She quickly excused herself, but by the time she moved toward the door, Thomas had disappeared.
Thomas hadn’t been so angry since he was a freshman in college and one of his roommates had dated Thomas’s girl friend. No wonder George had been acting so strangely. He’d been renewing his affair with Cassi, and Cassi had no more sense than to display her interest in front of all Thomas’s colleagues. The cold knot of fear in the pit of his stomach stirred. His hand shook so badly he almost spilled his drink. Quickly tossing it off, he stepped through the French doors onto the veranda, welcoming the sharp ocean breeze.
Frantically he searched his pockets for a pill. The evening had gone badly from the start. A trustee who’d already made several trips to the bar had stopped to offer congratulations on the hospital’s new teaching program.
When Thomas had stared blankly in response, the man had muttered a quick apology and backed out of the room. Thomas had been about to search out Ballantine and demand an explanation when he’d seen Cassi.
God, what a fool he’d been. Now that he thought about it, it was obvious George and Cassi were having an affair. No wonder she never complained when he stayed so often in the hospital. Mercilessly his mind teased him with the idea that they met in his house. The image of George in their bedroom made Thomas cry out in rage. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a couple standing in the doorway, and Thomas was suddenly afraid they were aware of the affair.
Obviously they were talking about him. He pulled out another pill, swallowed it, and went back inside for another drink.
Frantic to find Thomas, Cassi began to work her way around the living room, excusing herself as she squeezed among the guests.
She was on her way into the bar when she found herself face to face with Dr. Obermeyer.
“What a coincidence!” he said. “My most difficult patient!”
Cassi smiled nervously. She remembered she’d reneged on her promise to call him that day.
“Unless my memory fails, you were supposed to schedule your surgery today,” said Dr. Obermeyer. “Did you talk to Thomas about it?”
“Why don’t I come to your office tomorrow morning,” said Cassi evasively.
“Maybe I should talk to your husband,” said Dr. Obermeyer. “Is he here?”
“No,” said Cassi. “I mean, yes he’s here, but I don’t think this is the time …”
A tremendous yell shook the room, halting all conversation and stopping Cassi in midsentence. Everyone looked confused; everyone but Cassi. She recognized the voice. It was Thomas! Running back toward the dining room, she heard another shout, followed by a crash of broken glass.
Pushing her way through the other guests, Cassi saw Thomas standing in front of the buffet, his face flushed with anger, a number of broken plates at his feet.
Staring at him in horrified surprise was George Sherman, a drink in one hand and a carrot stick in the other.
As Cassi watched, George reached out and patted Thomas’s shoulder with the carrot, saying, “Thomas, you’re mistaken.”
Thomas knocked George’s arm away with a vicious snap of his wrist. “Don’t touch me! And don’t ever touch my wife. Understand?” He jabbed a threatening finger into George’s face.
“Thomas?” said George helplessly.
Cassi ran between the two men. “What is the matter with you, Thomas?” she said, grabbing his jacket. “Control yourself!”
“Control myself,” he repeated, turning toward her. “I think that applies more to you than me.”
With a final sneer, he shook himself from Cassi’s grasp and headed for the front door. Ballantine, who’d been in the kitchen, followed, calling his name.
Cassi apologized quickly to George and moved toward the door, her head bent to avoid the curious stares.
Thomas meanwhile had found his coat and was saying angrily to Ballantine, “I’m terribly sorry about all this, but learning that one of your colleagues is having an affair with your wife is hard to take.”
“I, I can’t believe that,” said Ballantine. “Are you sure.
“I’m sure,” said Thomas. He turned to open the door as Cassi ran up and caught his arm.