The House on Hope Street - By Danielle Steel Page 0,58
listened carefully, told them what to do, and then turned to Liz with a look of disappointment. “They've got a nasty one on their hands, Liz. A couple of kids in a head-on. I'd better get back. I was hoping for a hamburger and a little more time. You'll have to give me a rain check.”
“How about taking a hamburger with you?” she asked as she walked him toward the gate to the backyard. The barbecue was set up right near it, and she asked Peter to wrap one up in some tinfoil, and handed it to Bill as she walked him to his car. It was a ten-year-old Mercedes. He had a certain style about him, although it was hard to tell as he wandered around the hospital in scrubs and clogs. But here he was wearing immaculate, pressed jeans, and well-polished loafers, and his hair was impeccably combed, which it hadn't been any of the other times she'd seen him.
“Thanks for the hamburger,” he smiled. “I'll call you for that movie. Maybe next week?”
“I'd like that,” she said, feeling shy again, and suddenly very young. It had been years since a man had invited her to the movies. But what the hell, he was nice, and respectable, and he was right, she needed to get out more than she had been.
Victoria commented on Bill's brief appearance when Liz stopped for a minute to talk to her after he left.
“He's cute,” Victoria said with a mischievous smile, “and he likes you.”
“That's what Peter says.” Liz grinned, and then looked serious again. “He's great at what he does.”
“Did he ask you out?” her friend asked bluntly, sounding hopeful.
“Don't be silly, Vic. We're just friends.” But the truth was, he had, although Liz was surprised to realize she didn't want to admit it to her. It didn't mean anything. Just a movie. And maybe they'd never do it after all. Liz told herself it wasn't worth mentioning to Victoria, and then moved on to check on her other guests.
The party went on for hours, and it was after eleven when the last guests went home. The food had been good, the wine plentiful, and the people pleasant and happy. They'd all had a good time, and as the kids helped her clean up and carry the stray glasses inside, she was glad she had done it. She was helping Carole load the dishwasher when the phone rang, and she glanced at the clock in surprise, it was after midnight, and she couldn't imagine who would call them.
She answered it, wondering if one of the guests had forgotten something, and was surprised to hear a familiar voice. It was Bill, calling to thank her for the party.
“I thought you'd probably still be up. Has everyone left?”
“Just a few minutes ago. Your timing is perfect. How did your emergency go?”
He sighed before he answered, he didn't like talking about it. Some situations were better than others. “We lost one of the kids, but the other one is doing fine. It happens that way sometimes.” But he sounded as though he took it to heart each time he lost one.
“I don't know how you do it,” she said softly.
“It's what I do.” And it was obvious that he loved it, particularly when he made a difference, as he did much of the time. “So when are we going to the movies?” He didn't even give her time to answer or reconsider. “How about tomorrow? I have a night off, and I'm not on call, a rarity, believe me. We'd better grab it while we can. What about pizza and a movie?”
“Best offer I've had all night … all year,” she smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
“Me too. I'll pick you up at seven.”
“I'll see you then, Bill. And thank you. I hope it's a peaceful night there.”
“And for you too,” he said gently. He remembered how much trouble she had sleeping.
She was still smiling to herself when she hung up the phone, and Peter walked into the kitchen. He looked at her, and then raised an eyebrow as he asked a question.
“And who was that?”
“No one important,” she said vaguely. But Peter was staring at her with a look of concentration. He didn't believe her, and then suddenly he knew, and grinned as he teased her.
“It was Bill Webster, wasn't it, Mom? Tell the truth. It was … right?”