“It’s a demanding trip around and down the peaks. It used to be called Dead Man’s Trail but that was bad for business.” Then she smiled. “Rock climbers love that area.”
“I bet people get in trouble out there,” he said.
“For the most part it’s inexperienced people, people who haven’t prepared, who run into trouble. But there’s always the random accident or illness. It’s very isolated. Sometimes they sit for a long time until another hiker can get word to first responders—rangers or fire and rescue. Occasionally, someone gets lost and search and rescue goes out. There’s a lot of federal land out here, fire stations, forest service, public land that’s remote. Then there’s wildfires, avalanches, floods. And the odd wildlife issues.”
“I’m going to have to get out there pretty soon,” he said. “As soon as I’m sure I’ll be warm.”
“You’ve said that all along,” she said. “I’m going to hate that day. For obvious reasons.”
He grinned his wicked grin. “That’s very flattering, Maggie. That day is not coming too soon. Also for obvious reasons,” he added.
“It would be kind of you to at least let me get tired of you.”
“But, Maggie. What if you never do?”
She just sighed. The one thing you always secretly hope for can become your biggest fear.
“Any special requests for dinner?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Something very lean, please. Sully’s eating a pastry.”
*
Maggie’s cell phone, left at the house, was beeping with a message. Her primary attorney, Steve Rubin, asked that she call him.
Her heart beat a little faster as she prayed. Please let it be news that the lawsuit is dropped!
“How are you doing, Maggie? How’s your dad?”
“He’s good, Steve. What’s up?”
“Well, it looks like we’re going to trial. It should be in about a month. Maybe two.”
“Crap,” she said. “Crap, crap, crap!”
“I don’t see this as terrible news. In fact, it will look better for you if you win this one rather than settling. I know it’s a little traumatic but our case is looking strong. Are you still at your dad’s?”
“I am. I think he could manage without me now if you think it would appear better if I went back to work...”
“Maggie, it makes no difference. The closing of your practice has no bearing on this case. And if your father is recovering from a heart attack and you’re the only relative, you have a perfectly good reason to be on leave. Unless you’re bored out of your wits or he’s driving you nuts... If you’re comfortable there, relax and try to enjoy the time off. However, you have to feel good about yourself and if working helps that, by all means, go back to work. I don’t consider it risky and neither do the many colleagues who have asked you to fill in for them.”
“They haven’t been emailing or calling, begging me to come back...”
“I know the kind of blow this is to your confidence, but I’m sure your colleagues are leaving you alone to rest and tend to family matters. With any luck we’ll have this behind us at about the same time you feel comfortable leaving your dad. Just do what keeps you sane for right now.”
“I’m not entirely sure I know what that is,” she said. But she was thinking she could stand a couple more weeks near Cal.
“One day at a time, Maggie,” he said. “I’m going to need some of your time as we get ready for a trial. I’ll need pretrial conferences, I’m sure the plaintiffs will want to depose you, and I’ll want to prep you before the trial begins. Call me in a few days and let me know if there are any changes in your work status.”
“Sure,” she said. “Listen, it’s not like this brought me to my knees, Steve. It’s a combination of things, really. Mostly my dad, but—”
“Maggie, go a little easier on yourself. This kind of thing brings everyone to their knees, even those big badass surgeons who didn’t have a single additional stressor in their lives. Believe me, I know. I’ve worked with a great many of them.”
She sighed. “My dad says I have high expectations of myself,” she said, when in fact it was she who carried those expectations.
“Yes, I know. Uncomfortable, I know. And that’s exactly what it takes to make a good surgeon. We’ll talk soon.”
She sat at her dad’s kitchen table for a half hour. When she went back to the store, she didn’t mention the call to anyone.
*
Cal settled into his cabin, the farthest one from the house, and Maggie was with him after their usual fire, then sneaked into her own bed in the middle of the night. The next night she got to bed a little earlier, but one of these days soon she was going to steal a whole night with Cal and not even blush about it.