by Ann McMan
Syd was nonplussed. “I—um . . . yes, but I’m separated from my husband right now.”
Gladys dropped her hand without ceremony. “Unavailable.” She turned on her flat heels and headed straight toward Maddie and the trio of lecherous doctors.
They were all saved from further mortification because Michael Robertson chose that moment to enter the room and announce that dinner was ready to be served. Maddie was at Syd’s elbow in an instant, and they beat a hasty retreat from the parlor and made their way down the wide center hallway toward the dining room.
“Thank god,” Maddie whispered close to Syd’s ear. “Five more minutes of that, and I would’ve grabbed a fire axe and chopped my way through a wall to escape.”
Syd laughed at Maddie’s distress. “Oh, I dunno. There are worse ways to spend an evening.” She looked Maddie over. “They certainly were . . . attentive.”
“Right. Attending to every nuance of my derrière. I never should’ve worn this damn dress. I’m gonna kill David.”
“David picked out your dress?”
Maddie looked down at her with raised eyebrows. “David lent me this dress . . . it’s his.” She paused. “I don’t know how he walks in these shoes.”
Syd burst into laughter and clutched Maddie’s arm. Several other couples turned and looked their way. “Behave,” she hissed. “We’ll get tossed out of here.” She continued to chuckle as they approached the entrance to the large dining room. Michael Robertson met them at the doorway.
The big man pulled Maddie into a bear hug. “How are you, beautiful?” he asked, placing a kiss on her neck.
Maddie returned his hug, and then stepped back. Her blue eyes glowed with affection. “Why, I’m just fine.” She turned to Syd. “Have you met Syd Murphy yet?”
Michael turned to regard her. He was a tall man—taller than Maddie. And he looked strong and solid in his white, double-breasted chef’s coat. He was semi-bald and wore tiny, black-framed glasses. His gray eyes sparkled as he stepped toward her. “No, I haven’t had that pleasure yet.” He hugged Syd warmly. “We don’t stand on ceremony around here. Any friend of the good doctor’s is a friend of mine.” He drew back, but still held Syd by her elbows and looked her over. “You’re a welcome addition to our little community.”
She smiled at the burly man. “I’m so happy to meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things about your talent in the kitchen.”
Michael squeezed her elbows before releasing her. “Too bad I decided to pick this night to have Peggy Hawkes cater the whole damn thing . . .”
Maddie’s involuntary gasp was audible.
Michael threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Come on you two. David has a special table set aside for you.” He winked at Maddie. “I think you’ll like it.”
He led them past a dozen larger tables, all set for parties of four or six, to a more remote section of the room near the entrance to a large sun porch. Several smaller, more intimate tables were scattered along a back wall that was lined with windows. They overlooked a rolling lawn that sloped down toward the river. Lighted walkways snaked off in several directions, and other patrons could be seen strolling about outside, smoking or carrying their cocktail glasses as they meandered about in the early evening.
“Here you are. Just what the doctor ordered.” He indicated a table set for two and gallantly pulled out Syd’s chair. “Or would have ordered, if she had the sense god gave Adam’s house cat.”
Maddie looked up at him with a startled expression on her beautiful face, but Michael only chuckled as he strode off to greet other diners.
Syd pretended not to notice Maddie’s embarrassment. She picked up her napkin. “They certainly watch out for you.”
Maddie shook her head. “Tell me about it.” She picked up the wine list that was already open across her plate. Then she sighed and set it back down. “Look, I’m sorry about subjecting you to their full-frontal disapproval of my . . . lack of social life.” She hesitated. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about their motivation.”
Syd sat back and regarded her with interest. “And what would that be? All I see are two charming and loving friends who don’t want the extraordinary woman they obviously care about to be lonely.” She raised her chin. “Is that the wrong idea?”
“No.” Maddie smiled at her sheepishly. “That would be just about the right idea. But sometimes, they get a bit overzealous in their attentions. I fear they now think of you as a healthy dose of fresh blood in the water.”
Syd laughed. “So I’m a shark?”
“Not exactly.” Maddie’s gaze was thoughtful. “They’re the sharks. Be prepared to be enlisted in the Jericho Salvation Army. They’ll do whatever it takes to co-opt your assistance in their let’s-drag-Maddie-back-into-the-limelight scheme.”
Syd continued to regard her with amusement. “So what happens if I turn out to be a willing recruit?”
Maddie sighed and picked up the wine list again. “Then I’d say that I’m probably toast.”
MICHAEL HAD OUTDONE himself on the evening fare. They dined on exceptional Low Country cuisine—starting with his signature She-Crab soup. For her dinner entree, Maddie opted for the grilled, pesto-encrusted grouper with creamy grits and fried green tomatoes. Syd had a shrimp and crawfish étouffée with white rice and scallions. Maddie ordered them each a glass of Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert, they shared a peach praline cobbler served with cinnamon ice cream. Their waiter appeared with two steaming cups of coffee and cordials of Frangelico.
“Compliments of the chef,” he explained as he set the cups and glasses down in front of them. He tucked the serving tray under his arm and headed back toward the kitchen.
Maddie sniffed the beverages. “And he has the nerve to call me a snob.”
Syd laughed as she pushed back from the table. “I can’t eat another thing. I’ve never had so much great food at one sitting.” The metallic copper color of her sleeveless camisole reflected the flickering light from the oil candle on their table. Maddie noticed how toned and firm her arms were. The square-cut neck of her top showed off her well-defined shoulders and collarbone. She really did look lovely.
Maddie dragged her gaze away from Syd and cursed herself for the umpteenth time for giving in to David’s arm-twisting. Damn him. I should’ve agreed to bring Gladys Pitzer. She looked across the dining room at the table where Gladys now sat poking maniacally at the unhappy floral centerpiece in front of her. She growled and shook her head.
“Something wrong?” Syd asked.
Maddie blinked at her. Syd’s short blonde hair was feathered back from her face and her green eyes glowed in the soft light. “Yeah. I’m an idiot.”
“What do you mean?”
Maddie sighed with resignation. “Just a general observation.” She shifted in her chair. “It’s hot in here. Do you wanna walk around outside for few minutes?”
Syd perked up. “Sure. That would be great. I’d love to walk off some of this meal.” As they stood up, she retrieved her jacket from the back of her chair. “Will you need your coat?”
Maddie nodded, but gestured toward the sun porch behind their table. “Yeah, but let’s go through here and grab it on the way out. I want to avoid the melee.”
“I’m all for that. I don’t have the stamina for any more inquisitions about my marital status.”
Maddie led them through a doorway that led to the sun porch area behind their table. She retrieved her short jacket from a coat closet located just off the main hallway of the house. “Oh really? Who’s been grilling you?”
“I lost count after the first half dozen.”
“Hmmm. Too bad. I could’ve hooked you up with the Three Billy Goats Gruff . . . they definitely were looking for some scintillating companionship.” They walked down the wooden steps that led from the sun porch to the back lawn. “Dr. Greene commented more than once that he’d been meaning to check out the services at our new library. After seeing you here tonight, I’d vent
ure a guess that it won’t be long before he drops by to renew his . . . patronage.”
Syd eyed her suspiciously. “Uh huh. Well, the only thing related to me that Dr. Greene can look forward to checking out will be a book or a DVD.” She pointed a finger at herself. “This piece of realia is not in circulation at present.”
Maddie chuckled as they strolled along one of the gravel paths away from the house.
Syd nudged Maddie’s arm playfully. “Besides, Dr. Greene seemed pretty persistent in his admiration of you. I got the distinct impression that this wasn’t an unusual occurrence.”
Maddie sighed. “You’re right, it isn’t.” She looked at Syd with a resigned expression. “Because most of my background training is in emergency medicine, I fill in a few nights a month at the county hospital. Tom Greene is the ER chief there.” She laughed bitterly. “Trust me, there’s nothing he’d love more than the chance to practice a bit of triage—on me.”
“God. What a sleaze. How do you deal with that?”
“About like you’d expect. Thankfully, med school was an excellent preparation for this. You’d be surprised by how literally many of my mentors took the whole hands-on instruction caveat in the course descriptions.”
“Well, I think that in this case, the common denominator might be you and not your profession.”
Maddie looked at her. “What do you mean?”
Syd laughed at her confused expression. “Come on, Maddie. You must know that you’re drop-dead gorgeous. The poor guy’s only human.” She paused. “Well, human and a sleaze. But it’s true that the cards are pretty unfairly stacked against him.”
Maddie stared at her blankly. Then she shook her head and looked away.
Syd seemed to enjoy her discomfort. “You really can’t take a compliment, can you?”
Maddie brought her eyes back to bear on Syd. She narrowed them with mischief. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not the jealous type.”
Syd’s expression was wary. “I know I’m gonna regret asking, but what is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, let’s just say that things have been a tad easier for me since a certain green-eyed blonde moved into the area.” She gave Syd a conspiratorial wink. “I’ve really been meaning to thank you for the division of labor.”
Syd blushed and swatted Maddie on the arm. “You totally suck.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “I don’t usually, but if I did, it probably would push my profile up a few notches.”
Syd threw her head back and considered the night sky. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“Why if I were a spiritual man, I’d say it’s your karmic reward for doing good in a past life,” David said from behind them.
Maddie and Syd jumped in surprise and then turned around and glared at him.
“What are you two lovelies doing out here alone in the dark?” He looked them over from head to toe as he took a long drag on his cigarette. “On the other hand, who cares? Whatever you’re doing, can I watch?” He sat down on a nearby bench and crossed his legs.
Maddie chewed the inside of her cheek as she turned and considered Syd. “Whattsamatter, Davey? Nothing new on Adult Pay-Per-View?”
David took another drag and blew a line of smoke at her. “Now that insinuation is just cruel. You know we don’t get decent satellite reception out here.” He turned to Syd. The orange tip of his cigarette made laser-like patterns in the darkness as he waved his hand around. “She just loves to torment me.”
Syd laughed. “Yes, I can see what a hapless victim you are.”
“At last. Someone who understands my suffering.” He bowed to Syd. “I knew I liked you.”
“The only thing you’re a victim of is your own hyperbole.” Maddie paused and tugged at the sleeve of his magenta jacket. “And maybe your fashion sense.”
David feigned umbrage as he yanked his arm away. “Oh, nice one, Miss Thing. I now regret defending your honor when I overheard that trio of mulligans speculating on whether or not your boobs were store-bought.”
Maddie gasped. “What?” She glared back up at the house.
“Calm down, Xena. There’s no need to storm the castle. I assured them that even Gladys Pitzer would look as well-endowed in the same dress.” He sighed. “Never underestimate the power of the right foundation garment.”
Maddie was still seething. “You know, I’m just one Hippocratic oath away from strangling you.”
“Ohhhh, baby, I love it when you go all butch on me.”
Syd stepped in between them. “I hate to be the one to disrupt this love fest, but, David, I think your mother is headed this way.”
David turned around and looked up the pathway toward the house. Sighing, he ground out his cigarette and tucked the butt into the pocket of his jacket. “Yep, that’s her. And judging by the way she’s walking, she ain’t got good news.”
“Oh, there you are. We’ve been looking all over for you.” Phoebe was breathless as she faced Maddie. “Dr. Stevenson, your service called looking for you. They said it was an emergency.”
Maddie nodded, turned to Syd, and touched her lightly on the elbow. “I’m sorry, please excuse me while I go see what this is about.”
“Of course. Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
Maddie squeezed her elbow and hurried back to the house with an agitated Phoebe in tow.
DAVID SHOOK HIS head and pulled a fresh cigarette from his breast pocket. “Aaaand she’s off. Again.” He dug out an old-fashioned silver Zippo and lighted up. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten through an entire evening with that woman without some crisis intervening.”
Syd sat down next to him on the bench. “She’s just doing her job.”
David gave her a long-suffering gaze. “My dear, her job is all she does. She does her job to the exclusion of having a life.”
Syd hesitated. “You’re pretty hard on her.”
“On the contrary. I love her enough to speak the truth. When you get to know her a bit better, you’ll see what I mean.”
“You’re right that I can’t pretend to be an authority on Maddie, but I do know that she’s aware of feeling . . . isolated. I think she struggles with it and wants to change it. It’s just going to take some time.” David didn’t comment. “She’s been through a lot in the last two years—losing her father, ending a relationship, moving away from her life in Philadelphia. That’s a lot for anyone to deal with—even someone as exceptional as she is.”
David sat there, smoking quietly while he regarded her. “I was wrong about you. You don’t need any more time to figure her out.” He smiled as he wiped some stray ash off his trouser leg. He looked at her, his eyes narrowed. “So how much did the good doctor tell you about her ill-fated relationship?”
Syd felt vaguely like they were venturing into forbidden territory. “Not much, just that it all ended right about the time of her father’s death. I know they were both doctors. That’s about it.”
David nodded slowly. “Interesting.” He ground out his cigarette, stood up, and reached a hand down to her. “C’mon, cutie. Let’s go and see what caliber of crisis has descended upon our resident Florence Nightingale.”
ONCE INSIDE THE house, Maddie retrieved her cell phone from her purse and called her service. She took down the number of her caller and dialed it quickly. A man answered on the second ring.
“Hello?” He had a deep, bass voice. She could hear music and laughter in the background.
“Hello. This is Dr. Stevenson. Someone at this number called me?”
“Well, hey there, little sweetie. We sure did.” She could hear the clink of ice cubes against the side of a glass. “Tom said this would be the quickest way to find you. Where’d you get off to? We were hoping you’d join us for a nightcap.”
Maddie’s jaw dropped, and she swiveled her head around to see the white-haired trio leering at her from their table in the bar. The phone was still pressed to her ear. “Are you kidding me with this?”
She snapped th
e phone closed and stood there fuming. Then she straightened her shoulders and walked across the bar to stand in front of their table. She knew her eyes were smoldering. The raucous trio fell silent as they sat there, enduring her scrutiny.
“Dr. Greene, I wonder if I might have a word with you—privately.” Her voice was icy.
Tom Greene sat staring up at six feet of barely controlled rage. He got to his feet and set his half-empty tumbler down on the table. “Um, excuse me for a minute, fellas.”
Maddie turned on her heel and led them out into an unoccupied corner of the hallway. She stood close to the shorter man, using her greater height to its full advantage. She kept her voice low so no one would overhear her.
“Out of respect for your wife, I’m going to forget about this episode of ridiculous and offensive conduct. Muriel has always been kind to me, and I owe this debt of gratitude to her.” She stepped even closer. Dr. Greene had to tip his head back to avoid having his nose in her cleavage. “But if you ever decide to make me the object of your petty and sophomoric behavior again, trust me, I won’t be so charitable.” She dropped her voice to nearly a whisper. “Do we understand each other, Tom?”
He nodded stupidly. “I’m . . . sorry, Maddie. Really.”
She stepped back. “Oh, one more thing.” She held out her hand, palm up. “Give me your car keys. You might want to call Muriel and tell her you’ve decided to spend the night here with your buddies.”
He looked like he was going to argue, but Maddie just stood there glaring at him with her palm extended. Sighing with resignation, he fished his keys out of his trouser pocket and slapped them into her hand.
“You can get these from David in the morning. Good night, Dr. Greene.”
He shook his head slowly and turned back toward the bar. “Good night, Dr. Stevenson.”
Maddie watched him for a moment and then headed back down the hallway toward the rear of the house. Syd and David met her at the door to the sun porch.
“What’s up, Sawbones?” David asked. “You look like you’ve been chewing on ground glass.”