CAPITULO 1

by Coltrain's Proposal(lit)

  - You?-inquirió Lou without being able to give credit to what it heard.

  Coltrain agreed.

  - The people not always are what seems - he answered-. I was an anxious and uncontrollable kid, but that good doctor inculcated me the love for the medicine, and I discovered that it had aptitudes for it, and that there were persons ready to help. I am the first one of my family in managing to escape of the poverty: did you know it?

  Lou shook the head.

  - The truth is that I do not know anything about your family - he answered-, and I had never dared to ask the others about personal things on you.

  - I have realized - said he-. And also you avoid you open to the others. You are capable of defending yourself if it is necessary, but you do not leave that the others approach you.

  - When you open your heart to someone, it can end up by doing to you damage - Lou murmured.

  - A lesson that your father taught you, undoubtedly.

  Lou embraced each other, uncomfortable.

  - I am tired, Jedediah, and at ten o'clock we have to return for the shift of visits. I want to go away to house.

  Coltrain her looked at the eyes.

  - Vente to mine.

  Lou hesitated rejealous, and the doctor did a grimace.

  - This is not what you are thinking - he said to him-. I have already said to you that I do not have intention of seducing you: you are virgin, you are in the list of protected species.

  Lou gathered the lips, but finally he could not avoid to burst out laughing.

  - Vente with me, Lou. I will prepare chili, and cakes of corn, and loaded well coffee, and after the shift of conference we can return, and see together the special one of opera that they put in television at dawn. Do you like the opera?

  Lou's eyes were illuminated.

  -, yes, I love Oh!

  Coltrain smiled widely.

  - Seriously? Do you like Pavarotti?

  She agreed.

  - Very much. And Plácido Domingo - he added. Suddenly, nevertheless, a worried expression showed in his face-. But if they see that we go away together, the people will think that...

  - That think what they should want - he restored-. Also, we are adult and both we are single and without commitment, so what we make together is not a matter of anybody.

  Lou seemed to reconsider it. The offer could not be more tantalizing.

  - In agreement, but I will go in my car - he said to him.

  - Oh, we go, Lou, mine is more comfortable, and since the two we have shift of conference in the hospital this night, we will come together back.

  - but the fact is that...

  - Lou, please, let's not discuss. I also am tired, and still we have a pair of hours of work this night ahead.

  We "have" ..., Lou repeated himself while they were going out of the hospital and were going to the parking. If it was known what was hurting him that the things between them seemed to be starting changing, I joust when only two weeks were absent so that it was going away! Coltrain had said to him that it had broken his letter of resignation, but still it had not lost the reason up to the point of risking having left him there. If what he had said to him about that it was not seducing virgins was true, and she was not going away, it was exhibited that he continued treating simply like to a companion, and perhaps like to a friend, but nothing more, and she was not sure of being able to resist it when it loved her as it loved it.

  - There stops worrying you, woman - Coltrain said to him, laughing softly, on having seen with the rabillo of the eye the expression of his face while they were walking-. I have already said to you that I am not going to seduce you ... unless you want, skylight - he added inclining towards her, in a rustle accomplice-. I am medical, and I know how to protect you from the possible consequences.

  Lou continued looking at it of milestone in milestone, but it burst out laughing on having realized that it was teasing him.

  - Veto to the horn! - he said to him, giving him a friendly punch in the arm.

  - It is well, is well, I have passed ... - admitted he, laughing also-, but the fact is that I cannot avoid it: I love making to be furious.

  They had come along with the car of Coltrain, a luxurious silver Jaguar, and he supported the door gallantly so that he should sit down.

  A few minutes later, the doctor was starting the car, and they were going out to the highway. For the first time in every month that they were taking working together, they chatted without the utensils throwing themselves to the head.

  Nevertheless, in a given moment, she turned the face towards the window, and remained in silence, observing the silhouettes of the houses standing out in the horizon with the light of the evening.

  - You have gone much kept silent in the last part of the way - Coltrain quedamente said to him, a few minutes later, when it was stopping the car opposite to the house of his mess.

  - The fact is that I feel happy - she answered without thinking.

  Then it was him who remained quiet and thoughtful. It her helped to go down the car and they raised the stairs of the veranda.

  - It must be wonderful to sit down here in spring - Lou said and it took seat in the swing.

  Coltrain looked at her with curiosity.

  - He did not believe that you belonged to these persons to that they like the swings.

  - Nor the walks along the field, not motar on horseback, not the baseball: truth? - added she-. Because also I like these things.

  Coltrain smiled. Truly it was only. It opened the door and invited her to happen. Lou observed that the interior seemed decorated by a professional, and probably like that it had been.

  - I grew sat in boxes of packing and eating in cut plates - him confessed the doctor-, so I suppose that it might be said that I have prospered.

  Lou laughed.

  - i suppose that yes, although I believe that if there is had nearby someone with whom you are to taste, it is possible to be happy with boxes of packing and cut plates .murmuró-. I hate the extravagant, or too formal decorations.

  Coltrain was starting suspecting. It was impossible that they had so much in common!

  - You are full of surprises - it spluttered, arching an eyebrow-. Not habrás him been worm out to Drew to say to me what I want to hear, truth? - inquirió in a suspicious tone and something rough.

  The astonishment in Lou's face was authentic, and as such it was recognized by him, but the damage was already done, and Lou looked at it hurt.

  - It should not have come - it stammered stuned-. It has been an error...

  Coltrain retained it for the arm on having seen that it was doing gesture of leaving.

  - Waiting, Lou! Excuse me, please - it requested him-. From what happened to me years ago, I am always to the defensive one with the women - he apologized atropelladamente-. The fact is that I never know if really...

  - I understand it, it does not matter, you do not have to give me explanations - she cut it. Nevertheless, the agitation in his voice, he was saying to him that yes it was mattering for him.

  Coltrain scrutinized his long face moment before speaking again.

  - I do not believe in that thing about " happy forever ever " - he said to him-. There was a time in which yes, but that was before your father was appearing and destroying all my illusions. She was not leaving to me that she was touching it, but he went to bed with him ... and she remained a pregnant woman of him. And above he was going to marry me, without saying anything to me - sigh allowed to escape heavily-. I lost the faith in the love, started distrusting all the women, and became mad of such a way with your father, who if they had not dismissed it, would have given him a drubbing. And later, when you came and I discovered who you were ... - it shook the head shamed-. It was on the verge of killing Drew for not having said it to me.

  - I did not also know what had made to you my father - Lou pointed.

  - And I did not have right to treat you as I have treated you till now - Coltrain said to him. It outlined a s
mile-. I even tried to make you resign, loading you with more and more things, but you were never complaining for having to do overhours, not because the work was hard. The more you were demanding it, the more you were giving of you. In fact, it was admiring you against my will, and was saying to me that it had been a wise move to hire you, although you were not falling down to me in grace.

  - That you made already very it clear to me from the beginning.

  - But you planted me face - said he-. The majority of the people does not do it. They get frightened, go away to house, and start turning him to what has happened to them, thinking " he had to say this or that one ". You not; when someone pushes you you get up of a jump and return to the fight. Since adversary you are tremendous.

  - It is not a merit - she said shrinking of shoulders-. All my life I have had to fight to obtain what he wanted ..., and not to allow me to subjugate for my father, just as it happens to me with you...

  - I do not have through habit to get drunk!: and I have never hurt a woman! - he offended pierced him.

  - He was not saying it in this sense - hurried to say she-. Really only that ... you demand, push ... you transfer not even an apex ever, you nor give up ... just as he. When he was thinking that it was in possession of the truth, it was capable of facing the entire world to demonstrate it, but also when it was wrong. It never admitted that it had problems with the drink and the drugs, and my mother neither. She was his slave - he added with bitterness-. He went so far as even to forgive it when it was sticking, and when it was scolding me without reason.

  - Did not he love you?

  - Yes he loved me, although it was small, loved him more ..., up to the point of lying for him ..., and of dying for him - he added with a shaded expression in the face-. It was raised to a light aircraft with, knowing that it was not in conditions to pilot it, and they smashed. Perhaps it had a premonition of which he was going to die, and wanted to go with him. I am sure almost that, although it had been known what was going to happen, it would have risen to the light aircraft. Even this point loved it.

  - You say it as if you should not imagine that nobody could love that way - he observed.

  - Because I cannot imagine it - she answered sincerely, lifting the look towards him-. I would not like this class of obsessive love: neither to give it, to receive it.

  - What is what you want then?: a life of solitude? - the increpó he.

  - This is precisely what you will obtain if you continue with this misogynous attitude - she counter-attacked.

  Coltrain shrank of shoulders.

  - Perhaps - it granted to the end. It took Lou's right hand-. Boy, let's leave this chat for another moment. Inside a pair of hours we will have to return to the hospital. I do not know you, but I die of famine.

  Minutes later, the meal, smoky and delightful was served on the table of the kitchen. Lou had not proved a Mexican meal so rich in a lot of time.

  - You have had the chili left the best - it admitted.

  Coltrain smiled.

  - I have gained two times the contest of chili of Jacobsville.

  - I do not surprise - she laughed-. And the cakes of corn also are delightful.

  - I celebrate that you like - Coltrain said and raised his cup of coffee in a feigned toast. It leaned back in the seat and continued studying in silence Lou's face while she was cleaning herself the lips with the napkin-. It has not been only on my part - he said to him suddenly.

  Lous lifted the eyes towards him.

  - What?

  - The whole opposition that has existed between us - answered he-. You also have proved to be quite touchy all these months.

  Lou shrank of shoulders.

  - It is something instinctive to put itself on the defensive one when we perceive that someone does not like one - it restored.

  - I suppose that yes - it murmured Coltrain. He threw a glance to his clock of bracelet and purified his coffee-. It has done late. Go for the overcoat and the purse. Meanwhile, I will put the things in the dishwasher and we will return to the hospital. With luck, perhaps we will be able to return on time after the shift of conference to see this concert at dawn in the television.

  When they came, the pavilion of urgencies was boiling of activity as of custom, and many members of the personnel exchanged significant looks and whispered to count yes on having seen them coming together. Lou tried to ignore them while it was expiring with his obligations, but it did not turn out to be to him easy, and when there was ending the hours of visits, he was not managing to find Coltrain on any part. It appeared to one of the large windows that were giving to the parking, and verified that the car of the doctor remained parked there. Then it had to continue in the hospital, it was said. With a sigh he decided to go to look for it again to the ground floor, when, on having turned in a corner, he saw it to the fund of the corridor. He was speaking with a blonde despampanante that was taking a suit of design that she had already liked to be able to afford.

  On having seen Lou, the expression of Coltrain became very serious. It turned towards her with the hands in the pockets of his white robe, while the blonde had one of his arms seized with both hands of a possessive way.

  - This is my assistant - it presented her to the stranger-. This one is There damages Lester, an old woman ... acquaintance - he said to Lou.

  - Oh, please, Copper! - the blonde re-lit it with a grimace-. I am more than that. Years ago we were on the verge of marrying - he said to Louise in a honeyed tone-. Been delighted of meeting. They finish of accepting me as director of infirmary in this hospital. I begin on the same night.

  - Ah, yes? - Lou stammered, stuned. It damages Lester agreed.

  - I was employed at a hospital deprived of Houston, but when I saw that the reporting of this position in a local newspaper decided to answer the offer ... and here I am! It is wonderful to be back ..., because I was born in this city: does he know?

  - Indeed? - Lou murmured, still in state of shock,

  - Fondness, you have not said to me how he is called your assistant - he said to him That It Damages Coltrain.

  The doctor directed a brief look to Lou, and answered very serenely:

  - His name is Blakely, Louise Blakely.

  - Blakely? - it repeated It damages, looking up thoughtful-. This surname turns out to be to me very familiar ... - suddenly it put itself lída-. Not, it cannot be ...-it spluttered allowing to escape a laugh of circumstances-. Coincidence would be too much.

  - My father was the doctor Fielding Blakely - Lou intervened in an icy tone-. I have understood that you ... he knew it: is not it true?

  The face of Dana was looking like a plate of role of rice.

  - I have ... I have to go to change ... - it spluttered atropelladamente, releasing the arm of Coltrain and walking backwards-. It would have already to be working! - it murmured laughing nervous again-. Good, see you later.

  And it moved away for the corridor. Lou continued her with the look, trying to control his annoyance.

  - Why did not you want to say to him my name?-increpó to Coltrain.

  The face of the doctor stayed impassive.

  - It is better not to remove the past if it is not necessary.

  Lou did not like that response.

  - Did you know that it was going to work here?

  Coltrain pressed the jaw.

  - It was known that the position was vacant - he answered-, but not that they had hired her. I am feje of personnel, but I cannot decide on the charges of administration of the center. In any case, if Selby Wills, of the executive committee, was not finishing of retiring, they would not have accepted it. It was here in the epoch of the scandal, and it is known what happened.

  Lou crossed of arms.

  - I certainly do not think to treat her with warm cloths - he warned him-. I am sure that my mother suffered for his cause.

  - Of that already long ago - it murmured Coltrain-. If I can spend for high with you what your father did, you can do the same thing with
her.

  - Do you believe that?

  - Lou, which happened between them has not anything in common with you - he insisted.

  - So that my father cheated my mother, this woman went to bed with him, knowing that he was married ...: and has not that anything in common with me? - she, unbeliever ran through him.

  Coltrain did not answer that.

  - Have you finished your visits? - he asked him, giving for the topic finished.

  - Yes, I have ended - answered she irritated-, and I am going to go away to house. We will have to leave this concert for another occasion.

  Coltrain hesitated, but it was only a moment. The expression of Lou's face was saying to him to the egg whites that it would not serve as anything that was trying to convince her.

  CHAPTER 8

  The arrival of Dana Lester to the city turned out to be wrapped in a swarm of dimes and diretes, because there were the people in Jacobsville who still remembered very well what had happened years behind in the hospital. Lou they tried not to pay attention while it was getting over the storm. Enough it had with that the new director of infirmary was disappearing whenever he had to speak with her, and with that Coltrain scarcely was speaking to him.

  In this sense a pair of weeks was glad that already only they were absent for his march. The situation was becoming untenable, and for many returns that it was giving him, was not happening to decide if It Damages was jealous of her or if it was of him afraid. The rumours on Coltrain and her had stayed to the second term before the return of the " ex-fiancée of the doctor Coltrain ", which in certain way was a mitigation. Nevertheless, it heard to saying the whole world that It Damages was not doing any more that to chase Coltrain for the whole hospital, and, although it was treating of ignoring it, that one was destroying her inside.