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“Are we talking about a wheelchair?” Stuart asked. He was having trouble imaging his great-aunt managing crutches as the moment.
“At the very least,” the doctor replied. “For a little while anyway.”
“Don’t worry,” Patience said. “I’ll push you around the house.”
“Oh no, the brownstone has way too many stairs,” Dr. Tishcel said. “That’s what got you in trouble in the first place. The rehab hospital has a terrific orthopedics wing. They’ll take good care of you.”
“What?” In spite of her pain, Ana stiffened. “You’re sending me to another hospital? For how long?”
“Depends,” Dr. Tischel replied. “At least a couple of weeks.”
“A couple weeks!” Patience and Ana spoke at the same time, although he was pretty sure their furor was for two different reasons. Stuart tensed at the announcement himself, and he’d been expecting the news since the day Ana fell. Two weeks sharing a house with Patience. Alone.
“I’m afraid so,” Dr. Tischel replied. “We want to make sure that ankle heals properly. I’ll give them a call this afternoon and check on availability. With luck there’s a bed open and we can transfer you tomorrow.
“In the meantime,” he said, pulling the sheet back over her legs, “I want you to try and sit up in a chair for a few hours.”
Ana gave an indignant cough. “Don’t know why if I’m just going to be laid up in another hospital bed.”
“Because the movement will do you good. You don’t want to develop blood clots, do you?”
“No, she does not,” Stuart answered. Seeing the doctor was getting ready to leave, he rose from his chair, hoping to keep the man from giving Patience another once-over. Granted, he shared Dr. Tischel’s appreciation of her beauty, but the woman wasn’t standing there for his viewing pleasure. He held out a hand. “Thank you for your help.”
The gambit failed as the older man shook his hand only briefly before reaching across Ana to grasp Patience’s. “It’s my pleasure. Ana has always been one of my favorite patients.”
Ana coughed again. “Favorite, my foot,” she grumbled once the doctor left. “Stupid old fool wants to stick me in a nursing home.”
“Rehab facility, Tetya.” Stuart replied. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Patience wiping her hand on her jeans. Apparently, she wasn’t impressed with Dr. Tischel’s behavior this morning, either. “It’s only for a little while. You’ll be back at the brownstone before you know it.”
Ana shrugged. She looked so sad it made Stuart almost want to tell her Dr. Tischel had made a mistake. In a way, he understood. The news probably did sound like a sentence. She was losing her freedom.
He grabbed her fingers. “I’ll visit every day, I promise.”
“And me,” Patience said. “I’ll even find out if I can bring Nigel so you can see him, too.”
“Will you?” Ana’s face brightened. “I’ve been so worried about him. He acts tough, but on the inside, he’s really very sensitive.”
“I’ll do everything I can. I promise.”
Stuart watched while the two women talked about the cat, his chest squeezing tight again. The soft, caring tone in Patience’s voice mesmerized him. She sounded so genuine; it made him want so badly to trust her intentions.
Could he?
Just then, Patience reached over to brush a strand of hair from Ana’s face, sending his mind hurtling to the night before. Parts of his body stirred remembering how soft Patience’s hair had felt sliding through his fingers. How on earth was he going to spend two weeks with Patience, get to know her and keep his attraction under control?
“Oh, no!”
Ana’s cry shook him from his reverie. She sat straight, her face crumpled in distress. “What’s wrong, Tetya?” he asked.
“The humane society dinner dance. I totally forgot, but it’s tonight.”
Was that all? Stuart let out his breath. “Looks like you’ll have to miss this year’s festivities.”
“But I can’t,” Ana said. “I’m being honored as the volunteer of the year. I’m supposed to be there to accept my award.”
“I’m sure people will understand why you’re not there, Tetya. You can have your friend, Mrs. Calloway, accept on your behalf.”
“Ethyl Calloway is not my friend,” his aunt snapped.
Stuart should have remembered. Ana and Ethyl weren’t friends so much as friendly society rivals. The two of them had worked side by side at the Beacon Hill Humane Society for years, competing to see who could do more to further the organization’s good work. As a result, hundreds of homeless cats and dogs had found new homes. Personally, he thought it incredibly fitting that Ethyl accept the award on his aunt’s behalf, but what did he knew?
