Do Harm by Rada Jones

Author:Rada Jones [Jones, Rada]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

31

Back in her cabin, Emma washes her laundry and hangs it up in the shower like she does every day since she has very little space to dry it. She’s almost ready for her clinic when the phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Since you blew me off when I offered to show you the island, how about dinner to show me that you don’t hold a grudge?”

“Frank?”

“Yep.”

“I’m not sure when I’ll be done with the clinic. And even afterward — I never know when I’ll get called.”

“It’s OK. I have time. And I’ll sacrifice myself to eat your entrée. Seven?”

“OK. Same place as before?”

“Yes. The Ambrosia is the best restaurant on the ship. It’s not free, like all the others, but it’s worth it. And I owe you a cioppino!”

Emma finds that she’s smiling as she hangs up. There’s something about Frank that’s half annoying, half endearing, like a puppy chewing on your shoes who licks your face as you scold it. And she can use the company and the conversation, let alone the cioppino!

He’s waiting at the door when she arrives at Ambrosia, five minutes early. He looks handsome and sharp with his crisp white shirt and perfect hair, and Emma wishes she wasn’t wearing the same black dress she wore the last time. But she didn’t have a choice. Her two suitcases had to hold everything from the old doctor’s bag with all her trinkets and her books to her winter clothes, so she’s a bit short on dress-up options.

“Hi.”

“You didn’t stand me up!”

Emma laughs.

“To be honest, I was tempted.”

“I knew it. Why?”

The maître d’ takes her arm to lead them to the table in the corner, where an emaciated pianist dressed in a tuxedo slides his long fingers along the keys playing Gershwin.

“Wine?” Frank asks.

“Of course.”

He whispers to the waiter, who nods and disappears, then turns back to Emma.

“So, why did you want to stand me up?”

“It’s been a long day, and I…”

“Emma, cut the crap. I don’t care about bullshit. Why?”

Emma looks into his intense blue eyes.

“Well, to be honest, you’re a little much.”

“How so?”

“You won’t take no for an answer. You act like you’re always right and behave like God’s gift to women.”

“But I am!”

He stares at her with the utmost conviction, and Emma bursts into laughter.

“I’m also well-informed, funny, and utterly charming. So there.”

Emma laughs even louder. The waiter brings the wine and shows him the bottle. Frank nods.

“Let’s taste it.”

The waiter pours just enough to stain the bottom of the glasses, then disappears with the bottle. Frank shakes his head.

“I hate it when they do that. Then they stalk you and pounce on your glass to pour more whenever you take a sip.”

Emma sniffs the wine. Black currant, cedar, and rose. She takes a sip. Substantial but smooth.

“Lovely wine. What is it?”

“A Pauillac. 2015 Grand-Puy-Lacoste. Now, admit it. You were pissed I didn’t ask you what wine you wanted.”

Emma nods sheepishly.

“I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to give you something you knew. I wanted to show you something new.

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