New Happiness, Begins
The Part 52

"Kendall didn't say he was leaving when he arrived from Atlanta yesterday" Hailey said.

David made fun of his lips.The way Hailey avoided eye contact, he knew the woman wasn't really honest.

Hailey frowned at the orange-colored fat floating in the vegetable soup bowl. "Honestly, David, Molly does need to learn how to cook. People wouldn't want to eat here to pay."

Recalling Hailey's poisoned chicken salad sandwich, David raised his eyebrows.

Hailey blushed. "I'm not saying that I can manage this place."

Realizing Hailey's attempt to divert the conversation, David knows the woman knows something about Kendall's departure from Happiness. "What I'm more worried about is that this town doesn't have a doctor, not some award-winning soup."

Hailey looked at him with a huffed face. "How about you ask Kendall yourself when she's leaving?" Hailey's face paled. "I mean if he's going to leave." Hailey glanced at the watch. "Well, look, it's noon. Medical room is open today. We'll download some movies and invite the workers to watch them on the big screen TV later tonight." Hailey gave a cheering smile to David. "You should come. Kendall must be there."

David nodded and raised one hand to wave after Hailey had moved away. Hailey was right. She should have asked Kendall herself about her plan to leave Happiness. She's probably been at the clinic, where she's been since they came back from Atlanta yesterday. David has to admit... Little Doctor Ma'am tried her hardest to organize the clinic before leaving. uh, they. Leaving them.

He stood with great difficulty and was walking out of the dining room when he saw the unknown dark sedan stopping on the street. David squinted his eyes. Denville's license plate and the driver's man.

The man lowered the window and pushed his glasses up. "Sorry, I'm looking for Doctor Jenner."

David's confusion was answered. This is the doctor Harry has sent an e-mail to replace Kendall? Doctor Fai Kadra. David frowned, knowing the arrival of the man would only hasten Kendall's departure.

Then his face brightened. Maybe he should tell Doctor Kadra what he's up against. The man is not too strong. With a proper "introduction" to Happiness, he might change his mind about his plans to stay.

David grinned widely. "Doctor Jenner is waiting for you. Step aside, I'll take you to her."

Doctor Kadra seemed to hesitate. "You who?"

"David Booker's. My brother and I own this town."

The man obeyed David's orders, apparently to please potential employers. When he got out of the car, David was already sitting at the ATV.

"Let's ride!" Exclaims. Doctor Kadra, who was wearing a pantalon, shirt, tie and sports jacket, looked doubtful. "It's the easiest way to get around the mountains" explains David.

The man had not been able to sit when David stepped on the gas pedal. "Hand!"

Doctor Kadra found a grip on the back of the seat just before he fell. "Where are we going?"

"Doctor Jenner's at the clinic, but I know a shortcut." David directs the ATV out of the paved road and into a small rocky path. The road eventually turned behind the clinic, but only after passing steep inclines and derivatives. "We can see the whole city from up here."

"So there's something else to see?" Shouted Doctor Kadra, seemingly clinging tightly to maintaining self-safety.

"Not really," said David cheerfully. "You should probably duck." David leaned over to pass under the low branches of the tree, suddenly pleased that he had not been here lately to clear the path. Behind him, Doctor Kadra ducked low, jerking to one side.

They climbed higher and higher and David made sure they passed every rock and wheel along the way. When they reached the plateau, David stopped the ATV on the cliff while still turning on the engine. "The view is beautiful, right?"

"Storm," David said firmly. "To be exact, the F-5 whirlwind. Flatten everything that the eyes see."

Doctor Kadra gulped, his jakun looked up and down. "Storms hit this place often?"

"Oh, yes," David lied. "At this altitude, a storm can appear suddenly. We should always watch the sky."

Doctor Kadra looked up worriedly.

David changed gears, "Ready?"

Before Doctor Kadra could answer, David had advanced the vehicle. He went down the slope, happy to feel the man's body being jumped on the seat behind him. At the foot of the hill, he slowed down the pace to cross the shallow Timber Creek boys, but still at a speed that made them equally drenched as they splashed with water. On the other side, he stopped the vehicle abruptly.

"Dam."

"Why?" doctor Kadra asked, removing the handle long enough to flick the kecamata and wiping the water grains from the lens with the end of the tie.

David pointed to a raccoon trail in soft mud beside the stream, which had already widened as a result on a broomstick. "Bears tracks."

The doctor's eyes widened. "bear tracks? What kind?"

"Grizzly." David clucked miserably as he looked around. "We'd better get out of here."

Doctor Kadra's face paled, then he removed the grip behind the seat and wrapped his hands around David's waist. David held back a smile, then slid off, speeding as fast as he dared on the muddy and rocky road until the back of the clinic was visible.

"Well, we've arrived" he said, slowing the ATV to a stop next to the excavation hole that will be fitted with a signpost that the clinic will operate soon.

David shuts off the engine just as Kendall emerges from the main entrance of the modular building. The woman was wearing jeans and a dusty t-shirt, holding the clipboard. When he saw the slim figure of the woman, David's heart raced. Kendall looked over and saw the two men. David was disillusioned when Kendall's gaze passed him and was fixed on the man who was descending from the back of the ATV cautiously. The woman stared, folding her hands near her stomach.

"Would you like to come here?" tanyakanya.

David frowned, puzzled as the drenched man walked up to Kendall until their distance was very close.

"Hi Kendall."

Kendall looked confused. "Daniel... Why are you here?"

David's stomach is wrapped around. Daniel's? Kendall's ex-fiance?

"I came to look for you" said Daniel. "I have to see you."

Kendall doesn't believe her vision. If there was one sight he thought he would never see, the answer would be the sight of Daniel and David side by side.

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