Ezra said agreeably. “Oliver and I like to joke around with each other. A pleasure meeting you. Enjoy your lunch.”
    Ezra smiled again at Lillian then slapped Oliver on the shoulder, and the two men made vague promises to meet soon.
    Lillian and Oliver both watched from the window as Ezra left the diner and headed on his way down Main Street. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Oliver or as handsome, Lillian noticed. But he was clever and intellectual, more the type of man she was used to socializing with.
    “You really shouldn’t believe what Ezra said about me,” Oliver told her. “He’s just jealous. He would love to meet a girl like you, beautiful and accomplished and intelligent.”
    Lillian snapped open her menu and glanced at the list of dishes. “Everyone in town is warning me about you,” she pointed out. “Are they all jealous?”
    Oliver laughed and picked up his own menu. “People like to talk about me and my family. You’ll have to get used to that once we’re married. You seem very level-headed. I think you’ll do fine.”
    Lillian dropped her menu and stared at him an instant then looked away, trying to hide her reaction.
    Married, indeed . They hadn’t even ordered lunch yet.
    These outrageous pronouncements seemed to be part of Oliver’s flirting technique. He didn’t mean anything by it, she was sure. The man didn’t have a serious bone in his body.
    Otto approached the table, order pad in hand. “Sorry for the wait, folks.”
    “Now here’s a man who’ll stand up for my character.” Oliverturned to Otto. “Will you kindly tell this young woman that she can trust me?”
    Otto looked surprised. “Trust him? I trust him with my life.” He leaned closer to Lillian, making her feel suddenly uncomfortable. “Didn’t you know this man won the Purple Heart?” He nodded, his expression serious. “That’s right. He saved my life and the lives of about half dozen other soldiers in our unit.”
    “I didn’t even know he served,” Lillian said. Somehow the girls on the beach hadn’t mentioned that chapter of Oliver’s life, nor had Charlotte.
    “He served all right. We were on patrol and—”
    Oliver rested a