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especially if you date people half your age.”
    Becky leaned over to Caroline and whispered: “I’ll see ya. Here comes my father’s dorky girlfriend.” Becky stood up, entered the rink, and quickly skated off.
    Ginger came straight to Kim, and before he knew what she intended, she managed to plant a forceful kiss on his cheek. “Sorry, darling,” she said. “I know I was out of sorts on the phone this morning. I was just missing you.”
    â€œHmmm! Not very businesslike,” Kelly remarked. “Lipstick evidence.”
    Kim used the back of his hand to wipe his cheek.
    â€œUh-oh!” Ginger commented when she saw the red imprint of her lips on Kim’s skin. “Let me get it off.”
    Ginger licked two of her fingers, and before Kim could react again, she smeared the lipstick.
    â€œThis is perfect,” Kelly commented.
    Ginger turned to Kelly and immediately recognized her as a local celebrity. “Kelly Anderson!” she gushed. “What a treat. I adore you on the news.”
    â€œWhy, thank you,” Kelly said. “And you are . . .”
    â€œGinger Powers.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Ginger,” Kelly said. “Let me give you one of my cards. Perhaps we could get together.”
    â€œWhy, thank you,” Ginger said. She took the card and smiled with true glee. “I’d love to get together.”
    â€œGood,” Kelly said. “I do a number of health-related stories, and I’m always looking for the opinions of those in the business.”
    â€œYou’d want to interview me?” Ginger questioned. She was surprised and flattered.
    â€œWhy not?” Kelly said.
    Ginger pointed to Kim. “He’s the one you should interview, not me. He knows everything about medicine.”
    â€œSounds like you have a high opinion of the good doctor,” Kelly said. “Would that be safe to say?”
    â€œAs if there’s a question,” Ginger said with fake indignation. “He’s the best cardiac surgeon in the world. And he’s the best-looking too.” Ginger tried to tweak Kim’s cheek, but this time he evaded her.
    â€œWith that, I think I’ll take my leave,” Kelly said. “Come on, Caroline. Let’s get your coat on and get theshow on the road. And Ginger, give me a call! I’m serious about talking to you. And Kim, I can certainly understand why you have Ginger for your receptionist and companion.”
    Kelly and Caroline walked away, with Kelly carrying her daughter’s skates and backpack. Caroline was having trouble getting into her long, down-filled coat.
    â€œShe’s really nice,” Ginger said, watching Kelly’s figure recede.
    â€œShe’s a shark,” Kim said. “And I don’t want you talking with her.”
    â€œWhy not?” Ginger said.
    â€œShe’s given me nothing but grief,” Kim said.
    â€œBut it would be fun,” Ginger whined.
    â€œListen,” Kim spat. “You talk to her and you’re out of a job and my life. Understand?”
    â€œAll right!” Ginger snapped back. “Gosh, what a grouch. What’s wrong with you?”
    Becky, who’d been doing some warm-up exercises, skated over to where Kim and Ginger were standing.
    â€œI can’t take a lesson,” Becky said. She stepped off the ice, sat down, and began quickly removing her skates.
    â€œWhy not?” Kim asked.
    â€œMy stomach is worse,” Becky said. “And I have to use the bathroom, bad!”

FIVE
    Sunday, January 18 th
    K im lifted out Harvey Arnold’s hospital chart and cracked it open. It was before eight in the morning and the day-shift nursing crew was busy having its report. Consequently Kim had the nurses’ station to himself save for the ward clerk.
    He turned to the nurses’ notes to read what had transpired during the previous day and during the night. He suppressed a smile. It