Free Dr. Dad by Judith Arnold

decompressing, seeking her own counsel and all that. She ought to steer clear of the sexy doctor next door and his moody daughter.
    Every ought-to flew out of her mind as Lindsey drew near. Susannah recalled how Lindsey had bolted from the table last Friday night because of her. Maybe she could repair the damage she’d unintentionally inflicted.
    â€œHey,” she called out.
    The girl stopped at the edge of the lawn and stared.
    Susannah recalled that the damage had been related to the fact that Lindsey believed she was someone worthy of being stared at. Lindsey had been disappointed that Susannah didn’t think highly of her own celebrity. Perhaps, if she could convince Lindsey she was just an ordinary human being, Lindsey would relax around her and they could be friends.
    When Lindsey said nothing, Susannah asked, “Do the flowers look okay over there?”
    â€œUm…yeah. They look great.”
    â€œYou think so?”
    Lindsey seemed to thaw a little. “I love hanging plants. I wish we had a porch like yours so we could have hanging plants, too.”
    â€œThe porch was one of the things that sold me on this house.” Susannah scrutinized Lindsey across the expanse of grass. Lindsey’s posture was that of a girl who’d just sprouted breasts and was a little embarrassed about them. Her smile was shy, hesitant. Her schoolbag hung from a strap over one shoulder, its waterproof purple surface bulging with lumps from books and clutter.
    â€œI’ve still got some pictures to hang inside. Any chance you could lend me a hand? I can’t decide where I want them. I’d love it if you could give me some ideas.”
    Lindsey looked behind her, as if not quite sure Susannah was talking to her. She turned back, apparently stunned. “You want me to help?”
    â€œWe both think this porch is nice, so we probably have similar tastes. You can tell me if I’m hanging the pictures straight.”
    Lindsey’s face lit up. She started across the grass, then paused and glanced toward her own house. “I’m supposed to go straight home from school,” she said. “Dad’ll have a cow if I don’t go home.”
    â€œHow about if we give him a call and see if it’s okay with him,” Susannah suggested.
    The light returned to Lindsey’s smile. She bounded across the grass, running with the fleet grace of an athlete. “This is so cool,” she said. “I know your house so well because my best friend used to live here. Cathy Robinson. Her dad got transferred to Atlanta and they had to move. But we used to hang out in each other’s houses all the time.” Bubbling with energy, she preceded Susannah into the house, her familiarity with it obvious. “We weren’t allowed in the living room too much,” she informed Susannah, letting her backpack slide from her shoulder and hit the hardwood floor of the entry hall with a thump. “Cathy’s mother wouldn’t let us. She had expensive stuff in there. White couches and stuff. It was pretty, but it seemed kind of stupid to me. I mean, what’s the point of having a living room if you can’t even use it? I like your living room much better,” she declared, marching through the arched doorway into the still starkly decorated room and heading straight for the cat, which lay curled in a patch of sunlight on the rug. “Hey, MacKenzie! Remember me?”
    Observing from the doorway, Susannah grinned. This was the Lindsey she’d met Friday afternoon, thetalkative, exuberant girl full of spunk. MacKenzie seemed happy to see her, too. Usually, he didn’t take kindly to being awakened from a nap, but when Lindsey stroked his back he stirred, yawning and arching against her hand.
    Susannah had intended to have Lindsey telephone her father, but she was too busy stroking Mac. Abandoning them in the living room, Susannah headed for the kitchen alone. She carried