As he approaches the pond, Gavin decides to grab a few fresh leeches.
He reaches into the water, eyeing a particularly plump leech.
Gavin is pleased with his catch.
He is almost ready to find Jolene to tell her what he has found, but he decides to return to the clinic for a little more research. He wants to have more than one option to report to Jolene.
Gavin goes through his books one more time. He is just about to give up when he spots a small passage in a book entitled, Fables & Hollow Tradition. It is a recipe for curing curses that involves boiling a toad, adding herbs, rubbing the concoction on the skin and disposing the remains.
Gavin takes a moment to sweep up the clinic floor, silently praying that one of the cures that he has found will work.
As he sweeps, he thinks about how much Jolene has meant to him since arriving to Archolia. Without her assistance, he would not have been able to come up with the miracle cure, healed all of the ill villagers and kept the clinic running so smoothly.
Suddenly Gavin realizes that he cannot imagine living without Jolene. Not just as his nurse, but as his friend and companion. She has stood by him during some very trying times here at the clinic.
This realization hits him hard. He heads upstairs for a drink. He needs a drink to help him think clearly.
All of this time, he has spent his energy going after a woman who has always been out of his reach, while suppressing his love for another who has been by his side the whole time.
Gavin searches before finally spotting Jolene on the beach near the docks.
“How are you faring?” Gavin asks with much concern. He notes how alone and helpless Jolene appears.
“I am afraid. I know not what to do. I would like more than anything to return to the clinic.”
Gavin grabs her hand. “You are not alone. I am here for you.”
He grabs her other hand. “I think I may have a cure…actually I have two possible cures.”
Gavin quickly tells her about her options.
“Gavin, you must choose. I do not trust myself to pick the correct cure.”
“Gavin, you must choose. I do not trust myself to pick the correct cure.”
“You have been a good friend to me Jolene. Thank you for giving me your trust.”
Gavin leaves to rest for the night. He will decide which cure to try in the morning.
As he walks away, leaving Jolene there on the beach, he knows that he has one other decision to make.
Early the next morning, Gavin wakes and sets out to find ingredients for the cure that he has chosen. He has decided to try the toad cure.
Gavin gathers herbs needed to create the toad balm.
Gavin approaches the pond and finds a toad right away.
