The Forever Stone by Gloria Repp Read Free Book Online

volume of blood in her veins.
    Blood? Oh, no, was he—?
    “You’re the doctor, aren’t you?” When would she learn not to spout her opinions? “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
    His eyes glinted with amusement. “Don’t worry about it. After all, you didn’t know you were speaking to a medical deity.”
    Even worse. He’d heard that from Timothy .
    The doctor took a bite of his cookie, chewed slowly, reflectively. “I’ve met doctors who are exactly as you have described. But you may find that they’re not all alike.”
    His reasonable tone was disarming. “Perhaps I should give you the benefit of the doubt,” she said, the doubt lingering in her voice.
    “I hope so, Mrs. Burke. Perhaps you will even change your mind.”
    “That’s a generous response.”
    “It’s a self-serving response, since I’m sitting here eating your cookies. And I have a project that could use your expertise.”
    She should have left when she had the chance. She glanced at Timothy. “Did I mention ‘opportunistic’?”
    He looked wise and said nothing.
    The doctor nodded, as if he would agree to any shortcoming she cared to mention, but she stiffened her resolve. “I’m sure you can construct a sentence properly,” she said.
    “I just thought you could give me an opinion, since you’re a professional.”
    “But I don’t edit, not anymore. I don’t teach English anymore, either.” Nothing that would remind her of Dad and his ruffians or the stories they wrote.
    The gray eyes challenged her. “You really don’t want to do this. I wonder why.”
    Persistent, wasn’t he? She’d give him something to think about.
    “Here’s one reason, doctor. People say, ‘Tell me what you think,’ but what they mean is, ‘Tell me my work is good.’ And if I can’t say that, their feelings get hurt. If I presume to give advice, they don’t listen. It all comes down to a matter of ego, and I’m done with that.”
    He leaned back in his chair, and his eyes still had a cool gray look but the corners of his mouth turned up.
    “What do you find so amusing, Dr. Parnell?” She used his title deliberately, edged it with a trace of disrespect.
    “At risk of offending you, Mrs. Burke, I was thinking that you probably had no trouble controlling your students.”
    ”What do you mean?”
    “A glance like the one you just gave me. I’ve seen glaciers with that blue-green color.”
    “I got along well with my students.”
    “I would work as hard as any of them.”
    More determined than most. She frowned at her mug, aligned it with her plate. Loosen up. Perhaps he deserved a chance.  
    “I think you’re reading the wrong script,” she said. “This is where you’re supposed to give me a cold stare and walk off, clutching your papers to your manly chest.”
    He grinned, a quick boyish grin that transformed the scarred face. “You’ll look at it?”
    “Tell me why it’s so important.”
    Timothy pulled himself to his feet, smiling, and reached for the kettle. “More tea, anyone?”
    The doctor described his high-school English teacher, now a family friend and successful writer. Her latest project was to edit a collection of essays about Alaska, and she had asked him to submit a chapter for the book.
    “I’ve done three drafts,” he said, “but it’s missing something. I can’t disappoint her with work that’s second-rate.”
    “Will you give me a copy?”
    “Our printer just died,” Timothy said. “The new one should arrive next week.”
    The doctor leaned forward. “If you wouldn’t mind coming over to my office—it’s just next door—you could read it on my laptop.”
    But she would mind, very much.
    She looked a question at Timothy and he nodded, so she said, “Why not bring your laptop over here?”
    “That’s a good idea,” Timothy said. “If you’ll excuse me, I hear a customer. Our Friday afternoon rush, you know.”
     
    At least the man had enough sense not to watch her read it. He set up his laptop