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“It’s a big deal in The Falls because of so many active military and former veterans.”
“Like you?”
Seth nodded. “Yes, like me. I suppose you noticed the American and US Marine Corps flags attached to the porch.”
“That and the Semper Fidelis decal on the bumper of this car,” she said, laughing softly. “Is it true once a marine, always a marine?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What other holidays do you celebrate big-time?”
“The Fourth of July. We combine that with three nights of carnival rides, games and food contests. Labor Day is a little low-key with family cookouts. Then the whole town also turns out to celebrate Halloween. There are games and a photo gallery where parents can pose in costume with their children. After sunset, there are tailgate parties, hayrides and bonfires with folks taking turns reading ghost stories. It’s the perfect segue to our Fall Frolic, Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Once most of the mines closed and kids were leaving to join the military or find employment elsewhere, those who couldn’t or didn’t want to leave The Falls look forward to the town-wide get-togethers.”
“It must have been fun growing up here with all of the holiday celebrations.”
“It was and still is,” Seth confirmed. “The adults have as much fun as their children.”
* * *
Natalia stared at the passing cars of the freight train, some of them carrying hazardous materials, and remembered the excitement in Johnnie Lee Grand’s voice when he talked nonstop about the upcoming parade and wondered if Seth would become a participant.
“How many people leave and come back?” she asked.
She realized she was asking way too many questions, but it served as a foil not to think about the man sitting inches from her. There was something about Seth that made it impossible for her to ignore him. She found his overall virility, soothing drawling voice and smiling light brown eyes fascinating.
Resting an arm over the back of her seat, Seth exhaled an audible sigh. “Not too many. There was a time when my father was drafted to serve in Vietnam that most of the boys who survived came back to work in the mines like their fathers, grandfathers and generations of men before them. Then after the mines closed, most of those who went into the military didn’t bother to come back because there were no jobs for them. The members of the town council have repeatedly voted down allowing chains to set up here because although it would provide employment opportunities, the downside is it would also put local shopkeepers out of business.”
Natalia turned slightly to give Seth a long, penetrating stare. “What made your dad come back?”
“A pretty girl who was in college studying to become a schoolteacher caught his eye. My father had just begun dating my mother when his number came up. He wanted to marry her before being shipped out, but she refused, saying she didn’t want to be a young war widow. She told him if and when he came back she would marry him. He made it through the war physically unscathed except for occasional flashbacks which plagued him for years. He married my mother and because he was good at fixing things, he started up a home repair business. Dad could glance at a diagram of something and put it together without looking at it again.”
“So, your father was never a coal miner?”
“No. But my grandfather and his father before him were. Grandpa used to say all of us were different colors when we went down in the mines, but at the end of the day when we came out, we were all the same color from the coal dust.”
“And it was the same when they were diagnosed with black lung,” Natalia whispered.
“You’re right about that. Mining was both a blessing and a curse. It provided men with money to take care of their wives and children, but it also destroyed entire families when fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers and uncles were killed or injured because of unsafe conditions. If you travel throughout the state you’ll see memorials erected to honor those who lost their lives in mine disasters.”
Natalia remembered television coverage of a mining disaster in West Virginia when she was in her last year of medical school. Experts reported it was preventable because the owners had neglected to install safety systems. The mines may have closed in and around Wickham Falls, but mining for coal, copper, silver, iron, lead, diamonds, gemstones and other minerals was still in operation in the States and all over the world.
“Why did you come back?”
“Initially I’d planned to make the military my career, but after eighteen years, I came back to be with my mother after my father passed away. My father had retired and my sisters who were living in Georgia were begging them to move closer to their grandchildren. Mom would’ve gone years ago, but Dad didn’t want to leave his buddies who got together every week to play cards and trade war stories. Four months after I became a civilian, the sheriff approached me to join the department as a deputy because he knew I’d been military police. Once I was sworn in, Mom told me she was moving to Savannah, so I utilized my GI bill and bought the house from her. She moved into a townhome several blocks from my younger sister.”
Natalia smiled. “So, you’re one of the rare ones who left and came back to stay.”
The last car of the freight train clattered past as Seth put the car in gear and drove over the tracks. “It wasn’t something I’d planned until I was much older, but even the best made plans can go awry.”
“I hear you,” she said under her breath.
When she’d accepted Daryl’s marriage proposal, Natalia felt as if all of the pieces of her life were falling into place. She’d realized her dream to become a doctor, and had met and fallen in love with a brilliant litigator who’d landed a position with one of Philadelphia’s most prestigious law firms. He had pursued her relentlessly for two years until she’d agreed to become his wife, but then he changed much like a snake shedding his skin when he went from easygoing to someone she didn’t recognized. She’d made allowances for the shift in his behavior to the added responsibility of becoming partner, but once his controlling and ongoing criticisms about her appearance impacted her emotional well-being, Natalia decided she’d had enough and began pushing back. Disagreements escalated into shouting matches after which they wouldn’t speak to each other for days. Physical intimacy declined and then stopped altogether when Daryl spent more time in his condo than he did in hers. They continued to attend social events as a couple unbeknownst to others that their relationship was as fragile as eggshells.
“How long do you intend to work here before you return to Pennsylvania?”
Seth’s query shattered Natalia’s reverie. “I won’t know until the end of next April.”
He gave her sidelong glance. “What’s happening then?”
“That’s when I’ll let Dr. Franklin know if I intend to join his practice as a partner.”
“And if you don’t?”
“Then I’ll have to decide where I want to go. It’ll probably be in another small town because I’ve had enough of municipal hospitals with staff shortages, shrinking budgets and endless bureaucratic red tape. I’ve always wanted to be a small-town doctor and living and working here will give me the experience I’ll need to establish my own practice.”
“Let’s hope you’ll find a permanent home here because we need you.”
Chapter Three
Seth escorted Natalia into the Wolf Den, his hand resting at the small of her back. He felt her go stiff against his palm before she went pliant. When he’d told her that we need you, he had included himself in that equation. He didn’t want her as a girlfriend but as a friend. It had been a few years since he could count a woman among his friends.
The conversations among those seated at the bar stopped when customers spotted him with Natalia. The locals were used to seeing him come in wearing his uniform, but rarely in street clothes or with a woman. He nodded and exchanged greetings with those with whom he had reconnected since returning to The Falls. Transitioning to life as a civilian had gone smoothly for Seth, which he attributed to frequent trips home. He didn’t know what it was, but there was something about his hometown that drew him back again and again. Even when his mother announced that she was moving to Savannah, Seth had the option of reenlisting or becoming a federal agent with the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division. He had taken advantage of his GI education benefit to obtain a bachelor’s in criminal justice and had six remaining credits to complete to obtain a graduate degree in the same field.
He had been truthful with Natalia when he told her he’d wanted to return to live in Wickham Falls, but only after he retired from the military and law enforcement. If he’d served in the corps for twenty years and another twenty as a federal agent he would be fifty-eight, still young enough to enjoy fishing, traveling and tinkering around his house. Not once had the notion of having his own family figured into his future plans once his divorce was finalized.
Seth had known when he married Melissa, life would be challenging for his young wife. She had complained that she felt like a nomad packing up their apartment and moving whenever he received orders to transfer to a different base. The final straw came when he was deployed to Afghanistan. When he returned to the States, it was to discover his wife was carrying another man’s child. Her excuse that she was lonely and he wasn’t there for her fell on deaf ears. Seth filed for divorce, ending their three-year marriage, and then signed up for his second deployment.
“Hey, Seth, where have you been hiding yourself?” the bartender shouted.
One of the regulars, a retired postal worker sitting at the bar, raised his mug of beer. “Fletcher’s right. Me and the boys were talking about not seeing you around. We thought you had re-upped.”
Smiling, Seth patted the older man’s back. “It’s called a vacation, Jesse.”
“Good for you and good for us. Sheriff Jensen would be up the creek if he lost you.” The others sitting at the bar echoed his sentiment. “By the way, who’s your pretty girlfriend?”
Seth stared at Natalia when she glanced up at him. He was suddenly aware that being seen with her would generate some gossip. He lowered his head. “Do you want to introduce yourself?” he said in her ear.
* * *
Natalia knew it was only a matter of time before all of Wickham Falls would know who she was, not as Seth’s girlfriend but as Dr. Franklin’s assistant. “I’m Natalia Hawkins, and Seth and I are just friends,” she added, smiling.
“If that’s the case, I’m available if you’re looking for a boyfriend,” called out a man with a shaved pate, a full strawberry blonde beard and both arms covered with colorful tattoos.
Natalia laughed along with the others. “I just got rid of a boyfriend so I’m really not looking for another one right about now,” she said truthfully.
Seth’s arm curved around her waist. “Let’s find a booth before someone puts a ring on your finger.”
Natalia wanted to tell him someone had put a ring on her finger, and if she could turn back the clock she never would’ve accepted it. “Do women who come here always get propositioned?” she asked Seth.
He waited for her to slip into the booth before sitting opposite her. “I’ve never witnessed it before. I’m glad you took it all in stride because they’re really harmless.”
She smiled, and then lowered her eyes. “I wasn’t insulted.” Natalia wanted to tell Seth that she’d found it flattering that men would flirt with her because it had been much too long since she’d thought of herself as pretty. Wearing scrubs and no makeup had become the norm for her rather than the exception. Even when she’d dressed up for Daryl’s firm’s New Year’s Eve party, what she’d felt inside was reflected in her demeanor when she refused to smile and join in the festivities. It was then she realized no amount of makeup or haute couture could mask the instability of a doomed relationship that was evident by her expression, and now knew moving to Wickham Falls was one of the best decisions she had made in her life, thus far.
The people she’d met were friendly, unpretentious and weren’t afraid to speak their minds. She’d experienced countless catcalls from men who felt it was their right to say whatever came to their mind, but something communicated to Natalia that the men in the Wolf Den were different. She was certain if she had revealed she was Seth’s girlfriend, then the flirting would’ve ended immediately.
“Now that they know you’re not my girlfriend, news is going to spread like a wildfire that you’re available,” Seth said in a quiet voice.
Her eyes met his. “Whether I’m dating anyone or not is not a problem for me because I’m not looking to get into a relationship.”
“Is it true you just got rid of a boyfriend?”
She paused for several seconds, and then said, “He wasn’t a boyfriend but a fiancé.”
“What happened to...” Seth’s words trailed off when a middle-aged waitress with fire-engine red hair came over and placed two menus on the table.
“Hey, handsome,” she crooned, winking at Seth. “I missed seeing you last week.”
* * *
Seth smiled at the woman who’d recently switched with her daughter from the lunch to dinner shift. “I took some time off to visit my mother and sisters.”
“By the way how is your mom?” the waitress asked as she set napkins and place settings on the table.
“She’s well, Sharleen. Thanks for asking.”
“Please send her my regards.” She paused. “Where are your manners, Seth? Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lady friend? Or should I’ve said your girlfriend?”
Seth wondered how many more times he and Natalia would have to deny they were romantically linked; since he’d returned to live in Wickham Falls no one had seen him with a woman. “Natalia, this is Sharleen Weaver. Sharleen, Natalia Hawkins,” he said introducing the women and deliberately ignoring the waitress’s reference to Natalia being his girlfriend.
Sharleen rested her hands at her waist. “It’s nice meeting you, Natalia. Will we get to see you again?”
“I’m sure you will,” Natalia replied.
“Is there anything I can bring you good folks to drink before you order?” Sharleen asked.
Seth angled his head and stared at Natalia. “Do you want anything from the bar?”
“No, thank you. I’ll just have water.”
Sharleen nodded. “Seth, should I bring you your usual?”
“Please, Sharleen.” Leaning against the back of the booth, Seth waited until Sharleen left before focusing his attention on Natalia. She’d mentioned a fiancé and he wondered who’d initiated the breakup. “I’m sorry folks think we’re a couple.”
A slight smile played at the corners of her mouth. “It’s not about me as much as it is about you, Seth,” she countered.
“Why would you say that?”
“You claim you don’t have a girlfriend or a wife, so it’s apparent when people see you with a woman they assume she must be special enough for you to be seen in public with her. And it doesn’t bother me what they say or think because we’re neighbors and nothing more.”
Seth knew Natalia was right about them being neighbors. “That’s something we both can agree on.” A beat passed before he asked, “How did you get the name Natalia?”
“My mother taught college-level romance languages and literature, and had decided if she had children they would all have Latin names. I’m Natalia, which means ‘nativity’ because her due date with me was December 25. My sister is Serena, but everyone calls her Rena, and my brother is Justin.”
“Should I assume Justin implies justice?”
“Not so much justice as just or upright.”
Seth rested his forearms on the table. “Were you born on Christmas Day?”
“No,” Natalia said, smiling. “I came two days earlier but still close enough to Christmas for Mom to keep the name.”
“Where are you in the birth order?”
“I’m the middle child. And before you ask, I never went through the middle child syndrome. My parents treated all of us the same. But if you listen to my pompous brother, he’d tell that he’s their favorite because he’s the firstborn and male.”
Nodding slowly, Seth flashed a Cheshire cat grin and winked at Natalia. “I think I like your brother.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re older than your sisters.”
His grin became a wide smile. “Bingo. I was responsible for protecting my sisters and carrying on the Collier name.”
“Do you have a son or sons?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing,” Natalia said, cutting him off. “If you don’t have a son, then you can’t say you’re carrying on the Collier name.”
“That’s not to say it won’t happen one of these days.”
“When you’re fifty?” she teased.
Seth narrowed his eyes. “So the doctor has jokes.”
Natalia’s expression mirrored innocence. “No. Either you’re forty or close to it, and you profess not to be married or have a girlfriend all which translates into either you’re commitment-shy or you plan to become a baby daddy.”
“You’re wrong on both counts. I’m not afraid of committing because I was married once. And I have no intention of ever becoming a baby daddy.” He saw Natalia’s face crumble like an accordion and wondered if she was comparing her failed engagement with his unsuccessful marriage.
“I’m sorry if I prejudged you,” she whispered.
Seth flashed a smile. “There’s no need to apologize. Some things just don’t work out the way we’d like.”
“How true,” Natalia remarked.
“Is he the reason you moved here?” The query was out before Seth could censor himself. He’d just met Natalia and he didn’t want to turn her off by prying into her love life.
She averted her eyes. “He wasn’t the only reason, but I’d rather not talk about that now. I haven’t eaten since this morning, and I’m ready to order everything on the menu.”
Seth laughed under his breath. “So, you’re not one of those women who eat like a bird because they’re monitoring everything that goes into their mouth?”
Natalia rolled her eyes upward. “That’s sexist, Seth. There are men who also are just as finicky when it comes to their diets. And do I look anorexic to you?”
Seth knew he’d put his proverbial foot in his mouth and had to be careful taking it out. “Um...no. I’m sorry I mentioned it.”
“How much weight I gain or lose has never been a concern of mine. There were occasions when I worked eighteen hours in the ER that I’d take time out to drink a smoothie or grab a salad because it saved time. But whenever I had several days off I’d make all of my favorite dishes and sit down like a normal person to enjoy my meals.”
“I suppose all of that will change now that you’ll be working with Dr. Franklin.”
* * *
Natalia nodded. Her entire life had changed since leaving Philadelphia. “Yes, it will.” She opened the menu binder and perused the selections. “What do you recommend?”
Seth pointed to the chalkboard on the opposite wall. “Everything’s good, but I usually order the day’s special.”
She glanced at the board. “I’m going to order the smothered chicken with steamed cabbage and rice.” Natalia paused. “How’s the white bean soup with ham?”
He smiled. “It’s excellent. You must have been reading my mind because I was going to start out with a cup.”
Natalia closed the binder. “I’m also going to have one.”
Sharleen returned with her water and Seth’s club soda, and took their dining selections. Minutes later, she came back with their soup. The mouthwatering aroma wafting from the cup was a blatant reminder of how long it had been since Natalia had eaten breakfast.
She took a spoonful and closed her eyes. When she opened them she found Seth smiling at her. “You’re right. It is delicious.”
“Everything they make here is incredible and that’s why the Den has managed to survive after so many years when restaurants in other towns have gone out of business.”
“Good food and the fact that there are no fast-food restaurants around here,” Natalia said once she swallowed another mouthful of the soup made with navy beans and pieces of smoked ham.
“Fast food notwithstanding, if the Den didn’t offer palatable dishes it wouldn’t have survived.”
“What about Ruthie’s?” Natalia asked.
Seth picked up his spoon. “Ruthie’s is good if you’re looking for variety. And because what they offer is not processed and prepared daily, it is much healthier than fast food. Another good thing is the owners of Ruthie’s and the Den donate all leftovers to our soup kitchen.”
“There’s a soup kitchen here in Wickham Falls?”
“Yes. It’s a part of the church’s outreach.”
Seth gave Natalia a steady stare. “Poor farming techniques and the loss of jobs to mechanization in the mining industry have led to out-migration, and coupled with that, Appalachia has always had a problem with tax revenue and absentee land ownership has left many counties with hard-core pockets of poverty.”
She lowered her eyes. “I suppose I’m going to have to study up on the history of my new state.”
“You may not have to study too hard because I’m willing to bet your patients will give you an earful. Everyone has a tale to tell about their grandmother or grandpappy.”
Natalia finished her soup and laced her fingers together on the Formica tabletop. “How was it for you growing up here?”
Seth closed his eyes as a dreamy expression flitted over his features. “It was great. I didn’t realize we were poor because there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads.”
Sharleen set their orders on the table and over dinner, Natalia listened to Seth talk about three generations of Collier men working in the mines until his father was forced to choose another vocation once the mines began closing down. She pretended interest in the food on her plate because each time she glanced up, she found Seth staring at her.
“Dad’s number came up in the draft several months after he graduated high school. Once he returned to The Falls, he hired himself out as a handyman, extending credit to those unable to pay in full. Folks called on him to repair a leaky roof, busted pipes and rewire their home. Even though we had a little more than many other families my mother drummed it into our heads that we were no better than those who bought their food with government-issued stamps, or kids that wore hand-me-downs.
“I started going with Dad to his jobs once I entered high school. He wanted me to work with him after I graduated, while my mother insisted I go to college. It was the only time I witnessed my parents arguing with each other. I decided to enlist and have the military pay for my college education. I managed to give both my parents what they wanted when I earned a degree in criminal justice and whenever I came home on leave I’d spend that time helping Dad.”
Natalia took a sip of water. “That sounds like a win-win for everyone.”
Seth nodded. “Yes, it was. Enough talk about me and my family. Have your brother or sister made you an auntie?”
“My brother has. He and his wife became parents for the second time last year. My sister just celebrated her second wedding anniversary a couple of months ago, and she and her husband have decided to wait a few years before they start a family.”
“Are you one of those aunties that spoil their nieces or nephews?”
“I will when they’re old enough. My nieces are still too young for them to help me bake cookies or have sleepovers.”
“Speaking of cooking, what do you plan to make tomorrow?”
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