by Barbara Ebel
“This unprofessional behavior,” Bruce began, “is the last such incident that the majority of The Neurosurgery Group of Middle Tennessee is going to tolerate.” He stood behind his desk, sank into his chair, and signaled Danny to sit. Danny bit the tuft of skin inside the corner of his mouth and fell into the upholstery like a marionette on strings.
“In recent consultation with our group’s attorney, it’s a business decision to not disengage you as one of our partners. We won’t fire you, as of yet, but put you on leave of absence for several months. Ample time to straighten yourself out.”
Danny froze.
“Sorry, Danny,” Harold tentatively added. “It’s just that your behavior has serious repercussions for all of us. It’s not just the malpractice tarnish. There are reports of being short tempered in the OR and not having your pager on. You disrupt office schedules and patients are unhappy with you. Your behavior substantiates run-away rumors of an affair and case foul-ups.”
Bruce put his open palm forward to stop Harold. “And have you taken a look at yourself lately? You’re a mess. When was the last time you had a haircut?”
Harold tinkled change in his pocket and sat in the adjacent chair next to Danny. “Jeez, Danny. It’s not just your clothes that stink.”
“When?” Danny asked.
“Starting now,” Bruce said.
“How? My scheduled patients …”
“That’s our problem,” Bruce said as he rose. “We will deal with it. While you are suspended, no pay. That will be indicated on your statements.”
__________
The doctor’s lounge provided Danny with the immediate tools he needed. His medical privileges were intact at the hospital; he was still a staff physician. He toasted a bagel, peeled an orange, and drank coffee while waiting for nine o’clock to call the apartment office.
“Valley View,” someone said at the other end. Danny recognized the elderly man’s voice, just who he wanted to talk to.
“Hello. This is Doctor Tilson. Sir, my apartment number eight was re-keyed yesterday. What’s this all about? I pay rent; I believe I have justification for legal action.”
A perfusionist taking a break from the bypass machine glanced over so Danny leaned forward into the dictating machine cubicle.
“Doctor Tilson, we would never do anything this drastic were it not for our legal counsel. You should know that already, since you received letters from Valley View and the attorney’s office, after we warned your girlfriend.”
“Do we speak the same language? I said I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Well, it’s in your rental agreement.”
Danny thought he would explode. “What is?” he yelled. Most of the people in the doctor’s lounge shot him a glance. His attire didn’t help. Two doctors grinned at each other, as if Danny had lost it.
“No dogs allowed.”
Danny couldn’t believe it. One more thing. Was this defensible?
“Sir, I had no idea.” Danny scooted the chair in another inch and practically whispered into the phone. “I desperately need to get my personal things out of there.”
“The apartment is no longer yours to rent. And, you won’t be getting a refund for the rest of the month on your paid-up rent, nor will you be getting your security deposit back. If you don’t believe me, read your contract.”
“Can I please move my personal possessions out this morning?”
“I’ll be here. Whenever you want.”
___________
Besides getting Mary’s house key from the drawer, so that he wouldn’t be sleeping in his car again with Dakota, Danny’s main concern was to get his leather case. His clothes and books were important, too, but paled in comparison. When he entered the business office, the man adjusted some paperwork, found the new apartment key, and signaled for Danny to follow. The trek to number eight reminded Danny of once being led to the principal’s office in grade school.
The man abruptly stopped. “See those dead branches there?” he asked. “That’s what happens to landscaping when apartments have dogs.”
Danny shook his head since the middle of January wasn’t a month for non-evergreens to qualify as green. Why, Dakota had never paid any interest in that short-changed, scraggly excuse of a bush.
They arrived at Danny’s recent living quarters. The man’s key slipped straight away into the keyhole and he opened the door. He lingered at the edge of the kitchen counter, making it clear he wasn’t leaving. “I’m locking up after you leave. It’ll be the model apartment again with all this rental furniture, which we’re going to assume the bill for again.”
Danny headed to the bedroom, everything looking exactly as he had left it. He swiped at the bedspread, picked up the end of the mattress, and grabbed his burgundy case. He went to the closet; all his personal items would go back into the suitcase and boxes he had stored there. He rolled the packed luggage in front of the kitchen counter, grasping his case with his free hand. After he placed it on the counter, he found Mary’s key and his pager, put them separately with his most important item, and continued throwing drawer and kitchen pantry items into a box.
Danny had worked up a sweat, so unzipped his jacket, draped it near the phone. Piled mail lay there, so he leafed through envelopes before dropping them into the box. He opened the Valley View and law firm letters, the man making a face as if he had better things to do. He should have opened them days ago. He now had more attorneys after him than the number of French-style green beans in a sixteen ounce can.
Danny stood straight. Something triggered a curious thought, like when someone looks directly at something, but it doesn’t register what he or she really sees, until later. His leather burgundy case, it didn’t seem right. What was it?
He darted a glance to the keeper of his endeared items, a sinking feeling welling up from his gut. He inched his hand over, put his palm on top and pressed.
Danny’s words came hesitantly, “Has anyone been in here before or after the apartment was re-keyed?”
“Just me. To evaluate for dog mischief, or owner damage like we usually do. The place looked like you left me with no trouble. But still don’t expect that security deposit.”
Danny discontinued listening to him. He was worried about someone else, not him. But first … He picked up the case holding Albert Einstein’s book and Melissa’s bracelet, and opened the flap. It was as empty as a strewn red neck beer can.
Chapter 25
As much as Danny wanted to, he couldn’t go get Dakota, yet. He needed to unload his car at Mary’s. Danny let himself into her house when no one answered the door, carried bags and boxes upstairs and stacked a neat pile in the original guest room, the only bedroom truly available. He called Sara and left a message that he’d pick up the dog later. Growing sleepier, he succumbed to the bed. His eyelids closed right away and the difference between consciousness and fading into a dream blurred. A cat’s paw ruffled the river’s surface as he stood watching, Dakota nearby, the moon a bright white ball overhead. Circular ripples grew, the water percolated, like humpback whales bubble feeding. Melissa appeared from the center and approached him, her arms outstretched. She wore a long, ethereal dress, but before she reached him, she disappeared back into the water, crying “Daddy, Daddy.” The Caney Fork River became quiet again.
___________
Sara scanned the newspaper’s TV guide and Nancy opened a new peanut butter jar and spread some on a slice of bread. Dakota suddenly bolted up, sniffing the air. He sat, reeled up, and pranced his two front legs in the air.
“What?” Nancy asked. “That’s a pretty cool high-five.”
“I think dogs like peanut butter,” Annabel said as she peeled apple skin from her braces.
“That would explain it,” Sara said, glancing over the top of the counter.
Nancy spread a pat of peanut butter on her index finger and extended it to Dakota. “But, like, be polite and don’t eat my finger.” Dakota gobbled the small mou
nd and continued licking until he searched the tile floor for any fallen residue.
“Would one of you call your father about Dakota?” Sara asked.
“I’ll do it,” Annabel said. “I want to talk to his office anyway.”
Nancy asked for her father. “I’ll put you through to Dr. Tilson’s nurse,” the receptionist said.
“Cheryl,” Annabel said, “I need to talk to my Dad, but first I need your help. Dad told me to call about dates because I want to shadow him for a few days after school. I’m thinking about a medical career, but I don’t know if I would like it.”
“Your dad isn’t here this afternoon, Nancy. We’ll have to wait to schedule you, though. He won’t be in the office for some time in the immediate future. Bye now.”
Annabel grimaced at the receiver before putting it on the cradle. “Like, that was weird.”
“What?” her sister asked.
“Cheryl said Dad’s not there, and he won’t be there … ‘in the immediate future.’”
Sara, Nancy, and Annabel exchanged glances. Annabel waved her apple core at Dakota who politely took it in his mouth and trotted to the other side of the kitchen.
Annabel picked up the phone again and called Danny’s apartment, her face showing disbelief as she listened to a telephone company recording. “Mom,” she said after hanging up, “maybe we get to keep Dakota tonight.”
“I doubt it,” Sara said. “Your father left a message here saying he’d pick him up. But that’s weird if he’s not in the office and you can’t get him at his apartment.”
Maybe he’s finally lost his mind and ran off with the ‘other woman,’ Sara thought.
___________
As Danny rolled over, he opened his eyes, readjusting them to old familiar surroundings. Recollection of his dream sent chills along his neck. His entire career hung in jeopardy. Actually, his whole life. He sat up and buried his head in his hands. He shut his eyelids tight, concentrating into the darkness.
Danny quickly showered and rummaged for clean pants and a sweatshirt from his duffel bag. He pulled his trousers up, zipped his fly, and struggled with the button. Pants must have shrunk.
Downstairs Danny hesitated to scan the refrigerator for something to eat, because leaving Dakota at Sara’s longer than necessary could be a problem, especially if the dog became mischievous. Since his morning bagel, Danny hadn’t eaten, so he went through the drive-in on the way and bought two-quarter pounders with cheese, fries, and coffee.
When Danny rang the bell at Sara’s, Nancy opened the door, while Dakota stopped barking and greeted him. Danny’s heart warmed; anymore, nobody got that excited to see him.
“Dad, like what is going on with you?” Nancy said as Danny acknowledged Dakota. He planted a strong kiss on Nancy’s forehead.” She stood back and eyed him. “Like I said, Dad, what’s going on with you?”
“Can’t I kiss my daughter?”
“I guess that’s okay. I mean, like everything else. The office said you weren’t there and aren’t going to be there. And your telephone’s been disconnected.”
Annabel came into the hallway and stood behind her sister. “Yeah, Dad, we are kind-of worried about you.”
“Girls, it’s not the time or place to talk about it. Actually, you have no idea how nice it is to see you both.” Now he gave Annabel a hug and a kiss as well.
The girls started to lead Danny to the back of the house.
“I better just take Dakota and leave,” he said.
“It’s okay. You have to wait for Mom anyway. She went to get Dakota a bag of dog food.”
“Does that mean I shouldn’t feed him the cheeseburger I have?” Danny laughed. He ran to the car and brought his fast food. He sat with the girls at his old kitchen table, where he used to eat Sara’s healthy meals. Which explained his tight trousers. He’d been eating fewer meals, but the quality and calorie count had gone to the dogs.
“Dad, we are never going to see the inside of your apartment, are we?” Annabel asked, and then sampled a French fry.
“No.” He washed down a bite of burger with his coffee. “Do either of you know when Mary and Casey will be home?”
“They drove to the gulf coast for a few days,” Annabel said. “They should be home tomorrow afternoon.”
Danny promised the girls he’d see them more the next month as Sara came through the garage door hugging a dog food bag. She grumbled something as he got up to take it. “I almost left this beside your car,” she said. “But I think Dakota needs some now.”
“Sara, thanks,” Danny said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s what’s best for the dog.” She took a cereal bowl from a shelf while Danny split the top of the bag. Sara read the feeding directions. “What do you think he weighs?”
“Sixty pounds.” Annabel said.
“Probably eighty or eighty-five,” Danny said. He swiped at Annabel. “It’s like a girl to underestimate weight.”
“Okay, about two cups then,” Sara said.
“Here, watch this,” Danny said. Dakota followed him. “Dead dog, Dakota.”
Sara smiled and placed the dish on the floor.
Danny and Dakota finished eating and Danny headed to the door.
“Dad,” Annabel called after him, “where should we reach you?”
“At Mary’s.”
“I thought you were living with your girlfriend,” Sara said behind him.
“I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Hmm. Did you burden the girls with all your problems while I was gone?”
Danny looked down. “Despite everything falling apart, I spared them.”
Sara contemplated his words and hooked a thumb into the belt loop on her jeans. “I guess, Danny, unless you’re a politician, you end up being responsible for your actions.”
“I suppose so,” he said, clasping the Purina bag in his left arm. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“The legal maneuvers between us have been … well … surprising. Jim Dorsey’s letter about my first child support being late, though, really hurt. You could have just reminded me.”
Sara raised her voice. “What were you thinking, to give up what we had?” She held her tongue for a long moment. “I received a copy of that,” she said in a lowered tone. “Jim asked me if I’d gotten the payment. When I said no, he said he’d take care of it. I had no idea he’d write such a malevolent letter.”
Danny smelled subtle orange-ginger from her hair. He inhaled slowly through his nose, soaking up its familiarity. “Listen, thanks for taking Dakota and thanks for getting the dog food.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving.
Danny lightly held the middle of Dakota’s leash. Dakota nipped at the free end as Danny held on to the memory of Sara’s lingering scent on his way to the car.
___________
The next day, Danny waited before unpacking his personal belongings. Crashing at Mary’s for a day or two was one thing, but he couldn’t presume staying for weeks on end. He’d have to divulge his whole mess to his sister and closest friend and hope for the best. He gritted his teeth thinking about his financial status. At the moment, he was cashless, and without an upcoming income stream. He would have to cash in his annuity to make payments to Sara. By the manner in which the Judge had decided his motion in court, trying to legally recalculate payments to her wasn’t worth it. The Judge would ignore Danny’s sob story and only see a useless nonworking professional filling his time with fishing and throwing sticks for a dog. A doctor should be a gold mine, despite his lousy circumstances.
Danny browsed through Mary’s art room. Every completed picture was vastly different from the next; each one had a fresh quality about it, as if she were multiple artists in one. A work-in-progress stood on the easel, it smelled like oils; the palette nearby had with thick colors piled at the edges, while a short painting knife and stubby brush laid horizontal on a can. The paraphernalia and woody texture of t
he bedroom itself made it more artistic than any gallery viewing room. He wanted to linger there longer. However, since Mary and Casey were arriving that afternoon after a long drive, he would contribute to groceries.
After going to the store, Danny stashed milk, cold cuts, orange juice, and frozen vegetables in the refrigerator. He stocked the empty fruit bowl and stacked dog food cans in the pantry, thinking of adding moist food to Dakota’s dry meals. In case Casey and Mary wanted to eat when they got home, he had bought a deli chicken. As he petted Dakota, he felt pangs for the past and yearned for a normal dinner with family.
Danny heard doors slamming at five o’clock after Casey’s Jeep pulled into the garage next to Mary’s Ford.
“We’ve got a visitor!” Mary exclaimed, toddling into the kitchen and dropping a shopping bag to hug her brother. “And four-legged Dakota, too.”
“Hey, Danny,” Casey said. “What a nice surprise.”
“How was your trip?”
“Gathered some sunshine from Florida. Even went fishing.”
“We had a great time,” Mary said. “A few days were all we needed.” Mary acknowledged Dakota as Casey and Danny continued unloading the car and shaking sand from the floor mats.
“There’s been an imposter here,” Mary said, when Danny and Casey stopped going back and forth. She pointed to the lemon-peppered chicken and the fruit bowl.
“A take-in dinner,” Danny said. “But do I have bucket loads to tell you. And a favor to ask as well.”
For hours, Danny talked. They retired to the family room, after cleaning up, walking Dakota, and popping a cork on a sweet Muscadine, like a dessert to linger over. Mary changed into loose fitting sweats and slipper socks and Casey took off his leather shoes. Danny discarded his sweatshirt - how many days had he worn it? The memory of which clothes he had worn the last few days were a blur. He extended his legs on the leather ottoman, and after a while Dakota laid down, elongated on his side. Occasionally the roof creaked and the back door whispered from a breeze, causing Dakota to tilt his head in that direction, but he resumed his hunting and retrieving under his eyelids.