Page 49 of Miracles and Marriage

Once the analgesic took effect, she dozed off.

The phone woke her.

“Hello?”

If it were Chloe, she’d ask her to come over. She would like something to eat but couldn’t face making anything herself.

“Are you coming with me to Richmond?” Cal asked.

She’d forgotten he’d asked her last Monday and she’d never answered. They’d gotten sidetracked.

At least she hadn’t heard any gossip this week. Maybe Sally Ann had more discretion that Zoe thought.

“Not this weekend,” she said, barely suppressing a moan.

“What are you doing?”

“Right now I’m curled up in a ball trying to fight the pain,” she said.

“Cramps?”

“That’s an understatement. I can hardly stand, much less take some car trip to Richmond. You don’t need me. It’s your family estate.”

“I’ll be right over.”

“No, I—”

She was speaking to an empty line. He had hung up.

Great,exactly what she didn’t need. If she ignored the door when he rang the bell, maybe he’d go away.

Not if she knew Cal. He was more likely to get the landlord and have him open the door, claiming she was too ill to reach the door. Cal never made things easy.

Yet she was touched he was coming to see her. Once he’d seen there was nothing he could do, he’d be off to Richmond.

For a few precious moments, she felt cherished. Odd from such a solitary, independent man.

She got up and splashed water on her face. Donning a robe, she went into the living room and curled up on the sofa to await Cal. In less than ten minutes he knocked on the door.

Opening it she leaned against it and looked at him.

“I can manage,” she said.

“I’m sure you can,” he said, walking past her and reaching back to shut the door. “But you don’t have to manage alone. What do you need?”

“Relief,” she said, holding her abdomen.

It felt as if a dozen knives were cutting into her.

“You’re as pale as snow,” he said, studying her for a moment.

“I have some pain medication. Which doesn’t completely block it.”

Zoe walked to the sofa and sank down on it, bringing her knees up and encircling her legs with her arms. This was the best position for the maximum relief. The only thing to do was ride it out.

He looked momentarily helpless. It was odd seeing Cal with that expression. She always thought he could handle anything from terrorists, to members of Congress, even foreign dignitaries who demanded so much attention.

But here was something no one could do anything about until she saw the surgeon.