- I have understood that you have been spreading rumours round there on the doctor Coltrain and on me - he said to him-. I will give you an advice: detén this while you could.
Nickie habíua position red as a tomato.
- I was not claiming ... - it stammered-. Please, doctor like that Blakely does not put herself, I do not believe that anybody has taken it seriously...
Lou observed her without allow to upset by his aturullamiento.
- I do not know how the people will have taken it, but, since you will see, I am not laughing precisely, and when the doctor Coltrain finds out, neither I believe that he laughs. And you can be sure that I will entrust that he finds out wherefrom the rumours went out.
- Do not be able to do that to me!: it would be despicable! - Nickie whined with tears in the eyes-. I am crazy for him!.
- I doubt it very much - Lou answered him incisively. If really it was importing something for you, you would not make it happen for something like that.
Nickie interlaced the hands nervous.
- I feel it - he said to him-, I feel it very much, but please do not say anything to him - it requested him-. It was only jealous because to I did not even give myself a kiss of good night when I left it opposite to his house, lies that it kissed you .... of "this" way, when it is supposed that he hates her - he confessed to the bent down head.
- It had drunk of more - answered Lou quedamente-. And only an idiot would believe that there could be something after a kiss under a posy of mistletoe.
- I suppose that it is right - it murmured Nickie. In the fund, she herself was longing that it was like that, but it was very convinced-. Indeed that I feel, he confers a doctorate. He will not say it to him: truth? - he insisted worried-. If he finds out he will hate me: and I love it so much ...!
Lou looked at a moment and finally, allowing to escape a sigh, said to him:
- It is well, I will not say anything to him: but not more rumours!
Nickie gave saltitos of happiness in the place.
- Oh, thank you, thank you, confer a doctorate! Not more rumours - he promised with a wide smile and raising the right hand.
On the following morning, Monday, on having entered his consultation, Lou met a furious seated Coltrain in the rim of his office.
- What supposes that I have done now?-inquirió, releasing his purse along with him.
- Is not it known it? - he stung it.
Lou put himself opposite to him, breathed heavily, and crossed of arms.
- If feriere to certain rumour that runs for the hospital...
The look of Coltrain smoothed not even an apex.
- Did you begin it?
- Oh, yes, of course - said she, between annoyed and incredulous-. I was dying to tell him to the whole personnel that it threw itself on me in the parking and almost it forced me!
In this precise moment the door was opened, and Brenda appeared. Continued looking at them open-mouthed, but after both threw a furious look, was turned bluntly and left.
- Would it be important for him to lower very much the voice? - it mumbled Coltrain, turning the head towards Louise.
- I will make it pleased when stop accusing me of things that I have not done!
They continued looking fixedly at a good moment, until almost they jumped sparks.
- Who began the rumour? he asked him about Coltrain once again.
- That is better - answered she-, nobody can be accused without having tests. Well, for his information, I did not begin it ..., principally because I do not have the most minimal interest to turn into the gossip of the hospital.
- Not even for me me to bind to to do something on this matter ...? - he asked him arching an eyebrow-.: ... how to announce our commitment?
Lou contracted the face and gathered the bridge of the nose.
- Please!: I have just had breakfast!
The jaw of Coltrain was tightened.
- Pardon?
- This is what it should do, apologize to me! - she pierced him-. To marry you, does he say? Earlier it me would fade in to a tree along with a pond full of crocodiles!.
He continued looking at her infuriated, and it was on the verge of answering him, when the intercom sounded.
- Yes? - Lou answered with brusqueness, pressing a button.
- He confers a doctorate ... the patients ... - Brenda stammered.
- Already do that there happens the first one - answered Lou-, the doctor Coltrain it was leaving.
- We have not finished - he said to him when she had released the button-. We will speak after the work.
- After the work? she repeated.
- Yes, but do not do to him illusions, that thing about will not repeat itself on Friday night - said to him he with a mocking smile-: today I am not drunk.
Lou threw a killer look and pressed the lips, but before he could say nothing, he had already gone out of the consultation.
Lou would never know how he could get ready them to continue working the rest of the day. It was furious with Coltrain for his accusations, and also irritated because Brenda had heard them discussing. The whole hospital would end up by believing that really there was something between them. And there was nothing!
At eight o'clock, when the schedule of consultation had ended, Lou started gathering his things. Brenda had left was doing moment, and also almost the whole personnel that was employed at the building of the hospital that they were using as center of health. Just it was finishing of coming out the white robe when it brought in Coltrain, closing the door after yes. It seemed that it was not ready to allow to try to leave on the sly.
- There him feels good the color of this jersey that goes - he said to him.
- It is not necessary that it flatters me. Finish of saying to me what he wanted to say to me and leave that I go away to house.
- It was trying to be only polite - answered he-. But in end, since he wants, I will get down to business: who extended these rumours on us?
Lou lowered the unsteady sight.
- I promised that he would not say it - it murmured.
- It was Nickie: truth?-adivinó Coltrain, agreeing before the expression of astonishment in Lou's face-. It was known it.
- It is young and it is taken a fancy by you ...-Lou began.
- It is not so young - he answered.
Lou shrank of shoulders.
- Nevertheless it is very immature - it restored-. I have spoken with her, and it has given me his word of which it would stop the rumours. Now it is only a question of that are vanishing. In a few days the people will find another thing about which to speak.
- It has not happened like that at all of "juicy" in Jacobsville since Ted Regan was going away to Victory after Coreen Tarleton and she was returning with him, showing an engagement ring in the finger - it restored Coltrain.
- Small comparison! - Lou exclaimed, allowing to escape an ironic laugh. Since it was coming to Jacobsville, it had heard to speak often about famous that one and well equal avenue-. As if it was not known the whole world what we are one for other!
- And what are we one for other, Lou?-inquirió he with certain spitefulness.
She reddened lightly, it bothers into how it had changed the sense of his words for turbarla, and surprised of hearing his name of his lips. Coltrain outlined a half smile.
- I believe that it is absurd that we continue speaking to ourselves about you after everything what it has spent - he said to him, crossing of arms-. Say to me: what are we one for other, Lou? - it repeated.
- Enemies - she answered.
- Is it that what you believe? - he asked him about Coltrain, and it supported the look long moment, in a silence that was becoming more and more oppressive. It dropped the arms to the sides-. They see here, Lou.
Lou felt that the beats of his heart were going off. The eyes of the doctor were sparkling in his brown face, promising him pleasures that were beyond his imagination.
The commissures of the lips of Coltr
ain bowed up in a wolfish smile.
- We go, cobardica - it stung it softly, stretching a hand-, I am not going to hurt you.
Lou could not believe that that one was happening.
- Has it been drinking, doctor? - he asked him personifying the eyebrows and blinking.
- Do you want to stop being called me a " doctor "? - the increpó he contracting the face-. You might be called me Cooper, or Jeb. And not, I have drunk not even a drop of alcohol. In fact, he was asking me if they would jump between us you spoil sparks that another night, if it was kissing you now when I am sober.
Meanwhile he was speaking, had started advancing towards her slowly, with the elegance of a panther that goes with decision but without hurry towards his strawberry. Lou's heart seemed to stop a moment, and again it began to beat with such force to which it seemed that it him was going to leave of the breast.
- Please, not ... we should not .... - it stammered, raising both hands.
Coltrain took them in theirs, and attracted her towards yes, imprisoning her between his arms.
- I have to do it - he corrected it, lowering the sight up to his lips-. I need to know...
And, without finishing the phrase, it placed his mouth on that of her. In the moment in which Lou felt that warm contact, it was invaded by a wave of desire that annulled his will. It wailed softly and half-opened the lips him to lead to the interior of his mouth, in an act of capitulation without reservations. Even more, it narrowed against him, longing to feel the warmth of his body, and noticed that Coltrain was getting excited.
He I introduced the language in his mouth with an almost animal croaking and waist raised it porla, so that it was fitting perfectly to him, as if they were two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Louise, of brads, was removed, confused for the ínitmo that was turning out to be that one, for the sensanciones that were taking place in his virginal body.
This silent protest recoerdó to Coltrain the way in which it had treated of separating of yes in the paracamiento the night dela holiday. It detached his lips of those of her, and looked for his eyes.
- You will not be virgin ...? - it ventured. The tone of his voice did that it was looking like more an accusation than an affirmation.
Lou's cheeks were dyed of flush, but it looked at it challenging.
- So yes: and what? - it pierced him.
Coltrain remained of stone.
- God ... - it mumbled Coltrain, leaving her again in the soil and separating-. I cannot believe it... How is it possible that still you are virgin? How old are you?: thirty?
Lou was feeling more annoying and humiliated all the time.
- Twenty-eight - he corrected it-. What raisin, is chance a crime to be a virgin to my age?
Coltrain pressed the lips and one put the hands in the pockets, trying to control the palpitating erection that the ardent kiss had produced to him, and that he seemed to refuse to send.
And to think that it was taking the whole weekend dreaming of taking Lou with him to his house after the work, and of making love ...! It had ended for becoming convinced of that the only possible way of it being extracted of the head would be to satisfy the desire that he was feeling for her from hacía months. It had seemed to him so simple... It was known that she also was wishing it, and there were already rumours about them, so: what would matter to give more motives for the gossip? After everything, she was going to leave in The New Year.
Nevertheless, for which he had never waited was this complication. When he had asked him if it was virgin, it had done it to sting it, but she had not realized, and had told him the truth. How was it going to seduce her knowing that it had never lain with a man? And, worse still: how was it going to manage to get rid of this desire that was consuming it?
Lou was furious with it misma for having answered to his kiss, for having made so clear that was feeling attracted by him.
- Do not think that you excite me - he warned him, in a desperate attempt of denying the undeniable thing-. Any man with experience might have made to react this way: anyone!
Coltrain lifted the face and read between lines in the furious expression of her and in his azoramiento.
- It is well, Lou, nothing happens - he said to him softly-. The two we are human, so you do not torment yourself about a kiss.
She blushed moreover and pressed the handles.
- And do not think for a moment that I am going to change opinion: on the first of January I leave, and you are not going to make me change opinion - it mumbled.
- I know it.
- And I am not going to allow me to seduce for you!
- I do not even think to try it - very solemn he restored-: I do not have for cosumbre to seduce virgins.
Lou bit the low lip.
- How is it that still you are virgin to your age? - he asked him about Coltrain cautiously-. Why?
She looked at it as if she wanted to strike dead it, but then it lowered the sight.
- Because I do not want to finish as my mother - he confessed to hoarse voice.
He gathered the upset frown.
- Your mother? I do not understand.
Lou allowed to escape heavily sigh and wiggled the head.
- I do not even think to explain it to you; it is slightly personal. When this month ends I will have stopped being your assistant, and then already not at all of it I was burning hot it concerns it will be your matter.
Coltrain observed her worried. it seemed hurt, vulnerable...
- Perhaps it you would not go badly to receive psychological assistance - he suggested in tone that I stay.
- I do not need psychological assistance - she restored obstinately.
- Indeed? - Coltrain ran through him-. Then: why do not you tell me how you broke the left doll?
She was tightened visibly.
- Oh, a layman would not realize - said to him the doctor-, but I am a surgeon - he remembered him-, and although the break is curda and the scars are minimal, something like that has not happened to me unnoticed. How did it happen?.
Lou felt as a scared girl, whose secret had been an overdraft. He had not spoken to anybody about that one, and he would be the last person to whom he would entrust himself.
- I am not your patient.
Coltrain observed her thoughtfully. In spite of the heated diatribes that they had had till then, they had never gone so far as to discuss personal questions. In the occasions in which throughout the year they had been in the streets of Jacobsville, it was leaving hospital, they had behaved with courteousness. Nevertheless, in this moment he was starting realizing what was in reality behind the cuirasse of Louise Blakely's ice, and what had stayed to the overdraft was quite disheartening: a woman who had suffered in the past, which it had suffered so much that had sheltered in yes same, shutting up itself in a species of antiseptic prison. He asked himself if in any moment he would not have felt the desire to escape.
- Then perhaps you might speak with Drew of it - he suggested him.
Lou wiggled the head and closed his right hand on his left doll in a protective attitude.
- Already leave it. I have said to you that it is not your matter.
Coltrain extracted the hands of the pockets, and with many gentleness, separated Lou's right hand and took the left side, taking her to his breast.
- There is nothing that you could not tell me - he said to him with solemnity-. I am not the person's class that he enjoys spreading gossip and rumours. Any thing that you say to me, will stay between us. So, if you want to speak ..., tomorrow, spent, or when you want, I am ready to listen to you.
Ela bit the low lip. The kind words of Coltrain had made to outcrop tears to his eyes, had opened a crack in his cuirasse of ice.
- My mother had a serious emotional trauma - it began slowly-. It was ciegamente in love with my father ..., up to such a point, that nothing of what he was doing could be bad, not by no means at all... That night my father had started drinking, and I tried to take the bottle from him, because
whenever I was getting drunk I was beating my mother, but I could not. Then, it struck me in the doll with her, and the bone broke - it murmured, contracting the face to the recordarlo-. I spread they took me to urgencies, he said that it had stumbled and that it had crossed with the hand the crystal of a door. He was a surgeon of prestige, so everybody believed it ..., even my mother. When we returned to house I said to him that he was he who had done it, but he accused me of being lying.
CHAPTER 7
Coltrain did not interrupt it. Although he might never have imagined anything of that one, he did not also surprise, because he had verified first hand what person's class had been the father of Lou.
- It was the alcoholic one - continued she separating the face-, and in the end it ended up by becoming also addicted to the drugs. In fact, it had to leave the surgery because in an occasion almost it killed a patient. He trod on an operating theatre again, but it remained as adviser of the hospital, because there were partners who had a pity and because he was a great surgeon. And really it it was - it pointed, queriendo to be a joust-: he was a bad father, but since surgeon was incredible. Of small I would like to have continued his steps, to be like like he - it murmured, estremeciéndose-. I was in my first year in the Faculty of Medicine cuado it happened. I lost an entire semester, and although the doctors who attended to me did everything possible to arrange the break of the sinew, they said to me that I might not devote oneself to the surgery. That's why finally I inclined for the general medicine.
- It is a shame - Coltrain said. He was comprising very well what was the passion for the surgery, because also it was running for his veins. He was loving his work.
Lou smiled with sadness and shrank of shoulders.
- At least I can practise the Medicine, so it is not so bad - he answered-. With the general medicine also it is possible to help many people. Wanting to be useful for the community, the power to help the people ..., this was what helped me not to succumb as my mother, in spite of everything for what we happen. If it had not been for the Medicine, it would not have gone out forward.
- I - he confessed him neither. It outlined a smile before the expression of astonishment that appeared in the face of his assistant-. Surprised? It was sure that you were thinking that my life had been a raft of oil: to what yes? - it wiggled the head-. The reality is very different: in fact, if hospital had not been for a medical old man already withdrawn from this one h, that it took me for the good way, now probably it would be in prison. I had a difficult infancy and an adolescence, and he was detesting any form of authority. Law was always got tangled up conla.
CAPITULO 1 Page 7