The Family Doctor by Bobby Hutchinson Page B

her out? Besides the inherent dangers of dating someone she had to work closely with, there were the complications of her personal life. Having Scott living in her home and Eliza needing a great deal of her time had ended her association with the only two men she’d dated since her divorce.
    Tony knew up front about Scott and Eliza, but he wouldn’t fully understand how they affected her life until—
    Lordy, Lewis, give it a rest. She shook her head and got to her feet. Talk about a rich imagination. All he’d done was smile at her, and she’d manufactured a whole romantic drama. Pathetic, she berated herself. Was she really that desperate…that lonely?
    There wasn’t time to give an honest answer, because she, too, had people waiting to talk to her, and she had to hurry or she’d keep them waiting. She needed to finish work on time today, because it was Thursday and Eliza’s dance class started at five-thirty.
    Since the birthday party fiasco, Kate had stopped relying on Scott to take Eliza anywhere. It cut down on conflict, but it meant that Kate had to fine-tune her schedule. Fortunately it was almost the end ofJune, and dance lessons and school activities would be over for the summer. Kate was looking forward to the break.
    Putting all thoughts of Tony out of her mind, she raced off down the corridor.
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    I N SPITE OF HER BEST EFFORTS , Kate was late getting home. Eliza was waiting impatiently, and after a hectic drive through rush hour traffic, they pulled up in front of DanceCo five minutes late.
    â€œSee you in an hour, Kate.” Eliza tumbled out of the car and raced for the entrance. Kate was planning a grocery list in her head. There was a supermarket nearby, and she could do her weekly shopping while waiting for Eliza.
    A tap on the car window startled her.
    Tony, balanced on his crutches, smiled at her through the glass. She rolled down the window.
    â€œCare for a coffee while we wait? There’s a place just down on Tenth, but you’ll have to drive. I can’t with this ankle. We took the bus over here.”
    â€œSure.” Her heart gave a bump. She’d forgotten about McKensy and Eliza being in the same dance class. The shopping list went into a mental garbage can. “Get in.”
    The place he indicated was small, with an awning and four round tables out on the sidewalk. He ordered coffee and pastries, and when they were settled, he sighed and lifted his right foot up on a spare chair.
    â€œI can’t believe how much this bum ankle slows me down.”
    â€œInjuries tend to do that.” She leaned back and sipped her coffee, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine, the people strolling past, the unexpected pleasure of being with Tony away from St. Joe’s. “Maybe it’s nature’s way of telling us we’re going too fast in the first place,” she mused.
    â€œYou could well be right.” He gave her a long, considering look and then shook his head.
    â€œWhat? I’ve got spinach in my teeth?”
    â€œNope. I was just thinking that you see things in a different light than I do. It’s refreshing.”
    â€œThanks. I think.” Maybe he just figured she was weird.
    â€œI’d like your advice on something, Kate.”
    She gave him a wide smile. “It’s free, but maybe that’s what it’s worth.”
    â€œI’ll take my chances.” He was quiet for a time, and she waited.
    â€œMy father is coming from Australia for a visit in August,” he said at last. “I haven’t seen him since I was eleven. He’s bringing the woman he’s lived with for the last twenty years or so, and his visit’s turned my family into two hostile camps. Georgia and I are eager to see him and meet Betsy, but Wilson and Judy feel it would be disloyal to my mother.” He sighed. “Dorothy’s pretty worked up over this whole thing, and it’s affecting everybody,