Julia was sitting at her desk and catching up on her paperwork when she looked at the time, four o'clock. She had time for a quick visit to the girls' ward before the staff meeting. She wanted to have another look at little Emily one more time today. She had operated on her two days ago and while she had seemed to be improving yesterday, by the time Julia had arrived at the hospital this morning, a fever had developed.
"Dammed staff meeting!" Julia muttered to herself. Dr. Abbot liked them. Said it improved the efficiency of the care. Share best practices and all that that stuff. "Bloody waste of time" Julia caught herself thinking. She ruefully silently laughed at herself. She sounded like the inspector, suspicious of modern methods. William would have found this funny. All of a sudden Julia lost her smile. Even now, two months after having left Toronto, she still could not stop herself of thinking of William every few seconds it seems. And it never failed, each time she thought of him, she could feel a sunken feeling of helplessness. Two months and she had not heard a word from him, no letter, not even a quick note. Even though she did not really want to admit it, she had hoped he would have followed her to Buffalo, begged her to come back with him, said, her infertility was of no consequence. But of course she had been wrong. He never came. He never wrote.
Julia shook her head and quickly picked up her notebook and hurriedly walked to the ward to quickly check on little Emily. However by the time she got to the little girl's bed she noticed that Dr. Garland was already there chatting with the girl, making her giggle. When he saw her, he quickly stood up and nodded to her as she approached the bed and said:
"I do apologize Dr. Ogden for looking in at one of your patients without your permission. I hope you are not offended, but she is such an engaging little girl that I find it difficult to go by without stopping when she flashes one of her smile".
"Of course not Dr. Garland" said Julia. "How is Emily doing? Has her fever subsided at all?"
"It has." responded Garland. "See for yourself" as he handed Julia Emily's chart.
"Good. Good" said Julia as she put her hand on the little girl's forehead. Yes indeed, the girl's skin was much cooler than it had been this morning. "Her parents will be relieved." said Julia. "The mother has spent every minute she can spare at the hospital."
"Yes indeed Dr. Ogden." Responded Darcy. "If she continues to improve like this, you may have good news to impart to the mother tomorrow. However not to hurry you, but maybe we should head to the meeting. You know how Dr. Abbot detests anybody arriving late at these meetings. Shall we go?" asked Garland politely stepping aside to let her go first.
Julia gave a quick glance to the tall handsome young doctor as they walked to the meeting room together. Other than professional exchanges, they had had very little to do with each other. She knew he was unmarried. She had picked it up from overhearing nurses giggling and whispering about him. She had even noticed a few of them openly flirting with him.
"Have you settled well in Buffalo Doctor.? asked Garland.
"Quite well thank you" responded Julia. "And the work here at the hospital, you are enjoying it?" He asked again.
"Very much so. It is quite different from my previous position of course." Julia continued.
"Oh yes, Pathology I hear. Quite a dark business I suppose". Darcy responded.
"Not so Dr. " said Julia. "As a matter of fact, I found the work fascinating. While there were some facets of the job that were quite gruesome of course, there was extreme satisfaction in helping the police catch murderers"
"That sounds fascinating. You must tell me more. Perhaps over dinner one night? They had now arrived at the meeting room. "Ah here we are Doctor. After you." gestured Dr. Garland as they entered the meeting room.
Julia sat down at the table where already several doctors were already sitting. Darcy walked to the other side and settled himself down. Dr. Abbot started the meeting. Julia dutifully took down notes as Dr. Abbot went on and on. Like at all the other meetings, her mind inevitably drifted back to Toronto, to William. Her mouth curved up in a small smile as she remembered that day he showed up at that field just as she had been about to take her first solo hot air balloon flight. She had gotten interested in the whole thing after her and William had parted over her news of her abortion. Her friend Isaac had suggested it. She had needed to take her mind of William then. It seemed everywhere she went, she would see William and Mrs Jones together. Mrs. Jones with her proven fertility always made Julia feel inadequate. Reggie and his balloons flights had proven to be a much needed distraction. Then William had showed up with that wonderful little speech about nothing being right and wanting to start again and he had jumped in with her. Julia had never been so happy.
William being William of course would not shut up during the whole flight. He went on and on about anything and everything that morning: the history of hot air balloons, the villages they were flying over, even the Niagara escarpment they could see in the distance. It was only once they had landed in a farmer's field and they were quietly waiting to be picked up that he had finally kissed her.
"Don't you agreed Dr. Ogden?" The question took her out of her reverie. "Yes of course Dr. Abbot " answered Julia hoping her reply made sense.
She sat up straighter in her chair and tried to pay more attention. She happened to glance at Dr. Garland and to her surprise he quickly winked at her. The meeting went on for another hour most of it spent discussing the nurse's uniforms of all things. What a waste of time. It did not take long for her mind to wander back to William again…..
"Well doctors thank you again for attending this meeting. I am so sorry it dragged on this long." finally concluded Dr. Abbot. "I am off to my club for a drink if any of you would care to join me?" There was a small moment of embarrassment as Dr. Abbot glanced at Julia, realizing that she of course could not enter a gentlemen's club.
It had been a long day. Julia quickly went back to her office to get herself ready to go home. She did one last quick visit to Emily to check on her progress. She met Dr. Garland just as she was exiting the hospital.
"You are off for a drink at the club then? " she asked.
"No. not tonight." Answered Darcy. I am quite hungry. I did not have time for lunch, so I am off to diner. Say, would you care to join me? You could tell me more about your work in pathology."
Julia's first instinct was to decline. However the prospect of spending another evening in her apartment going over in her head her last encounter with William like she seemed to do every night just seemed so daunting that she changed her mind.
"I would love to have dinner with you Dr. Garland" answered Julia.
"You must call me Darcy" he replied…..