Long Distance Lover

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“It is.” She folded her arms beneath her breasts and looked away as Alex walked out.

The next time he saw Leigh was three weeks later. Her face made the front page of the Daily News. “Supermodel Found Dead—Suicide.”

At times, some of the strangest times, he would see her face on that last night and when he least expected it, the weight of guilt would nearly cripple him and he’d spend days locked in his one-bedroom apartment trying to drink away the memories.

After Leigh’s death he’d gone to the chief resident Bert Logan, who was more like a father than a boss, and submitted his resignation. It was immediately rejected. Between Bert and Ruby, they’d eventually talked him out of it.

That was five years ago. For the most part, he’d put it behind him, slowed down on blaming himself and worked every day at regaining his confidence—and he had—until today.

He hopped down off the exam table, tucked Kelly Maxwell’s chart beneath his arm and walked out.

Until today.

Chapter 12

David slid his plastic card through the slit, opening the door to the suite. He stepped aside to let Kelly pass.

For the entire twenty-minute ride back from the hospital, he’d been in a state of contained fury. But glass partition or not, he wasn’t going to spew his raw feelings all over the back of the limo.

The moment Kelly heard the door close behind her she turned on David. “You want to tell me what the hell is bugging you? You looked like you were sitting on a tack for the whole ride.” She rested her crutches against the edge of the couch and slowly sat down holding on to the arms of the couch for support.

David pulled off his chocolate-colored suede jacket and tossed it onto the empty love seat. He paced in front of her. “I don’t like him,” he finally spat out.

“Who?” she asked already knowing the answer.

“Hutchinson, that’s who. He’s an arrogant sonofabitch, and I don’t like him.”

Kelly pressed her lips together forcing herself to think first before she shot out how stupid David sounded. She gingerly folded her hands in her lap.

“Really. You were the one who ‘highly’ recommended him. Said he was the best.”

“I know what I said,” he snapped. He walked over to the wet bar, went behind the counter and fixed himself a quick rum and coke, no ice. He took a long swallow before responding. “I’m having second thoughts. I think we need to find someone else.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. It’s a little late in the game, don’t you think? We’ve packed up, left Atlanta, come all the way to big bad New York City and because you ‘don’t like him’ you want to find someone else. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”

He clenched his teeth before finishing off his drink then walked toward her. He knelt down and placed his hands on her knees.

“Listen, you know I only want the best for you. I have a bad feeling about him.”

“I don’t.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a woman.”

Her brows shot up. “Meaning?”

“Meaning I can see through him.”

“David, you’re not making any sense.”

He pushed up and stood. “We’re going back to Atlanta.”

“No. We’re not.”

He looked down at her, saw the same determination in her eyes that she had on the track moments before a big race. “I know what’s best for you.”

“And I don’t? David, I’m not sixteen anymore. I’m a grown woman. I’m capable of making my own decisions—if you’d ever let me,” she added and didn’t flinch when he took a step toward her. “I’m staying.”

David heaved a sigh. His features hardened.

“You said he was the best. We’ll never know if we leave. I want to run again and I believe he can make that happen.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. She was right. There was no question about Hutchinson’s credentials. He had to put his personal dislikes aside for Kelly’s sake.

“Fine,” he conceded on a long breath. “If this is what you want.” His stern expression softened and the hint of a smile curved his mouth. “You know I can’t deny you anything.” He reached over and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her right ear.

“Thank you. I will be fine. I feel it.”

“We’ll give it a shot.” He walked to the love seat and picked up his jacket, draped it over the bend of his arm. “Can I get you anything? I’m going to order room service.”

“No. Thanks.”

He gave her an incredulous look. “You haven’t eaten all day. You should be starved by now.”

“Maybe later.”

He stared at her for a moment.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he muttered. “I’ll check on you later.”

Kelly waited until she was sure David was settled in his room before she got up and went into her bedroom.

She went to the dresser and fished beneath her underwear and pulled out a bag of candy, chocolate bars and chewy sweets. She went in the bathroom, sat on top of the closed toilet seat and stuffed as much of the candy as she could in her mouth, savoring every fistful until her stash was gone.

She leaned back and closed her eyes as the rush flowed through her like an addict’s high.

Getting up slowly, she lifted the top of the toilet seat, leaned over and stuck her finger as far down her throat as she could.

Chapter 13

“The Maxwell case is scheduled for eleven,” Ruby said as she prepared for her patient. She took a one-size-fits-all set of blue scrubs and two towels from the drawer and placed them on the exam table.

“Hmm,” Alex murmured, holding up a set of X-rays to the light.

“Did you take a look at her tests results?”

“Yes.” He lowered the X-rays and turned to Ruby.

“And?”

“I don’t like what I see. Doesn’t make sense. I want her to take a bone-density test when she comes in.”

“Bone density? At her age?”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll order the tests. Anything else?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Are you sure?” She planted a hand on her hip.

“Meaning?”

“I saw the look that passed between the two of you the last time she was here.”

“You’re imagining things again,” he singsonged.

“I know what I saw, Hutch.”

“A look?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t need a babysitter. I need an assistant.”

“Don’t make the same mistake.”

“Humph,” he snorted in disgust. “Thought we let that go. Guess not.” He tossed the X-rays on the table and stalked out.

Kelly spent the better part of the morning getting ready for her appointment. She took extra care with her face as her sensitive skin tended to erupt whenever she became overanxious—today was a classic example. She awoke to find the beginnings of a pimple on her chin, beneath her left eye on her cheek and one right between her brows.

She peered into the mirror and applied the medicated ointment to the troubled spots hoping to nip them in the bud before they exploded into full-blown volcanoes before the end of the day. Generally she didn’t use any makeup, but today she added a splash of mahogany lip gloss to her expressive mouth and put on her one pair of earrings.

As usual her hair was pulled into a tight ponytail at the nape of her neck. It was the one way she found to diminish the fullness of her face.

How many times had she looked in the mirror and wished that she had the face of someone else, someone pretty or at least attractive? Sure she’d been out with guys, but she knew they had no interest in her for her looks, but rather what she may be able to do for them with her connections in sports. The relationships were all short-lived. Over the past year, she hadn’t been out on one single date—more from her own choosing rather than a lack of requests. She felt it was better that way. At least she wouldn’t get her hopes up that the guy was actually interested in her and not her name or what she represented. It was a lonely life, more so than she ever let on to anyone. But at least she had the track and running, a time when she felt free, powerful and vibrant. It was there that she shined. She was beautiful, smart. On the track there were no secrets, no shame; only her and the wind.

She looked down at the wrappings around her ankle and lower leg. She would run again. She had to.

“They said this session should last about an hour,” David said, holding open the hospital door for her. “I’ll be back to pick you up then.”

“Thanks.” She walked inside and went to the registration desk. “I have an appointment to see Dr. Hutchinson at eleven.”

“Name?”

“Kelly Maxwell.”

The nurse looked up at Kelly and her eyes widened in recognition, a broad smile exposing the tiny gap in her front teeth. “Ms. Maxwell. Oh my.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m a big fan of yours.”

“Thank you.”

The nurse stretched her hand across the desk and placed it on top of Kelly’s. She lowered her voice. “Dr. Hutchinson is the best in the country,” she said, looking deep into Kelly’s eyes. “He’ll have you back on the track in no time.”

“I hope so.”

“Don’t you worry.” She hit a few keys on the computer, waited a moment and pulled a sheet of paper from the printer. She pushed it across the desk to Kelly. “Just sign your name and you can go in as soon as your name is called.”

Kelly swallowed. She looked for familiar words on the paper. Her heart thumped in her chest. David came up behind her, subtly putting his finger where she needed to sign while he spoke to the nurse.

“I’ve heard great things about this hospital,” he said, putting on the charm. “I don’t remember seeing you the last time we were here. Work here long?”

“It was probably one of my much-needed days off.” She laughed lightly. “I’ve been with the hospital for nearly twenty years.”

“You’re kidding. You must have come straight out of high school.” He leaned on the desk while Kelly signed her name.

The nurse blushed. “If that’s a compliment I’ll take it.”

“It definitely was.”

Kelly put the pen down and slid the document back to the nurse.