Free The Doctor and the War Widow by Viola Russell

Underneath the rose was etched J-O-R-D-A-N. Who was Jordan? His wife’s name was Maureen. Harley frowned at the spark of jealousy ignited inside her psyche. She laughed softly at her possessiveness. The letters could have spelt his late wife’s name. That would be much worse. Besides, she wouldn’t ask him about anything upsetting after she’d had such a good time.
    Harley rose, walked into the bathroom, slipped on a T-shirt and panties. Time to put on the coffee. Nico appeared from the spare bedroom, wagging his tail. She stroked his ears and let him out the back door. Harley heard her lover stirring in the living room. She glanced at the backyard as Nico roamed, chasing a squirrel. Firecrackers littered the yard. The Fourth of July. In Abisi’s arms, Harley hadn’t heard a thing. In his arms, she’d felt safe. Harley stared through the window. The familiar white bird chirped happily in an oak tree.
    “Dad, what do you know about this woman?”
    Abisi could hear the worry in his daughter’s voice even though they were thousands of miles away.
    “She’s no ax-murderer, if that’s what you mean.” He’d phoned Jessica from his office at the hospital in one of the few spare moments he had, and he certainly hadn’t planned a major discussion of the intricacies of his love life, but his daughter had sensed some change in him and persisted.
    “You just have to be careful, for God’s sakes.” Her clipped British accent was too much like her mother’s, but he’d loved them both. Maureen had on occasion driven him close to murder, but her passion kept him coming back. Now, he’d found the same kind of ardor in Harley. In some ways, she was like Maureen. Very prim on the surface but smoldering layers of volcanic intensity under a peaceful façade. Why shouldn’t he be happy? God knows he’d been single long enough. That one disastrous romance after Maureen’s death, but . . . His daughter’s voice pulled him back to the present.
    “Maybe she wants a meal ticket, as the Yanks say.”
    Abisi switched the cell to his other ear. His daughter was too skeptical for being so young. “She works, Jessie.”
    “A teacher. She can’t make much money. Does she know that you inherited money from Gran and Granddad?” He heard her sigh in undisguised exasperation.
    “No, and she hasn’t asked.” The conversation was beginning to gall. “Is it so impossible to imagine someone wants me? I know you think I’m old, but even men my age can want happiness.”
    “I’m sorry, Dad.” Her tone softened. “I just don’t want to see a repeat of that whole Kimberly episode. That woman saw you as an easy mark, and she moved on you.”
    Well, Abisi had to agree with Jessica on that one. Kimberly had been a clear disaster. She was a few years Harley’s junior but inferior to her in every other way. They’d met at a party soon after he arrived in New Orleans, and Abisi had been charmed by her vivacity and unpredictability. Soon, the relationship spiraled out of control. She pouted when he didn’t take her to the most elaborate restaurants. He bought her a car for her birthday, but she disparaged the brand. Abisi enjoyed walks along the river or in the French Quarter. Kimberly liked loud clubs where people had to scream above the music. Their association ended when she humiliated him at the hospital Christmas party. She accused him of flirting with a nurse and tossed a drink on him. The whole fiasco was doubly humiliating because she now worked at the same hospital as an x-ray technician, and Abisi suspected her obtaining the job was no accident. He avoided her and refused to dwell on the experience.
    “Yes, yes, Kimberly was a mistake, but I think Harley will be around for some time. In fact, that’s why I called. I wanted to tell you I’m going to invite her to London for your wedding. I didn’t expect such debate or I wouldn’t have said anything.” Abisi took in a deep breath. He wanted Jessica to like