Bad Doctor

III

Rose and Melba assisted me on the Addie Gray surgery, which went perfectly. Afterward, Kathleen found me in my office and asked if there was anything she could possibly do to repay me. I asked for a blow job and she obliged, right on the spot.

I’m kidding.

Kathleen did ask what she could do, and I said nothing, it was all part of the job. But she insisted on taking me to lunch, so I let her, thinking this could lead to something.

“How is it a beautiful, young woman like you is still single?” I asked.

And wished I hadn’t.

She droned on and on about some CIA guy she loved.

“Donovan Creed,” she said, wistfully.

They were planning to get married and raise the little girl she adopted, the one who was burned so badly in a house fire years ago.

Addie.

“What happened with you and this Creed character?”

“The agency claimed he was killed.”

“You sound like you don’t believe them.”

“I don’t.”

“Maybe you’re in denial.”

“He’s living in Las Vegas,” she says.

“You’re sure?”

“I Googled him. He recently purchased property there.”

“Have you called him?”

“Of course not!”

“Why?”

“He abandoned us.”

“He’s an asshole,” I said.

She smiled. “You’re right. He’s a complete and utter asshole.”

“But you love him?”

“Hopelessly,” she said. “And I always will.”

“You never dated again? Never fell in love?”

“I actually married a guy. But it didn’t work out.”

“Why not?”

“My heart wasn’t in it.”

“Before or after you Googled Creed?”

“After.”

When the waiter brought the check Kathleen leaned over to reach for it and I caught a down-blouse. The view was nice enough to give me the confidence to see if I could exploit a possible opening.

“Here’s a coincidence,” I said. “Every woman I’ve ever dated told me I was the world’s biggest asshole.”

She shook her head and said, “Nice try.”