Charles answered the phone on the third ring, as he knew James did.
“Romsons’.”
“Hello. This is Sue Jenson. I’m looking for Charles Sitton.” “Oh. Hi, Sue, this is Charles.” He felt a little flutter in his stomach at the sound of her voice.
“Doctor Lambert wanted me to give you a call and see how you feel today.”
She didn’t mention she was the one who suggested the call. Doctor Lambert noted the connection between them in the hospital room and felt the contact would be good for both parties. Had he not specialized in cardiology, psychology would have been the field of choice. He was also a hopeless romantic.
“I’m doing well. I slept until almost ten o’clock. You have to let me go back to working, though. I can’t stand being cooped up like this. I’ve already fixed all the things around the house James hasn’t gotten around to fixing. I’m pacing around like a caged tiger. If I don’t have something to do, my mind keeps thinking.”
Sue laughed. “Doctor Lambert told me almost exactly what you would say. He didn’t know you would be doing things around the house for James, though. You don’t have any chest discomfort? Any shortness of breath?”
“No. Everything is fine. I think I just was exhausted and overwhelmed. I’m fit as a horse!”
“Okay, good. The doctor said it would be all right for you to go back to work tomorrow if, and it is a big if, you take it easy. I don’t want you—I mean—the doctor doesn’t want you to overdo yourself. If you feel the first sign of chest discomfort or shortness of breath, you are to call the office immediately. Understood?”
“Sure. Thanks a lot.”
“You are to continue taking the sleep aids, though. Don’t quit taking them without checking with us first. You need to get your rest, and at night, when things are quiet, is when the mind tends to wander. They will really help you—I know.”
“Okay. I’ll keep taking them. Look, you said if I needed to talk about things you were available. Could we get together and talk sometime soon?”
“Certainly. When would you like to talk?”
“How about this evening? Could I pick you up after work and take you to dinner? Just someplace quiet so we can talk?”
“Actually, I’m just leaving the office now, but I have to go pick up my son.”
“Great! I’ll meet you there in about ten minutes, and we can pick him up and take him with us, if it’s okay with you.”
Charles threw on a clean shirt, scribbled a short note to the Romsons, and hurried to his car. He felt almost like a schoolboy. As Charles raced to the hospital, guilt suddenly hit him. How could he be happy while Elizabeth was missing?