Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Because of this, they never ran out of vegetables or fruit.

After a little over a month, Dean's leg was finally healed.

Not long after, he was out again making house calls, while Maja stayed home to hold down the fort.

One afternoon, as Dean listened to an old man's lungs, the elderly man grabbed his hand, his smile toothless but bright. "Dean, that girl of yours is something special. When are you two going to make it official? Think this old man could have a drink at your wedding before I'm gone?"

Dean smiled as he listened to the man breathe. "Don't worry, sir, you'll definitely get to toast at my wedding. But you have to take care of yourself, all right?"

The old man looked reassured. Once outside, Dean turned serious with the family. "He's not doing so well. Keep his spirits up, but I think you should take him to the hospital in town soon."

He prescribed some medicine to ease the old man's symptoms and suggested they let him rest for a while.

Dean helped the family find a car to get the old man to the hospital. Since he knew the patient's situation best, he'd be going with them.

at his house to grab some

thanks," she

some money. "If you don't feel like cooking, just go next door to Mrs. Taylor's and have a meal. I'll

Dean was gone, leaving Maja alone in the

patient, doubled over in pain. The symptoms were familiar, and although Maja wasn't a doctor, she bravely fetched the medicine, remembering how Dean handled this before. "I'm not a doctor, but I've seen Dean treat this before. My

lying on the bed, the other sitting nearby,

Maja checked on them, then went back to reading Dean's old medical

moving to this place-no phone, no internet-books had ĕ become her only entertainment. She read, tearned about herbs, practiced

sweet dream she'd had earlier:

after her across a

of cookies, sharing them with her sister Annie, are you thirsty? Let me get your brother-in-law to bring you

out, "Emmery, can

figure didn't move at first,

figure stirred, grabbed a cup,

up at her. "Do you know