(Chapter Twelve)

An Old Friend Returns

It was the middle of summer now, and sometimes the weather became unbearably hot.

Faith was bandaging her last patient's arm when she looked at the thermometer on the wall. She was shocked to read that the temperature was in the high 30's. Faith sighed heavily as she threw out dirty bandages and placed the rest of the clean ones back in the drawers and cupboards.

Carson walked into the room after dealing with a patient. "What seems to be the trouble?" he asked compassionately.

Faith turned around to find his eyes studying her carefully.

"Oh, I'm alright. Really," she responded cheerfully.

"Then why the heavy heart?" he questioned again.

"Oh, nothing. Just . . . the heat!"

"Ah, I see . . ."

"It's so hot, Carson! Sometimes I feel faint from it all."

"Faint?" he asked, trying to hide his worry. He hoped it didn't show.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," she tried to assure him. She had thought he seemed to relax, but then the look of worry returned to his eyes.

"Do you drink enough water?"

"Carson, I'm fine. Really, I'm fine."

"You let me know if it gets worse, alright?"

She nodded. A faint, brief nod that seemed to be enough for him.

Just then the door opened. Expecting to find another patient standing there, they were both surprised to be standing face to face with Rosemary's old friend – Sofia.

"Hello Carson."

"Sofia!"

They embraced for only a moment. To Faith it seemed forever before the two finally let go to look at each other.

"What are you doing here?" Carson asked excitedly.

"Well, I got word that Rosemary and her husband were planning to build a theater. Rosemary asked me to draw a plan for it and invited me back to Hope Valley so that I could take a look at the land and what they wanted exactly." She paused to take a breath.

"Letters take such a long time to arrive! We both thought it would be much more practical for me to come so that we can work out all the details. It is much easier and faster to process things in person than through the mail."

Faith was shocked that she had returned. But her expression turned from worry and fear to relief. At least she knew that Sofia had not returned to Hope Valley just to start things back up with Carson. As far as Faith was concerned, Carson was her's. Although the two were not under an agreement, she felt as though they secretly were. Was it true, or was it only her imagination?

"I could hardly wait to see you!" Sofia said excitedly. Faith had missed pieces of the conversation. She was busy with her thoughts.

"Well, I'm glad you came," Carson said at length.

He remembered his manners as he glanced over at Faith.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Sofia – you remember Faith."

"Oh, yes. Of course," Sofia answered as she saw his eyes sparkle.

The two ladies smiled at each other. Carson almost showed his teeth, but tried to conceal his smile.

"Well, I'd better be going," Sofia said, still smiling. "It sure is a hot one."

Both Carson and Faith silently agreed, but only Carson verbalized his thoughts. "Yes, it sure is."

"Well, I'll let you two get back to your work."

"Please – allow me," Carson said as he held the door open for her. "Would you like me to walk with you?"

Sofia thought about it for a moment, but after glancing over at a helpless-looking Faith, she made up her mind. "No – that's alright Carson," she replied as she slipped from the building.

Faith did not miss the look of worry in Carson's eyes. She had a bad feeling that Sofia would try to sneak into Carson's life again. She secretly hoped that Sofia would get her architect work done and leave Hope Valley as soon as possible, so that Carson and Faith could get back to their lives again. She hoped that her jealousy did not show – at least not too much.