Free The Vigilante by Ramona Forrest Page B

when they leave home, they never really come back, do they?”
    Martha felt his pain. She reached out and took his hand. The sorrow in his voice compelled her to offer, “Bad things happen, Bob. We all get a shot of it at one time or another, but I have to say, you’ve certainly had more than your share.”
    He squeezed her hand and his smile lightened the mood considerably. “Hey thanks, Martha. Looks like we’ve lots of things to share, but for now, let’s relax and have a good evening. And here comes the chow.”
    After the waitress set their plates before them, they ate in comfortable silence. The sounds of people murmuring to each other, and the distant clink of dishes and glassware in the background, added to the warmth of their surroundings. Their booth encircled them, and Martha had greatly needed the feeling of security and comfort. The company wasn’t half bad either.
    She sighed and smiled at him. A tremor of excitement passed through her at his return glance. Her thoughts lightened even more as he reached out and squeezed her hand again. His touch had an unexpected effect. One she’d never experienced, not even with Chet, her lost love.
    “I lost my husband four years ago,” she murmured. “It was tough for me, but you have to go on. I’m sorry to mention it, but things happen, don’t they?”
    His eyes held hers with their warmth. “Yeah, I’d have to say they do, so you doing okay with that, these days?”
    “Yes. He left me well enough monetarily. I work more to get out of the house and be with people, than for expenses.” After a quiet moment, she went on. “It’s the aloneness, isn’t it?” She laughed. “Sorry, let’s enjoy our dinner—and the company.”
    “Hey, it’s okay, and sometime I’d like to hear everything about you.” After they ate, Bob returned her to her vehicle and made sure she got it started before he waved goodnight. Martha felt enveloped in a lovely glow and for a time, forgot her oppressive worries. “How good it is to shelve all my troubles, if only for a little while. I’m off tomorrow, thank God! I’m so tired!”
     

CHAPTER 10
     
     
    Two days later, feeling close to panic, Martha entered the office of Dr. Michael Carton. Her hands trembled so that she barely completed the required paperwork while sitting in the quiet, comfortable office, awaiting her first appointment. Not knowing what she might learn made her edgy. Her hands clenched into tight knots until she untwisted them and clamped onto the arms of her chair.
    When the nurse appeared at the door to summon her into that dreaded inner sanctum, she rose tight-lipped. With fear and escalating tension, she entered the doctor’s office, took the indicated chair, and sat stiffly upright, neither enjoying or caring how nice the large, soft, brown leather chair felt against her back. Heart hammering, she waited for him to begin.
    After introducing himself, he asked. “How are you, Martha?”
    “I’m fine.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own.
    He nodded, indicating he understood her hesitancy. “I want to help you. Your reason for seeing me states you’ve had periods of time lapses. Why don’t you just tell me as best you can what has occurred, when these episodes began, and what concerns you enough to seek treatment. We’ll take a look at those things and see what can be done.”
    Fearful of his reaction, she began, “Doctor, things are happening to me, lately. I have memory lapses. I find new things lying about that I don’t remember buying. I even have spots on my arm—I don’t know how I got them or even what they are.” She looked at him, wondering if he thought her crazy as a loon, but even with this small beginning, she felt her hands loosen their frantic grip on the arms of her chair and her insides began to warm and relax as she let her worries out.
    “Humm, of course, as you know, everything has a cause, a reason, if you will, for its occurrence. Perhaps we could go back a few