A Doctor's Vow

“Can’t I be a member of both groups?” She heard the timidity in her own voice. Two heads swiveled to stare at her.

“Pro ladies have no relationship with Hope Circle. We stand for different things.” Heddy Grange’s rigid shoulders tightened even more.

Jaclyn swallowed hard and searched for some middle ground.

“But at the last meeting you discussed doing something to start restoration on the church. Hope Circle is also going to initiate fundraising for that.” The moment the words left her lips, Jaclyn knew it was the wrong thing to say.

“You copied our project?” Heddy’s voice rose with every word. “How dare you?”

“How dare you?” Missy Sprat snapped back. “We chose it first.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Ladies, please. Does it matter that you have both chosen to help the place where we all go to meet God?” Jaclyn thought the role of peacemaker ill-suited to her, but in this instance she had little choice. This was her fault. “Aren’t both of your groups really trying to extend God’s love? Can’t that be done better by working together? Won’t He bless all efforts to restore His house?”

The two frowned at her. Their silence lasted only a few seconds before the wrangling began again. Jaclyn laid a hand on each arm.

“I’m sorry, ladies. Perhaps it’s better if I resign from your groups,” she told them in a no-nonsense tone. “The church is an important part of my faith which is why I wanted to help restore it. I never meant to cause problems between you. I apologize.” Then she turned and walked down the street, aware the women were staring at her retreating back.

“Trouble?” Kent stood in front of his father’s building clad in jeans and a faded chambray shirt. His blue gaze hid behind sunglasses. “The three of you don’t look very happy—you least of all, Doc.”

“Happy? No, that would not apply to me at this precise moment in time.” Jaclyn grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. “Please, can we go inside?”

“Need to escape, huh?” His rumbling chuckle shook his shoulders as he unlocked the door. “As mayor, I’ve come to know that feeling very well.”

“Why didn’t you warn me about what I was walking into?” Jaclyn flopped down on the sawhorse and exhaled. “I’ve probably ruined any church restoration plans.”

“I doubt it.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Those two were vying for supremacy long before you showed up in Hope. I don’t think your presence here has changed much.”

But Jaclyn couldn’t laugh. She’d added to the friction in town and she felt awful. “I should have minded my own business.”

“What happened?” he asked. Before she could finish her explanation he burst out laughing.

“This is not a laughing matter!” She glared at him.

“Sometimes you have to laugh. Or cry at the stupidity of it all.” His smile disappeared. “It really isn’t your fault. They would have found something to argue about. That’s how stupid this quarrel is.”

“But I want to be part of the town. That’s why I joined those groups, to work toward a common goal. I had this dumb idea that maybe I could make up for the past.” She bit her lip. “Instead, I’ve probably alienated them so much they’ll never speak to each other.”

“Oh, they’ll speak to each other. Otherwise holding the grudge would be pointless.” He smiled at her. “Forget about it. You tried to help. Let it go.”

“I can’t. Somehow I’ve got to do something to restore that church. If I can do that, maybe the town will find healing there.” She blinked, suddenly noticing the floor. “What happened?”

“Mildew. I had to tear out the carpet. Then I found some of the floor boards damaged. The roof leaked during the summer.” He scuffed his cowboy boot against a newly installed sheet of plywood. “Renovating this place is like removing an old woman’s makeup. You just keep pulling away layers.”

“I’m not sure I like the allusion.” She frowned. “Why do men always use women as their scapegoats? Cars are ‘she.’ Fires are ‘she.’” Jaclyn saw his shoulders shake with laughter and sighed. “Now I’m bickering! It’s contagious.”

“Yep. That’s why I say forget it. It can get you down if you let it.” Kent pulled off his sunglasses and studied her. “We can’t afford to lose you, or let you get caught up in somebody else’s feud. You’ve got things to do in Hope, remember?”

And suddenly she did remember. “Oh, brother, now I’ve done it.”

“What?” After a moment he stopped and leaned nearer. “You look funny.”

“I feel sick.” She slid off the sawhorse onto an upended pail. “How could I be so stupid?”

“What?”

“Kent, I promised I’d speak at those ladies’ groups.” She watched his smile die.

“What, both of them?”

She nodded. “Separately, of course.”

“Well, in light of today’s argument, maybe they’ll cancel and find somebody else,” he offered.

“By tonight?” She shook her head. “Heddy told me how hard it’s been to get speakers. Hope isn’t exactly sitting in the mainstream of a speaking route. She seemed to like my fundraising ideas and wanted me to tell the Pros about them. Truthfully I was kind of looking forward to it, too. I thought it would make things easier if I provided a little history about my night of terror.” She groaned. “Why didn’t I shut my mouth? Why did I even try?”

“Because you are generous and trying to help. Relax.” Kent pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Hey, Margie. This is the mayor.” He listened for a minute, laughed and then said, “Is there a ladies’ group meeting tonight?” His blue eyes twinkled as he listened to the response. “Okay. Sounds like a good time. Thanks.” He flipped the phone closed. “It’s on and so are you. Apparently the word has gone out about your fundraising ideas for the church and a fair crowd is expected. Margie said she just talked to Heddy and nothing’s been canceled, not tonight and not tomorrow night.”

“I guess I’ll show up then.” Jaclyn got hung up on the dimple that sometimes appeared when his eyes crinkled with laughter. “Thanks, Kent. I hope you’ll pray for me while I’m there. It’s funny but walking into the church’s basement makes me feel like Daniel going into the lions’ den.”

He chuckled but he didn’t say he’d pray.

She checked her watch. “Yikes! I’ve got an appointment. I have to go.”

“So I guess that means you won’t be by tonight to work,” he teased before she dragged open the door.