Free A Shattered Wife by Diana Salyers

empty.
Even the nails that held the chart in place were gone. Martha stared at the
blank space, blinking, not trusting her own eyes. Had it been there during
lunch? Where could it be?
    "You’re so tired," Paul said, smoothing back her
hair, a gentle and caring smile on his face. "Tomorrow I want to see you
in my office. I’m going to give you a thorough examination and some pills to
help you sleep."
    Martha shook her head violently and found her voice. "I
don’t need to go to sleep. I don’t need an examination. It was here this
morning."
    "Okay, if you say it was here, it was. It’s gone now!"
Paul pushed two capsules into her hand and left her standing in the kitchen
alone. Martha ran outside to her rose garden. There she sank to her knees and
wept. What was happening? Bill had always been so strong and sure; she could
always trust him. Now she wasn’t even sure she could trust herself.
    ***
    "That didn’t take long," Bill said, buttoning his
shirt across his hairy chest.
    Paul was returning instruments to his bag. "I told you
there were only a few things I wanted to check. You’re in very good shape."
    "Sure. I’ve never felt better."
    "How are you sleeping?"
    "Great." Another lie.
    The doctor took a deep breath and looked at Bill closely. "You’re
really amazing. Your recovery is unbelievable."
    "That’s good to hear, Doc. Will I ever tap dance again?"
    Paul laughed aloud at the old joke. "I have some
wonderful news."
    Bill looked suspicious. "What news?"
    "I want to tell you and Martha at the same time. Come on."
    Wheeling his chair behind Paul, Bill frowned. He didn’t like
surprises.
    Martha was still in her rose garden, concentrating on their
beauty in order to calm herself, when she saw the two men come outside. Her
tears were gone but inside she was screaming for help. Motioning for her to
join them, Paul insisted that she sit in a chair next to Bill. He perched
lightly on the porch railing in front of them, his long legs dangling. The late
afternoon cast long shadows on the lawn.
    Bill had picked up the shotgun and was scanning the
driveway.
    "What is this all about?" Martha asked, looking
from the young man to the older one and back again. Had he told Bill what she
had said? But Paul was smiling happily and Bill wasn’t paying attention to
either of them.
    "Our patient is doing just fine," he said finally.
    At this Bill reluctantly looked away from the driveway. He
was tired of playing games and wished Paul would leave.
    Martha’s wary expression did not change. Sure, she thought,
you didn’t check inside his head.
    "The examination I did today was for a special reason.
There were a few things I had to check." Paul wished he could stop
grinning. He didn’t want to sound too encouraging. "There’s an
experimental operation that might enable you to walk again.
    Martha’s sudden, swift intake of breath made both men look
at her. "Are you sure?"
    "One hundred percent sure?" Bill asked, not at all
convinced.
    Paul shook his head. "Nothing is that sure."
    A dozen conflicting emotions hit Martha at once.
    "What are my chances?"
    "I’m not sure. I’d have to talk with the specialists,"
Paul said, shrugging lean shoulders and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I’d
say at least 50/50."
    "I’m not a gambling man," Bill said shortly and
returned his gaze to the rhododendron bushes that border the driveway.
    A thick silence hung over them.
    Finally, Paul picked up his bag. "Why don’t you two
talk it over? I’ll see you next week. By that time I’ll have more information and
can give you a better picture."
    "We’ll do that," Martha said from her seat. She
did not trust her legs to hold her.
    Paul turned and looked at Bill. "I hear your son paid
you a visit." Again, just saying the words brought a pang of jealousy.
    Martha froze, horrified.
    "Yeah," Bill said without taking his eyes off the
driveway. "We had a real nice time."
    "Good. You might want to discuss this with him. You
know, get his