New Happiness, Begins
Part 12's

"Try turning on the engine now" David said in a lazy tone.

Kendall complies, but of course, without fuel, the car engine will not be able to turn on.

David tapped on the flashlight on the machine's crutch, then exclaimed, "Again."

Kendall turned the ignition, but again nil.

After a few seconds, David slammed the hood of the car and rubbed his hands on the jeans. "I'm sorry, it looks like you have to be trapped for some time."

Kendall stuck her head out the window. "What's wrong?"

David shrugged, being vigilant so as not to lie too much. "The causes can vary. It's hard to know in the dark. Better get the mechanic to check in the morning."

Kendall's mouth is open. "Tomorrow morning?"

"Everybody is partying." Obviously David while pointing his thumb behind his shoulder, towards the barbecue party. "Except us."

Kendall frowned. "I thought you went with Hailey."

"My ankles hurt, so I told him to go alone. I was resting on the porch when I saw you sneaking out."

"You took the pain pills I gave you?"

"sure."

Kendall came down and slammed the car door. "I didn't sneak out."

"Do you need help lifting a suitcase?"

"You're on crutches" Kendall said, reminding David, then opened the back door and pulled his stuff out. "Is it safe to leave my car in the middle of the road?"

"Trail traffic here is not crowded. I'll have some men come back and push him to the side." David promised while aligning Kendall's steps. For the size of the small-bodied woman, she was really strong lifting those suitcases. At the foot of the stairs he turned.

"Why are you following me?"

David backwards. "Because you're staying until tomorrow morning, I think we can go to the barbecue party together."

"You should be in bed."

David's mouth was dry, because being this close to Little Doctor's Mother was very messing with his common sense. The smell of lemon soap the woman was wearing infiltrated her nose. Why did he suddenly think of the flexible body of the doctor lying naked on a soft bed? David moved clumsyly, while he imagined the innuendos that would tempt most women. But he had gotten into trouble because he had already opposed this one woman too much, and he did not dare to force it any further.

"I don't want to miss the party." said David at last, then he smiled broadly. "But I'd rather be under medical supervision."

"I told you I don't want to go!"

When unexpectedly Kendall's eyes glazed over, David almost ran away. Tears outside of his skills.

After all, he's a modern guy. Women have the right to act as they wish. With or without family land, he has no right to force the doctor to change his mind. After Kendall gallops up the stairs to fight the night alone, David gets out and reconnects the gas line. The doctor can leave tomorrow morning as planned and forget all about Happiness. They can find another doctor.

But, damn it. Those tears. Those tears made Kendall's eyes sparkle beautifully on her pale skin. He looked small and fragile, standing there with his chin raised. Unexpectedly, a protective instinct stuck out in David's chest.

Then Harry's words ring in his ears. Starting from broken limbs that must be treated, forced kissing, to bathing in cold water, the speech was not at all friendly. David did not know the reason that made the woman cry, and painkillers were limited.

"You have to eat something" David said

As if siding, Kendall's stomach howled like a wild animal.

David took advantage of the opportunity. "One of our crew from Memphis can cook the most delicious barbecue you've ever tasted."

Kendall did not react, but did not run, so David continued. "Again, I'm sure my brother wants to say good-bye."

Kendall threw away her face, then looked at her again with worry. David cheered with a small smile. Kendall bowed. "All right." It sounds lost. "Give me a few minutes to put my suitcases in my room, and then I'll come down again."

Frustrated at being unable to help and for reasons unknown, David watches over Doctor Jenner, who tries to lift her suitcase up the stairs. The woman's shoulder sagged and walked in lethargy. David frowned. Usually the woman who will spend the night with him looks more carefree.

Then those beautiful eyes flashed in his mind, and David clenched his lips.

He was willing to endure one of his inconveniences.

...****************...

Kendall pushed open the door of the room in the corner she had left a few minutes ago, looked for a light switch overhead and brought in the suitcase she then placed.

A wave of defeat swept him away. Inwardly knowing that he would not be stranded here forever, that he could have left after his car was repaired. But emotionally, he was on the verge of every turn. And in general, he's being punished for doing something that's not his character at all, like leaving the family practice in Denville and coming to a primitive town in the North in the hope of opening a new chapter.

Kendall shakes. Coming here was the dumbest thing he had ever done without thinking.

Suddenly his grandfather's advice fluttered, that the situation would look better tomorrow morning. Given the surroundings, it would not be so strange if Kendall thought of her grandfather. The woman built a family in an industrial city with a crowded car in Denville, but spent her childhood in the small town. His grandfather often uttered rural proverbs. For the first time, Kendall wondered if she was interested in coming here because her grandfather had made rural life so peaceful.

Suddenly it occurred to him that the old man had already seasoned reality for the benefit of his only grandchild.

Kendall went into the bathroom to wash a little of her face with cold water. The only thing that happiness has in abundance. He dried his face with a small towel, then looked at him in the mirror. Pale, with dark circles under the eyes and red spots on the cheeks. But he does not have time to fix all that, it does not mean the lack of expertise in dressing up makes a difference. The least he could do was trace his fine hair with a brush comb to make it more fluffy. Then he rebuked himself, it was a date.

He agreed to accompany David Booker to the barbecue party just because the presumptuous man needed to be in the monumenti for the next few hours, who knows he had complications due to the fall.

Abdominal sounds.

And because he was hungry.

Kendall stepped up the stairs again and ignored the small spike in her heart as she watched David Booker waiting for her. The guy's really handsome and Kendall realizes he won't be his criterion. But he'll be in Happiness, Carolina, just a few hours away, and missing it by being in the hands of a handsome guy is way more interesting, even though the guy invites him just because....

...****************...