Part 10 (2/2)
”h.e.l.lo?”
”Who do you love, Baby? said Greg.
There was a slight pause before Cynthia responded.
Had it all been dream? Had she changed her mind? Was she wis.h.i.+ng she had not told him she loved him? How many doubts can the human mind conjure in a mere second?
”I'll give you a call about it a little later.”
Why was she being so cold to him? Then it hit him. ”Are you in a meeting?”
”That's correct.”
”Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, call me later.”
Greg parked his car and walked into the hospital, to the surgery waiting room. He recognized the wife, sitting with another woman and a young boy.
”How long has he been in surgery?” said Greg.
”Just a few minutes,” said the wife.
She introduced Greg to her sister and nephew.
”How did Jeff hurt his back?” said Greg.
”He was carrying a big bag of cement. I told him he needed help, but he just wouldn't listen.”
”They never do,” said the sister.
Greg had already run out of things to say. So, he picked up a magazine and began to read as the two women chatted.
”Jacob's nose is running,” said the wife.
”Jacob, come here, Honey,” said the sister to her son.
She pulled a tissue out of her purse and wiped his nose.
”You think he's getting a cold?” said the wife.
”Could be. He's got a doctor's appointment this afternoon.”
”That's good.”
”But when I called they said Dr. Elmo has taken a leave of absence. So we'll have to see some new doctor.”
”Wonder why Elmo's taking a leave?”
”Hope it's not AIDS,” said the sister.
That statement jolted Greg from his magazine article. And he noticed that the nurse standing in the Nurses Station perked up too.
”What? Why would you think that?” said the wife.
”Well, he's in his 50s and he's never been married...”
”But I heard he wasgetting married,” said the wife.
”He backed out.”
”No. Really?”
Greg b.u.t.ted in. ”Actually, he postponedthe wedding.”
”Yeah. Indefinitely, I'll bet,” said the sister.
The wife looked at Greg. ”Do you know why he postponed it?”
”He just found out that his mother has Alzheimer's disease.”
”That awful,” said the wife. ”My aunt had that. And there wasn't anything the doctor could do for her. All we could do was watch her go downhill until she finally died. She suffered with it for years.”
Greg noticed that the nurse seemed to be straining to hear the conversation. But when she saw Greg looking at her, she quickly went back to work at the computer. He got up and walked over to her. Her name badge identified her as Mary Magdely.
Greg spoke to her in a confidential manner that could not be heard by the wife and sister. ”Do you know the Mobleys, Mrs. Magdely?”
She didn't look up from the computer. ”Uh...yes. Sort of.”
”Well, I just want to apologize. I don't usually partic.i.p.ate in gossip. But I had to speak up and set the record straight.”
Greg figured her to be about 60. She was attractive, and looked very professional.
”I understand. Don't worry about it.”
She had kind eyes, and a caring face. Just what you'd want from a nurse, thought Greg. But there was something else in her facial expression.
Something she wasn'tsaying.
Chapter13.
”Our clever deception is working like a charm,” said Mallie Mae.
”I can't believe he fell for it. You're such a good actor-it's scary,” said Macy.
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