Read Online Merry Jones - Elle Harrison 02 - Elective Procedures by Merry Jones - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Merry Jones
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Charlie was holding the door.
I sat down, reasoned that the man wasn’t Charlie. And the woman wasn’t Claudia Madison, back from the dead. Not everyone was a ghost. People resembled others; it was that simple.
Even so, I didn’t feel comfortable out in the open any more. Instead of ordering lunch on the beach, I decided to eat on my balcony.
“Want company?” Melanie looked stricken that I was leaving.
“Thanks, but I don’t think so. I mean, I’d have to check with my roommates.”
“I thought your roommate was having surgery.” Her tone was sharp, accusatory.
I stiffened. “I have three roommates. One of them isworking. She needs to concentrate.” It wasn’t a lie. Susan was working. I hadn’t actually said she was doing it in our suite.
Melanie eyed me, doubtful.
Why did I feel I had to explain myself? “Besides, I’m going to nap.”
She tossed her towel over her shoulder. “No problem, Elle. I’ll be fine. Catch you later.” She strutted across the sand.
I told myself that Melanie was a big girl. And she wasn’t my responsibility. Still, as I grabbed my stuff and made my way across the sand, I felt as if I’d done something wrong.
Music pounded through the pool area. Every lounge chair was occupied; the water was crowded. Becky did lunges on the platform, demonstrating exercise steps with Chichi. Luis had the microphone, announced the directions, scanning the crowd.
“Left and up, and reach, and down. Again. Left and up—” I watched him, wondering if he was looking around for Melanie. Finally, I went inside.
I called Susan from the lobby. Found out that Jen was still in surgery. Susan was abrupt, absorbed in work. I offered to come over. She said there was no need. So I went upstairs to the room, looking forward to time alone. But when I opened the door, I realized I wasn’t. Someone was in the living room. I froze, let out an involuntary gasp.
And startled a maid.
“Oh, sorry,” I explained. “I didn’t expect to see anyone. You surprised me.”
I doubt she understood a word I was saying. She bowed her head deferentially, excused herself, and scurried toward the door.
“No, it’s fine,” I went on. “You don’t have to rush off.”
She kept her head down. “I come back later, señora.
No es una problema
.” And she was gone.
I ordered room service, hopped into the shower, and realized as the water pounded my skin, that I’d missed some spots with the sunscreen. The backs of my shoulders were scorched. Damn.I wrapped myself in a towel, smothered my burns in aloe, took some Motrin, ate shrimp salad on the balcony. In the pool below, exercise class had ended; the music had stopped. I looked around, spotted Melanie at the poolside bar. Luis was close by, talking to a silver-haired lady wearing high heels and a bathing suit. A pelican swooped past my railing. I felt the whoosh of his outstretched wings gliding toward the ocean. Settled back on a lounge chair in the shade. Closed my eyes.
Susan shook me. Saying something urgent.
I blinked at her. Tried to make sense out of her words. Oh God. I sat up. “Is it Jen? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Dr. Du Bois said everything went perfectly.”
“Good. So should I go see her?”
She tilted her head as if my question made no sense. “No. She’s groggy. She’ll be back in the morning. Elle, don’t you need to get dressed?”
Dressed? I looked down. I was wearing a towel.
“What time is it?”
“I just told you. It’s almost seven. You better hustle.”
I looked around. The pool and beach were almost empty. The sun had moved over to the mountains. Lord, how long had I slept?
“Almost seven?” I tried to understand what that meant.
“Aren’t you having dinner with Dr. Du Bois?”
Dinner? What? Oh Lord, I was supposed to meet Alain Du Bois in the lobby in four minutes.
Still half asleep, I scurried around, grabbing random articles of clothes, putting some on, dropping others. Susan’s phone rang.
I sat down, reasoned that the man wasn’t Charlie. And the woman wasn’t Claudia Madison, back from the dead. Not everyone was a ghost. People resembled others; it was that simple.
Even so, I didn’t feel comfortable out in the open any more. Instead of ordering lunch on the beach, I decided to eat on my balcony.
“Want company?” Melanie looked stricken that I was leaving.
“Thanks, but I don’t think so. I mean, I’d have to check with my roommates.”
“I thought your roommate was having surgery.” Her tone was sharp, accusatory.
I stiffened. “I have three roommates. One of them isworking. She needs to concentrate.” It wasn’t a lie. Susan was working. I hadn’t actually said she was doing it in our suite.
Melanie eyed me, doubtful.
Why did I feel I had to explain myself? “Besides, I’m going to nap.”
She tossed her towel over her shoulder. “No problem, Elle. I’ll be fine. Catch you later.” She strutted across the sand.
I told myself that Melanie was a big girl. And she wasn’t my responsibility. Still, as I grabbed my stuff and made my way across the sand, I felt as if I’d done something wrong.
Music pounded through the pool area. Every lounge chair was occupied; the water was crowded. Becky did lunges on the platform, demonstrating exercise steps with Chichi. Luis had the microphone, announced the directions, scanning the crowd.
“Left and up, and reach, and down. Again. Left and up—” I watched him, wondering if he was looking around for Melanie. Finally, I went inside.
I called Susan from the lobby. Found out that Jen was still in surgery. Susan was abrupt, absorbed in work. I offered to come over. She said there was no need. So I went upstairs to the room, looking forward to time alone. But when I opened the door, I realized I wasn’t. Someone was in the living room. I froze, let out an involuntary gasp.
And startled a maid.
“Oh, sorry,” I explained. “I didn’t expect to see anyone. You surprised me.”
I doubt she understood a word I was saying. She bowed her head deferentially, excused herself, and scurried toward the door.
“No, it’s fine,” I went on. “You don’t have to rush off.”
She kept her head down. “I come back later, señora.
No es una problema
.” And she was gone.
I ordered room service, hopped into the shower, and realized as the water pounded my skin, that I’d missed some spots with the sunscreen. The backs of my shoulders were scorched. Damn.I wrapped myself in a towel, smothered my burns in aloe, took some Motrin, ate shrimp salad on the balcony. In the pool below, exercise class had ended; the music had stopped. I looked around, spotted Melanie at the poolside bar. Luis was close by, talking to a silver-haired lady wearing high heels and a bathing suit. A pelican swooped past my railing. I felt the whoosh of his outstretched wings gliding toward the ocean. Settled back on a lounge chair in the shade. Closed my eyes.
Susan shook me. Saying something urgent.
I blinked at her. Tried to make sense out of her words. Oh God. I sat up. “Is it Jen? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Dr. Du Bois said everything went perfectly.”
“Good. So should I go see her?”
She tilted her head as if my question made no sense. “No. She’s groggy. She’ll be back in the morning. Elle, don’t you need to get dressed?”
Dressed? I looked down. I was wearing a towel.
“What time is it?”
“I just told you. It’s almost seven. You better hustle.”
I looked around. The pool and beach were almost empty. The sun had moved over to the mountains. Lord, how long had I slept?
“Almost seven?” I tried to understand what that meant.
“Aren’t you having dinner with Dr. Du Bois?”
Dinner? What? Oh Lord, I was supposed to meet Alain Du Bois in the lobby in four minutes.
Still half asleep, I scurried around, grabbing random articles of clothes, putting some on, dropping others. Susan’s phone rang.
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