Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Chapter 6: INTRODUCTIONS

"Well, here we are." Hank said as he pulled up in front of a large white house. Lu glanced around as she stepped out of the car.

"Here goes nothin'," she said under her breath as she and her son followed Dr. Hastings to the front door. Hank rang the doorbell. Seconds later the door opened and Lu found herself face to face with seven strangers.

"Hi everyone." Hank said. "I'd like you all to meet Dr. Luisa Delgado and her son Marc."

"Welcome to our home, Dr. Delgado." Eric Camden said as he stepped aside, allowing them to come into the house. "I'd like you to meet my family. This is my wife Annie, and our children Matt, Lucy, Mary, Simon and Ruthie." He pointed at each child as he introduced them. Annie Camden smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Delgado."

"Please, call me Lu." Lu said after the introductions had been made.

"Can I call you Lu too?" Lu smiled down at the youngest Camden daughter.

"Of course you can."

"Let's all go into the living room where we can get acquainted." Annie said, ushering them all away from the door.

"Can I get you some coffee, Lu?" Annie asked.

"That'd be nice, thank you." Lu answered.

"Can I get you anything, Marc?" Annie asked the young boy who sat quietly on the couch beside his mother.

"No, thank you." Annie excused herself and hurried into the kitchen.

"Maybe someone could give your mother a hand?" Eric suggested, looking at his two eldest daughters.

"Uh...sure. We'll be right back." Mary and Lucy hurried from the room. They found their mother standing in the middle of the kitchen holding a tray with 4 cups of coffee.

"Mom? Is anything wrong?" Lucy questioned.

"Uh...no. I was just thinking that she looks awful familiar, like I should know her." Annie answered.

"But that's impossible. She lives in Philadelphia. We've never even been there." Mary pointed out. Annie nodded.

"I guess you're right. I guess maybe she just resembles someone I know." Mary and Lucy glanced at each other as they followed their mother back into the living room. Annie handed Lu, Eric, and Hank a cup of coffee, then sat down beside her husband.

"I appreciate you letting Marc and I stay here." Lu said, trying to break the tension that seemed to fill the room. Annie smiled.

"We're glad to have you both. Lu, you'll be sharing a room with Mary. And Marc, you'll be sharing a room with Simon. I hope those arrangements are okay with you." Lu nodded.

"Sure, that will be fine. Thanks." Simon jumped up from his place on the floor.

"Come on, Marc. I'll show you where you can put your stuff."

"Okay, thanks." Marc grabbed his suitcase and followed Simon Camden upstairs.

"If you'd like, I can show you where you'll be staying." Mary told Lu. Lu nodded.

"I'd like that. I would like to freshen up a bit. Please excuse me." Eric and Annie nodded as Lu followed Mary upstairs. Hank glanced at Eric and Annie.

"So? What do you think?"

"She seems like a nice person." Eric said quickly, then looked at his wife. "Annie?"

"She...she seems nice. But she looks like someone I knew once. I just can't put my finger on it."

"I told her on the way over here that on Monday I will pick her up and take her to the clinic to show her around. I really think she will benefit the clinic. Robert Jackson said she is a caring, devoted woman."

"I hope it works out." Annie stated. "I really do." Eric and Hank glanced at each other, both hearing the doubt in her voice.

"It will work." Eric said. "It will work." Hank glanced at his watch.

"I need to run. I have a few patients to check on at the hospital. Thanks again for allowing them to stay here. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye Hank." Eric and Annie said in unison.

"It will work, Annie." Eric said, trying to reassure his wife that they had made the right decision by allowing Lu and Marc to stay with them."

"I hope you're right." Annie replied, then excused herself to go upstairs to check on the twins, who were taking a nap. Eric remained seated on the couch. Something seemed to be bothering Annie. But what was it? He wasn't sure, but he knew that it must have something to do with their house guest. And he was determined to find out what it was.