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patients had slowed her down. One needed a spinal tap, and she’d had to sedate another to reduce a dislocated shoulder. The most harrowing part of her day hadn’t been playing the part of doctor but that of daughter-in-law. Zeke had stopped in to visit her and inquired about her discussion with Jess. He was none too pleased to learn she hadn’t yet started packing.
    Ward needed to sit down with Jess and talk about this, really talk, because she feared it would only get worse. Maybe Zeke was suffering some kind of psychosis induced by his wife’s death. Or perhaps it was early dementia. Whatever the diagnosis, something had to be done. Ward didn’t feel comfortable with the sudden pressure he was putting on her, and for whatever reason, Jess didn’t seem the slightest bit concerned. She’d said she didn’t know what she wanted! What did that even mean?
    Yes, they needed to talk. About Zeke. About their future. Ward was on the schedule for the next two days, and Jess was on her first of three consecutive nights, and then they’d have a few days off. Together. “Why don’t we go to Philly when we’re off?” she suggested.
    Jess didn’t even bother to look up. “I can’t. I have meetings, and then I have a GYN appointment.”
    “What?” Ward asked, confused. Why would Jess schedule her appointment here, instead of with her doctor in Philly?
    “It’s just easier to do it here,” she said.
    “Oh. Okay. So any chance you can reschedule that, and we can do something together?”
    Now Jess did look up, and Ward wished she saw something in her eyes to give her reassurance. A little laughter, or warmth, or love. All she saw was irritation and impatience, as if the answer was obvious, or she’d explained it a hundred times already and wasn’t in the mood to do it again. “No, Ward. I can’t.”
    “Do you want to tell me what the problem is? Or should I just start guessing?”
    Jess looked around to assure herself that no one was listening. “Now isn’t the time.”
    Grabbing the chart on the desk, Jess picked it up and walked away. Ward followed with her eyes, wondering what the hell was going on, because, until the day before, she hadn’t even suspected there was a problem.
    A few patients later, Ward said good-bye to the staff and left for the night. Jess didn’t seem to care that she was leaving, and her attitude truly bewildered Ward. They’d never had a problem in their relationship—nothing major, anyway. They were happy. They liked the same food and movies, enjoyed their friends, and were good company for each other. Yeah, their sex life wasn’t what it once was, but Ward figured that was because of Jess’s stress level. The year of her mom’s illness had been a bad one for her. They’d get it back though, as soon as Jess felt better.
    It was just after eight, and instead of pointing her SUV toward home, she drove to the local pub. They grilled a great burger, and it was often a stop-off for her on the way home from work when Jess was at the hospital. It was a small place, with a friendly bartender and a cozy fire blazing in the corner fireplace.
    “You’re late,” George, the bartender, said as she hung her coat on the stool at the bar.
    “What?” she asked, puzzled.
    “You usually get her by seven thirty or so. It’s after eight. I didn’t think you were coming.”
    “What made you think I was coming at all?”
    “Well, you usually eat here when Jess’s working the night shift, don’t you?”
    She pursed her lips. “If you know so much, smarty, I don’t have to tell you what I want.”
    George smiled as he pulled a clean glass from the dishwasher tray. “Your burger’s already on the grill.” He handed her a beer, and as she took a sip, a man screamed from the doorway.
    “Call an ambulance!” he said.
    Ward was on her feet instantly, running toward the door and whoever needed her.

    *

    Emory Paldrane wasted no time. He still wasn’t entirely sure if he liked this idea,