We need to get some X-rays, the young doctor declared. You two can wait out front.
Reece wasnt good at waiting, she soon discovered. He spent a lot of time outside the hospitals glass doors, pacing and talking on his cell phone. He looked at his watch a lot.
Sara didnt even wear a watch. If she needed to know the time, she could look at her cell phone-if it was charged.
At one point Reece disappeared, but when he came back he brought her an apple and a cup of coffee from the cafeteria. A peace offering, perhaps? Or maybe he just didnt want her passing out from hunger.
Finally a nurse called them back. Miss Greer had been returned to her treatment room, looking none too happy. A doctor was waiting for them-a different one.
Your grandmothers hip is broken, he said matter-of-factly. The joint was in bad shape to begin with. If she wants to walk again, well have to replace the hip.
Shes not our- Sara started to say, but Reece nudged her with his elbow. She cleared her throat. Then of course she should have the surgery. Right, Grandma?
I told the doctor just to give me some crutches and let me go home, Miss Greer grumbled, but he doesnt listen.
How long will she be in the hospital? Reece asked.
Given her age, at least a few days. But once shes home, shell need a lot of help. Well assign a home-health aide and a physical therapist, but she still cant stay alone-not for at least a month.
She has me, Sara said. I live with her.
I can help, too, Reece said.
Good. Then you want to proceed with the surgery?
Excuse me, Doctor, Miss Greer said, its my hip thats broken, not my brain. Stop talking like I cant hear you.
Sara bit her lip. It was refreshing to hear her landlady giving someone besides her an earful, for a change. Grandma, you want the surgery, right?
No, but if theres no other way to get better, I guess Ill have to do it. She looked at her own watch. Oh, Holy Ghost, the guests will be arriving any minute and no one is there to greet them.
Theyll let themselves in, Sara said reassuringly.
An orderly came to transfer Miss Greer to a room, leaving Sara and Reece standing alone in the hallway. She looked at him, eyes full of worry. Why dont you go back to the Sunsetter? I want to stay for a while longer and make sure shes taken care of.
How will you get home?
She shrugged. Oh, Ill find a way, I always do.
Reece could just imagine. Would she hitchhike? Take a bus? What if I come back in a while to get you?
Thats a lot of driving.
Its only forty minutes. I dont mind. He really didnt mind. The woman was exciting to be around, even if she did keep him in a constant state of semi-arousal. Anyway, what else did he have to do?
He had already set up the bookkeeping for Remington Charters, the business he and his cousins had inherited from their uncle. He could have gone home a week ago, and really he should have. But hed been dragging his feet, pretending there was more work to do, and not quite sure why. For the first time in his life he wasnt eager to return to his office and the numbers he loved.
Numbers were reliable. He understood them. He could rely on them to behave. Beautiful, wild, chestnut-haired women, on the other hand, were a complete mystery to him.
But he now realized Sara was at least part of the reason he hadnt rushed home to his job, although she clearly was a most unsuitable woman for him.
Relationships were all about compatibility. Having the same interests, the same values. The fact that she got his juices flowing simply wasnt enough.
Well, if you really dont mind driving all that way, Sara said, Id appreciate it. Miss Greer will rest easier knowing someone is looking after the guests.
What rooms should I put them in? Reece asked.
The Silversteins always like the Orchid Roomno, wait, maybe thats the Canfields who like to stay there. Theyre coming next weekor the week after. But for sure, put the Taylors in the Tea Roseor maybe its the Lilac Room. She waved a dismissive hand. Its in the calendar at the front desk.
Miss Greer wasnt kidding about Sara being bad with the details. She was intelligent and well-read. Hed often seen her tucked into the window seat in the side parlor, reading something really dense like Proust or Hemingway.
Yet she was a disaster when it came to numbers and details. Why was that?
I should go, Reece said. Ill come back around eight oclock. We can grab a bite afterward, if you want to. He held his breath. Had he actually just invited Sara Kaufman to have dinner with him?
She surprised him with a warm smile. Id like that. Ooh, I heard about this great restaurant not too far from here. Ive been dying to try it.
Okay, sounds good. And it saved him the agony of coming up with some place to take her that she would enjoy.
SARA WAS WAITING in front of the hospital when Reece pulled up precisely at eight oclock. She waved and trotted toward the car, jumping into the passenger seat. The car suddenly seemed a more cheerful place, filled with her colors and the scents of vanilla and cinnamon that swirled around her wherever she went.
She looked a little tired, but as usual she was smiling. Right on time.
I hate being late. Besides, he was hungry. He usually ate dinner early, went to bed early, woke up early. He liked getting to the office before anyone else, when he could really concentrate in the quiet. Just him and the numbers.
Did you get the guests checked in? Sara asked.
He nodded. When I got back I found the Silversteins roaming about the living room a little puzzled by the fact no one was there to greet them. But when I explained about Miss Greers accident, they were completely understanding. The other two couples arrived right after. I got them all settled into their rooms.
Then, because hed promised Miss Greer, hed listened to messages, returned phone calls and taken three reservations. Business was certainly heating up as summer approached.
How is Miss Greer? he asked as he pulled away from the curb without any clue where they were going.
Resting comfortably. Shes scheduled for surgery first thing in the morning. Meanwhile, they gave her some pain meds that worked pretty well, though they made her a little bit loopy.
Loopy? That was hard to imagine.
She thought she was a little girl, and she spoke in German. Did you know she came over from Germany right after the war?
I truthfully dont know anything about Miss Greer. Shes not exactly chatty.
Sometimes when shes baking, shell let things slip.
Speaking of baking Reece said, I assume youll want to be at the hospital for Miss Greers surgery tomorrow.
Yes, of course, Sara said passionately. Someone has to be here for her. But what does that have to do with baking?
What about breakfast?
I can grab something here. Then she gasped. Oh, my gosh, whos going to feed the guests?
Exactly what Reece was wondering.
Sara looked at him, her eyes beseeching. I dont suppose youd-
Oh, no. I dont even know how the coffeemaker works. Where are we going, by the way?
She looked around, orienting herself. Turn right at the light. Reece, you have to do breakfast. Its easy. Ill get everything ready for you. All you have to do is pull things out of the oven. Then theres just the easy stuff-orange juice, yogurt, toast-oh, shoot, I need to bake bread, too. She looked at her watch. Maybe we shouldnt do dinner after all.
Reece was surprised at how disappointed he felt. He wanted to take Sara to dinner. Ill help, he said. I guess if I dont actually have to cook, I can handle it. As soon as were done with dinner, well go back and Ill help you all I can to get ready for tomorrow.
Reece was surprised at how disappointed he felt. He wanted to take Sara to dinner. Ill help, he said. I guess if I dont actually have to cook, I can handle it. As soon as were done with dinner, well go back and Ill help you all I can to get ready for tomorrow.
Her smile lit up the whole car. Great.
Yeah, great. He wondered if he should refund the Silversteins and the others some of their money. Part of the appeal of a B and B was a fancy, fabulous breakfast. But with Reece in charge, he was afraid it would be distinctly non-fabulous. He would shoot for edible.
Just so you know, cooking was the one Boy Scout badge I never got. And I made it to Eagle Scout.
You were a Boy Scout? Thats so cute.
Cute? He didnt want Sara to think of him as cute. But he supposed hot and studly was out of the question.
Sara, where are we going again?
She looked around. Oh, shoot. I forgot to tell you to turn at the last light.
No problem. Reece made a U-turn. So where is it?
Im not sure of the exact address, but I think I know how to get there.
And whats this place called?
I dont remember, exactly. But I think its an Indian place. Or maybe Pakistani. Maybe theres an elephant on the sign.
Pakistani food? No, thanks. Despite the fact New York had ethnic restaurants on every corner, he was a meat-and-potatoes man. Spicy, foreign food had never done anything but give him heartburn. He didnt even like pepperoni on his pizza.
Well, maybe he could get a hamburger. Few restaurants would refuse to cook a hamburger.
I think you turn left at this next light, Sara said uncertainly.
You think?
Its around here somewhere, dont worry.
Easy for her to say, but he hated not knowing where he was. It would never occur to him to wander around until he found a restaurant that he sort of knew the location of. If hed been the one planning dinner, he would have found the name and address of the restaurant, programmed the information into his satellite navigation system and followed the directions.
Want to look at the map? He pointed to his GPS, which showed their current location.
Oh, I cant make heads or tails of maps. Its easier for me to find things by feel.
They wandered around for another fifteen minutes, making what Reece knew were increasingly random turns, until it became clear they were hopelessly lost.
I saw a steak house back that way, Reece said. We could try that.
Sara wrinkled her nose. Steak is so boring. I know I can find this place. Give me five more minutes.
In five more minutes he was going to start eating the leather on the dashboard. But he obliged her and, miracle of miracles, after a couple more turns, they found themselves at a strip shopping center in the middle of which was a sign with a red goat on it. The restaurant was called Sofia, and it was neither Indian nor Pakistani, but Bulgarian.