“Natalie, this is Dr. Kim Yang, Dr. Steven Powers and Dr. Herb Fallows. They all practice pediatrics at Loma Linda in California.”
She set her plate on the table and shook the outstretched hands as Matthew continued the introductions.
“And this talented lady is Dr. Natalie Sterling.”
She’d swear she saw him wink at her from the corner of her eye, but she kept her focus on the others.
“Natalie is a pediatric cardiac surgeon at Memphis Children’s Hospital with Dr. Ramone Luiz,” he continued.
“Hi.” Smiling, she sat down and turned to ask Matthew something that had been nagging at her mind and hit her again when he mentioned the hospital. “I’ve been meaning to ask you—why did you fly in from Memphis?”
For the briefest moment his face took on the dark expression he’d had on the plane, but it quickly disappeared behind a smile. “I was visiting family.”
Reminding herself not to sound too personal in front of the others, she asked, “You have family in Memphis?”
Asking personal questions probably wasn’t a good idea when a woman was only having a three-day affair, but she hadn’t been able to curb her curiosity.
He hesitated a moment. “My mother lives just over the Hernando de Soto Bridge on the Arkansas side.”
Natalie’s pulse pounded at her temple. She lived on Mud Island. His mother lived just across the Mississippi River from her. That meant he probably came to Memphis from time to time to visit.
Natalie put a hold on her racing thoughts of possibly seeing him again in the future.
Three days. That was what they’d agreed to and what she’d stick to. They were only on Friday of their weekend together. They still had the rest of the day, all of Saturday and part of Sunday before she flew home. It would be enough.
Even if by some miracle Matthew wanted to continue to see her, trying to maintain a long-distance relationship would be near impossible. She already worked long hours. When she got her promotion she’d be working even longer ones, because she’d essentially continue to do her job but be taking over the parts of Dr. Luiz’s job he was relinquishing with his partial retirement.
If Matthew wanted to see her during his trips to Memphis, she’d say no. Sticking to the three days would be better than trying to stretch out what couldn’t last and turning a fantasy into something waiting to fall ap
art.
“West Memphis in Arkansas isn’t that far from where I live,” she said, feeling as if she should say something for the benefit of the other three at the table, who were listening in curiously.
Maybe for Matthew, too, as he’d become overly interested in his food.
If he thought he needed to worry that she would push to see him in Tennessee, he was wrong. She had her priorities, and a relationship beyond Sunday was not one of them, no matter how phenomenal a lover he was.
Fortunately, the conversation turned to the conference. A few minutes later, the two men left the table, but Dr. Yang stayed and chatted with Matthew and Natalie about everything from her vegan diet to her faith.
The room had cleared out except for the wait staff cleaning the room.
“I’ve kept you two from making it to the first session on time,” Kim said, glancing at her fitness wristband and wincing when she realized what time it was. “Sorry.”
“No problem,” Natalie assured, placing her fork and napkin on her empty plate. “I was late coming downstairs anyway.”
Not really late, but when she and Matthew had calculated how long they could stay in bed that morning they’d not allotted time for mealtime socializing.
“Maybe we can sneak into the back and catch the presentation highlights.”
When they rose to leave the table, Kim swayed.
Natalie noted how pale she was and moved around the table. “Are you okay?”
But she was too late. Kim’s eyes rolled back and her knees buckled, causing her to slump backward. Just before she hit the carpeted floor, Matthew grasped the woman, lowering her to the carpet.
“Dr. Yang?” He gently shook her. “Can you hear me?”
Natalie checked the woman’s pulse, normal at seventy-six beats per minute. Although unconscious, she was breathing okay, too. “Vitals are stable.”