Dr. Dad by Judith Arnold Page B

minute.”
    â€œI bet she does. She’s so pretty—I bet she wants the mirror up so she can check herself out.”
    Toby laughed. “I’ll call her and we’ll set up a time.”
    â€œYou could go tonight without me,” Lindsey pointed out. “She might be sick of me, but she hasn’t had a chance to get sick of you yet.”
    Lindsey’s perceptiveness surprised him. He was amazed that she would acknowledge the possibility that Susannah might be sick of her, but he was unnerved by her suggestion that he go to Susannah’s without her. Did Lindsey know he also considered Susannah pretty?
    â€œI’ll call her,” he repeated, then asked, “What would you do if I went over there tonight?”
    â€œWatch TV,” she said. “I’ve got Mercy Hospital on tape.”
    â€œAll right.” He took a deep breath, surprised by the twinge of nervousness he felt. “I’ll call her.”
    Lindsey strode out of the kitchen. Her posture was straight, her shoulders square. Could one afternoon with Susannah Dawson have transformed her back into the Lindsey she used to be? Probably not permanently, but he appreciated the change. That was reason enough to call Susannah—to thank her for having boosted Lindsey’s spirits today.
    He dialed Susannah’s number and listened to the phone ring on the other end. She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
    â€œHi, it’s Toby,” he said, his nervousness ebbing. Hearing her voice calmed him. “What did you do to my daughter this afternoon?” he asked.
    â€œDo to her?” Susannah sounded anxious now.
    â€œNothing. We just hung some pictures and she did her homework—”
    â€œShe’s in such a great mood. She wouldn’t shut up all through dinner, and she was hardly sarcastic at all. What did you do, give her a drug?”
    Susannah laughed. “Do you think I’d give drugs to a girl whose father’s a doctor?”
    â€œWell, whatever you did, it worked. Thank you. I’m in your debt.”
    â€œI didn’t do anything, really,” she insisted. Closing his eyes, he could picture her smile, her luminous eyes.
    â€œBut I don’t mind having you in my debt.”
    â€œI was figuring I’d pay it off by hanging that mirror for you.”
    â€œNow?”
    Why not? “Sure, if you’d like.”
    â€œOkay. Come on over.”
    â€œGive me ten minutes,” he said.
    He hung up the phone and glanced at the wall clock. Ten minutes. He ought to change out of his work apparel. And brush his teeth and comb his hair. Not because this was a date, not because he wanted to make a good impression on Susannah, but…hell, he did want to make a good impression. He might as well be honest about it.
    He raced up the stairs to his bedroom, exchanged his twill trousers for a clean pair of jeans and detoured into the bathroom to freshen up. Then back to his bedroom to grab his wallet and keys from the bureau, where he’d left them. He checked his watch: eight-fifteen. He’d be home in less than an hour and a half, in time to start nagging Lindsey about her bedtime.
    This wasn’t anything but a favor for a neighbor. He wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.
    â€œLindsey,” he called into the den, where she was sprawled out on the couch with the remote control clutched in one hand, “I’m going over to Susannah’s. I’ll be home before nine-thirty.”
    â€œWhatever,” Lindsey said, her attention on the screen.
    He went downstairs to the basement to grab a couple of screwdrivers, in case Susannah didn’t have any, and then left the house, locking the front door behind him. The sky was a rich blue, just barely dark enough to make the first few stars of the night visible. The grass had a fresh, dewy scent. Down the street he saw Don Goldman walking his chocolate Lab. Had Don met Susannah yet?