The Lies That Bind by Susan X. Meagher

Author:Susan X. Meagher [Meagher, Susan X.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian, Fiction, romance, Adult, Small Town, Doctor, Lawyer
ISBN: 9780979925429
Google: wNc3MAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0979925428
Goodreads: 3344008
Publisher: Brisk Press
Published: 2008-10-01T17:02:50+00:00

***

The next afternoon, Erin finished with her last patient and walked into her office to find Doctor Worrell sitting at her chair. “Change the nameplate on the desk, and it’s yours,” she said, hugging him as he stood up.

“No, this one’s all yours now.” He patted the desk fondly. “If I examine the corners, I might find your teeth marks on it. I seem to recall you being a chewer.”

“I have no memories of that period, but if you think so, it’s probably true.” She took off her white coat and hung it up. “Did you know I was going to call you today?”

“No, but Madge did.” He chuckled. “She’s maddening, isn’t she?”

Erin sat down in her chair, and Dr. Worrell took the chair opposite her desk. “She’s my lifeline. Her annoying traits don’t come close to equaling her good ones. I just pray she never wants to retire.”

“She’ll probably outlast you. She’d have to volunteer at her church to get half the gossip she gets here. She might as well get paid for it.”

Erin laughed, nodding her agreement. “I assume Madge called you to come over and help me put death into perspective.”

“That sounds like more than I’m capable of, but she mentioned something along those lines. Having a tough time, pup?”

“Yeah.” She put her hands on her desk and clasped them together. “Very tough.”

“I thought you’d be prepared for your patient’s death,” he said, gazing at her curiously. “You’ve had a long time to realize it was inevitable.”

“Yes, I did. It’s not that it caught me by surprise. It’s just that I…I’m having a very hard time getting past it. I’m going to her memorial service tonight.”

“Just pay your respects and leave. That’s your job. Keep it simple.”

“I’ll try. It’s just really hard for me.”

“Did you know her a lot better than the rest of us did? Did you spend a lot of time talking?”

“No, not really. We only talked about her pain.”

Doctor Worrell stood up and walked over to the window, looking out on the people strolling down Main Street. “I don’t want to have to beat this out of you, Erin. It wouldn’t look good.”

She chuckled softly. “There’s nothing to beat. It just wore me down to visit her and watch her die. I don’t have any other way to explain it.”

“But that’s your job,” he said, turning to face her. “That’s almost the essence of it. The only reason the town decided to hire you was so we could hold on to that old style of medicine. Supporting a patient as she dies is something you can’t get from some HMO over in Nashua.”

Erin dropped her head into her hands and rubbed at her eyes roughly. “I know that, and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s just hard for me.”

“I think you’re getting too involved, pup. You’ve got to be able to step back and have some distance.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Now I have to figure out how to do that. I can’t seem to find the ‘off’ switch for my emotions.

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