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pleasant little mishap behind us.” Helen somehow managed to look both apologetic and reprimanding. As she spoke the doctor perused her face. She was pretty from a distance. Up close Trey could see fine lines around her mouth and eyes. Her lips were puffy and misshapen from too many collagen injections and her eyes were a tad too close together. Trey just nodded his head slowly and returned his attention to his cell, tapping the screen like a pro. Helen couldn’t reconcile the dirt under the nails with the hands of a surgeon, especially one with the reputation of Dr. Carver. Rumor had it he could work miracles. God I hope he cleans up well. He really took that play thing seriously . She waited as patiently as she could for acknowledgement of her apology, shifting just enough to ease the pain from her expensive, but uncomfortable, shoes. Just when she started to squirm in discomfort, he put his phone back in the breast pocket of his jacket. “Well, Mrs. Pierson, don’t worry about it. It’s all water under the bridge, so to speak.” Helen’s knees weakened in relief and her hand fluttered like a dying pigeon in front of her chest. She reached out to steady herself on Trey’s truck, saw how grungy it was and pulled her hand back. Trey noticed and allowed himself a small, bemused smile. “Oh, thank you so much! You know this just isn’t like me at all. I promise to be on my best behavior tomorrow.” She turned and began her slow retreat to her car as if to demonstrate what a good girl she could be. Trey waited for her to settle into her seat before calling after her. He had the feeling of a man who was entering much needed therapy after a long mental illness. The good Dr. Carver had been placating and taking orders from women like this for way too long. It was time to end it. There were more important people that could use his help, children for example. He started his practice with a desire to make people as beautiful out- side as they were inside. Not the reverse. “Mrs. Pierson? Don’t worry about the appointment tomorrow. Or ever. I’m giving your appointment to someone I can actually help. With your attitude, nothing I can do will ever make you beautiful.” He smiled broadly at her deer-in-the-headlight expression for a moment before pulling his head back in the truck. The screech as he rolled the window up almost drowned out that of Helen. Almost. Back to Contents 16