The next day was Ford's day off at the clinic. He walked downstairs to check up on Holly, who was still reading the book he gave her yesterday. Since she looked like she was doing a little better, he let her browse his library upstairs. She was in awe at his collection. "This is amazing," she whispered, "you have all my favorites… Ernest Hemingway, Jane Eyre, Robert Stevenson… I love it."
Ford leaned against the doorway as he looked at her eyes captivated by his library. He realized that this was the first time she started to resemble the happy girl in the photograph… He began to pat his pockets… 'The photograph…shit….' At that moment, he realized that the picture was still in the pocket of his lab coat Holly was now wearing. 'God… She is going to think that I am some kind of creep or stalker… How am I going to get that picture out of her pocket,' he thought to himself as he poured them both glasses of iced tea.
His hands shook nervously as he handed the glass to her. "Are you alright, doctor?" she asked, noticing his shaking. He smiled and nodded, taking a sip out of his own glass.
She drank her tea as she read one of the books from his collection. While Ford was fretting over what to do about the picture. Both were unaware of the blonde postmaster sneaking up behind the sofa. Wayne leaned in between them and yelled obnoxiously loud, "HOWDY THERE FOLKS!"
Ford was used to it by now, but it scared Holly, who was engrossed in her book. Her glass of tea fell in her lap during the startle. "Dr. Ford, I'm sorry." She said, trembling, "I spilled it on your jacket."
Ford jumped up and gave a totally different reaction from yesterday. "It's fine. I can get that stain out, " He said as he ran downstairs, where her old clothes were freshly washed and dried. He brought the stack to her and awkwardly continued, "Here, go ahead and change into this. The bathroom is over there.…." For once, Ford was grateful for Wayne being his best friend and the biggest asshole.
Wayne eyed Ford suspiciously, and while Holly was changing, he asked, "I don't remember you ever offering your jacket to a lady before."
"Don't read too much into this," Ford replied.
Wayne had been friends with Ford since they were kids, so he knew something was up. He pressed further, "I also don't remember you inviting another woman up to your room…well except Ms. Miranda when you had the flu…but she doesn't count."
Ford ignored Wayne, knowing he would just continue to irritate him. At that moment, Holly stepped out in her dress and handed him the clothes. Ford took them and said, "I'll be right back." Rather than go into the closest bathroom to get the stain out. Ford ran downstairs, and Wayne knew something was up. He followed Ford down the stairs and peeked around the corner to see him pull something out of the breast pocket and slid it in the drawer. While Ford went into the downstairs bathroom to remove the stain, Wayne walked over to his desk and looked inside to see what Ford was hiding. He was delighted to see a photograph of the woman upstairs.
Ford peaked his head out of the bathroom and asked in a lowered voice, "What are you doing at my desk, Wayne?"
Wayne looked at Ford with a big ole smile and said, "I am just so proud. My little boy is growing up. So, do I hear wedding bells in your future?"
Ford rolled his eyes and said, "I just haven't had a chance to return that picture to Frank. He gave it to me when we were searching for her."
Wayne replied, "Well, I would be happy to bring the photo back for you if it would be easier for you." He smirked as he shook his bag and noticed a mildly startled look on Ford's face.
"Well, I uh…ugh you are just toying with me…."Ford muttered.
"Yes, and it is so much fun. So when are you going to ask Holly out?" Wayne asked.
Ford hung the clothes from the shower rod up to dry and replied, "She is my patient, nothing more. Now, if you want to eat lunch with us, I highly suggest you drop it."
Wayne nodded and conceded, "I will…for now."
…
Holly's parents paced back and forth as they spoke with Neil, what would have been Holly's husband had she not ran off. Neil slammed his fist on the kitchen table, "You will not get a cent of my money if she is not returned to me pronto! I will not have this kind of disobedience!" He screamed at them.
Holly's mother, Marlena, tried to console him, "Now calm down, dear. She couldn't have gotten that far away on foot." She looked over to her husband and said, "Daryl, I told you we should have told her why we were encouraging the marriage. She might have stayed if she knew how much money this partnership would generate out business."
Daryl scoffed, "You know that girl, she always has her head in the clouds. Reading books like little house on the prairie and wanting to grow up to be a farmer. What century does she think she's in. She's just like her grandfather."
Neil interrupted their banter and threatened, "Well, I suggest if you don't want to live on a farm, you hunt her down. She is mine!"
…
Later that day, Wayne met up with Brad and Frank at the Garden Grill. Brad set a beer in front of them and asked, "How is that new girl doing? She's your niece, right Frank?"
"I visited her right before I came here," Frank explained, "She is still beaten up from that fall from the horse, but she looks like she is getting better. I found her doing her favorite pastime when I walked in…reading."
Wayne smiled at them both and said, "Oh yeah, I have a little bit of hot gossip if you want to hear Frank. I guarantee you will be interested in hearing it."
All of a sudden, Brad's wife Carrie came out of nowhere and said, "OOOOOOH, I love gossip! Spill the beans, Wayne."
Miranda also heard the word gossip and walked all the way across the restaurant and said, "People only talk about other people because they have nothing interesting happening in their life."
Wayne gave her a smug look and asked, "What about those who listen?"
Miranda started to laugh and answer, "Usually, they have even less happening. Now, what's going on?"
The group snickered, and Wayne continued, "I think Ford is sweet on Holly."
"Ford? I think you are mistaken, Wayne. "I have never seen him look even remotely at anyone," Frank brushed it off.
Miranda countered, "Maybe not, but he is still a man with natural wants and needs. I am sure he wants a family one day…."
"What makes you think he is interested," Carrie asked.
"He let her wear his lab coat… You know how much of a germophobe he is…and he allows her to read through the books in his library upstairs," Wayne explained.
"That's unusual for Ford, but I wouldn't exactly call it solid evidence," Brad countered, "Mirabelle, you met the girl. How did he act around her when you visited?"
Mirabelle thought about it and answered, "Honestly, I didn't say much while she was there…." She paused as all four of them gave her looks that clearly said, 'yeah right,' and continued, "Ford called me because he said she needed clothes. I brought some for her to try on, but she fell while trying on the first outfit. So Ford sent me into the waiting room while he helped her up, and when he returned, he gave me her size and ordered specific types of dresses for her. Unless she has some religious reason, I can't imagine why a girl with her body would want to wear long-sleeved floor-length dresses."
Frank shook his head, "Nope, not my Holly. She never was much on religion."
"She's a bookworm and non-religious… They really are a match made in heaven," Carrie commented.
Wayne wondered whether he should mention the photograph on Ford's desk. But he decided against it because he didn't want Frank to take it away from him if Ford really was interested. So instead, he looked at Frank and jokingly asked, "Are you ready for Ford to be part of the family?"
Frank just laughed and replied, "Eh, we have plenty of nuts in our family tree…What's one extra squirrel?"
