Lisa shook her head. “I know you’re smart and good at your job, but you’re not in an ER now. You’re going to be the main source for healthcare for the whole parish. We’re isolated. These people need you, and I’m worried if you put them off, they won’t come and see you. I’ve already heard some rumors that people don’t understand what an NP is.”

She shrugged. “They’ll learn or they’ll go without. Like you said, I’m the only game in town. They can’t stay away forever. When they get sick they’ll come and see me.”

It seemed like a pretty simple thing. She would explain her education and training to them and they would understand. If they didn’t want to see a female practitioner, there wasn’t a lot she could do about that. She’d been assured that Doc Hamet would happily hand over his patients, and part of that had to be getting them ready for the transition. According to her new nurse, she had a full afternoon tomorrow. Three physicals, two follow-ups, a well-baby exam, and there would surely be a couple of walk-ins. All in all it sounded busy for a sleepy little clinic.

Her business was going to be the center of her world. It would be her baby.

“I hope it works like that. Sometimes the people here can be stubborn about change. Be patient with them,” Lisa said. “Are you sure you’re completely done with Brock?”

Her ex-fiancé was in her rearview mirror. Like the rest of her life in Dallas. “Like I said, I figured out he wasn’t the one. I knew I didn’t love him. I guess I thought I should get married. It was like checking something off a list. Go to college. Get a job. Get married. I’m sure if I’d done it I would have scheduled sex and built a family plan.”

“I know that sounds like the way to do it, but it’s not. You have to let some spontaneity in. You can’t plan love.”

“Well, I don’t intend to plan love. It wasn’t love with Brock.” She’d never been in love, wasn’t sure she was capable of the emotion. “I’m not planning on getting involved with anyone.”

“That’s what I was afraid of. I’m going to ask you for a favor. I’ve done everything I can to make this transition easy, and you asked me if you could do anything to pay me back.”

Lisa had done a lot to make this happen. She’d been the one to deal with the paperwork on the house and the inspectors. Her husband had put in his time, too. “Of course.”