High Anxiety (15 page)

“Oh, sure, that’s what everyone says. People swear they’ll stay in close touch, but they eventually drift apart.”

“That’s not always the case,” he said.

“I need to go home and take something for my headache,” I said. “I’m sorry I burdened you with my problems.”

“You’ve never been a burden to me, but I should take you home. I don’t want you driving right now.”

“I’m okay now.” He looked doubtful. “Really,” I said. “Once I get a good night’s sleep, I’ll feel better.”

He and I turned around and headed toward our cars. Thad opened my door and handed me the box containing my uneaten meal. “Call me when you get home so I’ll know you made it okay. Even better, I should follow you.”

“No, no, I’m fine.” He waited until I had closed the door and locked it before walking toward his own car.

I had only driven a few miles when a flash of light hit my rearview mirror, and I realized I was being followed. “Oh, Thad,” I said, hating that I’d made him worry, at the same time wishing he would turn off his high beams. On second glance, though, I realized it wasn’t Thad’s Mercedes behind me. It was difficult to get the exact make and model of the car with the blinding light. I slowed, hoping it would pass me. Instead, the car lagged back and remained at a distance. Then, all at once it sped up and passed me, an older model white sedan. The only thing I could really make out was that the driver wore a baseball cap.

 

 

I arrived home
and checked my answering machine. There were several hang-ups, which I found odd, and Jeff had called to check on Mona. The machine beeped, and my heart did a little happy dance when Jay’s voice came on. It was difficult to make out the entire message because of the static.

“Wanted to touch base . . . bad reception . . . I’ll call . . . back.”

I gave a huge sigh of relief, knowing he was okay. I quickly dialed his cell phone, but there was no answer.

At least he’d called. That meant a lot.

I returned Jeff’s call and gave him the latest on Mona. “Um, I sort of need a date for Sunday night,” I said, “but I’ll understand if you say no.”

“Where are we going?”

I told him about my aunt and uncle’s anniversary party.

“Isn’t that the aunt who carries an ice pick in her purse?” he asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t think she’s ever stabbed anyone.”

He hesitated. “Okay, where and what time?”

“Seven o’clock at the VFW. I’ll meet you there. Oh, and dress casually.”

“That’s a relief. It will save me the trouble of having my tux dry-cleaned.”

“Thanks, Jeff. I owe you.”

 

 

I reached the
office the next morning and stopped short when I saw Abigail’s outfit. It was the exact one I’d worn the day before.

“Guess what?” she said, giving a small twirl as if to model the suit. “Fifty percent off!”

“No kidding?” I didn’t know what else to say.

“I went to Kmart to buy panty hose, and there was a whole rack of Jaclyn Smith on sale. I bought three outfits!”

“Good for you.” I tried to sound enthusiastic, but frankly, I felt a little creeped out.

Abigail must’ve sensed my displeasure. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I needed clothes, and it was such a good deal. If you have the same outfits, we can wear them on different days. You could call me the night before and—”

“Don’t worry about it,” I interrupted.

“I just don’t want you to be upset with me,” she said. She paused. “Um, your coffee is ready.”

“Thanks.” I headed toward the kitchen. I poured a cup and glanced through my appointment book, trying to prepare myself mentally for the day. I heard a noise and looked up. Abigail stood in the doorway with a vase of red roses.

“These just came for you,” she said.

I immediately thought of Jay, and my heart lifted. I reached for the card and opened it. It was from Thad.

 

“From your husband?” Abigail asked with a smile.

“No.” I stood, refilled my cup, and dropped the card into the trash. To my astonishment, Abigail retrieved it. Right in front of me.

“Oh, they’re from Thad Glazer,” she said, “thanking you for dinner last night. Wow, that must have been some dinner, considering how much roses cost these days.”

She looked up. The expression on my face must’ve reflected my annoyance, because she immediately tossed the card back into the trash can.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

I stood. “Put them in the reception room so my patients can enjoy them,” I said shortly and left the room.

I went into my office and closed the door. I wasn’t sure why I was so ticked off with Abigail, only that I was. If Mona had done the same thing, it wouldn’t have mattered. Was it me? I wondered. Was I being difficult to get along with? I dialed Mona’s number. She sounded funny.

“It’s hard to talk,” she said. “Mama mixed up this gunk and put it on my face and neck. It’s hard as plaster.”

“What’s in it?”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“I’m sure she knows what she’s doing,” I said, trying to lift her spirits. I decided not to mention the incident with Abigail.

“She said to invite you to dinner tonight. Please say yes.”

Mona sounded desperate. “Okay.” There was a knock at my door. “I have to go.”

Abigail peeked inside. “There’s an Ellen Holmes on the line,” she said. “She’s calling from Hawaii. I should tell you, she sounds upset.”

I picked up the phone. “Hi, Ellen,” I said. “Are you and Gerald having fun in Hawaii?”

She burst into tears. “It’s awful, Dr. Holly. I caught Gerald flirting with a hotel employee.”

“I told you I wasn’t flirting,” Gerald yelled in the background. “I was trying to get information on parasailing.”

“Yeah, right,” Ellen said caustically. “Which is why you almost jumped out of your skin when I stepped off the elevator and saw the two of you together,” she added.

“That’s because I knew you would suspect the worst!” he said loudly. “I can’t help it that you’re so suspicious. Maybe one of these days you’ll learn to trust me.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen any time soon, buster.”

Here we go again,
I thought. I had been afraid from the beginning that Hawaii was not a good idea for them just now. “Ellen, you need to calm down,” I said. “We agreed to leave the problems behind so that you and Gerald could concentrate on having a good time,” I reminded her.

“Obviously, Gerald is having more fun than I am.”

“Let me speak to him, please,” I said.

He got on the phone. “This whole thing was a mistake,” he said. “We’ve got this gorgeous suite right on the ocean, but every time I try to get romantic with Ellen, she shuns me.”

“Maybe I’m afraid you’ll give me herpes,” Ellen shouted.

“See what I mean?” Gerald said. “Last night I slept on the couch. I would check out today and fly home if I could get a refund, but it’s a package deal.”

“Is there a second phone in the suite?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Gerald said.

“Please ask Ellen to pick up.” I waited until I had both of them on the line. “Okay, as I see it, the two of you have a choice,” I said. “You either try to put your problems on the back burner until our next session, or you cut your losses and fly home.”

Silence.

“Maybe Ellen and I should do our own thing while we’re here,” Gerald said after a moment. “I could go deep-sea fishing or play golf, and she could shop or whatever.”

“What a perfect idea,” she said to him. “That way you’d be free to run amok.”

They began arguing again. I wished I could put my mother on the phone, since she was the one who had suggested they go away together in the first place. “I’ve already given you my opinion,” I said. “Do you think you could call a truce?”

Again, silence.

“I’m willing,” Gerald finally said.

Ellen sniffed. “I guess so.”

As the three of us disconnected, I couldn’t help but wonder how long their little peace treaty would last.

I arrived at
Mona’s and was shocked to see that her rash had worsened. Her eyes were red and swollen. Obviously, she’d spent the day crying.

Willie-Mae came into the room. “I’ve tried everything,” she said.

“Do you think it will ever clear up?” I asked, then realized I had ulterior motives. I wanted Mona to come back to work so I didn’t have to deal with Abigail.

“Eventually,” Willie-Mae said.

Mona sniffed. “I’ll probably be scarred for life.”

Willie-Mae looked frustrated. “You’re making it worse,” she told her daughter, “by overreacting. All it does is cause you more stress, and you know that’s not good for you.”

I tried to think of a way to change the subject. “How is Tiara?” I asked.

“She’s taking a nap,” Willie-Mae said. “The baby kicks all night. Poor girl is exhausted. I’m glad you’re having dinner with us. I cooked a big pot of vegetable soup and my famous corn bread.”

“Sounds delicious,” I said.

I heard a noise on the stairs and saw Tiara slowly and carefully picking her way down. “I’m starving,” she said.

Willie-Mae gave a grunt. “What else is new? Were you able to rest?”

“Yes. I guess the baby is tired from staying up half the night.”

The four of us went into the kitchen, Tiara waddling like a duck. I set the table while Willie-Mae filled four bowls and put them in each place setting, along with a plate of hot corn bread.

“Dig in before it gets cold,” she said.

I spooned some of the soup into my mouth. I smiled at Willie-May. “This is awesome!”

She looked proud. “I made a gallon of it,” she said. “I’m going to send some home with you.”

“You’re spoiling me,” I said.

“You girls could use some spoiling. I’d love to spoil my daughter, but I don’t get many invitations to visit. And heaven
knows
she can’t be bothered to visit her mama.”

Mona remained silent.

“I don’t know why you don’t come back to Tennessee, now that Henry is gone,” Willie-Mae said. “Lord knows you don’t need a house this large. And you wouldn’t believe how our little town has grown. We have a Walmart Supercenter.
And
we’ve got our share of eligible bachelors. I don’t like seeing you all alone.”

Mona shot me a frantic look.

“We’d hate to lose Mona,” I told Willie-Mae. “I don’t know if she’s told you, but she’s involved in a project to curtail gang violence in Atlanta and build youth centers in hopes of keeping kids off the streets.”

Willie-Mae looked surprised. “I didn’t know that!” She looked at her daughter. “Why didn’t you tell me you were involved in community work? I’m so proud of you!”

“It’s the least I can do, Mama,” she said. “Henry left me more money than I’ll ever spend. It’s only right that I give back. You’re the only one who refuses to let me do anything for you.”

Willie-Mae waved off the remark. “I don’t need nary a thing, sugar. My house and van are paid for, and I’m in excellent health. What more could a person ask for?”

“That cabin you live in is as old as the mountain it sits on,” Mona said.

Willie-Mae looked hurt. “I love my cabin!”

Mona ignored her. “You wouldn’t have to work so hard if you’d let me help you.”

“I don’t consider what I do work. Besides, staying busy keeps the aches and pains away.”

Mona looked at me. “See how stubborn she is?”

After dinner, Willie-Mae ordered Mona and Tiara from the kitchen so they could rest, and I helped her clean up. I asked her about life in Tennessee, and she regaled me with funny stories about some of her neighbors and patients. It felt good to laugh.

“Mona told me your husband is part of the crew working the wildfire,” she said. “We’ve been keeping up with it on the news. Those poor firefighters can’t seem to catch a break, what with all that wind and no rain in the forecast. Yet they keep pressing on. Do you talk to him often?”

“He tried to call me last night, but I was out.”

“I’ll keep him in my prayers.” She filled a quart jar with soup and wrapped several pieces of corn bread in foil. “Soup always tastes better the day after it’s made,” she said.

“Thank you, Willie-Mae,” I replied. “For everything,” I added.

 

 

I awoke Saturday
morning to the sound of gospel music. I buried my head under a pillow but could not drown it out. I looked at the alarm clock. Six a.m. Finally, I staggered from the bed, pulled my curtain aside, and found Brother Love sitting in a lawn chair in my front yard, a boom box beside him blaring “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

I marched outside in my white pajamas with pink flamingos and gave him my fiercest look. “What do you think you’re doing?” I yelled, trying to make myself heard over the music. “Do you know what time it is? You’re going to wake the whole neighborhood!”

He gave a wide smile. His teeth were too perfect to be his own. “And what better way to wake people than to greet them with the Lord’s music.”

“You’re crazy!” I said. “You’re also trespassing. You’ve got five minutes to pack your chair and music and hit the road, or I’m calling the cops.”

He shrugged. “I’m willing to go to jail if it means bringing a lost soul to our Lord. You need to repent and give up your life of sin.”

“Okay, it’s your decision,” I said loudly. I went inside, but I could still hear the music. Even Mike looked irritated. Finally, I picked up the phone and called the police. They took their time; I suppose they didn’t feel my situation was dire. As they parked in front of my house, Brother Love didn’t so much as budge from his spot nor did he turn down his music. I went outside again, still in my pajamas. Across the street, Bitsy Stout was standing on her sidewalk, hands planted on her hips. If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead on the spot.