Three is a crowd: Finally, Diane has her man 

(Continued from last issue)

David and Diane have been married for years; then there is Julie, the young secretary whose axis collides with the couple’s in ways none of them saw coming.

DIANE

As the face came into focus, I had the feeling I had seen it before, but was so racked with pain, I could not think of where from; all that mattered was that it belonged to a doctor, and I needed him to stop the pain.

“Oooow,” I moaned, hoping that would be enough to convey what I wanted to say as I did not have the energy to say more.

“You were in an accident and are at the hospital; you got a few fractures and torn muscles, but we have set those and you are going to be fine. I’m going to have the nurse give you something for the pain and move you up to a room so we can observe you overnight. I called your husband, and he should be here any minute; so, I’m going to go find him and bring him up to your room; so, just rest and I’ll be back with him in a moment,” he promised.

That was an easy instruction to follow; with everything aching and every part of my body feeling like it weighed a ton; all I wanted to do was rest. Unfortunately the nurse the doctor left me with did not appear to have heard his instructions as clearly as I had; the minute he left, she began to bustle around me, checking my pressure, then tightly binding first one wrist, then the other as she poked and prodded in search of a vein.

Once she finally found one and got an IV drip running, she called in two orderlies to wheel me up to the room the doctor had mentioned, and an elevator trip and few minutes later, they rolled me into a spacious private room that looked more like a fancy hotel suite than a hospital room.

DAVID

“Where is she? How is she?” I demanded as I rushed up to the man whose life was so awkwardly intertwined with mine through Julie.

However, it was Diane that had brought our worlds meeting this time, and it was her that I was solely focused on.

“I’ve just had her transferred up to one of our finest rooms and I’ll take you up to her in a minute, but while she gets settled in, I would like to update you on her condition and how we’re managing it. So, let’s just step into my consultation room, and I’ll do that first,” he answered calmly, motioning towards a row of consultation rooms.

I was desperate to see Diane and see for myself how she was, but Kenneth was already leading the way to one of the rooms, leaving me with no choice but to follow him. He led me to one at the very end of the corridor, invited me in, and shut the door behind us, before offering me a seat.

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I would rather just go and see my wife, than sit around and chit chat about her,” I said impatiently, pointedly ignoring the seat he offered.

“I’m a doctor, I don’t have the time for chit chat – or for that matter, your attitude; I know you can’t stand me, and trust me, the feeling is mutual, but my job is to heal and save lives, and that’s what I’ve just been doing with your wife’s; so, may I suggest you put aside your personal feelings towards me, so I can do my job and get your wife back on her feet – and you out of here – as soon as possible.”

For a few seconds, I wordlessly held his icy cold gaze with one of my own, then slowly sat down.

JULIE

“Dinner is ready,” Sandra announced, as she came back into the living room from the kitchen.
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry,” I answered absent-mindedly. My mind was still churning through the complex maze of my thoughts on Kenneth, David and Junior, and food was the last thing on it.

“I wish you’d told me that before I wasted my time cooking,” she grumbled. “What’s going on with you and David anyway? You could cut the tension between you two with a knife when he was here. He wouldn’t eat, now you won’t eat; what’s happening?”

“Nothing is happening, and hey, reminder, you’re the younger sister; so, it should be me quizzing you about your relationships, not the other way round,” I said pointedly.

“Well, I’m not in a relationship; so, there’s nothing for you to quiz me about, and I’m not quizzing you, I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

“There’s nothing for you to worry about, and I’m glad to hear you’re not in a relationship, because at this point in your life, you need to be focusing on your books, not boys.”

“I know, I know,” she answered, her tone bored, like she had heard that particular advice a million times before.
“Good, and just so we’re clear, things you shouldn’t be focusing on include my relationship with David; so, let me worry about that, okay?”

My tone was soft, but firm; I was sure she meant well, but I was getting tired of Sandra’s interest in my relationship status, and if Kenneth was going to remain a part of my life – which I certainly hoped he was – the last thing I needed was her snooping and prying and finding out about him.

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