Snowed in with the Doctor Read online

  “Why?”

  “I beat you.”

  Louis barked.

  Lora glanced down and realized she was still holding the Frisbee he was waiting for. “Sorry about that, Louis,” she said as she threw it to for him to chase.

  “I know you beat me.” Justin rested his hand on his chest and winced, pretending he was in pain. “And I’ve been waiting weeks for you to make me feel better.” His smoldering gaze skimmed over her body.

  A grin touched the corner of her mouth. “Are you heartbroken?”

  “Devastated.”

  She pressed her lips against his. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she whispered against his lips. “What would you like me to do?”

  “Anything you want.”

  She laughed. “I’ll think of something.” She bent and petted Louis when he dropped the disc at her feet. “Are you really upset?” she asked, avoiding Justin’s gaze.

  “No. I’m proud of you. Congratulations.”

  “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”

  He frowned. “I do.”

  “You’d be the first.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing.” She tossed the Frisbee as far as she could.

  “No, tell me.”

  “Except for Carla and Dr. Rollins, you’re the only person to congratulate me. Everyone thinks you should have won. And my father...” She shook her head. “The less said about him the better.” Belinda hadn’t said anything special, either, except for “Congrats,” but Lora never expected much from her sister, who had never valued academics. Besides, she had promised herself that she’d never be like her father and hold resentment. She accepted her sister for who she was—her sister loved her and that was all that mattered. She wished she could accept her father in the same way.

  Justin gripped his hand into a fist. “I think your father and I should have a talk.”

  “It wouldn’t change anything.”

  “I can be very persuasive.”

  She took his hand. “Forget about him. Come on, let’s go home.”

  “I’m not ready to go home yet.”

  “We’ve been out here more than an hour and you’re sweating. At least let’s go get you something to drink.”

  Justin gritted his teeth. “I’m fine. You don’t need to baby me. I have my parents and sisters to do that.”

  Ever since his crisis, she’d become noticeably concerned about his health. At times she fussed over him as if she were his doctor instead of his girlfriend. He hated it. He wished she hadn’t seen him that way. He wished she didn’t look at him with worry in her eyes. He wanted her to look at him as though she thought he was strong. Someone she could depend on. Someone who would protect her. Instead, she acted as if she needed to protect him.

  “I just care about you,” Lora said in a soft voice.

  “I know, but you don’t need to tell me what to do. I can handle it.”

  She sighed. “You’re deluding yourself.”

  “What?”

  “You push yourself too hard. I mean, you just had to train the new team leader. Last week you conducted two lectures at two different universities. We’ve come to the dog park every day this week and you haven’t been sleeping because of that grant deadline.”

  “So what?”

  “You can’t overexert yourself. Stress is dangerous for you. You need to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids—”

  “Are you going to give me a prescription for folic acid supplements, too?” he sneered.

  “They help,” she snapped. “You know that better than anyone. Why are you fighting me on this? I’m not the enemy.”

  Louis barked.

  “Quiet,” Justin said. Louis sat back on his hind legs, looking up at the pair with apprehension. “I don’t need you constantly reminding me of this disease. If I want to drink fluids, I’ll drink fluids. If I want to do ten lecture tours, I will.”

  “Why? Why are you so driven to try to outdo everyone? You’re only thirty-six. You’ve accomplished so much already, so why do you keep pushing yourself?”

  Because sometimes I feel as if I’m on borrowed time, he wanted to shout. Instead he kept his voice level and said, “I’m ambitious. And I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

  “You never want to talk about it. Why do you want to pretend that you don’t have it? You take careless risks. Like the trip to Minnesota. The flight and the cold really could have done a number on you.”

  “I managed. And don’t tell me you regret it.” He shot her a significant look.

  “That’s not the point.”

  “Look, it’s my disease, not yours. So let’s drop the subject.”

  “As a couple—”

  “We should respect each other.”

  Lora threw up her hands. “Fine.” She turned. “If you don’t want to go home, I will.”

  Justin watched her go, making no move to stop her. He then picked up Louis’s toy and threw it with extra force. She didn’t understand. He wanted to live life on his terms. He didn’t want to be a slave to his disease. He knew she worried about him because of what had happened to her friend, but he didn’t want that baggage between them. He’d beaten many odds. He wanted her to believe he’d make it, too.

  * * *

  The man was infuriating! Lora thought as she entered her apartment. She didn’t understand why he was so stubborn. Just like Suzette had been at times. That was what frightened her most—he was too proud to admit his weaknesses. He kept doing things that could be harmful, as if he were trying to make her see that he was like any other man. But he wasn’t. She wished she could do something to make him see it. But was she being too much of a nag? The issue seemed to loom larger and larger every day. She’d gone to get checked to see if she carried the gene, and luckily, she didn’t. But they’d never discussed having a family. Was she really making it a bigger deal than she should have? Lora sat on her couch and sighed. The fear continued to grow, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

  * * *

  Carla sipped her wine as she studied Griffin across the table. She’d treated him to dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant, and he’d responded as if she’d given him a new car. He was so easy to please, so easy to be with. She loved just looking at him, at his warm brown eyes and broad shoulders. He looked as if he could carry the world, but she knew he was only human. And it was time for her to let him go. She’d chosen the elegant atmosphere because she imagined it would be the perfect place for their final goodbye.

  He smiled at her. “You’re right. The food here is delicious. I know of a seafood place we should try next.” He winked at her. “But I’ll pay next time.”

  She set her wine glass down. “Griffin, I don’t think there should be a next time.”

  He paused. “What do you mean?” He set his utensils down. “Are you still angry with me about the groundbreaking ceremony? I’m really sorry I missed it and—”

  “I’m not angry. I just see that right now we have two very different lives.”

  “Carla—”

  “You have your work and school and your daughter,” she continued in a rush, not wanting him to convince her otherwise. “I have a new research project I need to focus on, and I don’t think we should add a relationship on top of that. You’re young.”

  Griffin narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. “Don’t make seven years sound like a generation gap. And don’t make it an excuse. My age was never a problem before. Address the real issue—I screwed up and missed something important to you. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “You didn’t make a mistake. You made the right choice. I think you should find a woman who can help you, not demand more of you.”

  “I don’t need help. I just—”

 
; “I think we need some time apart to think things over.”

  “I don’t need to think. I already know that I love you. I guess the real question is, do you love me?”

  Carla shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. Love isn’t enough.”

  “How about respect? Admiration? Devotion? Isn’t that enough?”

  She shook her head, unable to answer. Tears choked her. He was an idealist, she was a realist and she wanted him to see that they had too much against them to make it work.

  Griffin pushed himself away from the table and stood. “Fine. I’ll give you the space you want. Goodbye.”

  Carla closed her eyes against building tears as she listened to him walk away.

  Chapter 16

  Warren was roused out of a deep sleep by a ringing phone. Who would be calling him on his landline at this time of the night? He thought of disconnecting the line, then saw the number and answered. It was Sylvia. Beautiful Sylvia with legs up to her neck. Perhaps she was feeling lonely tonight and wanted company. He picked up the line. “Hey, babe.”

  “He knows.”

  Warren sat up as fear coursed through him. After their first encounter he’d learned that she was married—all the better because married woman didn’t expect much—but they’d been careful. “How?”

  “Someone has been following us. He has pictures. I’ve sent them to your cell phone.”

  Warren scrambled out of bed and grabbed his cell phone. He stared at the pictures with growing panic. These were clear pictures of him in compromising positions with Sylvia. Someone had been watching them very closely. He flipped through the images, then stopped at the last image. It was a scribbled note that said: you’re dead.

  Warren swore and rubbed his chin. What was he going to do? How was he going to get out of this? He’d messed up. But he hadn’t been able to resist the rush of screwing the wife of some big shot. She had mentioned once that if her husband ever found out about them, he was a dead man, but he hadn’t worried. He’d enjoyed the sex too much for that. Now hearing Sylvia’s tense voice on the phone, he wished he’d found another woman.

  “Warren?” Sylvia said.

  He picked the landline back up and sat on his bed. “What should I do?”

  “You need to leave the area right away.”

  “I can’t just get up and leave like that. I have a job, obligations and...”

  “Do you want to live? If you don’t disappear, my husband will have you killed. The note is not an empty threat. This isn’t the first time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The last man I was with was found floating in the Potomac.”

  “Oh, God.”

  “But I might be able to do something and—” Suddenly a rough male voice came on the line. “Is that you, Rappaport?”

  His throat closed.

  Warren’s silence didn’t stop the man. “I’m not happy with you. You’ve been messing with my wife, but I’m ready to be generous. I won’t send my boys to break your legs. I’ll give you a week to come up with fifty thousand. That’s a discount.”

  “But I don’t have fifty thousand dollars.”

  “You have a week or you’ll be seeing me. And believe me, you don’t want that to happen.” The man hung up.

  Warren threw down the phone and paced. He had to come up with fifty thousand dollars or he was a dead man.

  * * *

  A letter. Lora looked at the envelope, amazed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a letter, let alone one from her father. He never wrote letters. Lora looked at the envelope, fighting anxiety. What could it be about? Lora tentatively opened the folded piece of paper and began to read:

  I’m not good at saying what I feel. I don’t expect you to understand, but although I don’t always show it, I am proud of you. I am proud of all that you have done. Your mother and I could not have wanted more from a daughter. Forgive me for not being able to say it to you, but at times things are difficult for me. You have done well for yourself and achieved all that you have dreamed of. In spite of the person I am, I am your father. You are my daughter.

  Yours,

  Father

  Lora’s hands trembled so badly she had to put the letter down and sit at her kitchen table. She smoothed the letter out and reread it while tears rolled down her face. Her father was proud of her. He loved her...

  She rushed over to the phone and dialed her parents’ number. “Mom, is Dad there?” she asked.

  “Just a moment.” She heard her mother call her father to the phone.

  “Yes?” her father said.

  Her heart was pounding, but this time it wasn’t from fear but joy. “Dad, I got the letter. Thank you so much.”

  “Is all right,” he said, sounding embarrassed.

  “I love you.”

  “I must go,” he said in a choked voice. “Here’s your mother.”

  Her mother picked up the phone. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes,” Lora said with a laugh, wiping away tears of joy. “It’s wonderful. Bye.” Lora hung up the phone.

  She was filled with happiness. Today was a new day; they would start afresh and get to know each other. Her father had finally told her he was proud of her. She’d been waiting all of her life to hear him say those words. She held the letter close to her chest and danced.

  * * *

  Justin stumbled into his apartment, feeling as if he were being both stabbed and burned alive. His legs barely supported him as he hugged the wall for support. He’d had a hectic day at work, and for hours he’d been fighting a headache that threatened to flatten him. He still hadn’t had a chance to talk to Lora about their argument and that worried him. And having to deal with Warren hadn’t improved his day.

  Warren had come into his office looking desperate. “You need to help me,” he said.

  Justin shook his head, then immediately regretted the movement. He’d taken several pain medications, but they hadn’t started working yet. “No, I don’t.”

  “But you’re the only one who can help me. I messed up, man. This woman I met recently, we’d been seeing each other for a while, and then I found out she’s married.”

  “That’s never stopped you before.”

  “I know, but her husband is bad news.”

  “Again, that’s nothing new.”

  “He’s B. K. Turner.”

  “Who’s B. K. Turner?”

  “A very wealthy man in DC.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “He’s also a member of a crime family. He found out about my affair with his wife and now he’s put a bounty on my head!”

  Justin nodded as if considering the seriousness of Warren’s predicament. “That is a problem. But I told you I wouldn’t cover for you again.”

  “Do you want Lora to know about you?”

  Justin stood and came from around his desk. “She already does.” He folded his arms, amused. “Try again.” He was relieved that Lora knew his secret and Warren couldn’t blackmail him anymore. Keeping his disease from others, especially those he worked with, had been important to him, and when Warren had seen him have a crisis, he had made him promise not to tell anyone. That had been a mistake, but Justin didn’t care now.

  “Look, this will be the last time.”

  “I doubt it.”

  Warren grabbed his collar and shoved Justin against the desk. “You owe me.”

  Justin shoved him away. “I don’t owe you anything.”

  “You can’t do this to me, man. I know you have fifty thousand you can give me. If not that, then I just need some money so I can, you know, disappear for a while. Don’t you know of a lab somewhere, where I can get a position and stay out of circulation for a while?”
r />   “Explain to me why I should help you. Or, for that matter, why I should care.”

  “Come on, man. I’m sure you have connections abroad. I could go to Jamaica or Antigua until things cool down.” He was nearly yelling with desperation. “What do you want from me? I’m scared and need your help.”

  “I want you to get out of my office and handle your problems like a man.”

  Warren pounded the wall, then stormed out. Justin had called Oliver to tell him he was calling it a day, but he’d barely made it home. It was as if the confrontation with Warren had drained any energy left in him. Justin glanced around his apartment, relieved he’d made it home safely. He just needed to get to his medicine and combat the pain.

  He clawed at his collar, trying to loosen it. He couldn’t get enough air. God, why couldn’t he breathe? Why was everything so blurry? He heard Louis barking but couldn’t register why it sounded as if it were coming from the end of a tunnel. He took a few halting steps forward then lost consciousness and fell to the ground. This time, no one was there to catch him.

  Chapter 17

  She hadn’t been able to reach him, which was odd. Was he avoiding her calls? It had been three days since the discussion at the dog park, and they hadn’t spoken. When she’d spotted Warren storming out of his office she’d wanted to know what had happened. Justin wouldn’t answer his office or cell phone, and now his home phone kept going to voice mail. Perhaps he’d gotten involved in work. She was surprised and disappointed not to see him at his desk. She saw Dr. Rollins in the hall and asked, “Where’s Ju— Uh, Dr. Silver? I haven’t been able to reach him.”

  “He went home early.”

  “He wasn’t feeling well?”

  “He didn’t say.”

  “He won’t answer his phone.”

  “That’s how he is.”

  But something seemed wrong. Justin would say she was jumping to conclusions, but she had an instinct that he was in trouble. She sent him an email and then a text but received no reply. She dialed Maureen, knowing she was the closest person to Justin’s apartment.

  “Hello?” Maureen said.