Winds Of Fortune Part 12

* 94 *

Winds of Fortune

CHAPTER TEN.

Nita," Tory said, "don't you have an appointment for your walk-through tonight?"

"I rescheduled." Nita set aside the lab report she was reviewing and leaned back in her desk chair. "Are there always this many walk-ins during the summer?"

Tory smiled wearily. "More, usually."

"I can't even begin to imagine how you handled it by yourself."

Tory settled on the small loveseat that Nita had placed in the corner of her offi ce and rested the heel of her sneaker on the edge of a low wooden coffee table. "Before Reese and Regina, I pretty much only worked. I didn't really mind how busy I was then because I didn't have much else in my life."

Nita appreciated what an escape work could be. After the blow-up with Sylvia, she'd worked extra s.h.i.+fts just to avoid seeing her family or friends. Sometime in the year since her life had taken a turn in the wrong direction, she'd come to welcome working fi fteen hours a day.

She didn't have to think about what a fool she had been. Cowardly, perhaps, but comfortable. Discomfi ted by the realization, she changed the subject. Something else she had grown adept at when conversations veered too close to harsh truths. "Do you want ice for that ankle?"

"You can tell it's swollen from across the room?"

"I'm not that good," Nita said. "But I don't think I've ever seen you sit down before, and I know I've never seen you put your leg up."

She glanced at her watch. "You've been on your feet for twelve hours.

And that's just today."

"What day is it-Thursday?" Tory shook her head. "The last thing I clearly remember is the ride to Hyannis on Monday morning with Nelson. I haven't lost track of time like this since I was a resident and spent thirty-six hours at a stretch in the hospital."

* 95 *

RADCLY fFE "Stay there," Nita said as she rose. "I'll get you a cold pack."

Tory leaned back and closed her eyes, grateful not to be moving for just a few minutes. The last time she'd been this exhausted and her leg had acted up so badly that she could barely walk, Reese had been the one to take care of her. Reese had been so matter-of-fact about her injury, so completely without the stifl ing pity that so many others heaped upon her. She had simply done what needed to be done, and Tory had fallen in love just that quickly.

"Are you awake?" Nita whispered, kneeling down next to Tory.

"Yes, just daydreaming."

"It must have been a nice dream." Nita gently pushed up Tory's jeans and released the Velcro straps on the plastic bivalve splint she wore to stabilize her nerve-damaged ankle. "You had a very happy expression on your face."

Tory laughed. "I was thinking about when I fell in love with Reese.

She was doing pretty much what you're doing right now."

Nita glanced up. "Hopefully it was her and not the activity. Because as much as I like you, there's no way I'm taking on Reese Conlon for your affections."

"Don't worry, you're safe," Tory said, appreciating Nita's teasing tone. They so very rarely had the opportunity to talk about anything except work, and it was nice to see a less serious side of her new a.s.sociate. "I take that to mean that your interest is in women, then? I've never asked."

"Since I was old enough to fi gure out that I had an interest in anyone." Nita settled next to Tory. "How long have you and Reese been together?"

"A little over fi ve years. I wasn't looking for anyone," Tory mused, "and now I can't imagine life any other way."

"I think that's how it works out when it's right."

Hearing a note of sadness in Nita's voice, Tory said carefully, "No one on the horizon for you at the moment?"

"No," Nita said quickly and dismissively. "Moving here, adjusting to private practice, getting a new house ready to live in...I've got plenty to keep me busy."

"When was your appointment with Elana?"

"Elana? Oh-the realtor. Six. But I knew I wasn't going to make * 96 *

Winds of Fortune it so I called her to postpone." Nita shrugged. "She said she might still be around for a while, but-"

"It's not that late. You should stop by the real estate offi ce and try to catch her. She's often there in the evening, and you can still do your walk-through."

"We've got at least twelve patients still waiting. I'll stay until we clear-"

"No you won't," Tory said fi rmly. "I'm going to sit here for fi ve more minutes because the ice is really helping, and then I'll be fi ne to fi nish up. I know how much extra work you've been doing all week.

And unfortunately, I have another favor to ask."

"Anything."

"I was on the phone with Nelson's cardiologist right before I came in here. In fact that's what I came by to tell you. He's got a fairly substantial aneurysm just distal to the takeoff of the coronaries. They want to operate on him tomorrow."

"Oh G.o.d, that's too bad," Nita said. "Of course I'll cover for you.

I'm sure we can postpone the closing-"

"Absolutely not. It's scheduled for what...three?"

"Three thirty."

Tory nodded. "Excellent. I'll be back by then. Surgery is scheduled for seven thirty and I'm sure they'll be done by noon. Then I can stay with Bri for a couple of hours after, and I'll still be back here in time to fi nish up the afternoon hours."

"Are you sure? I know he's like family." Nita hesitated. "And that really matters."

"He is, and Bri is special." Tory laughed. "Sometimes I feel like she's a younger version of Reese, the Reese I never got to meet before the marines really got to her."

"How are you doing?" Nita asked gently. "With Reese home now?"

Tory regarded her curiously. "Most people just a.s.sume that her coming home solved everything. Of course, having her here is everything."

"I imagine you both feel pulled in a million directions. If Reese is the same kind of marine as all of my family are cops, she probably wants to turn right around and go back."

* 97 *

RADCLY fFE "G.o.d, how did you know?"

"Oh," Nita said with a sigh, "because that's who they are. It's what makes them feel good about themselves. And because they have a very deep sense of loyalty to their fellows. All the things you already know, I'm sure."

"All the things I knew," Tory said hesitantly. "But things I never really appreciated until this happened. She's a little bit at sea right now, and I'm not sure how to help her."

"I'm lousy at advice, but just the same, I've had some experience with this."

"Go ahead."

"It's probably not what you want to hear, but I think if she wants to go back, you need to let her. It may be the only way she can feel whole again."

Tory blinked at the sudden and frightening rush of tears that fi lled her eyes. "I don't think I can. I don't think I can stand it."

Nita regarded her seriously. "Yes you can. I only had to see you together for a minute to know how much you love her. And that's what love is all about, don't you think? Helping the person you love be who she really is?"

"Even if you lose her?" Tory nearly choked on the words.

"Even then." Nita took Tory's hand. "I'm sorry. I'm not helping."

"No. It's okay. You are." Smiling tremulously, Tory brushed her fi ngers over her eyes. "It actually helps to talk about what terrifi es me. I just can't imagine a day without her. Do you know what I mean?"

"I thought I did, once." Nita rose, her expression carefully blank.

"But I was wrong."

Nita took off her lab coat and draped it over her chair. Beneath that she wore a pale yellow short-sleeved blouse, tailored sage cotton slacks, and brown fl ats. "The nice thing about this town is you can get from one end of it to the other in ten minutes. I'm going to drive by the real estate offi ce and see if anyone's around. And if I can push the closing back even an hour or two tomorrow, I will. Just to give you a little extra time."

"Thanks. And Nita, thanks for the advice too," Tory added softly.

"You're welcome, although I'm not sure how much stock you should put in my opinion." Nita smiled wryly. "I've got a lousy track record with women."

* 98 *

Winds of Fortune y Nita dashed across Bradford in the light rain that had been falling all afternoon and hurried up the three steps to the small porch of Provincetown Realty. Not surprisingly, the door was locked, and when she peered through the large picture window next to the door, the interior was dark. She was over an hour late for her six o'clock appointment, and even though she'd gotten the answering machine when she'd called from the clinic, she had taken a chance that someone was working late just the same. Disappointed, she turned away and smothered a small cry when she discovered Deo standing on the steps.

Her black sleeveless T-s.h.i.+rt and bleached-to-nearly white jeans were soaked through in patches from the rain, and her hair was even wetter.

Her boots were dusty and a long scratch on the outside of her left upper arm appeared fresh. She looked like a woman who'd worked hard all day and, Nita had to admit, the look suited her. She was s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

"Something I can help you with?" Deo asked.

"How is it that I've been in town six weeks and until four days ago I'd never seen you before. Now every time I turn around you're there?"

Deo grinned. "Fate?"

"I don't believe in it."

"Lucky coincidence, then, I guess."

Nita stepped back under the sheltering roof as the rain picked up.

"You're getting drenched."

Deo tilted her face up to the sky and shook her head like a dog coming in out of the surf. "Feels great. I spent most of the day on a roof.

In the middle of July it's about a hundred and ten degrees up there."

"What happened to your arm?"

"Huh?"

Nita frowned and pointed. "You've got a pretty nasty abrasion there."

Deo followed her gaze. "Oh. That. Some idiot didn't bother to pound a nail all the way in."

"When was your last teta.n.u.s shot?"

"You're kidding, right?" Deo laughed. "This kind of thing is pretty much business as usual."

"Save me the macho line. That's a setup for infection. I don't * 99 *

RADCLY fFE suppose you stopped to wash it out, did you?"

Deo pointed to the sky. "G.o.d's taking care of that right now."

"More likely St. Jude," Nita muttered.

"You don't like me much, do you?" Deo said amiably, climbing the stairs. She leaned against the post and watched Nita with a half smile.

Nita took a slow breath. "I'm sorry. I don't know you and I've been rude." When she started toward the stairs, Deo sidestepped just enough to block her way. Nita stopped abruptly a breath before their bodies touched. The hairs along her arms stood up as if the air were rarefi ed. She wondered inanely if Deo was throwing off some kind of an electric charge, because every time she was anywhere near her, her skin tingled. She felt her pulse racing. "That's exactly the sort of thing that annoys me about you."

"What?" Deo asked quietly, leaning closer still.

Deo's mouth was so close to Nita's ear that if Nita turned her head, her lips would brush Deo's cheek. It was all she could do not to move.

"You're obviously used to having women fall all over you. You make a.s.sumptions that aren't warranted."

"The fi rst time I saw you in the clinic," Deo said, "I looked at you and saw a beautiful woman. I'm sorry I didn't pretend not to notice.

That p.i.s.sed you off, didn't it?"