The Unkindest Cut - By Honor Hartman Page 0,55

though, because some of them could occur later.

I was a bit surprised that I had blacked out. The only other time I could remember fainting was the night when the police came to tell me that my husband had been killed in an accident on the Gulf Freeway in Houston. Recalling that, I felt the tears threatening to stream down my face. I steadied myself mentally. Now was not a good time to get upset.

I wasn’t aware how long I was in the shower, but I heard Sophie calling me. I slid the shower door open a bit and stuck my head out. ‘‘Yes?’’

‘‘The doctor’s here, Emma,’’ Sophie said.

‘‘Be right out.’’ I shut off the water and stood there for a moment, dripping. The doctor had responded quickly, or else I had been in the shower a lot longer than I thought.

Stepping out of the shower, I reached for one of the luxurious hotel towels and dried myself off.

I emerged from the shower a few minutes later, wearing one of the hotel robes, a lush terry-cloth affair that hung past my knees. Sophie had appropriated the smaller one, but I didn’t mind. This one suited my purposes just fine.

Sophie introduced me to a rather nondescript man in his mid-sixties and explained that he had been en route to the hotel when Monica’s call came. Apparently one of the elderly guests had suffered an attack of gout, and someone had already called Dr. McKenzie to attend.

‘‘Thank you for coming, Dr. McKenzie,’’ I said. ‘‘I think I’m probably okay, but I guess it’s best to check.’’

Though plain, his face had a kindly expression. ‘‘Your friend told me you tripped over something in the woods and hit your head when you fell.’’

‘‘Um, yes, that’s more or less what happened,’’ I said. For a moment I was baffled; then I realized Sophie was right not to broadcast that I had been attacked by an unknown assailant.

‘‘Right, then, let’s have a look at you,’’ the doctor said. Setting his bag down on the bed, he motioned for me to have a seat in the chair Sophie had pulled up for me.

In the next several minutes he examined me carefully and asked me numerous questions. When he finished, he studied me for a moment before speaking.

‘‘The fact that you blacked out, even briefly, concerns me, but all the signs are good otherwise.’’ He frowned. ‘‘I’d like you to stay awake as long as possible, say until midnight. Take it easy, and no stimulants or depressants.’’

‘‘In other words, no caffeine or alcohol,’’ I said, smiling.

‘‘A little caffeine perhaps,’’ he said. ‘‘Some hot tea would be fine. A light meal this evening. If you feel light-headed or have blurry vision, headaches, nausea, or anything like that in the next few days, call me at once.’’

‘‘Thank you, Dr. McKenzie,’’ I said, and Sophie added her thanks. She saw him out, and when she came back, she found me tucked up in my bed.

‘‘I’ll have your tea for you in a minute,’’ Sophie said. ‘‘I’m surprised you didn’t argue with the doctor and try to get up and do things.’’

‘‘I may have got a bump on the head like Nancy Drew, but unlike her, I’m not a perennial teenager. I know good advice when I hear it.’’

‘‘Good,’’ Sophie said as she fussed over the tea things on a table near the bathroom. ‘‘I’m glad you’re being sensible.’’ Moments later she brought me my tea, with milk and sugar.

I sipped at it gratefully. ‘‘Merci beaucoup.’’

‘‘De rien,’’ Sophie responded. ‘‘The doctor said you should stay awake. What shall we do to keep you awake?’’

‘‘Canasta,’’ I said. ‘‘I brought some cards. They’re in my bag in the closet. Let’s play for a while.’’

Sophie retrieved two decks of cards, then found a pencil and some paper, and we settled down to play.

Marylou appeared around six thirty, startled to find me in bed. Sophie explained what had happened to me, and Marylou fussed over me for a few minutes. Finally I was able to reassure her enough that she agreed to go down to dinner and then on to more bridge as she had planned.

‘‘I’ll stay with Emma,’’ Sophie said. ‘‘You go on.’’

‘‘If you’re sure,’’ Marylou said, hesitating in the doorway of our room.

‘‘I’m going to throw something at you if you don’t go on,’’ I said, pretending to look around.

‘‘I’m gone,’’ Marylou said, throwing up her hands in surrender before she disappeared.

‘‘She’s such a dear,’’ Sophie said. ‘‘I wonder what it would have been