Free Good Medicine by Bobby Hutchinson Page A

really say much the last time we talked, except that you were leaving Vancouver—and Garry. I’m worried about you. Did you leave St. Joe’s because of him? The asshole’s not giving you a hardtime, is he?” When she didn’t answer, Toby cleared his throat apologetically. “I guess it’s no surprise that I never liked the guy.”
    â€œNo surprise, no.” Toby had only met Garry once, and there’d been raised hackles on both sides. Garry had made it plain he had no use for Jordan’s brother. And Toby, bless his heart, had simply never mentioned her husband.
    She was going to have to lie a little—either that, or Toby might pay Garry a visit. Her brother was a physical man.
    â€œHe wasn’t exactly thrilled that I was leaving the marriage, but no. No real hassles, and I’ve got a good lawyer.”
    She hadn’t told Toby why she was leaving Garry, and she wasn’t about to now. She couldn’t handle any more conflict in her life.
    â€œHe’s a bully, you watch out for him. You need anything, you let me know right away, okay?”
    â€œI will. And I’ll phone you next time.”
    â€œGreat. You think you’re going to like it there in Ahousaht? I looked it up on the Net—it sounds pretty isolated to me.”
    â€œIt is isolated. It’s too soon to say for sure how well I’ll adapt, but I’m committed for a year, so I’ll give it my best shot.”
    â€œThey’re lucky to have you.”
    â€œI’m grateful for the job.” She was, too. She’d felt like her old self today, listening to lungs and tapping backs and examining kids’ ears.
    â€œI miss you, Toby.”
    â€œMe, too. I love you, kid. By the way, I heard from Dad last week. He’s moved into a care facility and he’s got a phone now. You want the number?”
    Suddenly the tenderness between them was gone, and Jordan resented the loss. But it wasn’t Toby’s fault. It was her father’s.
    â€œNope. I don’t really have anything to say to him.”
    Toby sighed, deep and long. “He’s getting old, Jordan.”
    â€œMike made his choices a long time ago.”
    â€œHe’s old and sick, Jordan. And he’s lonely.”
    â€œI’ll keep on sending you money for anything he needs—as long as he never knows it’s from me. But he’s just going to have to learn to live with loneliness. The same way you and I did.” Her voice was hard. “He’s got the advantage there—he’s an adult, with choices.”
    She’d been four when their mother died; Toby six. After a scant month of trying to care for them on his own, Mike—a logger—put them in foster care. At first, attempts were made to keep them in the same foster home. But by the time Jordan started school, she and her adored big brother had been moved twice, and visits between them arranged by the social workers petered out.
    It hadn’t taken long for Mike to drop contact with his children altogether. The only stability in Jordan’s life during those years was school, and she’d compensated by excelling academically.
    Toby quit school early and ended up in serious trouble. She’d been lucky enough to eventually find wealthy foster parents who helped pay her way through university.
    And yet it was Toby who now said, “Life’s too short to carry grudges, Jordan.”
    â€œIt’s not a grudge, Toby.” She’d convinced herself of that. “It’s simply a case of indifference. I really don’t have any feelings for him. He wasn’t there when I graduated, not high school, not university, not when I became a full-fledged physician. I gave up on him, the way he gave up on us.”
    â€œGod knows I hated him myself for years.” Toby’s voice was subdued, the earlier lightness gone. “But all that did was sap my energy. And when he turned up, he