by Dianne Drake
“You won’t mind the bedpan brigade?”
“I’d love the bedpan brigade.”
“And changing bed linen?”
“I’m getting especially good at bed linen. Nice square corners.”
“And you wouldn’t be averse to marrying the hospital director?”
“More than anything, I wouldn’t be averse to marrying the hospital director. If the hospital director doesn’t mind his wife doing bedpans and bed linen for a while.”
“So, in the meantime, until you come home, can I sneak into the nurses’ quarters at your clinic sometimes?” he asked, pulling her back into his arms.
“I’m counting on it. I need to have someone mess up that bed linen so I can practice my square corners.” A contented sigh escaped her lips. “I’ve always loved you, David. From that first crazy moment you asked me about my trees, I knew right then I wanted more than just an arboreal relationship with you.”
He chuckled. “You never did tell me which you preferred. Evergreen or deciduous?”
“I’d prefer the one under which we could sit with our picnic hamper and pass the day making love on a blanket, I think.” She kissed him softly on the lips, then laid her head against his chest. No more running. Not ever again. For the first time in her life Solaina Léandre had everything she needed. And wanted. Thank the repaired, smiling, red-lipped Buddha David had slipped into her hands earlier and she, in turn, had slipped onto the bed stand next to Howard. Howard’s road was tough now, but she and David, and their Nirvana-gazing, red-lipped friend, would be there to help him through, as he’d done for them both.
“And permit me to say that my expectations of you under the tree are definitely not shabby.”
“Care to come back to my little room and show me some of those expectations, Casanova?”
“Care to wear an orchid over your left ear, pretty lady?” he asked, handing her a small flower box.
“For the rest of my life.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5852-8
THE SURGEON’S RESCUE MISSION
First North American Publication 2006
Copyright © 2005 by Dianne Despain
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