CAPITULO 1

by Coltrain's Proposal(lit)

  - But: why did not it tell it to me? - inquirió she irritated-: " why? "

  - How is it supposed that he could say that to him? - answered he-. Also, when I realized, the contract was already signed, so the only exit was that you were resigning.

  Suddenly everything had sense: his belligerency, his critical constants... It had hoped to achieve that it was throwing the towel.

  - I see already - it murmured-. But it did not achieve it.

  - It is done of a pasta harder than I was thinking - he agreed-. In all these months it has transferred not even an apex, for five-peseta coin that was with you. It was always ready to fight - it caressed absent-mindedly the keys of his car in the pocket while it was looking at her-. Till now he had not found anybody capable of face standing firm.

  Lou did not say anything. This was not his character, but so that his father was not destroying it it had learned not to show soon fear, nor to bend the head, because these signs of weakness were not doing but to increase his sarcasm and his brutality.

  - One year - continued Coltrain-, during an entire year your presence has reminded to me what your father did to me. There were moments in which it would have done any thing so that you were leaving, I cannot deny it, and at first truly he hated you.

  Although she had already imagined all that and there had been confirmed the conversation that had heard accidentally between Drew and he, which was admitting it face to face was moreover painful. It was turning out quite ironic to think that the man of the one that was won the love was saying to him that he hated her for something that there had done his father, the father who had done of his life and of that of his mother a hell.

  Undoubtedly one would surprise if it overcomes it, and even more if it was known that the prestigious doctor Blakely had not been any more than a drug addict of high class, that it had ended up by stealing drugs of Austin's hospital, where it worked on having had to leave of Jacobsville, and that it had been completely placed when it fell down in stung the light aircraft that it was piloting, killing his mother with him.

  All those years it had managed to control his emotions, but, suddenly, perhaps for the piled up effect of this annus horribilis, it could not contain the tears that started being accumulated in his eyes, and they rolled one after other one for his cheeks.

  Coltrain had not waited for this reaction. Throughout the year that they had been working together he had seen her tired, impassive, exhausted, incensed, and even frustrated, but it had never seen her crying. Amazed, it extended the hand and touched him the humid cheek, as if he needed to verify that the tears were real. To the moment, Lou began backwards, with a bitter laugh between sobs.

  - So that because of it so horrible age with me - he said with labored voice-. Drew never said anything to me ... and I have been so stupid that I have spent to myself the whole year dreaming that ...-again a laugh allowed to escape between torn and nervous, while one was drying angered the tears with the back of the hand-. What nitwit I have been! - it spluttered again-. what nitwit ...!

  It was turned on the heels and moved away from him as quickly as possible. Coltrain had remained fixed in the place, wondering with what the whole year had passed dreaming.

  During the following days, Lou proved to be polite and distant, as if they were strange, Sin embargo, Coltrain warned that the way in which he was avoiding it in nothing was looking alike his attitude of the previous months, and started comprising what had not been capable of seeing. Earlier, for example, Louise's eyes had always continued it where he should want that it was, and he had noticed it, but, wrapped how is life in the pitched battle that he himself had initiated, he had interpreted them as killer looks. After his last confrontation, on the other hand, the young woman was already not looking at it although they were crossing for the corridors, and in many occasions it was turning aside to avoid it completely. Also, it was going to unsuspected extremes: if it had something that to ask him, was putting itself on it in writing and was leaving it to him in the office or Brenda's turn was doing it.

  And then, unexpectedly, on Thursday evening, when they were on the verge of leaving, he went to see it.

  - Has it already put a reporting to find someone who replaces me? - he asked him in a polite tone.

  Coltrain observed her a moment in silence.

  - Does so much hurry have for leaving?

  - Yes - answered she succinctly-. I would like to leave after the Christmas holidays - it was turned round and it was going to go out of his consultation when he retained it for the sleeve of the white robe. Lou gave a step backwards-. At the beginning of year - it was repeated turning, but without raising the sight.

  Coltrain looked at her irritated, detesting the way in which it was pushing the lightest contact back between them.

  - Is it sure that he does not want to reconsider it? He is a good doctor - he said to him-, his position has been gained here.

  Lou was realizing that that was a real flattery coming from such a suffered man, although also it was known that that was not changing the facts.

  - But nevertheless he hates me - it murmured-. Whenever it looks at me he remembers my father, and detests me for it: is not it like that?

  Coltrain released his great one confused. It was known that it was unjust, but he could not deny that it happened to him.

  Louise warned his discomfort.

  - It does not bother, doctor - he said to him-. In one month I will have left and it will not have already to worry again because of it.

  A bitter laugh allowed to escape and it went out of the consultation.

  CHAPTER 3

  Lou put himself on a discreet suit of jacket trousers color Kurd for the charitable dinner to which it was going to go with Drew, but for one go the fair-haired free hair was left, and it happened a little of rouge, lipstick and shade of eyes.

  When Drew came to gather her he remained pleasantly surprised by the change, and during the trajectory in car up to the restaurant they supported a distended conversation that almost made forget the young woman the displeasures of the week ... almost, because when they entered the place they met that the doctor Coltrain was there, chatting with a very dressed man.

  Lou gathered the bridge of the nose contradicted. Since it came to Jacobsville it had always heard that he was not a man the one that was usually seen in social acts ... unless Jane Parker was present at them. The young woman looked in contour, but it did not see to the ancient love of the doctor on any part. Would it have gone accompanied of any other woman?. His question had an almost immediate response, when he saw that a beauty morenita him was approaching behind and one was hanging by his arm as if it was a passage to the sky.

  Coltrain also had seen her. When Lou turned to listen what Drew was saying to him, his clear eyes scrutinized it meticulously. The free hair had not seen him in every month that they were taking working together, and that night seemed even more accessible, more earthly, although, it was remembered, was with Drew with whom it had gone to the dinner, and probably that appointment would not be the last one, it was said, wondering for what this thought it was irritating it.

  In any case, to try to imagine the young woman in Drew's bed was turning out to be to him impossible. It was ridiculous. The one that had made to himself glorious golden hair free th was not meaning that suddenly it had become completely uninhibited. Nevertheless, this change had made it disconcerted, especially because he had not waited for it.

  - Go, Cooper has come very well accompanied - Drew was saying in this moment to Louise, with a malicious smile.

  - Do you know her? - inquirió she.

  - Since skylight - he answered-, and you also: it is Nickie Nolton, one of the nurses of the hospital.

  - Oh, he had not recognized her without the uniform - Lou murmured.

  - She is a very nice girl: do not you believe?.

  - And very young also - she said, agreeing with the head.

  Drew took it of the hand and one directed smiles for him.
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  - But good ...!: not that you were to join an asylum ...!

  Two prorrumpieron in laughs.

  - You are a good man, Drew - said to him she, looking at it tenderly and a smile in the lips.

  In another end of the dining room, Coltrain was observing furiously the scene. For one year, Louise Blakely had been pushing the lightest contact back with him, and suddenly not only it was leaving that Drew was taking it of the hand, but he him was smiling. At him he him had never smiled at that way. In fact, he him had never smiled in any way.

  On his{your} part, Lou, it strained during the dinner for concentrating on the speeches, but it was a real torture for her to observe how the hand of Nickie was caressing that of Coltrain, and how he was flirting shamelessly with him.

  She could not flirt, but if he had learned anything during his infancy and adolescence, it was to putting face of poker in the adversity. This night it achieved it in spite of everything, and whenever Coltrain directed the look to the table in the one that was seated, could not read anything in his face.

  When the event had ended, the young woman left that Drew was taking it again of the hand, and they went out together of the restaurant, way of the parking. Behind them, not much far, Nickie was going and a furious Coltrain with the look fixes in Lou's back.

  When Drew and Lou came along with the car of him, they stopped, and another partner gave them scope.

  - Ah, hello, Cooper. So, is Nickie? - Drew greeted them when it saw them approaching-. This morning you did an excellent work in the operating theatre, Cooper. The stitches that you gave to missis Crane were so thin that I doubt that in a few weeks it has some scar that to teach.

  Coltrain outlined a light smile.

  - She me emphasized very much that was evident the least possible thing. It seems that he was afraid that his husband was stopping finding her attractive for the mark. He must be one of these men obsessed with the perfection.

  - Since it already will be difficult to him to find the perfection in a world as imperfect as this one - Drew pronounced-. In end, tomorrow we meet in the hospital.

  - yes, manaña we meet - it repeated Coltrain in a murmur-. By the way, he confers a doctorate Blakely - added in an icy tone, looking at Lou with the half-open eyes-. Today it came ten minutes late - it reminded her-. I hope that it happens again.

  - Oh, is that I remained asleep - answered she in an innocent tone-. The fact is that I am tired so much to go round there with the ambulances...

  It directed a sarcastic smile for him and sat down in Drew's convertible, leaving a Coltrain between flabbergasted and furious. It was clear that it was not used that they were making fun of him.

  - It is a punctual morning - he warned him with a furious look before moving away with Nickie given as a limpet to him.

  - " be punctual ... " - Lou imitated it, twisting between his fingers the handle of his clutch bag-. He goes away to inform! Tomorrow I will be seated in his square of the parking at half after eight in point!

  Drew laughed while it was shaking the head.

  - Him do not pay attention - he said to him putting the vehicle in march-. What he wants is to make you jump.

  - And it obtains it - she mumbled, crossing of arms sulked-. God, how I hate this man!

  Drew threw a look out of the corner of the eye and suppressed a smirk.

  When they came opposite to the house of Lou and his friend he accompanied her up to the veranda, the young woman, that all the way had gone ranting of Coltrain, looked at something ashamed.

  - Excuse me - it requested him-. I have not been a very agreeable company this night.

  Drew tilted the head.

  - Do not say foolishnesses - he answered smiling-. Nevertheless, yes it is true that Coltrain and you take as the dog and the cat - he added-. Till now only he had heard the people speaking about it, but today I have verified it with my own eyes. Is always it like that with you?

  Lou agreed with the head.

  - Always, since I came here - he answered-. Good, not - it was corrected, remembering-, to be exact, it goes this way from the past Christmastime.

  - And does it have any motive? - inquirió Drew-. Did anything happen between you the past Christmastime?

  Lou looked at it unsteady.

  - Do not be dumb, I will not say anything to him - him promised his friend-. What step?

  - So ... it spent that in the holiday of Christmas of the hospital it tried to kiss me under the mistletoe and ... good, let's say that I stooped and separated - he confessed blushing and lowering the head-. It is be burning hot it puts very nervous. Whenever it approaches I start me trembling. It is so ... I do not know, so sudden... When he always speaks with me it me is trying to take hold of the doll. It is as if much knew that it bothers me and was doing it by the way.

  Meanwhile he was speaking, in an unconscious way, the right hand had surrounded his left doll in a protective attitude. Drew warned it and, gathering the bridge of the nose, separated the hand softly, closing he his fingers concerning the delga doll, but without doing pressure. The young woman gave a jump, and Drew released the doll to the moment.

  - Do you want that we speak about this? - inquirió in a tone I stay.

  Lou shook the head and swallowed saliva, as if it had the dry gullet.

  - Not, it is something that belongs already to the past.

  - I do not believe it - Drew restored-. If it was something of the past, you would not start trembling as a sheet when anybody tries to touch you...

  . It does not happen to me with the whole world, only with him - she murmured absent-mindedly, without raising the look.

  Drew arched the eyebrows. Was he realizing what he had just confessed accidentally?

  - God, I am done dust - Lou said rubbing the nape-. He was going to invite you to drink a coffee, but it seems to me that you are going to have to forgive me. I go away to go directly to the bed. I do not know what happens to me, but I am the most tired.

  His friend extended a hand and touched him the front.

  - It is possible that you have a few tenths of fever - it murmured-. Are you evident slightly more apart from the weariness?

  She shrank of shoulders.

  - Good, it hurts me quite, and I sit down desganada. Probably it will be this virus that walks round there.

  - So if you are not better morning, do not be going to work - Drew said to him.

  - Do not worry, only I need to rest a little. Tomorrow I will be perfectly. Thanks for inviting the dinner, I have spent it well ... in spite of the incident with Coltrain in the parking - he added with a half smile.

  - I also have spent it well - answered he-. Since Eve died scarcely I go out. God, Ya five years ago and still I lack her - it murmured with heavily sigh-. I hope we had had a son. This way perhaps I would not feel only.

  Lou looked at it with sadness.

  - Another day was reading an article in a newspaper in the one that was saying that many widowers marry again to a few months of losing his partner. What nitwits are the statistics: truth?

  - In my case certainly they have not been right - Drew said, getting the hands into the pockets of the jacket and lowering the head-. I suppose that I am one of these persons who only love once in the life, but I prefer the memory of these twelve years along with Eve to hundred years with any other woman. Sure that I look like to you the antiquated one - it murmured lifting the sight.

  Lou shook the head.

  - Not, it seems to me slightly beautiful - he said to him quedamente-. Eve was very lucky for being so dear.

  Drew blushed.

  - And I feel very lucky for taking you as a friend - Lou added smiling.

  - Ditto - answered Drew, abrazándola-. You would do to me a great favor if you going out again with me occasionally - he said to him with a shameful smile when they had separated-, so that the people stop thinking that I am a lost case.

  - I will love going out again with you - said to him she-, and I believe that also it will co
me to me well. In of course Coltrain was right, for much that re-stamps on me to admit that it is right in something. Since I began the studies in the institute, and then in the Faculty of Medicine, you grieve yes I have had social life. Eight years ... eight years burning myself the eyebrows to be a daughter modélica and to support I satisfy my father - it murmured more for her that for him-. So I have not had a lot of time for the men. he added shrinking of shoulders, as if it wanted to take importance from him on having seen the serious look in Drew's eyes-. It was clear that, with the experience of the marriage of my parents, many desires were not also bringing in me of having a relation. Until I met you you and to Eve he did not believe that two persons could be so happy meetings or to love itself so much like to be the faithful to other.

  Drew remained quiet a good moment, thoughtfully.

  - Lou - he said to him suddenly-: do you remember when you asked me about what it had happened with his father in our hospital? You will see, I ... I believe that you have right to know it. He...

  - I know it, Drew, you do not have to continue - it mumbled.

  His friend gathered the eyebrows and blinked repeatedly.

  - What?

  Louise inspired deeply.

  - Accidentally I listened to your conversation with Coltrain another day. I have presented to him my resignation. I leave in January. Good, anyhow my contract was finishing in these dates - he remembered him on having seen the surprise in his face-. Coltrain wanted to know why I wanted to leave, and I said to him that it had heard your conversation. It told me what my father did, and it does not strange me that he detests me, and that he does not love me here. You should not have recommended me, Drew. He felt forced to hire me, and the things have gone of evil in worse all these months.

  - I know it, but I am afraid that it is already too much late and I cannot solve that. The truth is that I believed that it would be for good, if it is that this excuse costs you - he said scrutinizing his face-. You needed to change ambience, and I believed that Cooper ..., good, it was obsessed by Jane Parker, so I thought that perhaps if you knew each other... Jane is a charming, and very sweet woman, but I do not believe that it could have resisted the temperament of Koper. It is the man's class that intimidates the women who are not capable of facing him.