FINDERS KEEPERS

Part 5

Carl held Jules at arms length and looked her up and down. "I cannot believe you are really here, standing in front of me. I wasn't sure I?d ever see you again."

"Did you really think I'd let my favorite patient get away? Since I wasn?t at the clinic when you visited in November I thought I would come to you."

"Visited? It was more like offering myself up for sacrifice," he laughed.

"Fine way to talk about your home away from home," she joked. "Just because I wasn?t there to pretty up the place doesn?t mean you should knock it."

"Not even Nurse Nealen, the old battle-ax?"

"We-e-lll. Maybe her. She truly is a nutcracker that one."

"You are not the one she bathed once a day. Now, if it had been you ministering to my needs with those gentle hands?"

"Ah, flattery will get you everywhere. Especially the commissary after midnight." They laughed at the shared memory. "You were the only patient to get me into trouble for something as trivial as cookies. Shortbread cookies at that."

"What can I say? Chocolate chips do not excite me."

"Speaking of excitement, all the pretty nurses want you to know how unbearable it is without you."

"Ah, my ladies miss me."

"Your harem is more like it seeing as how you had them wrapped around your finger. They were always willing to help Jacob, the ward's leading mischief-maker. In fact, they send all their love and kisses and demanded I deliver them myself."

"Special delivery?" The old glint she remembered was back in his eyes and for a moment they were back at the clinic, holed up in her office planning their day.

"Carl?"

They jumped apart at the intrusion of Rachel?s voice.

"Rachel darling, I?d like you to meet someone very special to me."

"I know who she is. We met on the plane yesterday." Rachel eyed the woman with new interest. "Julie, right?"

Jules eyes widened in shock. "Oh goodness, fancy that. You're his wife? I wish I'd known, it would?ve changed everything."

"So do I. Who would you be and how do you know Carl?" Rachel shook the other woman?s hand.

"Carl," Jules said, feeling the weight of his name on her tongue. "If I had suspected you were you I would have fully introduced myself. I?m Jules Seagrave"

Rachel?s face lit up with recognition. "Dr. Seagrave? THE Dr. Seagrave? You are the doctor who saved my husband's life."

"The one and only Rachel. If not for those skilled hands I would not be standing by your side today." He captured Jules' hand and kissed it reverently.

"Please, you give me too much credit. I, I was merely part of a team."

"Nonsense," Rachel replied. "Without you we would both be lost."

"Or dead," Carl added.

"You saved him for me and for that I am eternally grateful. I only wish I?d known who you were on the plane."

"Now that you know my darling, we can invite Jules to dinner tonight and have a nice, long chat. She has some stories I'm sure you would love to hear."

"Lucky for you there?s such thing as doctor-patient confidentiality," Jules winked.

"It?s a date then. We?ll send the car around for you tonight, around six. Where are you staying?"

"The Bellefleur."

"Oh Carl, I just remembered we have tickets for the symphony tonight."

"Tonight? Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Then we?ll cancel."

"No, no you mustn?t do that," Jules insisted. "I do not wish to interrupt your plans. My appointment may run rather late this evening and I wouldn?t want to spoil your Valentine?s Day." She glanced at her watch. "I?m afraid I?m late even now."

"Appointment?" Carl asked, puzzled. "You?ve an appointment?"

"Yes, and I really should be going. I'll be in town for several days so there isn?t any reason why we can't get together for lunch tomorrow."

Rachel and Carl exchanged glances. "Alright, that's settled then. We shall meet tomorrow. Rachel will leave a message at the Bellefleur's desk concerning places and time."

Jules beamed, she was relieved they believed her. "Thank you and I?m sorry, but I really must go." She moved to kiss him only to pull away. Squeezing his hand, she settled for a simple smile and left.

"How very interesting," Rachel remarked. "It really is a small world."

"Yes, it is. Honestly, I hadn?t given Jules much thought since leaving the clinic. I?m glad she's here though."

"Really? Am I finally going to hear of your exploits?"

Carl threw an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Exploits? Darling, I was unable to walk or talk most of the time I was there. That leaves very little to do you know. Jules is quite a decent person and took wonderful care of me. I promise you will absolutely love her."

***

She?d lied, lied, lied. No appointment existed, no meeting. She?d lied to him. And her, mustn't forget the wife.

So what. Did the lie matter? Jules shrugged. Not really.

Jules danced around her room like a schoolgirl. Jacob, Jacob, she?d finally found him. His name was Carl, but that problem could be overcome. A rose by any other name was still as sweet.

She stopped before her meager selection hanging in the closet. She?d packed her nicest things but nothing seemed to suit her mood. Maybe she should buy herself something new. That was it! Something new and classy and different. For once in her adult life she didn't want to look like a staid professional. While it was good for the career, it wasn?t the best for one?s personal life.

Picking up the phone, she called the front desk and inquired about the local shops. The best shops. Hell, she could afford it.

?to be continued?feedback is always appreciated ? especially with this story?J