Secret Hearts the Sequel to Secret Love by Butterscotch

here's my latest...much better than the scarecrow...its a follow-up to secret love
Secret Hearts...The Sequel to Secret Love ~Part One ~ Cold Hearted Doctor?

Doc was seated at his desk, poring over his medical records. All was quiet, save the scratching sound his pen made on the paper, and the occasional squeak of his chair. Finally, he closed he charts, stood up and stretched. He was just heading into the waiting room, when he heard voices. Doc instantly recognized Elli's sweet voice, and after a moment he realized the other voice was Jack's. Doc liked Jack. He felt the had a lot in common, both being hard-working, soft-spoken men.
Doc started to enter the waiting room, but he stopped when he saw something blue in Jack's hands. No Doc thought. Elli squealed and threw her arms around Jack's neck. Doc quickly ducked behind the wall, but he could still hear their voices.
"I'm so glad you said 'yes', Elli," Jack said. "For a long time, I thought you liked the doctor better than me."
"I was in love with him for a long time," Elli admitted. Her voice was soft. "But, he never cared for me. He's a good person, but he can be so cold at times. I'm so glad I met you, Jack!'
"I'm glad I met you, too, Elli!"

*******
Sometime later, Doc walked on the beach. He kept replaying the scene in his head. Over and over he heard Elli's words "but he can be so cold at times." Was he really so cold? Did other people see him that way?
A little further up the beach, Doc saw someone sitting. It was Papyri, and she was crying.
"Are you hurt, Popuri?" Doc asked.
"My heart is broken!" Popuri wailed. A few weeks ago, her boyfriend had dumped her for her brother, and ever since Popuri had been very depressed.
"Well...," Doc said awkwardly. "As long as you're okay..."
Popuri made a noise that was part-laugh, part sob. "Elli was right--! You are the most cold-hearted person I ever met!"
to be continued

 to be continued

Part Two - Endless Tears -

Popuri was feeding the hens. Once this had been her favorite chore. Nowadays, she had little interest in anything. She cried a lot. Her emotions changed constantly. One moment she'd be crying because she was angry at Kai for choosing Rick over her, the next she'd be sobbing because she missed her brother.

Rick still lived at the Poultry Farm. Kai had moved in too. Even so, Popuri rarely spoke to either one. That made her feel bad. Rick was her brother, and she wanted to be happy for him...but why did he have to find happiness with Kai?

Still sniffling, Popuri went indoors. Lillia, Rick and Kai were preparing dinner. They were having chicken, which was pretty typical. Popuri liked chicken, but it made her feel bad to eat one of the chicks she had raised.

Dinner was a quiet affair. The others tried to be cheerful and attempted to make conversation.

"This stuffing is good, Rick!" Kai said.

"It's my own secret recipe," Rick replied.

"My son uses only all natural ingredients," Lillia smiled.

"May I be excused?" Popuri murmured.

Without waiting for a reply, she went up to her bedroom, where she cried again. Would her tears never end?

There was a knock at the door, and a moment later Rick walked in.

"Hey, sis," He said.

Popuri did not reply.

"Popuri...Believe me...Kai and I didn't do this to hurt you. Honest!" Rick said. "We both love you--."

"Kai doesn't love me!"

"He does, just not in the way you want."

Silence.

"Popuri, can't you at least try and be happy for us?' Rick said. And there was no reply. After a few moments, Rick left the room. As he left, he could hear Popuri's sobs begin anew.

to be continued!

Secret Hearts -part three- The Bookworms

Mary peered into the mirror and smiled. Her new glasses were nice. They flattered her face more than the old pair...Why with these new glasses, Mary looked almost pretty. She wasn't the beauty that Karen was (who is) but she liked the way her new glasses looked.

The library was quiet, as usual. Few Mineral Town residents ever visited the library. Gray came every day, and Doc visited every Wednesday morning, but other visitors were few and far between. So Mary was very surprised when Cliff entered.

"I was hoping you had books on wine making," he said with a shy smile. Mary led him to the appropriate section, and returned downstairs just as Gray entered. He nodded to her and smiled, but said nothing about her glasses.

She waited for him to notice, but Gray pulled a book off the shelf and began to read. Mary pulled her glasses off and polished them on her shirt. Gray didn't notice. After a few minutes, she pulled them off again. This time she breathed on them very loudly, and generally made a big show of the whole deal, but Gray was too absorbed in his book to notice. Mary sighed loudly.

Just then Cliff came downstairs, carrying a few books. "Thanks, Mary," he said. "These books will be very helpful"

Mary stamped the return date inside the book. "I'm glad to be of help!" she smiled.

"Yeah, thanks again!" Cliff started to leave, then turned around. I like your new glasses," he said.

to be continued!

Part Four - Accidents Will Happen -
Whistling softly, Cliff left the library and returned to Doug's Inn. Just as he was reaching out to grab hold of the door-knob, there was a loud crash coming from inside the Inn. Cliff slammed the door open and rushed inside.
Ann was lying on the floor near the stairs. Her face was very pale. Cliff threw the books on the floor and rushed over.
"Are you okay, Ann?" he exclaimed.
Ann sat up, wincing a little. "Yeah, I think so," she replied. "I only fell about four steps. I tripped over the stupid cat," she added, shooting the cat a dirty look.
Ann started to stand up, but as soon as she put some weight on her left foot, she cried out softly and jerked her foot up. "My ankle!" she cried.
Cliff gingerly touched her ankle, which was already starting to swell. "I don't think it's broken, but we should go see Doc, just to be on the safe side."
"I don't need to see Doc," Ann protested. "It's prob'ly just a sprain. All I need's an ace bandage and an ice pack."
Ann's protest was cut short as Cliff scooped her up in his arms. She blushed brightly, but she didn't say another word.
At the clinic, no one was at the front desk. Cliff yelled for help, and a moment later Doc appeared in the doorway.
"I'm sorry." he said. "Elli's not here today. She's being fitted for her wedding dress" Doc spat out the last two words, but neither Cliff nor Ann noticed.
Doc examined Ann's leg, and pronounced that it was only a sprain. Ann was about to say 'I told you so', but the look of relief on Cliff's face stopped her.
"You'll have to stay off you leg as much as possible," Doc advised as he scribbled out a prescription for turbojolt.
"I'll make sure that she does," Cliff vowed. True to his word, he carried Ann home. He never knew that Mary saw him carry Ann out of the clinic....
to be continued!