Twenty-One
When Zoe Spelling entered the house at nine that evening, Byron was sitting in his leather lounge chair reading. Zoe hung her coat on the rack near the front door. “I’m sorry I missed dinner. I had another emergency.”
“Jacob’s on call tonight. I thought we’d have a pleasant evening together.”
“I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t walk away from my patient. It’s part of how I practice medicine. You, of all people, should know that by now.”
“Look Zoe, we agreed to try for a semblance of a normal life...I don’t see much effort on your part.”
She sampled the air. “Something smells good. Is anything left over from dinner? I’m famished.”
Byron stared at her with disbelief. He sat across the table watching as she ate.
When Zoe finished, she looked up at Byron. “That was really good. Thanks for saving some for me.”
“Can we talk?”
“I’m tired. Can’t it wait?”
“You’re always finding excuses for not paying attention to me. Do you know what’s going on in my life? Do you know or even care whether I’m happy or depressed, satisfied or unfulfilled with my work?”
“Damn it, Byron, you’re not a child, don’t act like one. I work long hours and carry incredible amounts of responsibility...I really don’t need this shit!”
Byron turned away. When he turned back, she had moved to his side. She held his face between her hands, and then kissed him.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” she said. “Forgive me. I’m way behind in my sleep. I’m working too hard. I love you, and I don’t know what I’d do without you beside me.”
He grasped her waist and held his face against her breasts. “I love you too. Let’s see if we can get some time off together. Maybe we can go down to Big Sur for a few days.”
“That’s a great idea. Let me check my schedule.” She paused. “Come to bed with me. I’ll bet I can think of something that you can do to relax me and help me sleep.”
The next day at noon, Jack Byrnes and Warren Davidson sat in the doctor’s lounge drinking coffee.
Warren put his cup on the table. “Marion Krupp was in my office this morning. That woman’s a swift pain in my ass.”
“She’s a malcontent who loves to share her misery with others. What’s she up to now?”
“She’s always been hostile to Jacob...God knows why. Now she’s accusing him of killing his patient, Joshua Friedman.”
“The woman’s out to lunch.”
“They went to war again over the care of Jacob’s terminal patient. I have fought with her over the same issue, and to tell you the truth, I’m sick of it.”
“Jacob may be the most compassionate physician I’ve ever known, Warren. He doesn’t believe in letting his patients suffer as they die. Neither do I.”
“She’s alleging that when she refused his orders for high dose morphine, he gave it himself.”
“Does she have proof?”
“Why? Would that stop her? I’m meeting with the director of nursing. Maybe it’s time Marion Krupp and Brier Hospital parted company.”
Jack smiled. “She’ll love that.”
Just before breaking for lunch, Zoe joined Jacob in his office. Zoe patted Jacob’s shoulder. “I heard about Josh Friedman. I know you two were close, but his death was a blessing. He suffered enough.”
“I agree, but each death of late carries with it an extra element of grief. It’s great to live a long life, but it’s tough to watch the characters in your play move off stage for good. I’m outliving my patients, my colleagues and the public figures, some of whom enriched my life.”
“You’re in a philosophical mood this morning.”
“When you reach my age, that’s all you have left.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jacob. You’re more alive, more involved, and more in touch with life than anyone I know. You and Lola bring hope for all of us.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Warren Davidson, the chief of medicine, stretched back in his leather desk chair
When Zoe Spelling entered the house at nine that evening, Byron was sitting in his leather lounge chair reading. Zoe hung her coat on the rack near the front door. “I’m sorry I missed dinner. I had another emergency.”
“Jacob’s on call tonight. I thought we’d have a pleasant evening together.”
“I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t walk away from my patient. It’s part of how I practice medicine. You, of all people, should know that by now.”
“Look Zoe, we agreed to try for a semblance of a normal life...I don’t see much effort on your part.”
She sampled the air. “Something smells good. Is anything left over from dinner? I’m famished.”
Byron stared at her with disbelief. He sat across the table watching as she ate.
When Zoe finished, she looked up at Byron. “That was really good. Thanks for saving some for me.”
“Can we talk?”
“I’m tired. Can’t it wait?”
“You’re always finding excuses for not paying attention to me. Do you know what’s going on in my life? Do you know or even care whether I’m happy or depressed, satisfied or unfulfilled with my work?”
“Damn it, Byron, you’re not a child, don’t act like one. I work long hours and carry incredible amounts of responsibility...I really don’t need this shit!”
Byron turned away. When he turned back, she had moved to his side. She held his face between her hands, and then kissed him.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” she said. “Forgive me. I’m way behind in my sleep. I’m working too hard. I love you, and I don’t know what I’d do without you beside me.”
He grasped her waist and held his face against her breasts. “I love you too. Let’s see if we can get some time off together. Maybe we can go down to Big Sur for a few days.”
“That’s a great idea. Let me check my schedule.” She paused. “Come to bed with me. I’ll bet I can think of something that you can do to relax me and help me sleep.”
The next day at noon, Jack Byrnes and Warren Davidson sat in the doctor’s lounge drinking coffee.
Warren put his cup on the table. “Marion Krupp was in my office this morning. That woman’s a swift pain in my ass.”
“She’s a malcontent who loves to share her misery with others. What’s she up to now?”
“She’s always been hostile to Jacob...God knows why. Now she’s accusing him of killing his patient, Joshua Friedman.”
“The woman’s out to lunch.”
“They went to war again over the care of Jacob’s terminal patient. I have fought with her over the same issue, and to tell you the truth, I’m sick of it.”
“Jacob may be the most compassionate physician I’ve ever known, Warren. He doesn’t believe in letting his patients suffer as they die. Neither do I.”
“She’s alleging that when she refused his orders for high dose morphine, he gave it himself.”
“Does she have proof?”
“Why? Would that stop her? I’m meeting with the director of nursing. Maybe it’s time Marion Krupp and Brier Hospital parted company.”
Jack smiled. “She’ll love that.”
Just before breaking for lunch, Zoe joined Jacob in his office. Zoe patted Jacob’s shoulder. “I heard about Josh Friedman. I know you two were close, but his death was a blessing. He suffered enough.”
“I agree, but each death of late carries with it an extra element of grief. It’s great to live a long life, but it’s tough to watch the characters in your play move off stage for good. I’m outliving my patients, my colleagues and the public figures, some of whom enriched my life.”
“You’re in a philosophical mood this morning.”
“When you reach my age, that’s all you have left.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jacob. You’re more alive, more involved, and more in touch with life than anyone I know. You and Lola bring hope for all of us.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Warren Davidson, the chief of medicine, stretched back in his leather desk chair
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