The Back-Up Plan Read Online Free Page A

intersected.
    Donna had been prepared for small and quaint. And it was true that the main thorough that curved through Huntley passed right in front of this place. But it was old and a little creepy looking. The board and batten siding had a fresh coat of sand colored paint—thanks to Patty—but the metal sign mounted above the entrance needed another coat or two. Donna could see the ghost of the former business name beneath the new sandy color… Huntley Meats .
    “Please tell me this wasn’t a butcher shop.” Donna felt sick to her stomach. Every dime she’d had in savings had gone into this venture…into moving close to her only family.
    The plan had sounded so good in theory. Huntley was one of the South’s many small towns in need of a medical clinic. Since the old doctor retired, the closest doctor or hospital was at least thirty miles away. Sam, Patty’s husband, had the perfect house for Donna and Melissa. His aunt had left it to him. It was all just meant to be. Patty would get everything ready, including enrolling Melissa in school on time while Donna remained in Denver to settle the last of that nasty business.
    “No, no,” Patty insisted. “It hasn’t been a butcher shop for decades. Sam’s great-great uncle Silas used it for the lumber mill’s office and then the Martin family bought it for their son who was in medical school. Old Doc Martin ran a clinic here until he retired last year.” Patty slung an arm around Donna’s sagging shoulders. “I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised when we get inside. The electrician’s already here doing the final inspection. And don’t worry about this.” She waved off the exterior concerns Donna voiced. “The new sign will be delivered and installed tomorrow. It’ll cover the past right up.”
    Donna moved her head up and down. She didn’t want to hurt her sister’s feelings. Their parents had died years ago. There was no one left in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, to call family. Patty and Sam had moved from Birmingham nearly a year ago to be near his mother. This was Sam’s hometown. He had a large family. It made sense for Patty and her kids to be here.
    Shame heaped onto the other troubling feelings Donna suffered at the moment. She hadn’t been to visit her sister in nearly a year. Patty and the girls had come to see her and Melissa, but the trouble in Denver had precluded Donna from doing anything but muddling through for months.
    That was finally over. She was here to start fresh with the back-up plan her sister had single-handedly put together for her.
    They would make this work.
    Patty ushered Donna inside and a smile bloomed on her lips. “Wow. Talk about night and day.” If Donna had been shocked when she pulled up outside, she was blown away now.
    “Told you.” Patty beamed a triumphant smile.
    The lobby was small but well done with comfortable gray chairs flanking tables with neat stacks of magazines to keep patients occupied. The tile floors gleamed. A workable area for the receptionist included a partition that separated it from the lobby. Beyond the sliding window were a desk and several file cabinets.
    “This way to your office, Doctor.”
    Grinning like a proud mamma, Patty guided Donna through a door into a long narrow hall. There were six—no seven—doors lining the walls. At the end of the hall the two men gathered around the breaker box didn’t bother looking up.
    “On your left is access to the receptionist area. Beyond that is a supply room, your office and the bathroom. On the right side of the hall you have three small, but serviceable exam rooms.”
    Feeling like a kid in a candy store, Donna peeked in the exam rooms and her office. All were small but clean and well equipped. “This is incredible, Patty.” She gave her sister a hug. “You really did a great job.”
    Patty drew back. “Did you expect anything less?” She made a harrumphing sound. “I’ve got you set up, sister,” she said with a