Manon Lockley parked in the driveway of the small yellow brick ranch house
she’d converted into an office for her medical practice. She slid from the
driver’s seat and paused to inhale the fragrance of the June roses.
At the moment she felt like the White Rabbit. She was very late for office
hours. Mrs. Patton, director of nursing at Fern Lake General had been admitted
to the hospital this morning with chest pain. As her primary physician, Manon
had remained to monitor the older woman’s condition and to work with the
cardiologist to stabilize the hospital’s most admired employee.
Manon glanced at her watch. Well past three. How long would she need to
stay? Her stomach grumbled reminding her she hadn’t eating lunch. Exhaustion
caused by the emergency made her shoulders slump under the weight of the event.
She opened the door leading to the reception area. Hopefully her
nurse/secretary had been able to reschedule the patients for another day.
The rumble of a motorcycle sounded in the distance. Her muscles tightened.
Her fists clenched. Her heart pounded in an erratic rhythm. The roar of a bike
never failed to flood her with memories she didn’t want. Those memories had
been shattered years ago and still filled her with anger and grief.
Do not go there.
After sucking in a series of cleansing breaths, she
entered and paused at the reception desk. The cheerful yellow walls brightened
her mood. She glanced into the waiting room and saw just two people seated on
the brown leather chairs. Manon smiled. Two to four patients was better than
the dozen plus who had been scheduled.
Emma hung up the phone. “Finally.”
Manon nodded. “It’s been quite a day. Things here.”
“Relatively quiet. Managed to reschedule all but five
of today’s appointments. Schedule will be tight for the rest of the week. How’s
Mrs. Patton?”
“Stable. Angina. No cause yet. Tests to run before we
know her course of treatment."
Emma smiled. “That’s great. Will be hard to think of
the hospital without her at the helm. I wouldn’t be in school for my nurse
practitioner’s degree if she hadn’t pushed me to try.”
Manon half-sat on a corner of the desk. “Did you know
she plans to retire?”
“I’ve heard the rumors. They say she waited until she
found the right replacement. I heard she made a recommendation to the Board.
Someone from the city.”
Manon frowned. “How do you think the supervisors will
feel about that?”
“None are qualified. Ruth has a doctorate. None of
the others in upper management does. What have you heard? Any names?”
Manon rose. “No rumors but I’m not on the Board. Hope
they bring the person on staff early.”
“Is she that ill?” Emma asked.
“She’s almost seventy. Time for her to relax. She needs
less stress.” Manon moved toward the hall. “I’d better start. What do we have?”
“You’ve time to settle in. There’s a protein bar and
pomegranate juice on your desk. I imagine you skipped lunch.”
Manon laughed. “Does four cups of coffee count?”
“No calories.”
“Actually two sugars and milk.”
Unhealthy. Eat the snack.” Emma raised her fist in a
mock gesture of threat.
Manon giggled. “Yes, Mother. Thanks.” She dashed down
the hall to her office. Light from the windows revealed a neat oak desk with a
computer on one segment of the L-shaped
piece of furniture. She locked her purse in the bottom drawer. After settling
on the chair, she sipped juice and ate the bar. The snack should hold her for
an hour or so. She used a wipe on her hands, donned a white lab coat and stood
at the window to admire the red, pink and white roses in the side yard.
Emma tapped on the door. “Prelims done. One of the
patients who refused to reschedule is, guess who?”
“Sands,” Manon said. “Why me?”
“You’re too nice to the jerk.” Emma fisted her hands
on her hips. “Don’t you feel weird examining a man who has the hots for you?”
“Emma!” Manon shook her head. “There’s nothing
personal on my part.”
“You need to dismiss him as a patient. He’s a stalker
and if this visit is like the others, we can’t bill his insurance.”
Manon groaned. Tom Sands was a persistent pest from
her past who wanted a role in her present and future. They’d gone to the same
private high school. When she’d entered med school, he’d been studying law at
the same university.
Manon released a long sigh. Why today? Twelve years
ago on this date in June, she had experienced the worst day of her life. Had he
purposely chosen this day for a visit?
She stepped into the hall. “What’s his problem? I
wonder why a lawyer doesn’t understand how close to trouble he ventures.”
“He knows you’re a softie.” Emma scowled. “Do you
think he’s trying to push you into committing fraud so he has a hold over you?
Doesn’t he understand you can’t bill his insurance company for every silly
complaint?”
Though Manon hadn’t wanted to believe her friend. She
knew Emma was right. Tom’s frequent visits for non-existent illnesses needed to
end. “I don’t think he cares. What’s his current complaint?”
“Fever. Was ninety-eight point nine. Since that’s
above the average normal temp, I guess he’s right.”
“Barely.”
“Want me to come in with you?”
Since she seldom needed a nurse for a routine exam,
Manon shook her head. “If I’m not out in ten minutes think of an excuse to
barge in. Anything else I need to know?”
“Tried to reach patient number five. The new one. The
message went straight to his voice mail.” She turned. “He’s a hospital hire.”
Manon frowned. “Why come here? I could have seen him
tomorrow at Employee Health.”
“Never thought to ask. Want me to try again?”
Manon nodded. “Refer him to the hospital.” She’d
taken the position there when she’d arrived in town. The extra money had helped
until her practice had built. Did any of the new doctors in town wanted to take
her place? She would ask.
“Then we’re set.”
Manon moved into the hall. “If this hire arrives
before I’m through I’ll do a physical. Where’s Sands?”
“Room one.”
Manon crossed the hall and pulled the chart from the
rack on the wall beside the door. She glanced at the number of unwarranted
visits. Her determination to see him gone grew.
Carrying this thought, she entered the examining room
and halted. Tom had failed to don the patient goes. Clad only in bright blue
boxers and blue socks he sat on the edge of the examining table. His physique
lacked the ability to attract her. Flabby chest, narrow shoulders, pale skin
covered with dark hair. Her jaw clenched.
Tom grinned. “I’ve been waiting.”
I haven’t.
She remained in the doorway. “What do you want?”
“I have a fever.”
She released an exasperated sigh. “Ninety-eight point
nine isn’t indicative of an illness. Why are you wasting my time?”
“If you would take my calls and accept my invitations
to dinner, I wouldn’t have to play sick.”
Her hands coiled into fists. “You’ve put me in a
difficult situation. If I bill your insurance company, I’m guilty of fraud. Was
that your purpose? Want me to lose my license to practice medicine?”
“If course not.” He set his feet on the footstool.
“I’m frustrated. Come to dinner with me.” He lunged for her hand and nearly
fell.
Manon reached behind for the doorknob. “The answer is
no. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. In high school, after that first
dreadful date, I turned down your invitations. I said no when I was in grad
school. That remains my answer.”
“How long will you cling to the memory of a dead man?
He deserted you.” Tom reached for his trousers.
Manon’s bond tensed. Did he remember the date? Had he
come to the office to say those words? “That is my affair.”
He pulled on his trousers and donned his shirt.
“There’s no reason for you to be so cold. A bit of a social life might thaw
your icy core.”
Manon jerked the door open. The aloofness had
developed during the three years of touring Europe
with her father. Iciness had kept her sane. Thoughts of grief and anger oozed
beneath the barrier she’d built over her emotions. Though she had tried to
forget her first love, he’d claimed part of her heart and the emptiness
remained.
“Just go away,” she said.
“Come on. Give me a chance. Your father favored me.”
A peal of laughter she couldn’t contain escaped. Did
Tom think mentioning her father would influence her decision? “You have no idea
what my father thought about you. He believed you wouldn’t interfere with his
plans for me.”
“I told him. I would be proud to manage your career.”
Her lip curled. “One I never wanted.”
“What was wrong with pursuing a career as a concert
pianist? Think of the fame and fortune.”
She turned away. “And dreary hotels, fawning people
and having your strings pulled by an egotist. Becoming a doctor had always been
my dream. Get dressed and leave. Find another doctor.”
She closed the door with a firm click. When she
reached her office, she slumped on the chair. She needed to calm her anger
before seeing her next patient. Tom’s persistence began to frighten her. She
wasn’t sure what she could do.
After she regained her calm center, she left the
office. Relief washed through her. The door to the first examining room stood
open. Emma stood with another patient.
Manon entered the second treatment room where she checked
a hypertensive woman’s blood pressure and handed her several diets. She
returned to the first room to study a diabetic’s blood sugar results. She
congratulated him on how well he controlled his condition without medication.
On her return to the second room, she listened to the lungs of a recovering
pneumonia patient and cleared the woman to return to work.
She dropped the charts in her office and walked to
the reception area. “Has the last patient arrived?”
“He’s changing. I’ll do the prelim.” Emma grinned.
“He’s hot. Big guy with well defined muscles. Blue eyes surrounded by dark
lashes. Lord, I’d love to have them. Oh, a killer smile.”
Manon laughed. “Have plans for him?”
Emma turned away. “I can only look and dream. He says
he’s taken.”
“Maybe the next one will be yours.”
Emma hurried down the hall. Manon studied the next
day’s schedule and discovered she’d be involved in a marathon of patient
visits.
She rested her elbow on the desk. She had to do
something about Tom. His weekly visits for vague complaints had to stop.
Several times she’d referred him to specialists. The lack of calls from these
doctors meant he hadn’t made any of the calls. Why didn’t he hear her message?
She had no intention of dating him again. His awkward attempt at seduction when
they’d been in high school had made her vow never again. She hadn’t changed her
mind.
A painful memory surfaced. Her hands fisted.
Not going there
either. Not today. Not ever.
Emma paused at the desk. “New patient is set.” She
dropped a thick packet on the desk. “Copy of his medical record.”
Manon stared at the manila folder. With a health
history with that many pages, she wondered why the hospital had hired him. She
rose.
“Anything I should know?” Emma asked.
“There is. Once I document Mr. Sands’ last visit,
make a copy of his records for him. If he calls for an appointment remind him
he’s no longer my patient. I’m not willing to commit insurance fraud or have
him continue to take time when I could see someone who needs me.”
“About time,” Emma said. “What if he persists?”
“I’ll ask for a restraining order and mention the
office visits and my fears of being involved in fraud.”
Emma laughed. “Good for you. Bet that stops him.” She
leaned against the wall. “Do you mind if I head out? If I rush, I can have dinner
before class.”
“Go ahead. “Which class?”
“Statistics. Love that class.”
“You’re crazy.”
Emma slung her bag over her shoulder. “See you.”
Manon watched her friend hurry away. At the door,
Emma waved and grinned.
Why the sly smile? Manon walked to the examining room
and pulled a folder from the holder. She glanced inside. No name. Emma had been
in a hurry.
As she opened the door, the scent of an aftershave
sent her hurtling toward the past. For the second time that afternoon, memories
of the boy she’d loved surfaced. She drew a deep breath.
Get a grip.
Without a glance at the waiting patient, she strode
to the counter. The aroma strengthened. Hadn’t been her imagination. She turned
her head and stared at the man wearing the green cotton examining gown. She
gripped the edge of the counter. Blood rushed from her head.
“You’re dead.” The words slashed the silence. This
couldn’t be happening.
“Hardly.”
The voice sounded like the one from her dreams. She
opened her mouth to ask where he’d been and what he’d been doing for the past
twelve years. She sucked in a shallow breath. Asking that question would only
stir the emotions she had frozen.
“Don’t bail on me. Sit down.”
Her fingers had no feeling. Waves of darkness dimmed
her vision. The edge of the counter disappeared. Her knees buckled. Blackness
engulfed her.
