The Doctor Who Made Her Love Again. Susan Carlisle

and tonight he was more so as they would be partners.

      Larry and Robin were still seeing to a patient when Payton finished.

      “You’re certainly here early,” China remarked.

      “Yeah. I wanted to see what was going on. I’ve never been to a concert on the beach. There really is a crowd.”

      “Yes, there is. I never did things like this either.”

      “Why? You live right here.”

      “I was too busy doing other things.”

      Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes. It had needed to be done and she had been the one to do it. Her mom had been locked in her grief over not knowing where her brother was to the point she hadn’t been able to function.

      Payton glanced around the tent. “I haven’t had a chance to look around. We’re not busy now and Larry and Robin are here for another thirty minutes so how about you give me a tour?”

      “You go on. They …” she nodded to the others “… may need help.”

      “Come on, China. Quit making excuses. I’m not going to bite.”

      She huffed. “I know that.”

      “So have mercy on the new guy and show me around.”

      Not wanting to cause a further scene, China nodded her agreement.

      “Even though you’re not on the clock yet, carry a radio in case we need you,” Jean said, from where she sat at a small table with a laptop.

      Payton took the radio she offered.

      China headed out of the tent. Why did he always manage to goad her into doing something she wasn’t sure she wanted to do?

      She circled and weaved behind the back of the throng toward the ocean.

      “Hey, wait up,” Payton called. “A tour guide is supposed to stay with the person she’s guiding.”

      “And the group is supposed to keep up.” She headed down the middle of the beach.

      “Where’re we going?” he asked, catching up.

      “This is the best way to see things otherwise we’ll always be fighting the crowd.”

      They walked through the sand until they got about halfway to the stage and she stopped.

      “This is part of the state park area.” She swept her hand around. “I guess you’ve seen it when it is empty. That over there …” she pointed “… is the Beach Hut. The wildest place on the beach. They have mini-concerts and dancing all the time.”

      “Do you go often?”

      Her head whirled and she glared at him. He was serious. “I do not.”

      “You’ve never been?”

      She shook her head. That had been more Kelsey’s scene. They were as different as daylight and darkness but Kelsey loved her dearly. Missed her daily. Wished they had the relationship that they had once had as girls.

      His look was one of pure disbelief. “Not once? Didn’t sneak in as a teen?”

      “No.” That had been Kelsey’s specialty. Thank goodness she hadn’t gotten caught. It would have killed her parents.