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Stunned over her discovery, Terri grabbed for her purse to get the secretary’s number. When she found the paper she’d written it on, she hurried over to the wall phone at the head of the bed.
Using her phone card, she made the call. This time it took six rings before the other woman answered.
“Martha Shaw speaking.”
“Ms. Shaw? This is Terri Jeppson.”
“Yes, Terri. How is your husband?”
“I believe he’s all right, but I haven’t seen him yet. There’s another reason I’m calling.” She struggled for breath.
“You sound upset. What’s wrong?”
“The man the hospital thought was my husband has turned out to be someone else. The trouble is, his throat was burned and he can’t talk. However I discovered a way to communicate with him. He says his name is Benjamin Herrick.”
After a long silence, “Ben is the patient?” She sounded as shaken as Terri.
“Yes. I need to inform the police, but I thought you should be told first so you can get in touch with his family and co-workers. Naturally he’s had no visitors.
“The thing is, today’s his fourth day in here. Though he’s been getting excellent treatment, it has to have been a ghastly experience for him not being able to talk or explain who he really was.”
Ben heard the tremor in Terri Jeppson’s appealing voice. The woman’s compassion for his plight—never mind the fact that she was still waiting for word about her ex-husband—touched him in places he hadn’t known existed.
“How bad is he?” Martha asked in a pain-filled whisper. “Don’t spare me.”
Terri’s hand tightened on the receiver. The other woman sounded like she’d taken the news personally, almost as if…
“Actually the doctors have assured me he’s going to be fine.” Without hesitation she told the secretary everything Dr. Fortuna had related to her.
“Thank God he wasn’t killed. I’ll let his family know at once.”
“Tell them he’s at San Lorenzo Hospital, Room W621. There’s no use anyone phoning his room. He won’t be able to use his voice for several more days. But I’m sure either Dr. Dominguez or Dr. Fortuna will be happy to discuss his condition if the family will call the sixth floor nursing station.”
“I’ll convey the message. Terri?” There was a hint of pleading in her tone. “Would you put the phone to Ben’s ear so I can say something to him before we hang up?”
The woman was in love with him. Terri could hear it in her voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
She turned in his direction.
“Mr. Herrick?”
Ben groaned. Now that Terri knew his identity, he could tell she no longer felt as free to treat him the way she had earlier when she’d believed he was alone in the world and lost… Damn the situation.
“Ms. Shaw wants to say something to you.”
Bile rose in his throat. Martha had no shame. She would use anyone to get what she wanted, but there wasn’t anything he could do about the situation right now. He nodded to Terri.
With great care she placed the hearing end of the receiver next to his ear and left it there. He saw how she purposely looked away from his eyes to give him some privacy. She did everything right. He was utterly charmed by her.
“Ben? I hope you can hear me. It’s Martha! Thank God you’re all right!” she cried in a tear-filled voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a week at least. When you didn’t return my calls, I knew something was wrong. But I thought it was because you were angry over the letter I wrote you a while ago.”
Repulsed would be a better word.
“As soon as we hang up, I’ll tell Creighton so he can phone your parents. When they hear what’s happened, they’ll be down to bring you back to Houston for a recuperation period. I’d give anything in the world to do it myself, but I know I don’t have that right. At least not yet.”
Yet?
