Chapter 23

He found her sitting in an easy chair reading a book, so he knocked lightly on the open door and said, “I’m sorry to intrude, but I didn’t know how to contact you.”

“Don’t worry about it. How’s the patient?”

“He’s fine. The surgery went well, and they just gave him a shot for pain that will leave him more or less out of it until this evening.”

“Have you had lunch?”

“No, Ma’am.”

“Then you will, of course, join me.”

It wasn’t a request, so he said, “I’d be honored.”

She picked up a little bell and rang it. The housekeeper appeared a few moments later, and Mrs. Lane said, “Hester, Dr. Foster will be joining me for lunch.”

“Very good,” Hester said, and left the room.

She looked at Tom and said, “I guess you’re going to have to amuse yourself for a couple of days.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I think I’ll go talk to Dale and ask him for the keys to the organ again. I brought a lot of music with me that needs working on.”

“It’s always a good thing to lose yourself in work.”