Among the Ducklings by Marsh Brooks Page A

forcefully.

    “Isabel,
besides the surgery, your rehabilitation is also costing a lot of money. I have
seen the bills. I want to make sure that the insurance company pays for
everything and that you don't go bankrupt because of this accident.”

    “I know,”
Isabel said, grateful and softening her tone. “My lawyer left me a message
about an offer that the insurance company made. I’ve not spoken to her yet.
When I do, I will let you know.”

    “OK. See
you tomorrow.”

    “Good
night. Tia Marcia.”

    As soon as
she hung up, Isabel felt guilty. She felt happy to know that Phil still wanted
to see her even though she had remained silent when he had told her that he
loved her and wanted to see her again. Actually, she felt sad to feel happy
about it.   She was engaged to be married
to another man and she didn't want any more complications.

    ##

    When Phil
reached home that day, he wondered whether he had made a serious mistake by
going to see Marcia.   He figured he had
nothing to lose by asking her if Isabel would be back at the Center again.   He was sure that Marcia would tell
Isabel.   He wasn’t sure, however, how
Isabel would react.   Isabel had not
responded when he told her of his feelings for her. Worse, she had a fiancé to
whom she introduced him as Marcia's patient.

    From what
he learned from Marcia, Isabel had been engaged for several years. Why the
wait, if Isabel and Richard were sure about each other?

    As he
debated his next step, the phone rang.   It was Jeremy.

    “Hi Jeremy,”
Phil answered.

    “Hi, old
buddy.”

    “How is
everything in St Augustine?”

    “Same
old, same old. You?”

    “Same
here.”

    “How is
rehabilitation coming?”

    “You'll
never believe that the doctor that I met at the hospital in Saint Augustine is
now in charge of the rehabilitation center down here,” Phil said.

    “You're
kidding me?”

    “Nope. The day when I spoke to her in the hospital
was her last day there. In fact, I talked to her this afternoon.”

    “You always
made an impression on women. She quit her job after she met you, just to follow
you to Miami?” Jeremy said with a laugh.

    “Very
funny, Jeremy.   I was in her office today and she told me
that she moved down here because she wanted to be closer to her nieces.”

    “She didn't
move for you after all?”

    “Nope. In fact, I met one of the nieces.”

    “Is she a
doctor too?”

    “No. She is
a computer expert. She creates programs for tablet computers.”

    “Smart
family.   What does she look like?” asked Jeremy.

    “Just like
her aunt except forty years younger.”

    “Sounds
like she is very pretty then.   What are you waiting
for?”

    “Nothing. First of all, she is engaged.   Secondly, she is going to therapy herself for
a bad car crash,” Phil said. “She is in a wheelchair now.   She told me she should be out of it soon.”

    “OK.   For one moment there, I thought she was going
to be the one to take your mind off Stacy.”

    “My mind is
not on Stacy,” Phil replied.

    “Come on,
Phil, it is me you're talking to. You refuse to go out on dates, and, whenever
you do, you always manage to get rid of your dates.”

    “I told her
that I wanted to see her again.”

    “Who?”

    “The
niece,” Phil answered.

    “You're
kidding me. Are you right in the head?”

    “You just
told me that I needed to go out,” Phil said

    “Well, that
was before you told me that the girl that you like is engaged and
disabled.   Are you sure you know what
you're getting yourself into?”

    “She is
very nice.”

    “There are
tons of very nice girls out there.   It
doesn't sound like you. So, what did she say when you invited her out?”

    “I didn’t
invite her out. I only told her that I wanted to see her again.”   Phil didn’t want to tell Jeremy that he told
Isabel he loved her.   Jeremy would really
think he was crazy since until today, Jeremy never heard Phil talk about
Isabel.

    “What did
she