Promise Me Eternity Read Online Free Page B

raised himself up,
looked at her with longing, and slipped his right hand inside her
robe.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” she
snapped. “Get your hand away!”
    He kissed her on the neck and stroked her
belly. “What if we went to bed instead?”
    “Bed? What, now?” She shifted her neck away
from his lips. “It’s way too early, honey. Plus, I’m not in the
best mood. I’ve got a headache coming on.”
    His hand froze. Gritting his teeth, he slowly
withdrew it. “We haven’t made love in over five days, Anita. Is
anything wrong?”
    She kissed him on the eyes, cheeks, lips.
“Nothing is wrong, darling. But really, I’m just not in the mood.
What else can I say?” Again she switched channels. “I don’t know
why we pay for cable when there’s never anything worth
watching.”
    Jerry Duncan suppressed his disappointment.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
    “You’re so sweet. I’ll have another glass of
wine.”
    He leaped up and went to the refrigerator.
When he had put the glass on the coffee table and again settled
himself next to her, she said, “Would you mind getting me a Coke
too? I think I’d like a drink. What do you say?”
    Again, he stood up and went to get the
Coca-Cola.
    “Finally, something worth watching!” She had
found an interesting adventure movie. “Honey, hurry up or you’ll
miss the beginning.”
    Lying together on the sofa, they watched the
movie.
     
     
     
     

Chapter 6
    _______________________
     
     
     
    Dr. Brad Horras, the director of Medford
Central Hospital, was sitting in a big, black leather armchair,
examining the previous month’s expense records. While staring at
the numbers, he had his glasses perched on the tip of his nose, his
forehead deeply furrowed. He didn’t like what he saw. The expenses
were way over budget.
    Dr. Horras was a decisive man in his sixties
who never gave an inch where his principles were concerned. Several
times a day he’d look at himself in the mirror and comb his thick
gray hair. Though hardly young anymore, he was nonetheless
satisfied with how he looked. He had a strong chin and wide,
piercing eyes.
    A knock at his office door startled him.
“Come in,” he said automatically. He ran his hands over his temples
and wondered who would be disturbing him at this time of day. “Oh,
it’s you, Simon. What can I do for you?”
    “Good morning. I’m sorry to bother you,” Dr.
Patterson said. “I know you’re very busy.”
    Dr. Horras let out a long exhalation and
nodded with a slight frown.
    Simon didn’t know how to begin, so he jumped
in. “I’ve mentioned a few times before that I’m interested in
pathology research. I set up a small laboratory in my basement and
I think I’m on the brink of a big discovery.”
    Brad Horras rested his head on his right
hand. He knew exactly what Simon Patterson wanted to tell him.
Simon had already told the director at least three times about
wanting to devote himself entirely to research and stop doing brain
surgery. And each time Dr. Horras had rejected the idea. He simply
could not afford to lose such a capable neurosurgeon.
    “I don’t have a lot of spare time and if I
could devote myself to research the whole time, then …” Dr.
Patterson knew the hospital had all the equipment needed for
pathology research. Along with the time issue, this was the most
important reason to work in the hospital as a scientist.
    “Listen, Simon, didn’t we have this
conversation last month? I thought I made it clear this is not
something I can consider. Don’t you know how valuable you are for
the hospital? Don’t you realize how many lives you save every
month?”
    Simon Patterson struck the desk with his
hand. “I don’t give a damn about all those lives! Let someone else
save them! What about my life? Don’t I have the right to do what I
want?”
    Shocked at the outburst, the hospital
director said, “Get a hold of yourself, Doctor! There’s no need for
you to pound on my