Long Distance Lover

by Donna Hill

  One day she swore she’d run so far and so fast they’d never be able to catch her. But for now she just needed to get away. Run, Kelly, run.

  “Are you okay?” David placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  Her head snapped up. Her eyes darted left then right. This wasn’t Mississippi. She wasn’t running through the fields, through the swamps. There was no one after her. She’d outrun them all.

  Her heartbeat gradually slowed to its normal rhythm.

  “Yeah, fine. Just daydreaming, I guess. Um, would you mind getting me a cup of water?”

  “Sure.”

  David walked the few feet toward the vending machine, stepping around a young man with a prosthetic leg who was slowly limping past him. Accident or casualty of war? He didn’t know. Either way it was a damned shame. The kid couldn’t have been more than twenty. Sadder still were all the others who half walked, wheeled or hopped along in various stages of rehabilitation. The waiting area vibrated with the sounds of metal wheels clanging across the linoleum floors or the squeak of rubber-tipped crutches finding traction.

  He dropped four quarters into the machine. A bag of corn chips dropped into the tray. He snorted at the irony. Life was all about the luck of the draw, getting the right combination, and praying that when you dropped your coins in the slot of life you got what you needed, what you’d paid your dues for.

  David dug into his pocket, pulled out a dollar and put it in the machine. This time he got the water.

  “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” She twisted off the top and took two long swallows. That was better. Her stomach muscles relaxed. “Did the nurse say how long?”

  David checked his watch then stepped aside as an orderly pushed a wheelchair-bound woman down the hall. “Shouldn’t be any more than a few minutes.”

  “Ms. Maxwell…”

  “Yes?”

  “The doctor will see you now. Treatment room seven. Straight down the hall.”

  “See.” He helped her to her feet. David walked slowly beside her. “Ready?”

  She nodded. “Let’s do this.”

  He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

  Chapter 9

  Alex stood when Kelly, followed by David, walked through the door.

  “Ms. Maxwell.” Alex approached. He extended his hand then realized his faux pas. “I’m Dr. Hutchinson.” He was oddly transfixed by her and didn’t know why. Was it the look of uncertainty in her dark eyes or the cascade of ebony hair that brushed her slender shoulders, framing not a beautiful face by any standards but a rather plain one? Her face was a puzzle of exotic and very ordinary all mixed together.

  “I’m David Livingston. Kelly’s coach.”

  Alex focused on David. “Mr. Livingston.” He shook David’s hand.

  “Call me David.”

  Alex nodded but didn’t offer the same familiarity in return. Kelly had yet to speak.

  She hopped over to the chair and sat down without a word, thinking that the fabulous Dr. Hutchinson was really the actor Blair Underwood in a lab coat. Dark, handsome, boyish good looks with a maturity that would never age and a subtle sex appeal that wafted around him like a good cologne.

  Alex pressed his lips together and exhaled a short laugh. “Why don’t we get started? I’ve gone over your chart and your X-rays.” He perched on the edge of his desk. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  “Is that really necessary?” David interjected.

  Alex turned his gaze toward David. “Whenever I work with a patient, I like to know as much about them as well as everything that led up to them having to see me.” The left corner of his mouth curved in an expression that was a challenge more than a grin.

  “I was practicing,” Kelly suddenly said.

  Both men turned toward her.

  She cleared her throat. “I was getting ready for the trials…the Olympic trials.”

  “Next summer, right?”

  Kelly nodded her head in agreement.

  Alex smiled. “Former track-and-field groupie.” He rested his arms on his thighs. “You want to tell me what happened?” he asked gently.

  Kelly told him about that day on the track while David stood in the corner with a petulant scowl on his face and his arms folded.

  “I have to be honest with you,” he began once Kelly finished. “The injury that you sustained is quite severe for someone with no previous breaks and for someone in good physical condition. You didn’t step on anything or remember twisting it in an odd way?”

  “No. I was running the way I always do. When I made the final turn…” She winced at the memory.

  Alex stood. “Okay. We’ll want to run a few tests before we get started and get some new MRIs of that ankle. How does it feel when you put pressure on it?”

  “Not bad. More of an ache than a pain.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Come in.”

  “Good morning.” Ruby looked from Kelly to David.

  “This is my assistant, Ruby Rivers. You’ll be working with her during your rehab.”

  “My understanding was that you would be Kelly’s physician, not an assistant,” David said. He said the last word like a curse.

  Ruby arched a brow and her neck reflexively jerked back like in her days in the East New York projects.

  “Ms. Rivers is a licensed and certified physical therapist. She is the one I’d go to should the need ever arise.” He stepped over to Kelly. “I’ll see you in about an hour after Ruby runs a few tests and takes some information.” He walked to the door and pulled it open. “Mr. Livingston, can I speak with you a moment?”

  “I want to wait until Ms. Rivers is done. There may be some questions I can answer.”

  Alex glanced in Kelly’s direction and caught the flash of panic that widened her eyes. “She’ll be fine with Ruby,” he said faltering a bit, caught off guard by the expression on Kelly’s face. He put his hand on David’s shoulder and ushered him out. “We can talk in the lounge.”

  “I’ve been a fan of yours for a while,” Ruby said.

  Kelly offered a faint smile.

  “Must be tough being in the spotlight.”

  Kelly didn’t respond.

  “I’m going to take some blood.” She cleaned Kelly’s arm at the bend of her elbow, prepared the needle and drew two vials of blood.

  Kelly looked away until Ruby was finished. Ruby bent Kelly’s arm toward her chest while pressing a sterile gauze at the site of the tiny puncture.

  “Just hold that in place for a few minutes.” She put the vials on a tray and filled out two labels. “I really am quite good at what I do.” She turned to Kelly. “And Hutch is even better.” She smiled.

  “Hutch?”

  “Yes, Dr. Hutchinson. Everyone around here calls him Hutch.”

  “Oh.” Kelly smiled, running the name and the image of the man around in her mind.

  “He’s worked with some of the greats, from basketball stars to jockeys, and got them back out there,” she assured, hoping to ease the lines of tension that framed Kelly’s dark eyes.

  Kelly released a long sigh. “Running is all I’ve ever known,” she said softly.

  “One thing my mama always told me was never put all your eggs in one basket. I originally went to school for interior design. Thought I was the next great B. Smith.” She chuckled. “I struggled for about five years when I realized it wasn’t for me or I wasn’t for it.”

  “So how did you decide on therapy?”

  “My mom had a hip injury about ten years ago. And the doctors really botched it. I had to move back home to help her. I had to learn things just to help her get through her day. I got really interested in the recovery proces
s and didn’t want to see anyone go through what my mother went through. So I went back to school. I actually studied under Hutch. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

  “How long do you think I’ll have to be here?”

  “That all depends on how well you do during the rehab and the extent of your injury. We’ll work with the ankle and the whole body. You’ll be put on a specific exercise regime along with a diet.”

  Her heart thumped. “Diet?”

  “Absolutely. We want to make sure your body has everything it needs to rebuild and become as strong as it can be. The instructions are easy to follow.”

  Diet. Instructions. She hadn’t figured on that.

  Chapter 10

  Alex walked alongside David, guiding him down the busy corridor with a lift of his chin or a pointed finger toward their destination. He definitely wanted to keep what he intended to say away from prying ears.

  Once inside the doctor’s lounge, Alex did a quick visual to ensure they were alone before closing the door.

  They were about the same height and weight, Alex calculated. He’d take him standing up.

  Alex clasped his hands in front of him. “You seem to have a problem, Mr. Livingston. You want to tell me what it is?”

  David clenched his jaw and took a step toward Alex who almost laughed at the veiled challenge.

  “My only interest is Kelly’s well-being. I want her to get the best care possible. And since I’m footing the bill, I want to be informed of every iota of her treatment.”

  “I see.” Alex lowered his gaze for an instant before moving toward David. “You brought her here because of the level of treatment I can provide, the reputation of this hospital and the results of our patients. The reason why all of that works, Dave, is because we have the complete confidence of the patient. This is impossible to accomplish if we have someone hovering around and second-guessing everything we do.” He walked around David, forcing him to turn. “Now if you have a problem with that then as much as it pains me to say this, I suggest you take Ms. Maxwell to another facility.”

  Alex glared at him, weighed his options. They were limited.

  “I expect to be updated weekly.”

  “That’s fair enough. I’m sure Kelly will be able to keep you up to speed.” He paused. “You’re aware that by law, I’m not required to tell you anything. So if Kelly agrees in writing—then we will keep you in the loop—to a point. However, the final decisions have to be hers. She’s my patient, not you and not the Gold Medal club.”

  David took a gulp of pride. It burned on the way down. Hutchinson was the best in the country. He didn’t have to like Hutchinson for him to do a good job. If they left and went back to Atlanta, the press wouldn’t leave her alone. And he had too much going on for the press to be all over them like gnats.

  “Fine. Whatever it takes for Kelly to be well.”

  Alex folded his arms. “How long have you been her coach?”

  “A little more than ten years.” A faint smile played around the deep corners of his mouth. “Spotted her in her freshman year of high school. Was able to wrangle an athletic scholarship, got her out of that dump of a school and into a private high school.”

  “Commendable. What did you get out of it?”

  The pleasant smile disappeared. “What makes you think I was out to get anything?”

  “Altruism isn’t a popular human trait. Everyone does what they do for a reason—to get something out of it, even if it’s no more than to feel good.”

  “Is that your excuse—for the white coat and the arrogance?”

  Alex laughed from deep in his gut and lounged against the door frame. “Yeah. Pretty much. There’s nothing like a man in uniform with a little power to wow the ladies.”

  “A doctor with an inflated sense of humor and ego. Just what we need more of.”

  “The world would be a better place. But, enough about me, back to you. That’s a pretty long time to be in someone’s life. You must be close—like family.”

  “Very.”

  It was a challenge that Alex felt like taking. “Maybe it’s more—”

  The knock on the door cut him off in midsentence. He stepped back from the door and opened it.

  Ruby wrinkled her nose and sniffed. “Is that testosterone I smell in here?” she asked in a stage whisper.

  “Not funny.”

  “Your patient is ready.” She tiptoed and spoke to David over Alex’s right shoulder. “It will be at least an hour, maybe more, Mr. Livingston. If you want to go and come back…” She let her sentence drift off.

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll wait.”

  Alex turned to him. “Feel free to hang out in here. It’s much more comfortable than the waiting room. Anyone asks, just tell them you got the okay from me.” He grinned.

  The last thing David wanted to be was in debt for a favor, even one as minor as this. He waved off Alex’s offer. “Thanks, but I’ll wait up front with everyone else. It’s not a problem.”

  Alex shrugged. “See you in a few, then.” He walked out with Ruby at his side.

  David stared at their backs before heading out. His eyes tightened. His jaw locked. Hutchinson was going to be a problem. The sooner Kelly got well and out of there the better.

  Chapter 11

  Kelly jumped when the door opened. Instinctively she pulled the hospital gown tighter around her body, a body that was rubber-band tight, stretched to the limit and had just snapped.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Maxwell,” Alex apologized.

  “Where’s David?”

  She sounded childlike asking for a parent or guardian—or lover. Alex crossed the room to where she was perched atop the exam table. Just how close were they? Better question: why did it matter?

  “He’s in the waiting room, waiting.”

  Kelly shifted. “I’d prefer if he was here with me.” She looked straight at Alex then Ruby.

  Alex hesitated for a moment before saying the first thing that came to his mind, which he was prone to do. For example he really wanted to ask her what the hell she was so frightened of and if she’d ever slept with David Livingston. Both questions were inappropriate, so he kept them to himself. And was proud of his effort.

  “There’s really nothing to worry about. I’m relatively harmless.” He gave her his best “I’m really charming” smile.

  Ruby chuckled lightly to shoo the tension aside. “Generally family and friends are more of a problem than the patients. I’ve had folks faint or run out of the room to relieve themselves of breakfast or lunch.”

  Kelly’s raven eyes widened with alarm. “I thought you said it wasn’t that bad.”

  “It isn’t. It just looks that way,” Alex said, sitting on the stool in front of the examination table.

  Ruby handed him Kelly’s chart. He put it on his lap and focused on Kelly, whose expression vacillated between fear and defiance. Something didn’t sit right with him.

  “Ms. Maxwell, one thing I want to assure you of, my only job is to get people well—as well as they can be. But in order to do that I need them to believe in me and in themselves. I told your bodyguard—uh, David—as much.” He gently lifted her leg. “When did they put this on?” he asked referring to the space boot.

  “About a week ago. And he’s not my bodyguard.”

  Alex glanced into her face but didn’t comment.

  He ran his hands up and down her leg yet even with the cast and the boot a tingling thrill erupted in the base of her stomach and spiraled down her legs. Her inner thighs trembled. It wasn’t lost on Alex.

  He gazed up at her. His eyes said “trust me.” Her nostrils flared and she jutted her chin forward.

  “I believe in myself,” she
said in a hoarse whisper.

  “And before this is all over, you’ll believe in me, too.”

  Slowly he stood and lowered her leg, never breaking contact with her eyes. He stepped closer and put his arm around her waist to help her down and his fingers inadvertently slipped between the open folds in the back of the gown.

  Her skin ignited beneath the tips of his fingers and she drew in a sharp breath.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she stammered.

  It was only an instant that he held her, but to Kelly it was a sensual dance, that one moment that girls dream of.

  Alex eased her to her feet. He cleared his throat along with his head. “Um, as soon as I get the report back from your MRI and blood work we can start on your rehab program.”

  Kelly nodded, uncertain of her voice.

  “’Scuse me,” Ruby interrupted. She shot Alex a “what the devil are you doing” look. “I’m going to schedule Ms. Maxwell to return on Wednesday. The labs and the MRI will be back by then.”

  Alex’s lids flickered as if slowly awakening from a daydream. “Sure.” He reached for Kelly’s crutches then slowly released his hold on her waist once she was steady on her feet.

  “Thanks.”

  He stepped back. “Okay, so we’ll see you on Wednesday. Ruby will get you into X-ray and then over to the waiting room.”

  Ruby held the door open while Kelly moved toward it.

  Kelly glanced over her shoulder at Alex before leaving.

  Ruby rolled her eyes at him and shut the door behind them.

  Alex sat on the edge of the exam table flipping through Kelly’s chart. But he wasn’t seeing the words in front of him. Instead he was remembering the feel of her bare skin beneath his fingers. Accident or Freudian slip, he didn’t know. But whatever it was he couldn’t let it happen again. He’d made that mistake once before with Leigh and had no intention of a repeat performance.