Truths Unveiled Page 7

  Pushing aside the question, Pam checked Tom’s directions. The medical center was still ten miles away. She peeked in the rearview mirror to see how well she’d concealed the dark circles under her eyes.

  “And to think we stayed up most of the night!” she exclaimed. Without thinking, she touched her lips, recalling Tom tenderly outlining them with his forefinger before leaning down to kiss her.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time,” he’d whispered, lightly brushing the tendrils from her face.

  “This wasn’t supposed to happen,”

  “I figured you’d say that.” He kissed her again, long and slow.

  At first, Pam braced her feet on the ground certain he could hear the pounding of her heart. But as his kiss persisted, her will diminished. Parting her lips, she raised her arms and placed them around his neck.

  A car horn beeped behind her, sending her into a tizzy.

  Startled, Pam grimaced and moved forward. This is not the place nor the time for romantic fantasies, she thought. Only fools made monumental career decisions based on their libido or memories of puppy love.

  Chicago held no attachments to the past, she reasoned. She wouldn’t need to think about anything other than her patients. And isn’t that the way it should be? The reason she worked so terribly hard all these years? A personal life never fit into the plan. How could it, when someone else’s life or death hinged on every microsecond? On every decision she made? So what caused her to even consider the possibility of coming back here? Two kisses—all right, so it was three kisses—couldn’t change the past. Instead, they only served to complicate the future.

  ****

  As anticipated, Pam spent the next eight hours taking tours and attending meetings. Though she tried to remain objective, even critical, she found the facility and its staff, well, phenomenal. Last night’s brief introduction scarcely scratched the surface. And the staff’s positive and helpful attitude immediately drew her right in.

  Late in the afternoon, Pam arrived at her last meeting. It took place in a very impressive, wood-paneled conference room, complete with brass trim and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out to the nearby Pocono Mountains.

  Marlene Everett met her at the door and introduced her to several physicians and board members. Tom, she noted, did not attend. Good. She needed to make sure her feelings toward him, whatever they may be, did not cloud her judgment.

  “As you might guess, Pam,” one of the board members said, while pouring himself a cup of coffee, “We all share an overwhelming commitment to this project. Would you care to share any of your observations?”

  Pam recognized Dr. Coleman Porter, known internationally for his wizardry in orthopedic surgery. Over the years, he had saved the careers of many famous athletes injured on the playing field. To work with him only added to the plus side of the list Pam was creating to help her make her final decision. At that thought, her throat tightened with apprehension.

  Dear Lord, she prayed silently. Please help me out here.

  “The logs I’ve read show a lot of activity on a daily basis,” she remarked, hoping she didn’t sound like an idiot. It was hard not to feel intimidated by him and the other highly accomplished professionals seated at the table. Along with him and Marlene Everett, the hospital had recruited many other specialists out of New York and Philadelphia who had agreed to provide their expertise on an alternating basis.

  Marlene nodded. “That’s for sure. A skeleton crew has been working practically nonstop, around the clock. That’s why we,” she gestured to include everyone in the room, “would like to extend you an offer now. If you accept, we ask that you start right after Thanksgiving.”

  There it was. The offer Pam dreaded and yet felt honored to receive. Was it her imagination or were they all staring at her? Did they expect her to give them her answer then and there?

  “And if possible,” Marlene continued, brushing cannoli crumbs from her lab coat. “We’d like your decision by the end of next week.”

  Fortunately, another doctor spoke before Pam could think of what to say.

  “And if you take the job, at least you won’t be starting in July with the new interns.”

  The group laughed. Pam joined them, knowing he referred to the fact that new medical school graduates all over the country typically began their first hospital internships each July. Fortunately, most emergency room patients weren’t aware of this. Otherwise they might hesitate to enter the building that month.

  While these new, very green doctors adjusted to their surroundings and onerous responsibilities, they expended a lot of energy hiding their insecurities. After all, what patient wanted to see their doctor down half a bottle of antacids before treating them?

  Eventually, most of the new recruits grew accustomed to the constant sense of anxiety eating away in the pits of their stomachs. As their exposure to treating patients increased, hopefully without killing anyone in the process, so did their confidence level. Still, everyone found it to be a harrowing experience. Including the more experienced physicians they worked with.

  “Hey, baptism by fire. Is there any other way?” someone joked.

  Pam read his ID badge. Carl Tedford, staff psychiatrist.

  “And boy did we burn,” Dr. Porter chimed in.

  “Did I ever tell you about my first day at UPENN?” Tedford asked the group.

  Pam listened to him elaborate about his early days, thankful that the spotlight was now on him. Watching him, a weird feeling descended upon her. Had they met somewhere before? Maybe at a medical conference. Then she realized it wasn’t his appearance that tweaked her memory. No, it would be hard to forget that full head of jet black hair and that tanned complexion, both of which contrasted handsomely with his good-natured gray eyes. His female patients probably fell instantly in love with him.

  As Pam continued to listen to the psychiatrist’s antics, she realized she recognized his voice from somewhere. Low and deep. And commanding. She felt certain she had heard it before. But where?

  As she tried to remember, she felt goose bumps erupt on her arms. They traveled to the back of her neck. That wasn’t good. Why did it bother her so much?

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Hey, Auntie,” Pam greeted over her cell phone. In the Explorer now, she drove out of the hospital’s parking lot. Carolyn Ferrara was one of Pam’s closest friends. She also happened to be her father’s younger sister.

  “Hey, yourself! How was it?”

  Pam groaned. “It was awful.”

  “Worse than you expected?”

  “No. A zillion times better!” Pam exclaimed. “I’m more confused now than ever. The place is great. First class all the way. The staff is so out of this world, I’m afraid to open my mouth because I’m convinced I’ll put my foot in it!”

  “So, it’s a smart career move? Even better than Chicago or staying in Boston?”

  Pam chewed her bottom lip. Having sworn off rural America for more than a decade, she found it unsettling to acknowledge her wavering resolve.

  “Your silence tells me that they’re at least equal.”

  Making a left at a traffic light, Pam sighed. “Unfortunately, you’re right. It’s a pilot program with national exposure and the best equipment and training available.”

  “See? Isn’t that wonderful? We knew there had to be a reason why you were sent there.”

  “I knew you were going to say that.” She could just picture her aunt, the eternal optimist, watering her numerous rare and exotic plants in the florist shop she owned in Princeton, New Jersey. Pam often teased that God created cordless phones just for her. The woman forever carried on at least one telephone conversation, sometimes more, and at the same time ran a fantastically lucrative business.

  Pam pushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. “But do you really think so? The idea still gives me the willies. Of all the places in the world, why Middleton? I
t’s the only place in the world that I absolutely detest!”

  “Maybe that’s why you’ve been sent back there. Did you get a chance to drive around the area yet?”

  “Yeah. And guess what? The whole town and surrounding area got a facelift. It’s become a major tourist spot. I could even get to like it if…”

  “Put the ifs, could haves and should haves away,” Carolyn corrected. “They only confuse things. Did you run into anyone you know?”

  Pam squirmed. They both knew who “anyone” was. “Not only have I seen him, it appears he recommended me for the job.”

  Carolyn chuckled. “Well isn’t that’s interesting? Is he still…”

  “Married?” Pam filled in. “No.”

  “Ah.”

  “Ah?”

  “Um-hm.”

  Pam frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.”

  “There’s no way that ah and um-hm don’t mean something. What’s on your mind? Are you worried because he’s divorced?”

  “Don’t be silly,” her aunt assured her. “People make mistakes, Pam. Marriage involves two people who vow before God to do everything in their power to love, honor and cherish each other. But sometimes all the trying and all the prayers in the world aren’t going to make that happen. I can’t believe God wants us to be miserable. It’s up to Him to judge. Not us.”

  Pam agreed, but it felt better to hear it from someone else. And she truly believed Tom did the best he could. Susan probably did, too. It was just a tough situation.

  “Tom invited me and some friends to his house for dinner tonight.”

  “Wonderful!” Carolyn exclaimed. “Have a great time. Enjoy yourself. See what develops.”

  “But?”

  Carolyn released a loud breath. “Just be careful, kiddo.”

  “I know.” Over the past twenty-four hours, every time Pam started to relax just a little, bits and pieces of the past resurrected themselves, reminding her of so many horrible memories.

  “I mean about ex-wives and children. It can be difficult sometimes. And you could get caught up in the middle without even realizing it.”

  Pam slowed the Explorer for a stop sign. “Oh. I wasn’t even thinking about that.” And she wasn’t. A picture of Susan came to mind. She swallowed. “Yeah, that could be a problem.”

  “Just keep it in mind. So what were you thinking about? Is it the accident?”

  Pam sighed. “People don’t forget, Auntie. I guess I just feel so exposed. At least in Boston, or even Chicago, I can be anonymous. Here, there are no secrets. About anything.”

  “Oh, Pam. Even if you did do something wrong, Jesus forgave you a long time ago. Isn’t it time you learned to start forgiving yourself?”

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Fourteen

  True to his word, Tom arrived at Pam’s hotel precisely at six o’clock that evening. The sunset had passed its midpoint and he felt anxious for her to see his home before dark.

  “Do you remember any of this?” he asked, entering Windsor Knoll, the tiny village where he lived. It bordered Middleton on the eastern side. Ironically, thanks in part to Susan’s efforts to increase the town’s property values, the village had recently become a historical landmark.

  “Of course I do. Once I got my driver’s license and my grandfather’s old Buick Skylark, I drove up here every chance I got, hoping to catch a glimpse of you.”

  “I’m flattered.”

  “So you should be,” Pam teased. “Gas jumped fifty cents a gallon that summer I started driving. It took me a quarter of a tank to get from my house to yours in that gas guzzler.” After a pause, she pointed, “Isn’t that your farm?”

  “Yup. Twenty-five hundred acres’ worth, give or take a few.” He passed the main barn and turned into the quarter mile stone driveway.

  Pam gazed out the window, then pointed to the right. “I thought the entrance was over there.”

  “It was. We’ve made some renovations over the years. Let me know what you think.”

  But words weren’t necessary. When the house came into view, he heard Pam utter a slight gasp.

  “Oh, Tom. It’s beautiful.”

  He parked in the circular drive, then met her on the passenger’s side of the truck and helped her out. The house, his house, was a three-story A-frame. It sat on the very spot where he and his father had shared that talk some years back, overlooking the glory beyond.

  “It’s more than beautiful,” she marveled. “Look at this view! I can see for miles!”

  Tom retrieved the ice cream cake Pam had bought at the grocery store, then watched her wander over to a couple of cows who had made their way up there to graze. The smile she sent back to him took his breath away. He couldn’t help noticing how well she blended into the scene. Yet it was so contrary to who she was. To Tom, she would always be that little, rich girl from the big city. Could she really be happy here?

  That thought caused Susan’s hate-filled words to ring in his ears. “What would Pam Harrington ever want with you?” He could just hear her snide remark.

  Yet, more than once, he found himself asking the same question. They came from such different worlds. Who knows? Maybe that instigated part of the initial attraction.

  But instantly they seemed to click. What ever drew them together quickly deepened into so much more. Now with the town’s economic boom and the new medical center, their worlds had blended.

  Studying her, Tom silently asked the question again. Could she really be happy here?

  As if in response, Pam walked toward him beaming. He noted the sun making its slow descent behind her. “What’s for dinner?”

  Tossing away caution, Tom wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug and twirled her off the ground. Slowing down, their eyes met.

  Suddenly, he was so aware of her in his arms. She smelled like a meadow of wild flowers. Her smiling lips were mere inches away. Their magnetic force pulled him closer and closer, until they finally touched.

  After a long moment, he took her hand and led her inside the house.

  “What a welcome!” Pam kneeled down to accept the dogs’ wet tongues on her face and hands. Then she stood and surveyed the interior.

  Tom alternated directing his attention to the main course in the open kitchen and watching her reaction to the home he’d recently completed.

  The open floor plan included a living area two steps below the rest of the first floor. Pam walked over to the two sets of French doors that opened onto a large deck. It contained a barbeque, patio furniture and a hot tub. The front room windows comprised the entire wall. Facing west, they provided perfect views of the evening sunset.

  As Pam returned to the kitchen area, he could tell by her expression that she was impressed.

  “This looks so spectacular. I’ve never imagined anything like it. Did you design it?”

  Tom shrugged. “I built it, too. And you thought my talents were limited to milking cows and driving ambulances.”

  “I never believed that for a minute,” she countered. “But this is truly amazing.” She paused at the black lacquer dining table.

  He selected peach and aqua placemats and napkins to go with his mother’s china and crystal.

  “Eddie’s brothers are contractors. They really helped out.”

  “You must be very proud,” she said as he tossed the salad. “How long did it take?”

  “That depends on how you calculate it. We started about six years ago.”

  “When did you finish?”

  “About three days ago.”

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Fifteen

  The broad grin Tom tossed Pam told her that the house’s completion date was not a coincidence. Before she could think of something to say, a sudden, loud screeching sound pierced the air. In response, the dogs barked wildly, running to the door. At the same time, Eddie came barreling inside, followed by a
medium-built, pretty woman with short, caramel-colored hair. That must be Rebecca, his wife, Pam determined.

  “What’s all the commotion?” Eddie roared, greeting the excited dogs. He knelt down to pet them and accepted the ball that one of them offered.

  Laughing, Pam watched Tom turn off the oven timer and urge the dogs to settle down. After making a quick introduction, Eddie said to Rebecca, “Honey, you should have seen these two, back a dozen or so years ago. They had the hottest thing going on between them and couldn’t do a single thing about it. Tom couldn’t shut up about her. I was so relieved when she finally turned eighteen. Otherwise, I thought for sure he would end up in jail!”