answer. “Russ is doing as well as can be expected.”
“Which tells me exactly nothing. Have you been using that expression all day?”
“Yes.”
Instead of demanding more detail, he asked to borrow the phone. He had a pager and a phone in his SUV, but he didn’t carry a cell phone. She nodded and he picked up the receiver and dialed. When he received an answer, he asked for Anna.
“Hi, it’s Jon. How is Russ doing? Does he need some help?”
Tori had talked to her mother that morning, but Russ had still not arisen.
“He’s what? Are you sure that’s safe?”
“What?” Tori demanded, rising.
He shook his head at her. “Yeah. Well, let me know.”
“What?” she asked again.
“Okay. I will,” he said into the speaker, and then hung up the receiver. “Your mother is worried about you.”
She shrugged that off. “What did she say about Russ? Is what safe?”
He studied her, making her angry. “Tell me,” she demanded.
“I will if you’ll have dinner with me at the café. I promised your mother I’d make sure you ate.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t want to be seen in public with me. Gossip is rampant right now.”
“Did you eat lunch?”
“There wasn’t time.”
“Well, there’s time now. If you go upstairs, you’ll be answering the phone all evening.”
She groaned. “I don’t think there’s anyone left to call.”
“I suspect there is. Come on, let’s go get something to eat and I’ll explain what your mother said.” He didn’t try to grab her arm and pull her after him, which one of her cousins might have done. He stood back and waited, leaving the decision up to her.
She suddenly agreed, knowing he was right. She’d get more calls tonight if she was home. And she just didn’t think she could manage. She didn’t want to go out to the ranch, as her mother had suggested this evening. She nodded. “I’ll go, but I’ll pay for my own dinner.”
“Agreed. I love a cheap date.” He grinned. His expression was such a relief, such a normal response, she almost broke into tears.
She looked away and picked up her purse. “I’m ready.”
Grabbing the keys, she preceded him out the door and then inserted the key in the lock. As she was doing that, several people stopped to talk to them. She stood back and let Dr. Wilson handle the questions. But she did manage a sad smile as they offered their condolences.
“Thank you,” she muttered as they crossed the street and entered the café.
Mona, one of the waitresses, came to seat them and told Tori how sorry she was about Abby’s death. Tori thanked her, but she said nothing else.
“Mona, we need a back booth. Tori’s about worn-out from all the kind people here wanting to talk to her. As her doctor, I’m ordering a quiet meal with no interruptions.”
Mona shot Tori a sympathetic look and smiled at the doctor. “I’ve got just the booth you want.” She led them to the last booth and pointed out the side where Tori would be facing the back wall. “You sit here, hon, and I’ll intercept anyone who thinks he recognizes you.”
“Thank you, Mona.”
Her escort slid into the other side. “Good for you, Mona. You deserve a big tip.” Then, before Tori could assure him she’d pay the tip, he asked, “What’s the special tonight? Meat loaf?”
“Nope, but we have it on the menu. Tonight, it’s chicken and dumplings.”
“Okay. Give us a minute to look at the menu.”
When Mona left the table, Tori buried her face in her hands.
“Take deep, slow breaths and blow out all that tension.”
She didn’t hesitate to do as he suggested. She was desperate.
But then people began stopping at the table to express their sorrow.
“I never thought I’d hate being with a blonde,” Jon muttered. “If you were a brunette, no one would notice.”
Tori didn’t bother answering. She was fighting for composure.
Mona came back to the table. “Sorry, I’m doing a lousy job. But my other tables are demanding service. You ready to order?”
“Yes, and we want everything boxed up to go. I’ll have meat loaf with fried okra and mashed potatoes. And coconut cream pie. You want the same, Victoria?”
She didn’t even know what he had ordered, but she nodded. As soon as Mona had it all down, he said, “I’ll be back in ten minutes to pick it up. Thanks, Mona.”
“Where are you going?” Tori didn’t intend to sound so panicky, but she couldn’t face any more mourners.
“You tell me. Your place or mine.”
“What?” She didn’t understand what he was asking.
“I say yours. It’s sure to be nicer than mine. Come on, let’s get you home.”
She didn’t argue.
He took her arm and led her across the street and up the stairs to their apartments. When they reached his door, he dug out his keys and opened the door.
“I thought you said my place.”
“I’d forgotten about the phone. I hear it ringing now. You wouldn’t be able to get any rest.” He gently nudged her into his apartment. “Lie down on the sofa and rest. I’ll go back and get the food.”
Like an automaton, she did as he said without arguing. That took too much strength. As he left the apartment, she closed her eyes.
WHEN JON RETURNED to his apartment with several bags of food, he found Victoria asleep on his couch. Poor kid! She must’ve had an awful day. Several of his patients told him about talking to her. He figured she’d answered a lot of calls, but he hadn’t realized how bad it had been. She was running on empty.
He allowed her a half-hour nap, then shook her shoulders. “Tori, let’s eat before everything is cold.”
“What?” She sat up, bleary-eyed, and stared at him.
“You’ve had a little nap, but the food is going to get cold. I’ve set the table, so let’s eat.”
He wondered how long it would take her to remember to ask what she wanted to know. They ate for
