Promise Me Eternity

by Ian Fox

  When they had finished, they got on to politics. Carlo Vucci expressed his dissatisfaction with the current government. Here, Helen could join in because she was surprisingly well-informed. Most days she watched the evening news. She also liked to read magazines that dealt with political issues. Now Simon could take a rest since he didn’t care to talk politics.

  From politics they moved on to the local authorities. They began to criticize the mayor, who they thought was totally incapable. When they had finished that debate, Helen took the opportunity to start complaining about the health system. She said that doctors’ salaries were too low and that there were not enough private hospitals. She added that there were not enough opportunities in their town for specialists like Simon. Carlo agreed with her, nodding seriously. The whole time, Simon cast angry looks at his wife, for he knew what she was driving at.

  The waiters served dessert.

  Silence once more.

  When they had eaten dessert, Simon began to thank them for a wonderful dinner. He said he had to get up early in the morning.

  “Oh, that’s a real pity. Stay a bit longer,” Christine said.

  Fever again. He looked aside, helplessly nodding.

  After a while, Carlo Vucci stood up and said, “I don’t know how to thank you for saving my life. I’ll never forget it.”

  Helen and Simon stared at the plump man, who had evidently decided that he would deliver a speech.

  “I’ve been thinking about how to express my gratitude.”

  The older waiter who had earlier served the wine brought a salver bearing a white envelope and placed it before Dr. Patterson.

  Carlo chuckled. “I wrote you a check for fifty thousand dollars. I hope that it will in some small measure repay all your endeavors and acknowledge my thanks.”

  Helen’s heart missed a beat. In a moment, her face was radiant. With open mouth and shining eyes she looked at her husband.

  For several moments Simon stared in surprise at the salver with the envelope. He had so much wanted to say good-bye and go home, and now this. He didn’t know what to do. Ever since entering the house, he had felt ill at ease. He didn’t like this display of wealth and power. And however much he tried, he couldn’t shake off his fear of Carlo Vucci. He was aware that the man was grateful to him for saving his life, but nevertheless he felt afraid and didn’t know why. Something about Carlo chilled him to the bone.

  As no one was saying anything, Helen felt the need to break the tension that hung in the air. “Oh, that is so kind of you.” With a slightly distorted face that expressed unbelievable surprise, she looked first at Carlo, then at Simon.

  Simon’s expression did not change. He was still staring at the envelope and contemplating what to say. He chose his words carefully: “By wanting to give me this check you have truly expressed your sincere gratitude. I can’t tell you how moved I am.” He stopped for a moment. His stomach was churning with fear and anger. “But as I already said, I was only doing my job. I would have done the same for anyone. For that reason, I simply cannot take your check.”

  When Helen heard this, it was as if her insides caught on fire. She could feel the blood burning in her veins, causing her to bang the floor with her heel. She put her hand to her throat and prayed to God that what she had heard was not true.

  Carlo and Christine were also visibly surprised. Nobody had ever refused their money before.

  “You must take it,” Vucci said. In a perplexed voice he went on: “My wife and I are truly grateful to you. You saved my life.”

  Helen, her hand on her throat, stared at Simon. If in that moment he had looked at her even once he would have seen in her eyes so much hatred and anger that he would have immediately understood that it was better to take the check, as later there would be no salvation. But Simon didn’t even glance at her. He kept staring at the salver and shaking his head.

  Carlo said, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  Simon raised his eyes, opened the envelope, and held the check between his fingers. Helen prayed that he would change his mind.

  Simon thought, No one is going to buy me. I don’t want to have anything to do with this man. With his other hand he took hold of the other side of the check and tore it in two. “As I already told you, by offering me this enormous sum of money you have expressed your most profound gratitude. But I regret that I cannot take your money.” Then he looked Carlo Vucci in the eye.

  When Helen saw what he had done, she felt as if she had been torn in two. A terrible burning sensation spread through her and she felt like screaming out loud. Tears of anger and helplessness squeezed from her eyes. She could not contain it any longer. She got up and ran to the bathroom, only to get away from Simon. If she stayed with him even for a moment, something might happen that she would later regret. She might kill him. She hated him as she had never hated anyone before.

  For a while Carlo looked on in amazement, but then smiled and shrugged. “There are new surprises every day. You are an exceptional man, Dr. Patterson. Not only did you save my life, but you are more modest than anyone I’ve ever met. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have met you.”

  Meanwhile, Christine had forgotten to close her mouth. She stared at Dr. Patterson as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.

  Dr. Patterson placed the torn check on the silver salver.

  Silence again.

  Carlo said, “I think we should drink a toast.”

  Simon gave a hollow smile and picked up his crystal glass. In the moment when he touched glasses with Christine he saw something in her eyes that told him they would see each other again. Her smile was slightly different from her earlier expression. She would stay in his memory a long time after tonight.

  The whole way home, Helen stared forward and cried hysterically. Simon had known she would be upset, but he never imagined it would be so bad. He drove fast, without speaking, because he knew if he said anything it would make things worse.

  At home he quickly went to his laboratory. She’ll get over it, he thought. I’ve got a lot of work to do.

  He could hear Helen sobbing all the while he was in the basement. She cried noisily for at least two hours.

  Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and went upstairs to calm her.

  “I didn’t realize you’d take it so badly,” he said as he got close to her.

  Helen was loading dishes in the dishwasher and wiping her tears. “How dare you come near me. Get lost! I never want to see you again.”

  “I couldn’t take the money.”

  “Get lost, you damn fool!”

  “Helen, how can you talk to me like that?”

  “I’ll talk to you how I want. I’ve had enough of you. I want a divorce. Our marriage is over,” she said with loathing. She stared at him with eyes red and swollen from crying.

  “I know you’re very upset, but—”

  “Simon, I can’t take it anymore. Your way of thinking is driving me crazy.” She slammed a green plastic dish into the dishwasher and then she said to him, “I hate you.”

  “Helen, what nonsense are you talking? You’re my wife.” He moved toward her, wanting to take her in his arms and show her that in spite of everything he still loved her. “Helen, I never wanted to—”

  She pushed him away with all her strength, shrieking. He hadn’t expected that and stumbled backwards, losing his balance. He waved his arms as he fell and ended up hitting his head hard on the edge of the table.

  Then she screamed even more, while he held his head. He told her to stop because his head was hurting, but she didn’t hear him. She moved hysterically about the kitchen, howling noisily.

  For some time Simon lay on the floor, barely coping with the pain, and then finally got to his feet. Helen was still walking to and fro and was obviously suffering some kind of nervous attack. At one point he asked himself who was suffering more, him or her? Then he decided he should leave her in peace. He quickly disappeared into the basement.

  Chapter
19

  _______________________

  Anita Carter and Jerry Duncan sat in the Columbia Restaurant, on the first floor of an old townhouse in the outskirts of Medford. Anita ate slowly and elegantly, while Jerry threw fried mushrooms into his mouth as if afraid that someone may come and take them away.

  “We’re in a restaurant, Jerry. Can’t you control yourself a bit?”

  He looked at her with surprise. “What are you trying to say?”

  “I’ve got nothing against you stuffing yourself at home, but people are looking at us and you’re eating as if you were half starved.”

  He quickly licked his lips and reached for the cotton napkin. He wiped his chin and winked. “I completely forgot. These mushrooms are so good.” Then he ate in a more refined manner.

  After a while, Anita said, “Guess what happened yesterday.”

  “What?”

  “Simon Patterson said it was my fault what happened to that patient who was allergic to iodine. You remember, it was more than a month ago. He said that I should have warned him. Can you imagine?”

  Jerry was surprised. “He waited more than a month? It’s obvious he didn’t dare tell you before.”

  “He was in a foul mood.”

  “Isn’t it his responsibility to ask about the patient’s condition before the operation?”

  “Exactly. And how dare he judge me like that? I have my work cut out with the anesthetics. You surgeons think my job is an easy one, but it isn’t.”

  “I never said your job was easy.”

  “You never said it, but I can see it in your eyes. I know exactly what your view is. You think that it’s not even worth training in anesthesiology.”

  “What are you saying, Anita? You know very well that’s not what I think.”

  “My work carries a lot of responsibility. Often, at critical moments, it’s in the anesthetist’s hands whether a patient lives or dies. I do my best and I had to work damn hard to get where I am now. And someone like Patterson is not going to tell me how to do my job.”

  Jerry put down his fork. “Of course not, Anita. Don’t get so excited. Look, that guy and woman to our left are staring at us. Maybe you were a bit loud.”

  “I don’t care. Let them stare. Let them all stare!”

  “Come on, not long ago you said I shouldn’t eat so fast because of other people. Now …. I think Simon Patterson was angry because he got it in the neck from the director. He had to take it out on someone. You were the first suitable victim.”

  “Of course. Because I’m helpful and always warn him in advance about any allergy and for once I forget. It’s all my fault. In the future—”

  “I think it’s best you drop the whole thing.”

  “Did you speak to him yet about a promotion?”

  “Hell, Anita, do you have to start all that again? You know I don’t like it. Besides, we’re in a restaurant and—”

  “Did you speak to him?”

  He dabbed at his mouth with the napkin and laid it angrily on the table. “No, I didn’t speak to him yet. I don’t know what the big hurry is.”

  “It’s your salary that’s at stake. When are you going to talk to him?”

  He stared stubbornly at the waiter. “OK, I’ll have a word with him. But stop bugging me, damn it!”

  She took a few sips of wine. “Fine. The main thing is you’re going to have a word. I’m really curious what you’re going to say.”

  “Me too. Now please, stop talking about work and start enjoying the food.”

  Chapter 20

  _______________________

  The following week they didn’t speak to each other. Helen was frosty, while Simon acted like nothing had happened. Nothing more was said about the visit to Carlo Vucci’s. Initially, this suited him because for the first time in ages she stopped nagging him. She was with him, but he had the feeling that she was not there at all. She didn’t even look at him, acting as if he simply wasn’t in the room. A few times he tried to start a conversation, but she replied briefly and succinctly or seemed to not hear him.

  In spite of this, he persisted and was friendly toward her. When he saw her sitting at the table, sad and alone, he felt sorry for her. He wished he could put his arms around her and hold her tight.

  One evening Simon was lying in bed, thinking about making love to Helen. It had been at least two weeks since they had last made love. Very slowly, he moved toward her side of the bed and embraced her from behind.

  “Are you completely crazy?” she yelped. She threw back the covers and jumped up. “How could you even think of that?”

  He quickly retreated to his side of the bed, shocked at her violent reaction. He said something to persuade her to consider the idea of making up.

  Instead of listening she got dressed and went down to the kitchen. In the end, he had no choice but to give up and fall asleep.

  Two days later Helen was holding in her hand a small business card. On her coffee break, she was in a phone booth and dialed a number. Through the glass she saw a crowd of people, but in her mind she saw Simon holding that check and tearing it in half. Her thin lips twisted and the lines at the side of her face became deep.

  “Bloody fool!” she said out loud, and covered her eyes with her hands because she was about to cry.

  Chapter 21

  _______________________

  Three weeks after the visit with the Vuccis, Simon was having lunch in the self-service restaurant at the hospital. His thoughts were constantly with his wife. Her saying she wanted a divorce kept echoing in his head. He hoped she had said it without thinking, out of anger. He simply couldn’t understand how that check could upset her so. When I finally develop a vaccine against aging, we’ll earn millions. The stupid fifty thousand dollars that Vucci wanted to give me will be peanuts. No one can buy me.

  When he had spoken the week before to one of the other surgeons and mentioned meeting Carlo Vucci, his colleague had said, “I’ve heard that Vucci is a dangerous type. I don’t know what he’s involved in, but I know he’s had quite a few dealings with the police. They wanted to charge him with a number of murders but never got enough evidence. Two witnesses who were supposed to testify against him vanished without a trace.”

  Simon broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this. He was proud of himself for not taking the money. He hoped never to see the man again.

  One evening he told Helen, to calm her down. He was sure that she would finally understand.

  She responded angrily. “I don’t give a damn if he’s a criminal or not. The fact is you turned down fifty thousand dollars and we are living in poverty. The rest doesn’t matter. Do you have any idea what we could have bought with that money?”

  He was used to her exaggerating how poor they were. He repeated once more that Vucci was an extremely dangerous character and it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with people like that. “If I’d taken the money I would feel I owed him in some way.”

  “I don’t know why you think in such a dumb way. He’s the one who owes you. After all, you saved his life.”

  “You don’t understand, Helen. If I took the money he’d think he could buy me. He’d be sure to call me sometime in the future when he got into difficulties.”

  “What kind of difficulties? What are you talking about?”

  “If he’s as dangerous as they say and is involved in criminal activities, then it could happen that he or one of his henchmen got wounded. If they went to a hospital they would have to call the police. Every shooting has to be reported, you know.”

  She raised her hand to stop him. “I know exactly what you’re getting at. I think you’ve seen too many gangster films. No one would call you. And these rumors of yours that he’s a criminal have never been confirmed. I’ve no intention of discussing this with you anymore. I’ve got a headache, I’m going to bed.”

  She didn’t even wish him good night.

  Simon was eating his salad in the self-service restaurant, still angry a
nd wondering how Helen could act like that. A few yards away he saw the director of the hospital, Brad Horras. When Simon took his empty tray back, he said hello to the director. Then Simon entered the elevator to go to his office on the third floor. On the way up, a woman’s voice came over the loudspeaker saying: “Dr. Patterson, please go to your office.”

  Two young girls in the elevator smiled at him. They were wearing light-green gowns. He couldn’t remember where he’d seen them before. He guessed they were medical students doing their internship. “I’m already on my way,” he said out loud, returning their smiles.

  When he left the elevator, he said a friendly good-bye. A few moments later he heard their loud giggles.

  Who could be looking for me at this time? he asked himself. He had no appointments booked. He went thoughtfully into the small waiting room in front of his office. A woman with light hair sat there, her eyes on the ground.

  “Good morning,” he said. “How can I help you?”

  She raised her head. At that moment he recognized her.

  “Oh, Mrs. Vucci. It’s you.” The next moment his face went red. He waited in surprise for her reply.

  She rose elegantly and offered him her hand. “Good morning, Doctor. I came to speak to you. I’d like …”

  He stared as she stood there. She seemed much more beautiful than she had at dinner and it took his breath away.

  “Please, come in. We can talk in my office.”

  She gave a grateful smile, showing her wonderful pearl-white teeth. Again, he felt a wave of heat rush to his head.

  When they had sat down, Christine Vucci said, “I hesitated for quite some time before deciding to come and see you. I’m not sure if you’re the one who can help me.”

  He looked at her with interest and nodded. “If it’s in my power to help you, I will certainly do so. Please, go on.”

  “I’ve been told that my birth was a difficult one and they needed quite some time to get me out.” She smiled at this, as if joking at her own expense. “The umbilical cord was compressed between the wall of the uterus and my body and I was deprived of oxygen.” She paused for a few moments. “When they finally got me out, my body was blue and lifeless.”