Once a Widow by Lee Roberts Page B

getting out accounts payable and he asked me to work tonight to get caught up.”
    Shannon glanced at his wrist watch. Almost nine o’clock.
    “I know it’s rather late to be starting,” Coral said hastily, “but I had to go to choir practice with Mother.”
    “I see. How is your mother?”
    “Very well, thank you, everything considered. She’s seventy-six, you know.”
    “I know, but the last time I saw her she seemed very well.”
    “She’s well,” Coral said with faint bitterness. “Mother has a—an iron constitution, as they say. Eats just everything, and sits up until all hours watching television.”
    “Good for her.” Shannon glanced at his watch again. He had promised Celia and Jack to be home in time to take them out to a frosted malt drive-in.
    “Doctor,” Coral said, gazing at him with sudden intensity, “could—could I see you? Soon?”
    “See me?” He couldn’t conceal his surprise.
    Coral flushed. “I mean—professionally.”
    “Of course.” He had treated Mrs. Thatcher for a long time, and Mr. Thatcher, too, before his death, but Coral had never been to see him for anything, not even for cold remedies. “Are you ill?”
    “I—I don’t know. I feel—funny. And Mother irritates me terribly. Sometimes I feel like screaming, for no reason.” Coral attempted a smile. “Isn’t that silly?”
    “Perhaps not. Why don’t you come to the office tomorrow?”
    “I will. You’re there in the evening, aren’t you?”
    “On Mondays, yes.”
    “Doctor…” Coral averted her gaze and her fingers twined together.
    “Yes?” he said gently.
    “I—I don’t know how to tell you. It’s—embarrassing. I—”
    “Tell me about it tomorrow,” he said, smiling. “I’ll expect you.”
    “Thank you.” Coral moved quickly away and entered the glassed-enclosure which was the cashier’s office. She sat at her desk there, opened the accounts payable ledger and began to work. But the figures seemed blurred and her heart was still pounding at her sudden and unexpected meeting with Dr. Shannon. He had asked her to call him Clint, but she could never do that. Perhaps, if the meeting had not been so unexpected, she would not have summoned the courage to speak to him as she had. It had been embarrassing, but he had seemed to understand. Such a wonderful man! Now that she had made the plunge she almost looked forward to seeing him in the privacy of his office—she should have gone to him long ago. Coral told herself that she was going through a natural physical and mental phase—after all, she was forty-five—but she had been fighting it for over two years now, and she needed help. I need help, she thought desperately. Someone has to help me…
    Down the corridor from the cashier’s office Dr. Shannon passed room 102, where the woman found on Snake Island had been and which was now occupied by Lewis Sprang, attorney-at-law, continued to the end of the corridor, and turned left into the long wing which led to the rear of the hospital, away from the busier main corridor which paralleled the street. A young orderly in white passed him and said cheerfully, “’Evening, Doc.”
    Shannon returned the greeting, continued to the end of the corridor and stopped before room 140. The door was slightly ajar and a dim glow of light came from inside. He hoped the woman was not asleep, because he wanted to examine her again, and maybe talk with her if he could, but he decided that if she was asleep he would not disturb her. She needed sleep, and rest, and he could see her in the morning, after the surgery on Lew Sprang. Gently he pushed at the door and peered inside.
    The woman was awake. She turned her head on the pillow and stared at him.
    “Hello,” he said, moving into the room. He stood by the high hospital bed and gazed down at her. Her short tawny hair had been combed and lay smoothly on the pillow. Although it was a warm evening, she was covered with a sheet and a light blanket. Her tanned skin