by Kaira Rouda
Jud looked across the table and saw the younger man smile. Perfect.
But then the beady-eyed beast leaned forward. “Well, no, that’s not a solution for us,” Bennett said, leaning back in his seat. The man was a disgusting maggot. He noticed a severe case of acne scarring on each of the man’s cheeks. Jud felt himself slipping a little. He hadn’t calculated the need to neutralize more than one doctor, more than one enemy.
“Us?” Jud asked. His voice sounded as if it were emerging from a deep cave.
“You didn’t think I’d confront you like this without telling another person, did you? I’m not stupid. Now he knows what you are, and before long, everyone will know,” Bennett said.
Perhaps Jud had underestimated his enemy, he thought, swirling his wine. Since the man had initially threatened him two weeks earlier, Jud’s investigator had been working nonstop, according to Tom who had provided twice-daily updates. What Dr. Bennett didn’t know was, because of his investigator, Jud knew Bennett’s parents’ names and where they lived, what college and medical school he attended, and his grades at both. He’d discovered two ex-girlfriends and one current lover who all had nothing but praise for the young doctor, unfortunately. The man even taught Sunday school at the Baptist church. But still, everybody has something, and, finally, his man had found it.
“I am a capable doctor, Bennett. Nothing more,” Jud said. The restaurant was filling up. Patrons were elegantly dining around them. He focused on Bennett’s right cheek. Too bad the man didn’t invest in some laser resurfacing, could clear that right up. Jud touched his own smooth, lineless cheek as counterpoint. “Unlike you.”
“We could not be more different,” Bennett said, raising his wineglass to his thin lips. Jud saw the pockmarks magnified through the glass of white wine. Probably a buttery chardonnay, Jud thought with distaste. It was time for the kill shot.
“I’m talking about your history of prescription drug abuse, actually,” Jud said, smiling as he watched the color drain from Bennett’s face. All around them, the restaurant diners were eating and drinking normally, unaware that at this table, a seismic power shift had just occurred. Jud inhaled deeply, enjoying the moment as he took control of the situation. Tom would be so proud, he thought.
“How dare you,” Bennett said finally.
“Me? You started this game, Bennett,” Jud said. His appetite had returned and he smiled at the oysters on the half shell, just delivered by Scott, compliments of the chef. He picked up the dainty seafood fork, stabbed an oyster and dipped it into the cocktail sauce. A perfect bite, he thought, savoring the flavors as he popped it in his mouth. “I’m surprised you were able to cover it up. I guess having a father who’s a judge helped, right chap?”
“Now what?” Bennett asked. Jud noticed the man had turned white and was watching with noticeable disgust as Jud enjoyed the raw flesh. The tables had turned, so to speak, Jud thought with a smile.
“I really should dine here more often, this is divine,” Jud said. An unfamiliar waiter appeared at their table.
“Excuse me, but are you Dr. Nelson?” the waiter asked.
“Why yes, I am,” Jud said, leaning back, smiling his winning smile.
“My table in the other room would like to pick up your tab, as a thank-you for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Club,” the waiter said.
“Oh, that’s not necessary. This fine young doctor is picking up the tab. Please tell Janice and whomever she is dining with tonight thank you anyway. Save their money for wooing new donors.”
“Very well, Sir. And Sir?”
“Yes?”
“I was a beneficiary of the Boys & Girls Club. Thank you,” the waiter said, and then nodded and left the table.
“Just another day being Dr. Jud Nelson,” Bennett said. His arms were crossed and folded on his chest, his head hung forward. “They will find out, someday, they all will.”
Jud would make certain he was wrong. “Who did you tell?”
“No one,” Bennett said. “I was bluffing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. Why would I tell anybody else? I wanted the exclusive rights to perform the new Nelson Procedure. Why would I share that?” he said.
“Indeed,” Jud said, although he still didn’t believe the man. His investigator would be busy fleshing out the whole story. For now, though, Jud was beyond ready to greet his lovely wife, due to arrive any moment. He saw a couple he knew, Carol something who was the principal of the middle school and her husband, what’s his name, who worked out all the time. The wife he remembered from when he’d donated the money to build the new gymnasium at the school. She had been so thankful, so genuine.
They were seated in the corner window table, his table, but looked like they were about to leave. He decided to join them for a stroll to the front of the restaurant, better to distance himself from the annoying maggot across from him. And he could tell them why he was here, just in case they bumped into Sarah on her way in. Story reinforcements were always good.
“Bennett, I don’t believe a word you are saying. And the only solution to our little standoff is for us to go our separate ways. You should begin the process of getting credentialed in another state, perhaps back on the East Coast, near your parents, Jim and Sally?” Jud said, standing and tossing his napkin onto the oyster platter.
“You are an asshole,” Bennett said under his breath, a hiss from a loser.
Jud smiled, shook his head, and walked toward Carol and her husband who were crossing the dining room.
“Carol, don’t you look beautiful tonight,” Jud said, kissing her on both cheeks. “Lovely spot for a dinner date. Sarah will be here any moment.”
He noticed Carol’s husband staring at him. It was the look of adoration he was accustomed to receiving. The man was a menial laborer, or something, Jud recalled. It kept him in shape, clearly, but otherwise, poor woman. It was a shame because Carol reminded Jud of his own wife, although she could use a partial lift. He’d mention it to Sarah, and she could give the woman a hint. Maybe they could do it as a donation, to keep the school and its principal fresh. He smiled at his own joke.
“I’m Carol’s husband, Will,” the man said, extending his hand and shaking Jud’s with too much pressure. Jud knew he was marking his territory, but it was an annoying gesture especially when Jud made his living using his blessed hands in surgery.
“Watch the hand, champ,” Jud said, pulling away. “These are where the magic happens.”
“I’m sorry, what did he do?” Carol asked, apologizing for her husband as if he were a child. Will hurried away from them presenting the valet with his ticket, apparently trying to beat Jud to it. Tool. He looked completely uneasy in this upscale restaurant, out of his league. Poor man. And, Jud wasn’t going anywhere, not yet.
“Just a protective handshake,” Jud said.
“Idiot,” Carol said.
“I’ll tell you about an idiot. The man I was just having a drink with. Another surgeon. Dreadful man, terrible bore. Did you have a nice dinner date?”
“The food was good,” Carol said. “Someone gave me a gift certificate at the end of school last year. Had to use it before it expired. Sarah is meeting you here?”
“Indeed. Any moment. Why do I never see your husband around town? Does he travel for work?” Jud asked, noticing Carol’s discomfort but wanting to be reminded what the jerk did for a living.
“He’s a building inspector, here in Crystal Beach. He, um, rides his bike a lot,” Carol said, fluttering her arms in the air. An odd way to describe her spouse’s activities but it seemed to be working for them. He looked out to the street and saw a forest green Subaru pull up. He knew it belonged to them even before Will opened the restaurant door.
“Carol, time to go,” Will said. “Nice meeting you.”
Jud thought Will had shifty eyes. Jud wouldn’t trust him as far as he could throw him. Making a show, he kissed Carol again on both cheeks, hoping he had
read the situation wrong. But he’d discovered birds of a feather recognize each other. “Have a nice evening,” Jud said.
“You, too,” she said.
As he watched them leave, he made a note in his phone to give his man, the P.I., a big bonus. The mental health file had been the only thing that could have gotten Bennett off his back and provided Jud with the leverage to ship the younger doctor out of town.
From now on, Jud needed to be even more careful. He thought he’d been smart, and yes, he’d gotten away with things for so many years he had grown complacent. He had been sloppy since Tom started working for him. He followed a pattern that could be discovered, and it was. He needed to be sure to stay off social media and make certain whoever he was with did the same. He couldn’t allow a situation like Bennett to happen again, no matter what.
I have too much to lose, he thought as Sarah’s car arrived at the valet.
SARAH
The fact that her husband was greeting her on the sidewalk, escorting her into the best restaurant in town after kissing her on both cheeks was causing Sarah to feel dizzy. Even though she wanted to stay mad at him, even dreamed of bashing his hand with a hammer, she loved the attention he was giving her. It was like the good old days, how it should be. Back when they were a young couple with an adorable baby and the world was full of possibilities and love.
She followed the hostess to what the young woman called ‘Jud’s favorite table,’ a two top in the corner. Her husband pulled out Sarah’s chair and then took his seat across from her. She had forced herself to practice what she would say to him, without crying. But now, now that he was being so solicitous, she was losing her nerve. And he looked so handsome, his finely chiseled features accentuated in the flickering candlelight.
When he reached across the table, gently unfolded her napkin and handed it to her with a smile, she couldn’t believe it. And the tears started.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the napkin, dabbing her eyes. She’d dressed carefully tonight, her tightest jeans, boots with heels, and a blue silk blouse that complemented her eyes. She knew she looked good; she could feel the eyes throughout the room confirming it. But she needed to be strong. She needed to stop crying.
“What’s wrong, princess? You’re embarrassing me—people are looking at us,” he said, shaking his head slowly, a fake smile plastered on his face.
She noticed he was keeping his voice low, soothing. Like he was talking to a person who couldn’t understand English very well. He had a lot of voices. He should have kept trying for a career as an actor. Secretly, that was what he dreamed of, he’d told her as much. But becoming a surgeon had been a sure thing, a means to money and fame if played right. But she knew he still harbored the dream. She looked into his eyes and saw the hint of the innocent young med student lurking somewhere inside her husband. It was just a hint, and then it was gone. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Clasping her hands together in front of her and crossing her legs for power, she spit it out.
“I tested positive for genital herpes,” she said. She knew she was talking far too loudly, but she’d practiced it just that way. She glanced at the tables near them but nobody had turned around.
“Keep your voice down, really Sarah,” Jud said, obviously disgusted, dropping his head and raising his menu up high. That’s when the waiter appeared.
“I see you’re table hopping tonight, Mr. Nelson. Welcome, Mrs. Nelson, I presume. You’re gorgeous. I’m Scott,” the server said.
“Hello, Scott. You’re correct. This is my wife, Sarah, and this is the best waiter, my favorite,” Jud said as the two men locked eyes. Sarah felt like a strange conversation was occurring between the men, on a frequency she couldn’t tap into.
“Can I bring you a cocktail to begin?”
Sarah was relieved her tears had stopped flowing, at least for now. And she’d gotten the H word into the conversation. But he’d not addressed it, not yet. How can your wife tell you she has herpes and you simply order a cocktail? What the hell? Sarah thought.
“Tito’s Vodka, dirty martini for both of us, Scott. Stuffed olives.”
“Yes, Sir,” Scott said and was gone.
“Have you been sleeping around outside our marriage?” Jud asked, suddenly leaning forward. As she watched and listened, he meticulously cracked each knuckle. “It provides circulation,” he’d told her. Sarah shuddered.
“Are you insane? Me?” Sarah said. She heard her own voice. It was trill, too high. She knew her eyes were huge and that she looked like the crazy one. “You’re the one having the affair. You’re the one who sent me that text. And you’re the one who has given me this horrible disease.”
“Keep your voice down,” Jud said. Sarah watched as he smiled, scanning the room to see if any other diners were turned their way. Fortunately, the nearby tables were still empty. “I love you, honey. Nothing has changed, Sarah. I’m all yours.”
“Why are you doing this to me? I feel like I’m going crazy,” Sarah said, holding her menu in front of her chest like a shield. “I know you are seeing someone. This disease doesn’t just happen.” Sarah felt the room spin and placed both hands on the white tablecloth. Holding on.
“It’s all in your mind, honey,” Jud said. He smiled at her, reached out and clasped each of her hands in his. “I’ll admit, there could be a chance I have infected you somehow, I mean if I am the only one. That has been known to happen. It can be dormant for years. Most people are herpes positive. You’re just one of the unfortunate few who show symptoms. It’s the stress of Ashley’s senior year, I’m afraid.”
“You know I’ve never had intercourse with anyone else, ever,” Sarah said. “And you and I have only had sex once since this summer and then, voila, I’m infected. A coincidence?”
“You’re sad about Ashley ignoring you and spending time with that boyfriend. And I know I’ve been too busy, too,” Jud said, tilting his head to his camera side, showing off the cleft in his chin. “I’ve been neglectful, and I’m sorry. I know I’m the only one, sweetie. What are you thinking about ordering?”
“That’s it? We’re changing the subject? No, I’m sorry. No, holy crap that’s terrible,” she said, pulling her hands out from under his.
“The first outbreak is the worst. After that, you’ll hardly know you have it,” Jud said, closing his menu. “I’m having the steak Sylvia. I’ll order two. It can’t be beat. Medium rare. Let’s have a really good red wine, you game?”
“Jud, you are scaring me. You aren’t listening. You have a weird look on your face. What is happening?” Sarah said. Jud did have a glossy look on his face as if his features had been airbrushed. He looked, in this moment, like a stranger. Sarah rubbed the back of her neck, and felt, as she rubbed, more hair leaping off her head onto her fingers. In fact, much to her embarrassment, a long blonde strand was trapped inside her closed menu. Gross.
“Are we ready to order?” Scott asked, placing the perfectly crafted martinis in front of each of them as if they were works of art. Sarah felt like she was in the middle of a movie, the only actor not provided with a script. She had never been good at improvisation.
“We are, my friend, you have impeccable timing. Two of my usual and a bottle of Domaine Leroy Echezeaux Grand Cru, well decanted,” Jud said, handing Scott his menu and then taking Sarah’s, pulling the hair from inside before giving it to Scott. She saw the waiter grimace at the offensive hair.
“Very good, Sir,” Scott said and was gone.
“You had to make a big deal about a hair?” Sarah asked. She tossed her napkin onto the table. “Excuse me, I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
“Of course,” Jud said, standing and pulling her chair out for her. She rolled her eyes at him but said nothing as she left the table.
She was angry and confused as she walked through the dark restaurant to find the restroom. Did she want to blow up her marriage? Accuse him of having an affair when she really had no tangible proof? She hadn’t done what Mela
nie suggested and gone online herself. She didn’t have a Facebook account and she had no reason to get one of those things. It just opened things up to trouble, connected you to people best left in the past. Ashley said it was all fake anyway, that people just posted pretend things to make their lives look better. Nothing was to be believed on there, and so she wouldn’t believe what Melanie had told her. Her husband was full of illusion, it was part of his job, and it made his practice the most successful in Southern California.
There was another reason why she hadn’t turned to the Internet, she knew. Because if she did believe it, found the proof herself, it would end her life as she knew it. She wasn’t ready to handle that. Not yet. Perhaps not ever. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing both Ashley and Jud in the same year.
As she walked back from the ladies’ room, feeling the eye of every man in the room follow her, she felt the sting of a tear again. Jud was staring out the window, the only person in the restaurant unaware of her presence.
Sarah slipped into her seat and took a long sip from her martini as Jud turned to face her. She was not as in control as she had thought, had practiced. In fact, before she arrived she’d been beyond angry about the venereal disease and completely disbelieving of her husband’s faithfulness. But now, Sarah wondered if it was all in her mind. Did she even know this person sitting in front of her anymore?
“Welcome back,” he said, hoisting his martini in her direction.
She picked up her drink and took another sip. As she looked around the restaurant, she was surprised she didn’t recognize any other diners. Were they all tourists? And how did the waiter know Jud’s order? How often did he eat here without her? She scanned the crowd but saw not one familiar face. That would have given her grounding. Typically, since they’d lived in Crystal Beach for what seemed like forever, she’d know several tables full of diners. They’d make a point to stop by their table and say hi, pay homage to the queen and king of Crystal Beach. Because really, that’s who they were, she knew. Beloved in the community, a perfect couple with the best house in the whole city, a beautiful overachieving kid, and a booming practice that allowed them to be generous contributors to whatever charity floated their boat, or raised his profile.
