smiled. “Ah, so it was true love, was it?”
“At first sight . . . the lovely professor and the turtles. She—Anne—actually started the work here almost twenty years ago.”
Kit wanted to ask the obvious question, but didn’t want to thoughtlessly probe something that might not be a happy memory.
But her curiosity showed on her face. He lifted his hand and flashed a simple gold band on his ring finger. “She’s working in Savannah at the college, but is helping me here when she can. We live on Sugarberry.”
Kit’s smile broadened and she might have sighed just a little. “I think that’s wonderful. Both love stories. How great that you can share something you’re both passionate about.”
“You are absolutely right about that.” Not a trace of smugness appeared in his tone, just sincere joy and happiness.
“Do you have children involved in the family passion as well?”
“No children for us, unfortunately,” he said easily. “The turtles get our undivided attention.”
“Then they’re the luckiest turtles around.” She stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “I don’t know what my immediate future holds, but if I end up staying, I’d like to talk some more, maybe find a way to help out. I need a, well—”
“A hobby?” he asked not unkindly, but perhaps a bit . . . probingly.
Kit didn’t blame him. She was sure people thought volunteering was cool and interesting and fun—and no doubt it was all those things—but first and foremost it was a research center, and the work they were doing was serious and important. “I was going to say I need something other than my immediate world to focus on for a change. I’m starting over, I guess you could say, and this time around, I want more of a balance between work life and personal life.” She grinned. “Any personal life would be a major step in the right direction.”
“Sounds like a healthy plan and I admire your optimism and fortitude.” He shook her hand, then squeezed it before letting it go. “Let’s talk more when that time comes. I can always use the help and enthusiasm of someone who truly wants to contribute. As for Sugarberry, it’s a good place for starting over or just plain starting. And an even better place for staying. And building. And growing. We’d be happy to have you, Miss Kit.”
She grinned. “Well, if the rest of the residents are like you, you might as well get a lab coat ready for me.”
He smiled and gave her a wink. “Guess I should go and see how my newest little volunteer is doing.”
Kit’s smile didn’t falter. She was feeling too good and . . . relaxed, and wanted to hold on to the feeling for as long as possible. “Mr. Westlake’s niece?”
Dr. Langley’s gaze sharpened a little. “Yes, the delightful Miss Lilly. We’ve only just met ourselves, but she’s going to be a wonderful addition to our growing family here. I hope we can be the same for her.”
“I do, too.” At the doctor’s questioning look, she added, “I’m familiar with . . . his family. And I overheard in town earlier about his moving here. None of my business, really. I just—it sounded like they’ve been through a tough time and I think it’s cool she’s found something that interests her.”
Dr. Langley studied her for a moment, then said, “Yes, I agree. Perhaps that’s something you know a little bit about yourself?”
She smiled briefly. The good doctor was a very perceptive observer, but she guessed that’s what made him good at his work. “Perhaps.”
“Well then . . . I hope it works out for you both.”
Kit wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that, but nodded and smiled. “Me, too.” She took a step back and turned to leave. “Thank you again. For your time . . . and for . . . the encouragement. I hope to see you again.”
“As do I. Safe travels, Miss Kit.”
“Oh, I’m not travel—” She broke off when his wise eyes warmed with knowing. She laughed shortly. “Very
“At first sight . . . the lovely professor and the turtles. She—Anne—actually started the work here almost twenty years ago.”
Kit wanted to ask the obvious question, but didn’t want to thoughtlessly probe something that might not be a happy memory.
But her curiosity showed on her face. He lifted his hand and flashed a simple gold band on his ring finger. “She’s working in Savannah at the college, but is helping me here when she can. We live on Sugarberry.”
Kit’s smile broadened and she might have sighed just a little. “I think that’s wonderful. Both love stories. How great that you can share something you’re both passionate about.”
“You are absolutely right about that.” Not a trace of smugness appeared in his tone, just sincere joy and happiness.
“Do you have children involved in the family passion as well?”
“No children for us, unfortunately,” he said easily. “The turtles get our undivided attention.”
“Then they’re the luckiest turtles around.” She stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “I don’t know what my immediate future holds, but if I end up staying, I’d like to talk some more, maybe find a way to help out. I need a, well—”
“A hobby?” he asked not unkindly, but perhaps a bit . . . probingly.
Kit didn’t blame him. She was sure people thought volunteering was cool and interesting and fun—and no doubt it was all those things—but first and foremost it was a research center, and the work they were doing was serious and important. “I was going to say I need something other than my immediate world to focus on for a change. I’m starting over, I guess you could say, and this time around, I want more of a balance between work life and personal life.” She grinned. “Any personal life would be a major step in the right direction.”
“Sounds like a healthy plan and I admire your optimism and fortitude.” He shook her hand, then squeezed it before letting it go. “Let’s talk more when that time comes. I can always use the help and enthusiasm of someone who truly wants to contribute. As for Sugarberry, it’s a good place for starting over or just plain starting. And an even better place for staying. And building. And growing. We’d be happy to have you, Miss Kit.”
She grinned. “Well, if the rest of the residents are like you, you might as well get a lab coat ready for me.”
He smiled and gave her a wink. “Guess I should go and see how my newest little volunteer is doing.”
Kit’s smile didn’t falter. She was feeling too good and . . . relaxed, and wanted to hold on to the feeling for as long as possible. “Mr. Westlake’s niece?”
Dr. Langley’s gaze sharpened a little. “Yes, the delightful Miss Lilly. We’ve only just met ourselves, but she’s going to be a wonderful addition to our growing family here. I hope we can be the same for her.”
“I do, too.” At the doctor’s questioning look, she added, “I’m familiar with . . . his family. And I overheard in town earlier about his moving here. None of my business, really. I just—it sounded like they’ve been through a tough time and I think it’s cool she’s found something that interests her.”
Dr. Langley studied her for a moment, then said, “Yes, I agree. Perhaps that’s something you know a little bit about yourself?”
She smiled briefly. The good doctor was a very perceptive observer, but she guessed that’s what made him good at his work. “Perhaps.”
“Well then . . . I hope it works out for you both.”
Kit wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that, but nodded and smiled. “Me, too.” She took a step back and turned to leave. “Thank you again. For your time . . . and for . . . the encouragement. I hope to see you again.”
“As do I. Safe travels, Miss Kit.”
“Oh, I’m not travel—” She broke off when his wise eyes warmed with knowing. She laughed shortly. “Very
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