LITMIR.BIZ

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       Chapter Five

      Lucky had often heard the flow of gossip referred to as a grapevine, but in a hospital, a more appropriate comparison would be the circulatory system, with its arteries and veins. And its heart, the pump through which all rumors flowed, was the cafeteria.

      As a rule, he enjoyed the hum of conversations, among which his ears caught intriguing snatches of news—about hirings and firings, love affairs and broken hearts. Once in a while the drama expanded to include the doctors.

      Until today, however, Lucky hadn’t understood the embarrassment of landing in the middle of a scene that drew all eyes. It started when Keely announced, without preamble, “I lost my roommate. I’ve decided to move into your house!”

      People peered toward them. The story of Karen’s home, its assorted occupants and the resulting pregnancies and marriages had already set many a tongue wagging.

      Laird choked, although Lucky couldn’t figure out on what. The psychologist hadn’t stopped yammering long enough to eat anything. Instead, he’d plopped his butt into a chair at Lucky’s table and begun citing his plans for throwing parties.

      He’d also proclaimed that his huge TV screen would transform their outdated living room into game central. Not that Lucky would mind, but the guy apparently didn’t consider it necessary to solicit Karen’s opinion.

      “Like hell you’re moving in!” Laird finally blurted in a voice that rose to a squeal. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

      “I cleared it with Zora.” Keely indicated that red-haired person, who gazed warily from the hot food line before ducking out of sight.

      Lucky nearly bellowed, “Get over here!” but more heads were swiveling. Not his doctor, mercifully. Through the glass doors, he spotted Dr. Rattigan out of earshot on the patio.

      “It’s a party house!” Laird, his usually pale face reddening with anger, didn’t appear to care who heard him roar. “You’re the last person in Safe Harbor anyone would invite to a party.”

      Silence fell save for the clink of tableware and glasses. The chatter of a man talking on a cell phone sounded abnormally loud, and then that too ceased.

      “Let’s skip the insults, shall we?” Lucky deliberately employed a soft tone in the hope the others would follow suit.

      The effort fell flat. “Oh, really?” Keely boomed. “I was invited to the baby shower, in case you forgot. As for you, Laird, you can take your grabby hands and go live in a brothel.”

      Lucky wouldn’t show cowardice by retreating from the scene. But he could remove himself from the line of fire on the pretext of assisting the pregnant lady.

      “Excuse me.” Springing up, he narrowly restrained the temptation to break into a run.

      Behind him, Laird snarled something about Keely being jealous because nobody made passes at her. Whatever the nurse responded, Lucky shut it out.

      “Let me help with that,” he told Zora, who had set down her tray as she paid for her lunch. He seized the tray without waiting for permission.

      She stepped away from the register. “People are staring.”

      “Can you blame them?” Lucky halted as a tableful of volunteers arose, blocking their path. Grateful for the delay, he smiled encouragingly at an elderly lady, a gift shop regular who creaked to her feet at glacial speed. To Zora, he asked, “How’d you hook up with Keely?”

      “She glommed on to me at Dr. Brennan’s office,” she explained.

      “You had to see the doctor? You aren’t having problems, are you?”

      “Routine checkup.”

      “You sure?” He searched her face for signs of pain. She had a bad habit of toughing things out, but she looked well enough today.

      What a sweet face, he thought, with a full mouth and a youthful sprinkling of freckles. Standing this close to Zora was having a weird effect on him. In light of their new pact, he wasn’t sure how to respond to her. It had been easier when he could drop a comment about Andrew into any conversation and receive a predictably angry retort.

      “Did you promise Keely she could move in?” That ought to stir a response.

      “Yes, but I warned her Karen has the final say.” Biting her lip, Zora peered toward Keely and Laird, who were continuing to insult each other. They’d lowered their voices a notch, but at this stage it only meant other diners leaned forward in their seats to hear them. One orderly went so far as to cup his hands around his ears. “She’d be a zillion percent better than Laird,” Zora said.

      “For once—twice, actually—we agree on something. Let’s not make it a habit.”

      “Certainly not,” Zora replied. “Life would get boring.”

      “I’m sure we’ll find plenty to squabble about.” Lucky dodged away as the elderly volunteer snapped her cane to the floor inches from his foot. “Hey!”

      She ambled out, not hearing him. Another volunteer responded with a quiet, “Sorry.”

      “Excellent reaction time,” Zora observed.

      “Thanks.”

      They resumed their journey toward the table, where Laird and Keely stood with arms folded, as if whoever was victorious in their staring contest would win the privilege of moving into the house. Around them, conversations slowly resumed.

      “Isn’t Keely eating lunch?” Lucky murmured. “She didn’t stop to pick up anything.”

      “Look on the bright side,” Zora said. “They can’t have a food fight.”

      “I’d enjoy a food fight,” he teased.

      “Of course you would.”

      “I didn’t say I’d participate.” He lowered her tray onto the table beside his. “Guys, how about easing off?”

      “Not till we settle this,” Keely said.

      “We can’t do that without...” He broke off at the approach of their landlady, who projected authority despite being no taller than Zora. Maybe it was this month’s black hair or the distinctive long skirts she favored, but more likely it was the quelling expression she wore. “Hey, Karen,” he ventured.

      Her frosty gaze swept the four of them. “Have a seat, everyone, and stop creating a spectacle.”

      They obeyed. “Now, what is this about?” Raising a hand to stop a barrage of words, Karen said, “Starting with Keely.”

      As the nurse explained about her roommate departing on short notice, Lucky watched Zora tuck into her food and thought about her twin. How could there be a carbon copy of her anywhere in the world? Surely no one had the same fiery temperament, or the same gift for frustrating the hell out of him while appealing to his masculine instincts. And why was Zady seeking to work near her sister, when the two appeared to be estranged?

      Still, twins were supposed to have a special bond, in contrast to Lucky and his older brother. He didn’t even know where Matthew lived now or whether he was still serving in the navy, and he didn’t care.

      Best friends during their teens, they hadn’t spoken in sixteen years. Their last fight, after their parents’ deaths, had been too bitter for either of them to forgive. Lucky deeply regretted his mistakes, but that didn’t give his brother the right to make vicious, unfair accusations and repeat them to other family members. As a result, Lucky had distanced himself not only from Matthew but also from his aunts, uncles and cousins.

      When Keely paused for breath, Laird jumped in. He insisted he had a prior claim and that the household needed him to liven things up.

      “I wasn’t aware we were dull,”

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