Chapter 45
Tuesday, July 7, 1987- Morning
Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.
Clank. Clank…
Sitting at her computer, Julie tried to ignore the noise or the wall shaking behind the desk as Donovan lifted weights in the adjacent garage. A phone call from his sister-in-law earlier had angered him.
For the second weekday in a row, Donovan and Julie didn't take their walk in the park, and Julie doubted they'd return at all. Donovan had barely uttered a word to her this morning, as she'd immersed herself in research, but Julie found concentration difficult under these noisy circumstances. Another few hours, and Donovan would leave for work, then she'd go on about her business.
She took her usual spot on the couch, lay down, and closed her eyes.
The noise ended.
Now he stops, she smiled. Just when I give up, he stops.
She opened her eyes.
Donovan entered the living room, toweling the sweat from his brow.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked. "I thought you were working."
"I'm just a little tired," she lied.
He sat down in the armchair. "I'm sorry you have to miss therapy tomorrow."
It wasn't the first time he'd apologized for his custody hearing getting bumped from today until tomorrow morning.
"It's okay. I'll call Maggie," she said.
"I wonder how CJ will do in a waiting room for a couple of hours."
"Just think in another week, I'll be home and I won't need anymore treatment."
"You'll be home if Dr. Graham says it's okay," he reminded.
"If you get Sean back, you won't want me here anymore." Julie knew the hearing wasn't only to determine if Sean could come home, but also when. If things went well, Donovan expected him home next week.
"That's not necessarily true. I'm bringing a messy teen home. He'll need someone to clean up after him, cook for him and do his laundry."
He'd said it with a straight face, but Julie knew he was playing with her.
"How much would you pay me to be Sean's maid?"
"Pay you? I'd say after everything I've done for you, you owe me, lady." He flashed a grin.
"You could… pay me in kisses."
He gave a chuckle, then asked, "How about lunch instead?" He got up from his chair and ambled into the kitchen.
"Well, that's no fun," Julie murmured, pushing herself up off the couch.
#
Julie waited until after Donovan left for work to call Steve. For the first time ever, he didn't seem happy to hear her voice.
"What was that, yesterday?" he questioned.
"What was what?" She feigned ignorance, knowing he was implying Donovan's overreacting toward his actions.
"Donovan," Steve said. "He conducted himself like an idiot."
"Steven, I didn't call you to discuss that. How is Alex Miller doing?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Of course I do. He's my patient." She leaned back against the desk chair. She'd yet to sleep this afternoon. For the third time since yesterday, she wondered if she ought to call Mrs. Miller.
"He died last night." Steve's words were gentle this time. "I'm sorry, Julie. Have you found anything in your files, because the research team here is looking at a medicinal cactus plant used by Native Americans."
"To kill E. coli?"
"They've run experiments on mice. It does seem to have the pili destroying property we're looking for."
"I don't remember any of the teams at Science Frontiers ever working with… cactus," she said, doubtful.
"I'd like to start treating some of our Seattle patients with—"
"How long has our research team been experimenting with it?"
"Just a couple weeks or so. I've been in Seattle the whole time. I didn't find out until Friday."
"You didn't find out until Friday, yet you want to give it to some helpless babies… experiment on them? Are there any side effects?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Well, don't you think maybe you should find out first?"
"We're conducting more tests here this week. I wouldn't leave again until Monday."
She didn't relish the thought of him leaving again so soon. "I might be going home in the middle of next week," she said. "Before you make any decision like that, I want to come into Metzger and review the preliminary results. I also need time to search my files. I plan to do that today."
"Well, you keep searching your files and I'll keep monitoring the experiments here."
Although he sounded agitated, Julie was pleased he'd made an effort without her. "I'll call you tomorrow morning for an update," she said.
Steve chuckled.
"What?" she asked.
"It's so bizarre hearing you talk like this. I was concerned you'd abandon our project."
"Well, you just give me a couple weeks and I'll be good as new."
"I hope so, Julie."
"I hope so too." She paused for a beat. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Bye."