“Not at all. Everything’s okay with you, I hope.”
“I’ve spent most of the day today at the hospital with my mom and grandmother. My grandmother has been admitted for an infection, but I’m pretty confident she’ll be able to go home again in a few days.”
“I’m sorry to hear she’s ill again. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, thanks, everything’s under control. I was just, um, wondering how you and Alice are.”
“We’re fine, thanks for asking. Busy. You know.”
“Yes. I know.?
?? She moistened her lips. “And Jacqui? Still working out for you?”
“Yeah. We’re settling into a routine with her. No complaints. By the way, she was startled to find out she’d been initially interviewed for this job by a surgeon. For some reason, it bothered her that she didn’t call you Dr. Baker during the interview.”
Meagan laughed. “That was hardly necessary.”
“That’s what I told her, but she seems to have a very high regard for doctors. I think she’d have been more intimidated by you if she’d known at the time what you do.”
“Odd. Next time I see her, I’ll try to put her at ease.”
A brief silence followed her light remark. She wondered if Seth, like herself, was wondering if there would be any occasion for her to see Jacqui again.
“I haven’t seen any evidence that Alice has used the pool during the past week,” she said a bit too quickly. “You did tell her she’s welcome, didn’t you?”
“I did. But she’s been in the pool almost every afternoon with her swim team, so I guess she’s getting enough swim time in. She said it wouldn’t be as much fun at your house without you there, anyway.”
Meagan doubted that he’d intended to make her feel guilty that she hadn’t been available for the girl—but she did, anyway. “I’m home some weekends, but I was on call yesterday and busy with my grandmother today.”
“You have a very busy life.”
“Yes. You met me at a time when I just happened to be temporarily sidelined.”
“I’m figuring that out.”
There were so many undercurrents beneath the seemingly casual conversation that she couldn’t begin to interpret them all. “Normally it’s not quite as bad as this past week has been. Trying to catch up from my time off.”
“I can imagine how far behind I’d be after a month away from the office. Must be hectic.”
“Exactly.” Maybe he did understand. Maybe she was only imagining disapproval in his voice. “When does Alice leave for her big trip?”
“Friday after next.”
She knew she wasn’t imagining the dread she heard in him. He would miss Alice terribly. “I’d love to see her before she leaves.”
“I’m sure she’d like to see you, too. Not sure when you’re going to get together, though, with both your busy schedules. Next weekend is booked solid for her. Her swim team has a meet Saturday, the last one she’ll get to participate in for a month. They’re having a big family cookout afterward. Her grandparents want to see her before she leaves, too, so I promised we’d drive up for a visit Sunday afternoon.”
“I see.” She had hoped there would be a little time next weekend for her to spend with Alice, but it sounded as though that wasn’t going to happen. “What about some evening this week? I could probably arrange to be home by seven on whichever evening she’s free. I know you and she will have already eaten dinner by then, but maybe she—and you, too, if you like—could come over for dessert?”
“She’d probably like to have you all to herself. How does Thursday sound? As far as I know, there’s nothing on her schedule Thursday evening.”
“Oh.” She kept her voice deliberately breezy. “That would be lovely. I’ll keep Thursday evening open. Will you extend the invitation or should I call her and ask if she wants to come over?”
“I’ll tell her, and I’m sure she’ll want to come. She’s asked about you several times.”
“Thursday, then. Either of you can call me if anything comes up in the meantime. And if you change your mind about joining us, the invitation stands.”
“Thanks, Meagan.”