Atlanta Daily World

The Doctor's Husband

CHAPTER 15

Tracy waited. The waitress had brought coffee; until then she looked directly at Michael.

She took a deep breath and started.

"This morning," she told him, a little breathlessly, "I was called to Dr. Fedderson's office."

He made a gruff sound of inquiry. So he didn't know!

"When I got there he told me that the Medical School was sending a team on exchange to Indonesia—"

"Yes. I heard that."

"I suppose I had, too. But this morning—why, Michael, Fedderson offered me a place on that team!" Michael whistled, and his eyes were respectful. She nodded.

"I couldn't believe it either," she confessed.

"Are you going?"

"Oh. I don't know, Michael. It took me so by surprise—and Dr. Fedderson knew that it would. So he arranged for me to have this day off. I'd meant to phone you—"

"You'll be the envy of every young pediatrician on the Staff." he told her. "I envy you."

"But why should you? Envy me, I mean. There are lots of things against such an appointment Dr. Fedderson pointed out several It's for a year, you know, and a doctor gets out of touch. And things are not too safe in the Far East."

"Oh, but it's a mark of excellence for you, Tracy. Those specific marks don't always come to a doctor, even when he deserves them. This appointment tells the world that you're good. It's a real honor, and shows us all what the Staff thinks of your ability as well as of your personality."

"I am a good doctor," Tracy agreed. Without vanity. And Michael accepted her statement as so made. "A woman, generally, has to be good, you know, if she's to be a doctor at all."

Her cheeks were pink with the excitement bubbling in her veins.

The tall man smiled at her. "Are you going, do you think?"

"I really don't know. I'll have to decide by tomorrow. And of course I'm tempted. As you say, it's an honor—and there's the chance to travel—though I'm not even right sure I know where Indonesia is. They are taking a couple of nurses—a surgical and a supervising. The other doctors are men. Five men. Fedderson, who's cancer, of course. A urologist, a gynecologist, a surgeon—and an internist, I think. If I don't go—"

Michael leaned toward her. "It's wonderful offer," he said in tone of deep sincerity. "And I wish I didn't have to interject the personal just here and now. But I feel I should say that you must not allow any consideration of me influence your decision in this matter. You won't need to leave the country, Tracy, to get out of the mess I've made of your life."

He glanced up from beneath his heavy brows. "Last week, while you were away," he said, "I had a call into active service. I'm in the Air Force Reserve, you know, and I've had two deferments, so well, now. I think I should give the Government the two years it has a right to ask of me. So—I'm going in."

"Oh, Michael," she said contritely, "you didn't have to do this! Or—did you?"

"I expect so far as the Government is concerned, I didn't have to, actually. A pediatrician won't be of too much use to them. But this did seem to offer a good chance for me to get away. It's only honest to say so."

Her heart surged upward on beating wings. Did he mean away from Carol? Her eyes asked the question she could not voice.

He read that question, and shook his head. "I'm going alone," he said quietly. "It will make a change in your way of living, even if you decide against Indonesia. At first, I'll be at Chanute Field—that's in Illinois, you know?" She did know. and he continued. "But I won't stay there—I hope. I mean, it would be a let-down to serve my two years so close to home. I've asked for active service, but—well, in any case, I'll keep in touch with you." He smiled. "And you with me," he added ruefully. "You see. it had not occurred to me that you'd be going off farther than I would."

He wanted to get rid of Tracy—or rid himself, at least, of a situation which was quite as impossible, and unbearable, to him as it had been to her. She'd never properly considered that. She'd spent so much time blaming him for what had happened and licking her own wounds . . .

On the other hand, he could be doing this to get away from Carol; Tracy had known all along that he would tire of that blonde!

She bit her lip, trying to check her thoughts and her imagination. But hope filled her heart and lifted her spirits.

She looked across at Michael.

"What about O'Connell?"

"Of course it will leave a gap in his office. In fact—not knowing that you were apt to go to Indonesia, he suggested that you might want to come into the office in my place.'"

"But. Michael ..."

"Unless you feel you have to take Fedderson's offer . . ."

"I don't believe I do have to Mike. I truly think I was selected purely on my record. You know, I topped their list of possibles, and they had to ask me. But I imagine they'd rather have a man, maybe someone with more experience."

"Yet on that count, O'Connell surely wants experience, too."

"He says you could do the work. And this was his own suggestion, Tracy. I was going to tell you—or let him, rather. He'll talk to you very soon, because I leave the 15th."

"The Indonesia party doesn't leave until May, but I have to tell Dr. Fedderson tomorrow."

"Oh, yes. there would be a lot of red tape to go through. But in case you decide not to go, I do wish you'd consider the O'Connell offer. Maybe you could talk to him about both chances. He'd advise you honestly. I'm sure."

Yes. Yes. he would Without any consideration of the claims and counterclaims arising from the circumstances of the Lorens' extraordinary marriage.

Tracy and Michael had done a good job of concealing the reality of their troubles.

She was, she began to realize more thrilled and excited about the opening for her in O'Connell's office than she was or had been—over the chance to go to Indonesia on Fedderson's team. That one had stunned her!

So she was excited. It had been so right for her to hold on and prayerfully hope that her marriage would work out!

She looked up and across at Michael. "Do you suppose." she asked shyly, "that we could talk to Dr. O'Connell this afternoon?"

He nodded and picked up the check. "Of course we can.'

On the street corner, waiting for the light, he smiled down at her. "I don't believe you're going to Indonesia, do you?"

She tossed her head saucily, and her smile sparkled. "I'll only say that I could be persuaded not to."

They turned into the entry of the office building, arm against arm. friendly, smiling.

Oh, yes, at least, friendly!

Tracy begins a vacation, but finds she must go to the hospital—as a patient. Don't miss tomorrow's dramatic installment of "The Doctor's Husband" in this newspaper.