Chained

by Eileen Brady

  “Yes. Mama G is worried that he’s not eating.”

  Just then Mari poked her head in. “Excuse me, Dr. Kate, but do you need any help?”

  “No, we’re fine for now.” Disappointment flashed all across her face. Mari probably figured she’d be our referee.

  Luke bent down and lifted the senior citizen kitty out of his cat carrier and onto the exam table. Sure enough, when I weighed him, I noted he’d lost a pound. That doesn’t sound like a lot but when you only weigh twelve pounds to begin with, it is significant. My general physical exam showed no abnormalities until I got to his teeth. It looked like Gatto had a fractured tooth. Since cats resent us poking around in their mouths, owners often don’t see this common injury.

  “Have you or Mama G noticed him chewing more on one side than the other or drooling?”

  Luke shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t ask her too many questions this morning. My job was to bring him over here to you.”

  “No worries. I’ll call your grandmother later and get an updated history from her. I’d like to run some blood tests and take some dental X-rays. His underlying problem might be this tooth.” I felt comfortable keeping our conversation clinical. “Animals, like people, can have discomfort from a dental problem that puts them off their food.”

  “Can you keep him here overnight? I’ve got to run to work and then tonight there’s class.” He stroked the cat who responded by head-butting him.

  I casually straightened out the stethoscope around my neck. “Maybe your girlfriend could pick him up later?” So much for keeping things clinical.

  He frowned, eyebrows knitting together. “She’s working all day.”

  “Oh.”

  A big awkward moment followed.

  “How are you two doing?”

  He seemed genuinely surprised. I usually never asked about his personal life.

  “I’m helping her deal with some things right now. Dina’s gone through a rough time lately.” He bent down and lifted the carrier up onto the exam table. The cat ignored it.

  “Well, best of luck to you both.” It was all I could do not to ask more questions about his on-again off-again relationship. “Don’t worry about Gatto. We’ll take good care of him.” I texted Mari to come and admit the cat into the hospital. It only took two seconds for her to respond, which made me wonder if she had been glued outside the door.

  However, that wasn’t why she’d been so close by, as I quickly found out.

  “Mari, can you admit Gatto, please? I’ll write up a treatment plan for you in a minute.”

  “Okay.” She lifted the cat into the carrier, then turned back into the room, and with a big grin announced, “Jeremy’s here.”

  An unexpected rush of anticipation hit. “Thanks. Tell him I’m almost finished.”

  “You don’t have to wait on my account.” Luke abruptly picked up his coat from the back of the chair.

  “Jeremy’s going to be here for a week or so. I’m sure he won’t mind waiting another minute.” Not that it was any of his business.

  “Okay.” In a quick motion he slid his jacket over his broad shoulders.

  “Maybe we can all meet for drinks one night?” As soon as I suggested we double date I regretted it—along with the rest of our awkward conversation.

  “Great idea.” He sounded horribly resigned to it, too.

  Another uncomfortable silence occurred before we both reached for the door at the same time almost knocking into each other. Then with a dramatic sweeping gesture he stepped back to let me pass. “Ladies first. Or, rather, doctors first.”

  Embarrassed, I managed a smile. Once in the hallway I turned and reminded him, “I’ll call Mama G as soon as the test results come in.”

  “Thanks, Kate. I wanted to tell you…” A familiar voice interrupted him.

  “There she is.” Two strong arms picked me up and lifted me into the air. A hint of musky aftershave tickled my memory before a big bear hug squeezed me tight.

  “It’s fantastic to see you again, Sweetie.”

  Jeremy had arrived.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Seeing an old boyfriend again is a tricky thing.

  I met Jeremy my freshman year in college at our Introduction to Anthropology 101 lecture. The class just before Anthropology was on the other side of campus, so Jeremy got in the habit of saving a seat for me. He was gawky, self-conscious, a Midwestern rich boy who wanted to see the world. His passion and enthusiasm for the subject drew me to him. Behind the nerdy glasses lurked a smart and focused guy. We hung out the entire semester, meeting for lunch and studying together. That first summer we both volunteered for a dig with our professor, helping to catalogue a Native American burial site and make coffee runs.

  Camped out in the woods our late night chats around the fire turned into something more. We stumbled into a short, but passionate relationship fueled by loneliness on my part. After three months it had run its course. Relieved, I suggested we return to friend-only status. Although Jeremy immediately agreed, I sensed sadness on his part.

  At the time I liked everything about him. I just didn’t love him.

  The following semesters we shared some classes but as my junior year loomed I decided on a pre-vet major, and became immersed in my studies. We hung out less and less frequently, finally keeping up only with quick visits and late night phone calls. Eventually that stopped too. Years went by until a few months ago when we connected up by chance through Facebook.

  The older Jeremy I’d seen on Skype looked like he spent most of his time in a hole in the ground—shaggy hair, massive beard, weatherbeaten, dusty clothes.

  The man holding me in his muscular arms bore no resemblance to that scruffy guy. In person, a very different, tanned Jeremy flashed a white smile, confident and self-assured, handsome in an offhanded way. Vanished were the thick glasses. His skinny frame had filled out and the battered brown leather jacket he wore fit great on him and looked just worn enough. He had an Indiana Jones thing going, and it surprised the heck out of me in a very, very good way.

  It obviously surprised Luke, too, who stared at him, an odd expression on his face.

  After a moment I regained my focus and introduced them.

  They sized each other up like two bulls in the ring.

  Since neither budged, I intervened. “Jeremy, I’ve still got some treatments to do and cases to write up. Can we meet up later when I get off work?”

  He grasped my hand. “I’ll wait. Mari’s offered to show me around the clinic.”

  I noticed my assistant animatedly talking to Cindy. “That’s perfect. If you get bored, let me know.”

  Still holding my hand he laughed. “Give me a computer terminal and I’m a happy camper. Besides, do you know how luxurious this place feels to me? I’m usually deep in a smelly pit surrounded by bugs and dirt.”

  Everyone in the hospital had gathered around us, including the ever-helpful Mari who listened attentively to every word.

  “Alright, guys. Jeremy is all yours. Take good care of him for me.” My announcement met with a round of applause. “Mari, can you take Luke to the reception area? Cindy has some paperwork for him to sign.”

  At first reluctant to move, Luke mumbled something and stalked away.

  “Glad to have you here.” I stood up on my tiptoes and gave Jeremy a big hug, then left it to my staff to sort things out. As I watched Luke and Jeremy walk away I realized I now had two guys in my life sending me two different signals.

  This might be fun.

  ***

  In about an hour I was done. Jeremy caught up to me as soon as I finished typing my last medical record.

  “Hey, Kate. How about showing me around town then going out to dinner?” He looked fresh and alert. I felt sticky and tired.

  “Sounds great. After I take a shower. Bulldog slobbe
r.” I pointed to my pants and scrub top, which were damp from an enthusiastically happy patient with a major drool issue. If I thought saliva-filled clothes might turn him off, I was mistaken.

  “That’s nothing. My big problems at work are weird insects, sand fleas, and animal dung all over everything. You never know what you’ll encounter on a dig.”

  He had me beat. “I can’t wait to hear all about it when I’m nice and clean.”

  “Okay.” That white smile flashed in his tanned face.

  “Why don’t you hang out in my apartment while I change? Follow me.” We weaved our way to the back of the hospital, then through the connecting door that led directly into the converted garage where I lived.

  Jeremy stepped inside. “It’s convenient.”

  “And that’s about all you can say for it.”

  Buddy immediately ran over to sniff the newcomer. After a quick introduction, his rapid tail-wagging indicated canine approval. I let Buddy out to do his business, which he did in record time, while Jeremy tagged along.

  Something about my visitor’s appearance confused me. I’d been prepared for the Jeremy seen on Skype, not the new, improved version. “Hey, I’ve got a question for you. How did your face get so tanned when the last time I saw you it was covered by that great big beard?”

  He stroked his cheek with the back of his hand, as though still getting used to how smooth it was, then explained. “As soon as the guys heard about the project shutting down, most of them shaved off their beards. You should have seen us—the lower half of our faces didn’t match the top part. I looked so weird that I deliberately sat in the sun each day we had left trying to even it out.”

  “Funny story.”

  “I’ll send you the selfie.”

  True to his word, he began to work his phone.

  “Well, you did a good job. Listen, go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Raid the fridge, if you want. I won’t be too long.”

  I disappeared into the bathroom and turned the shower on. One thing we did have in the hospital was plenty of hot water. I let the steam billow around inside the small enclosure before stepping under the pelting streams of water. My shoulders and neck muscles immediately began to relax. Unfortunately, so did the rest of me. What I desperately yearned for now was a nice nap.

  After scrubbing and rinsing the day’s remains away, I turned the water off, and wrapped myself in a white terrycloth robe. Fresh out of the shower was the only time I could see any resemblance to a young Meryl Streep. My straight blond hair coupled with a longish nose and high cheekbones were more evident when I was wet, accentuating the Scandinavian blue eyes that were a gift from some long-ago ancestor. Jeremy was right, though. Secretly, I was a little flattered when people noted the similarity, especially since I was a big fan of her work.

  After a quick blow-dry and lip gloss I felt ready to face my guest.

  Jeremy and Buddy lay sacked out on the sofa together, both lightly snoring and undeniably cute. So much for dinner and a tour of Oak Falls. I let my old college buddy catch up on his jet lag while I cranked back the lounge chair and snuggled into a soft blanket. I fell asleep in a blissful instant.

  ***

  A persistent faraway ringing noise broke into my consciousness. For a moment I wasn’t sure where I was. In the next second everything snapped back into place. It was the ringing of the hospital phone that woke me. Once the office closed, our calls were automatically routed to our answering service. Someone must have been calling again and again, trying to override the system. As suddenly as it had started, it stopped.

  I slipped my cell phone out of the robe pocket. No texts from the answering service.

  Seeing me move, Buddy became instantly alert and jumped down, pushing Jeremy’s arm with his leg. Before I knew it we were all awake.

  “Sorry I conked out on you. Did you get some sleep?” Jeremy swung his feet off the sofa, and planted them next to the coffee table.

  “Yes, thanks. What time is it?” I’d put my phone away without looking.

  “Let’s see.” He stood and pulled his sleeve up. “It’s seven-thirty, and I’m starving.”

  “Well, if you don’t mind casual, I’ve got just the place.”

  “Casual is perfect. I’ll take Buddy out while you get dressed.” Hearing his name, my dog started a little doggie dance.

  I hesitated for a moment. “Hey, Jeremy. Do you like pie?”

  “Love it.” His face broke into a grin. “Haven’t had any in six months or more.”

  “Get your taste buds ready. Tonight I’m taking you to pie heaven.”

  ***

  Pie heaven, otherwise known as the Oak Falls Diner, had been written up in foodie magazines, filmed for the Food Network, and generally swooned over by critics for its delicious homemade food and scrumptious baked goods. Despite it being late, I stuffed myself to the maximum. How could I help it? The downside was that loose-fitting pants were a thing of the past.

  Clinking plates and noisy conversation receded into the background. Jeremy and I sat at a booth by the window, chatting away about old times, our empty plates attesting to our appetites. He’d begun finishing up his second helping of the pie of the day while I washed down my decadent chocolate raspberry pie with a cup of decaf coffee.

  “You don’t know how good it feels to be back here in the States. Things were getting a little hairy at the dig.” He wiped stray crumbs of pecan pie from the corner of his mouth. After a sip of coffee, a blissful expression blossomed on his face.

  “What do you mean, hairy?”

  “Oh, thieves, local hoodlums, terrorists threatening us.” He paused to enjoy the last forkful on his plate. “Acts of sabotage by day workers happened constantly. You always had to be on your guard. We couldn’t even go to the john without our security detail.”

  “Seriously?” I’d been so caught up in my own situation, I hadn’t thought about his at all. “How can you stand working under those circumstances?”

  He shrugged. “Those are the facts of life now, depending on where you are in Africa. We anthropologists aren’t welcomed anymore.”

  Our waitress interrupted. “Can I get you folks anything else?”

  “Nothing else for me. Jeremy?”

  He gestured to the plates surrounding him. “I think I’ve had enough.”

  She ripped the check off her pad. “You two have a nice rest of the evening.”

  Before I could reach over, Jeremy had picked it up.

  “My treat, Kate.”

  “Thanks. I’ll get the next one.” Something about the way he looked at me just then made my chest ache. Things felt like they were moving a little too fast. “Did you check into your bed-and-breakfast?”

  “Yes. It’s really a little apartment, with a separate entrance. Very convenient.”

  “I’m glad you like it. Cindy recommended it.”

  “Tell her thanks for me.” He snuck another of those looks over the rim of his coffee cup.

  The room suddenly felt hot.

  At that point our conversation dried up. Jeremy paid the bill in cash and we both stood up. As I struggled with my jacket, Jeremy moved behind me, and guided my arm into the sleeve. He left his hands on my shoulders and whispered, “You are still devastating, you know.”

  My fingers instinctively reached up and touched his. That’s what he’d always said so many years ago. Hearing his compliment reminded me of how close we once were.

  Our glow didn’t last long because someone blocked our way.

  “Luke?”

  Dressed in his policeman’s uniform he was carrying a takeout bag and wearing a frown on his face. “Hello, Kate. Jeremy. Taking in the local sights?”

  “Absolutely. This place is a gem.” Jeremy put his arm around my waist and squeezed me toward him. “Kate and I have been spending time catching up.”
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br />   I got the feeling these two were in secret competition and I was the door prize. Was catching up a male code? Once again they stared each other down. Luke was back with his girlfriend but I’d swear he was jealous. Good. Maybe now he’ll realize what an opportunity he missed.

  With my most devastating smile, I maneuvered past him. “Nothing like playing catch up.”

  “So long,” Jeremy said as he scooted past him. “Stay safe out there.”

  We walked hand in hand toward the exit door. Curiosity made me glance back. Luke stood frozen in place. If looks could kill, Jeremy would be six feet under.

  Since we’d left Jeremy’s Mercedes in the hospital parking lot, I drove him back in the old F-150, the backseat still stuffed with who knows what. Most of my driving time was spent wondering about inviting him back to the apartment. I’d almost come up with the perfect sentence when he beat me to it.

  “You must be exhausted, Kate. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

  Great. I snuck a look using the rearview mirror. Sure enough, I resembled a raccoon.

  Jeremy continued. “Why don’t we both get a good night’s sleep, and in the morning, we can plan out the next few days? Especially now that I understand your working situation.”

  “Thanks, that’s very reasonable.” My brain and hormones now split in two directions, one happy to have an uncomfortable decision out of the way, while the other was wondering why he didn’t want to jump my bones.

  We slowed down at the hospital’s sign and turned into the parking lot. Maneuvering the truck around the building toward the entrance to my apartment, an idea occurred to me. “Would you like to come along on some house calls tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” He clicked open his silver Mercedes with the remote. “Sounds like fun. What time?”

  “That’s the only downside. You’d need to be here by eight.” I grabbed my purse and slid down from the driver’s seat.