What the Doctor Didn't Tell Her Read Free Page B

taught me.”
    They’d played three
rounds of Go Fish, two of which Nina won, when Sarah heard a noise
from the living room. Glancing up, she met Daniel’s admiring brown
eyes.
    “ You’re
good with her.” He went to his niece. “Did you have fun,
sweetie?”
    “ Yes! Can
Sarah come with us to the fair on Saturday?” the little girl asked.
“Please, please, please!”
    Daniel made a silent
appeal to Sarah before saying, “I traded overnights with Jane so
I’m free this weekend. If you don’t have plans on Saturday, we’d
love for you to join us.”
    Sarah had meant to
catch up on sleep and do a little shopping before her Sunday
on-call shift. But this was the fair’s last weekend.
    “ It’ll be
crowded,” she warned. “But yes, let’s go.”
    As uncle and niece
departed, Betsy emerged from her bedroom. “I’d say he’s as keen on
you as Nina is.”
    “ You were
listening!” Sarah pretended to glare. “Anyway, it was his niece who
invited me, not him.”
    “ I didn’t
hear him objecting,” her mother murmured.
    “ He could
hardly do that, could he?” All the same, Sarah was glad to be
invited.
    *
    It had been years
since Sarah visited the Orange County Fair. As a teenager, she’d
gravitated to the big-name concert acts and the roller
coaster-style rides that drew up to a million guests during the
event’s month-long run.
    She hadn’t appreciated
its old-fashioned, child-friendly side until today. Nina adored the
miniature pig races, with little pink piglets jumping over tiny
hurdles. After that, they took in a magic act and a performance by
acrobats, then toured the model farm with its lambs, baby goats and
chicks.
    “ I can’t
believe this place,” Daniel said as they watched a demonstration of
camel milking at the Oasis Camel Dairy. “A petting zoo and a dog
show I might expect, but this is unusual.”
    “ Have you
toured the collections exhibit?” asked a young woman next to them,
hanging onto twin boys.
    “ Collections?” Sarah echoed.
    With her chin, the
woman pointed to the crafts building. “People collect all sorts of
weird things.”
    “ Sounds
like fun,” Daniel said. “Thanks.”
    Nina broke in. “I’m
hungry!”
    “ And no
wonder.” Her uncle checked his watch. “It’s been hours since
lunch.”
    They bought chicken
and pineapple kebabs. Those were healthy and not too fattening, but
they couldn’t resist following up with such fair specialties as
chocolate-covered bacon and deep-fried ice cream bars.
    “ We should
know better,” Daniel murmured as they staggered toward the crafts
building, stuffed with cholesterol-laden foods. “We’re
doctors.”
    “ Keep your
voice down, okay?” Sarah teased.
    Nina gave a little
skip. “This is cool!”
    Above her, Daniel eyed
Sarah appreciatively. “I’m glad you came with us.”
    “ So am
I.”
    “ Do you
spend much time with children?” he asked suddenly.
    “ Only when
I’m helping my mom. Why?”
    “ You’re
good with Nina,” Daniel noted.
    “ I hope
so.” The conversation puzzled Sarah. However, they’d reached the
crafts building, and there were other things to talk
about.
    The collections, they
discovered, consisted of anything that people chose to amass. There
were wrapped moist towelettes from restaurants around the country,
unusual canned goods, vintage bottle caps, and a display of Bermuda
shorts. Although Sarah had assumed those garments came from the
island of the same name, she’d never realized they originated with
the British Army for use in hot climates.
    “ You learn
something new every day,” she observed.
    “ Especially here.” Daniel patted Nina as she leaned against
him. “Tired, little one?”
    “ Wore
out,” she said.
    Reaching down, he
lifted her against his shoulder. “Let’s go home. Okay,
Sarah?”
    “ Sure..”
    It was nearly seven,
and the sunlight was dimming. In the rear seat, Nina fought to stay
awake. “When we get home, Sarah has to read me a