“Don’t tell me you’re not even going to talk to me,” Kinnard said. “Aren’t you carrying your hurt feelings a bit too far?”
“I warned you,” Kim began when she found her voice. “I told you that things would be different if you insisted on going on your fly-fishing trip when we’d planned to go to Martha’s Vineyard.”
“We never made definite plans for the Vineyard,” Kinnard said. “And I hadn’t anticipated Dr. Markey offering to include me on the camping trip.”
“If we hadn’t made plans,” Kim said, “how come I had arranged to have the time off? And how come I’d called my family’s friends and arranged to stay in their bungalow?’ ‘
“We’d only mentioned it once,” Kinnard said.
“Twice,” Kim said. “And the second time I told you about the bungalow.”
“Listen,” Kinnard said. “It was important for me to go on the camping trip. Dr. Markey is the number-two man in the department. Maybe you and I had a little miscommunication, but it shouldn’t cause all this angst.”
“What makes it even worse is that you don’t feel contrite in the slightest,” Kim said. Her face reddened.
“I’m not going to apologize when I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Kinnard said.
“Fine,” Kim said. She started for the central desk again. Kinnard again restrained her.
“I’m sorry you are upset,” Kinnard said. “I really thought you’d have calmed down by now. Let’s talk about it more on Saturday night. I’m not on call. Maybe we could have dinner and see a show.”
“I’m sorry, but I already have plans,” Kim said. It was untrue, and she felt her stomach tighten. She hated confrontations and knew she wasn’t good at them. Any type of discord affected her viscerally.
Kinnard’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, I see,” he said. His eyes narrowed.
Kim swallowed. She could tell he was angry.
“This is a game that two can play,” he said. “There’s someone I’ve been thinking about dating. This is my opportunity.”
“Who?” Kim asked. The second the question came out of her mouth she regretted it.
Kinnard gave her a malicious smile and walked off.
Concerned about losing her composure, Kim retreated to the privacy of the storeroom. She was shaking. After a few deep breaths she felt more in control and ready to get back to work. She was about to return to the unit when the door opened and Marsha Kingsley, her roommate, walked in.
“I happened to overhear that encounter,” Marsha said. She was a petite, spirited woman with a mane of auburn hair which she wore in a bun while working in the surgical intensive-care unit. Not only were Kim and Marsha roommates, they were also SICU colleagues.
“He’s an ass,” Marsha said. She knew the history of Kim’s relationship with Kinnard better than anyone. “Don’t let that egotist get your goat.”. Marsha’s sudden appearance disarmed Kim’s control over her tears. “I hate confrontations,” Kim said.
“I think you handled yourself exemplarily,” Marsha said. She handed Kim a tissue.
“He wouldn’t even apologize,” Kim said. She wiped her eyes.
“He’s an insensitive bum,” Marsha said supportively.
“I don’t know what I did wrong,” Kim said. “Up until recently I thought we’d had a good relationship.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Marsha said. “It’s his problem. He’s too selfish. Look at the comparison between his behavior and Edward’s. Edward’s been sending you flowers every day.”
“I don’t need flowers every day,” Kim said.
“Of course not,” Marsha said. “It’s the thought that counts. Kinnard doesn’t think of your feelings. You deserve better.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Kim said. She blew her nose. “Yet one thing is for sure. I have to make some changes in my life. What I’m thinking of doing is to move up to Salem. I’ve got the idea to fix up an old house on the family compound I inherited with my brother.”
“That’s a great idea,” Marsha said. “It will be good for you to have a change of scene, especially with Kinnard living on Beacon Hill.”
“That was my thought,” Kim said. “I’m heading up there right after work. How about coming along? I’d love the company, and maybe you’d have some good ideas about what to do with the place.”