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there."
    "There was no relationship. We saw Mark's mother when we had to, but it was obvious she disapproved of our marriage."
    "And this continued?"
    Elena shook her head. "It got worse. You see, when Mark had his cerebral aneurysm, Lillian figured the dumb Mexican should have been smarter. I was a doctor. I should have seen it coming. I should have gotten him to the hospital more quickly. I should have pulled strings to get him a better surgeon." She bit her lip. "I should have saved his life—instead of ending it the way I did."
    "What do you mean?"
    Elena shoved her plate away. Score another one for the widow's diet. "To Lillian, so long as Mark's heart was beating and that monitor hadn't flat-lined, even though it took a respirator and a bunch of IV medications to keep him going, he was alive."
    "And when you stopped all that?"
    "Lillian is of the opinion that when I discontinued life support, I murdered her son."

    Dr. Milton Gaines laid his half-specs on the desk and looked across at his colleague and patient. "You're doing fine, Cathy. In another few weeks you'll give birth to a healthy baby. Sure you and Will don't want to know whether it's a girl or boy?"
    "No. We've decided to wait and be surprised." Cathy shifted in her chair, seeking a more comfortable position and finding none. "I appreciate your seeing me this late in the day, Milton. It's tough for me to get out of the office."
    "Glad to do it. And I know how it feels to be swamped with patients."
    Cathy felt a foot bury itself in her side. "Are you about ready to take on an associate?"
    "I hadn't planned to quite yet, but some things have changed. This is going to come out at the hospital staff meeting next week, and I suppose you can keep it to yourself until then. Arthur Harshman's retiring. He and his wife are moving to Florida."
    That surprised Cathy. Somehow, she'd pictured Arthur Harshman as sort of an ageless icon in the medical community, always here, always the same, holding sway in hospital staff meetings because most doctors didn't dare disagree with him. He had the bedside manner of Attila the Hun, but there was no question about his competence in obstetrics and gynecology. She was surprised to realize she'd miss him. "So, what about—"
    "About someone to fill in when I can't be here? For now, Tom Denson in Bridgeport has agreed to drive over to cover if I have to be away, which won't be often. And I have an associate who'll be starting soon. He's finishing his residency June 30."
    "Good for you, Milton. I know that practicing OB can wear you down. I'm glad you've found someone to help with the load."
    Gaines frowned. "What about you? I hope you're not expecting to work right up to the day you deliver. What are you going to do for coverage? Can Emmett take up the slack?"
    "Emmett has offered to help, but . . . well, some of my patients have balked at seeing him. Then I lined up a retired doctor from the temp agency, but he's developed health issues so that's off."
    "What will you do?"
    "I have a young woman coming in for an interview this weekend. I hope she'll be a good fit for the practice."
    "Will this be to fill in temporarily?"
    "Originally, I wanted a locum tenens, but if things work out between us I might want to take her on as an associate. You know, the town is growing."
    Gaines chuckled. "So are you, Cathy. So are you."

    Her footsteps echoed in her ears and her pulse raced as Elena negotiated the dark sidewalk leading to her apartment door. She fumbled in the depths of her purse to retrieve her keys. Get a grip.
    With the lights on and the TV pumping out Wheel of Fortune, she felt the knots in her neck unwind a bit. Elena collapsed in her usual chair and thumbed through the mail. She caught her breath when she spotted the square envelope, but it was only an invitation to a bridal shower. She tossed it back onto the table and made a mental note to send a gift. She had no money for bridal gifts, but she'd squeeze out enough to do