Doctor's Notes - Chapter 5
Hi Everyone. Glad to post a new chapter!
(Reference to Dr. Eccles, a character from Season 2's "Decision, aka Problem")
Not much surprised Ella. She'd survived segregation, widowhood and much more.
Joe Early hadn't really astonished her when he'd given his notice tonight.
Joe, you said you wanted to speak to me?
Well…I always said I'd be going when I was ready.
My friend, when I saw you helping out those people tonight, you were ready. Come back and play a tune for us, Joe, when you wish….
He pondered that conversation now as he sat in his easy chair, with only the glow of one lamp, in the large but cozy Beverly Hills home he'd shared with Mary.
As he had so many times, Joe picked up the picture of his wife and looked at her - frozen in time.
The picture was from seven years ago, when he and Mary had gone on a fishing trip. Joe treasured the color photograph of the woman whose laughter showed in her eyes. She'd taken off the fishing cap for the picture, and her short, dark hair had blown in the breeze at Lake Tahoe. She was wearing a long, checkered, flannel shirt.
To her husband, she'd looked more beautiful than if she'd been wearing an evening gown and fancy jewelry at one of the black-tie Rampart Hospital receptions they frequently went to.
They'd actually met at a hospital reception – at the raffle table….
1957
The prize was a trip for two to Mexico. Mary had been volunteering at the table.
She had worn a pale-blue dress with short sleeves – restrained, but somehow dramatic.
"Hello," she had said with a smile, a little shyly. "Would you like to buy a raffle ticket a trip for you and your wife, Sir?"
He had blushed. "I'm not married," he'd replied. "Can I buy a ticket, anyway?"
Now she blushed. "Of course."
Joe smiled. "Is there a deadline for taking the trip?"
"Oh, I don't know."
"Because perhaps I'd go on my honeymoon."
She frowned. "You're engaged?" she asked.
"Nope," he said with a grin. "Not even a girlfriend right now."
She blushed again. He was flirting!
Joe continued to smile. "Are you married?" he asked.
Quietly, she shook her head.
"Then may I ask if you're here with anyone?"
She chuckled. "I'm not."
"Are you sitting with anyone at this reception?"
"I'm sitting with Dr. and Mrs. Eccles."
Joe nodded. "They're good people. How do you know them?"
"They're my neighbors. And Mrs. Eccles and I also volunteer in a garden club."
Joe smiled. "May I ask your name?"
"Mary Townsend."
"Mary Townsend, I'm Dr. Joseph Early. Joe for short."
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Early."
"Nice to meet you too, Miss Townsend. And I think I'll buy that raffle ticket. You never know…."
It took him all evening, but Joe was finally able to ask Mary for a dance – and for coffee.
It took all of a month for Joe to propose, another for them to be wed.
They'd tried to start a family, but to no avail. Then, while they were both getting checkups to determine a reason, Mary's ovarian cancer was discovered.
Between efforts to help her and his own work, Joe spent almost all his time at Rampart for two years. After Mary died, work was all he had left.
And he didn't want it anymore. His being a doctor hadn't saved his wife. No other doctor had, either.
So he turned away from medicine.
Joe wasn't much of a drinker, but he had spent his time at The Corner, mostly chatting with Ella, who was an old friend. One night, Ella, knowing Joe's skill at the piano, had prompted him to play a piece.
Another night, when Ella's piano player had left without even a goodbye, a new career had been born for Joe - at least a temporary one.
Now, though, he realized it was time to get back to his true calling.
TBC….