catch you at a good time, Olivia?”
“Catherine! Your timing is perfect. I’m just heading back to my office.”
Catherine picked up the tack pin and held it gently in the palm of her hand. “Thank you for the breast-cancer pin.”
“It’s just something to remind you of the people you can’t see who are fighting hard against that evil cancer you also can’t see.”
“I have faith in the people and the process, Olivia. Some days my fear dims my faith.”
“I can understand that, with your family history. I just hope you’ll give me the opportunity to strengthen your faith and dim your fear.”
They were silent for a moment. Catherine reached for the report card. “I now have evidence that you actually attended the third grade.”
“See, and you doubted me.”
“I won’t make that mistake again. The best part is your teacher’s comments at the bottom of the page. ‘Olivia is a pleasure to have as a student. She works very hard at her studies and actively participates in class. She listens well and is eager to learn. She plays very well with the girls in the class but seems to have an intolerance for the boys.’” Catherine laughed. “Olivia, you were outed by your third-grade teacher.”
“And I adored that teacher. I can’t believe she did that to me at such a young impressionable age.”
“It’s amazing that you’re so well adjusted after a report card like that.”
They laughed together as Catherine placed the report card down on her desk. “How does the rest of your day look?”
“I just walked into my office. I have five patients here waiting to see me and then I have to do my rounds in the hospital before I can go home. I’m being reminded of my residency days when the hospital was the only home I knew.” “So much for trying to maintain your sanity with a life outside of work.”
“My life outside of work has been seriously lacking for a long time.”
“I should let you go, then.”
“Thank you so much for calling, Catherine. It was the highlight of my day.” Olivia’s voice was warm and sincere. Once again, Catherine’s heart lurched, as much as she wished it wouldn’t.
“I hope the rest of your day goes well, Olivia, and that you get home before eleven o’clock.”
“The chances of that happening are pretty slim. Goodbye, Catherine. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Goodbye, Olivia.” Catherine clicked off the phone, laid her head back against her chair, and closed her eyes. “What am I going to do with you, Dr. Olivia Carrington?”
Eleven
C ATHERINE SET HER KETTLE to boil and looked around her small kitchen. She loved its homey feeling. She’d bought this old 1950s house because of its charm and worked hard to restore it, preserving the original style and woodwork. She’d never been a fan of new and ostentatious homes. She remembered Olivia speaking of her “monstrosity of a house,” and couldn’t imagine her appreciating this modest one.
The kettle’s whistle startled her from her thoughts. She filled her bone-china teacup and headed for her favorite overstuffed chair, carefully sipping the hot tea as she curled her legs beneath her. She stared into the crackling fire and watched the flames lick at the maple logs as her favorite Celtic Sisters CD played low in the background.
Catherine was bothered by the excitement she’d felt when she spoke to Olivia. She would have to call upon her sense of self-preservation; there was simply no way the two of them could be involved, and she was starting to agree with Laura that Olivia hoped for involvement. Sipping her tea, she resolved to stand firm, to stop herself from being drawn in any further by Dr. Olivia Carrington.
The musical tune of her cell phone startled her from her thoughts. She looked over at the mantel clock and could think of only one person who would be calling her at ten-thirty at night. A glance at the display on her cell phone confirmed the thought.
“Hello, Dr. Carrington. Please tell
“Catherine! Your timing is perfect. I’m just heading back to my office.”
Catherine picked up the tack pin and held it gently in the palm of her hand. “Thank you for the breast-cancer pin.”
“It’s just something to remind you of the people you can’t see who are fighting hard against that evil cancer you also can’t see.”
“I have faith in the people and the process, Olivia. Some days my fear dims my faith.”
“I can understand that, with your family history. I just hope you’ll give me the opportunity to strengthen your faith and dim your fear.”
They were silent for a moment. Catherine reached for the report card. “I now have evidence that you actually attended the third grade.”
“See, and you doubted me.”
“I won’t make that mistake again. The best part is your teacher’s comments at the bottom of the page. ‘Olivia is a pleasure to have as a student. She works very hard at her studies and actively participates in class. She listens well and is eager to learn. She plays very well with the girls in the class but seems to have an intolerance for the boys.’” Catherine laughed. “Olivia, you were outed by your third-grade teacher.”
“And I adored that teacher. I can’t believe she did that to me at such a young impressionable age.”
“It’s amazing that you’re so well adjusted after a report card like that.”
They laughed together as Catherine placed the report card down on her desk. “How does the rest of your day look?”
“I just walked into my office. I have five patients here waiting to see me and then I have to do my rounds in the hospital before I can go home. I’m being reminded of my residency days when the hospital was the only home I knew.” “So much for trying to maintain your sanity with a life outside of work.”
“My life outside of work has been seriously lacking for a long time.”
“I should let you go, then.”
“Thank you so much for calling, Catherine. It was the highlight of my day.” Olivia’s voice was warm and sincere. Once again, Catherine’s heart lurched, as much as she wished it wouldn’t.
“I hope the rest of your day goes well, Olivia, and that you get home before eleven o’clock.”
“The chances of that happening are pretty slim. Goodbye, Catherine. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Goodbye, Olivia.” Catherine clicked off the phone, laid her head back against her chair, and closed her eyes. “What am I going to do with you, Dr. Olivia Carrington?”
Eleven
C ATHERINE SET HER KETTLE to boil and looked around her small kitchen. She loved its homey feeling. She’d bought this old 1950s house because of its charm and worked hard to restore it, preserving the original style and woodwork. She’d never been a fan of new and ostentatious homes. She remembered Olivia speaking of her “monstrosity of a house,” and couldn’t imagine her appreciating this modest one.
The kettle’s whistle startled her from her thoughts. She filled her bone-china teacup and headed for her favorite overstuffed chair, carefully sipping the hot tea as she curled her legs beneath her. She stared into the crackling fire and watched the flames lick at the maple logs as her favorite Celtic Sisters CD played low in the background.
Catherine was bothered by the excitement she’d felt when she spoke to Olivia. She would have to call upon her sense of self-preservation; there was simply no way the two of them could be involved, and she was starting to agree with Laura that Olivia hoped for involvement. Sipping her tea, she resolved to stand firm, to stop herself from being drawn in any further by Dr. Olivia Carrington.
The musical tune of her cell phone startled her from her thoughts. She looked over at the mantel clock and could think of only one person who would be calling her at ten-thirty at night. A glance at the display on her cell phone confirmed the thought.
“Hello, Dr. Carrington. Please tell
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