“I’m fine,” I finally say. “I promise.”
“So,” he says, “you’re not going to tell me then.”
I shrug.
He lets out a long sigh and crosses his muscular forearms. “All right, I’m not going toforceyou. But if you want to talk, I’m here for you. Or some sensitive shit like that.”
With those words, he gets up and leaves the lounge, presumably to get to his next surgery. I bite my lip, wondering if I should have told him the truth. But no. I’ve been keeping this secret for twenty-six years, and I’m not about to divulge it to anyone else now.
Chapter 38
All I managed to keep down this morning was two cups of coffee, so when I’ve got a break in between two surgeries at ten o’clock, I head to the food cart outside the ER to get myself a danish. Ordinarily, I might worry about the calories, but at the rate I’m going, I’m going to be malnourished by the end of the month. I could use a danish right now.
Thankfully, the morning food truck doesn’t have any meat items. I don’t think I could stand the smell of sausage or bacon right now. I may have to become a vegetarian in the near future.
It’s a beautiful day today. The California sun is shining, and it’s warm enough that I’m perfectly comfortable in my short-sleeved scrub top. It’s too bad I’m going to spend the morning in surgery and then the afternoon in clinic. Of course, it’s not like I would have anybody to spend the day with if I didn’t. Anyway, at least I’m getting a little bit of fresh air right now.
While I’m waiting patiently for the person in front ofme to decide what sort of breakfast pastry they want, I get that familiar sensation that someone is watching me. A crawling sensation in the back of my neck that makes me wish the woman in front of me would decide what she wants to eat already.
And then I hear the familiar voice behind me. A voice that makes my stomach clench.
“Dr. Davis?”
I turn around slowly. I suck in a breath when I see who’s standing behind me.
It’s Henry Callahan. The man who got fresh with me at the bar that night. Who followed me two nights in a row in his blue Dodge. Who I led into the dangerous turn that resulted in him slamming his car into a tree.
I would have thought he would still be in the hospital. Still in intensive care. But somehow, he’s standing in front of me now, looking completely unharmed.
“Mr. Callahan,” I manage. I take a step back, my hands clenched into fists. Nothing can happen—we have witnesses.
But maybe that’s a bad thing.
“What are you doing here?” I snap at him.
“I… I’m picking up a friend from the emergency room, and I saw you in the line.” He blinks up at me—none of the anger etched in his face that night in the bar is present today. He looks almost sheepish. “I just want to tell you…”
I clear my throat. “I don’t think—”
“I want to apologize.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want to apologize for the other night at that bar.” Hehangs his head. “I understand why you had your assistant call me and tell me I can’t come back to see you again. I was a jerk to you. I had a few too many drinks and I can’t believe how rude I was. You’re a great surgeon—a real professional—and you didn’t deserve that. I feel awful about it.”
Then why did you follow me two nights in a row?
“Oh,” I murmur.
“Anyway, like I said, I just want to apologize.” He shoves his stubby hands into the pockets of his worn blue jeans. “I promise I won’t bother you anymore. I… I’ll go find my friend.”
Unlike when Detective Barber apologized, he sounds genuine. I still can’t believe it isn’t an act though—he’s got to be furious with me. Because of me, he totaled his car. How could he not be angry over that?
“I’m sorry about your accident,” I finally say.
He frowns. “Accident?”
“Your car accident.” I study his face, watching his response. “You seem like you’re okay.”
