Page 6 of Look on the Bright Side

“Reports were that you couldn’t take it. Too soft.”

Hospital grapevine, ever reliable, faster than the speediest internet connection on earth. He’d probably heard before she called Addie. But why did he care? “Dr.Santini, you asked me…well, ordered me here tonight. I’m your guest. Please don’t insult me.”

“I was told you have issues with people dying. Oncology is a strange choice in that case. I’m not sure how much better the ER will be.”

“Thanks for your opinion.”

Their salads arrived, his nutritious looking, hers smothered in delicious garlicky dressing and buttery croutons. She took a bite and groaned a little. “So good,” she said around the romaine. “Is that why I’m here?” Was there some sort of hospital requirement for senior doctors to mentor residents? “Did you want to advise me on my career?”

He scoffed. “Hardly. I imagine you’ll be churning out babies in three years, not practicing medicine at all.”

“Wow. Okay. I think you need to talk to an obstetrician. Babies aren’t exactly churned.” The buzz was really…helpful. “What’s your first name, by the way? Since we’re enjoying this lovely meal together?”

Dr.Satan considered the question, as if wondering if she was worthy. “Lorenzo,” he said after a minute.

“Oh, nice. Tell your mom she did a good job.” He said nothing, just chewed his greens. “My name is Lark,” she added. “Larkby, but everyone calls me Lark, except for my twin sister. We’re identical.” People loved twins. He didn’t comment. “Do you have siblings, Lorenzo?”

His eye twitched. Didn’t like being called anything but God, she guessed. “Yes. I have a brother and two sisters,” he said after too long.

“I have a brother and three sisters,” she said. “Harlow’s the oldest; then Addie, or Addison; then four minutes later, me; then Winnie, whose real name is Windsor; and then our baby brother, Robbie. Robert. Named after our grandfather. And Addie is married to Nicole, and they have two daughters, Esme and Imogen. Oh, and Harlow…well, never mind. That’s a story for another day.”

“Did I indicate interest in your family?”

“No, but someone has to fill the silence.”

“Why?”

Fair point. She took another sip of wine and continued eating her excellent Caesar salad. The burrata came, and she dug into that, too. So creamy, so delicious. “Want a bite?” she offered.

Lorenzo Santini’s answer was in the disdain in his eyes. He drank his water. Drummed his fingers against the table.

It was only after his healthy meal and her cholesterol fest were set down in front of them and Brian had once again scuttled away that Dr.Satan spoke.

“I’m looking for someone to do a job for me. Unrelated to medicine.”

“I see. What is it?”

He took a bite of salmon and chewed thoroughly, not looking at her. If this is what dating was like, Lark was glad she didn’t waste her time.

“Dr.Santini? Do you need a new roof? A driver? A housekeeper?”

Still no answer.

“Do I have to guess?” She took a bite of steak. “Oh, my God! This is the best steak I’ve ever had.”

Her dinner companion took another couple of tidy, joyless bites of his fish. Then he set his fork and knife down.

“How is everything?” asked Brian, coming over to check.

“Go away,” Dr.Santini said.

“It’s wonderful,” Lark said. “Thank you, Brian.”

The boy widened his eyes at Lark in sympathy and obeyed Dr.Santini. More silence ensued. Lark found she didn’t mind, because the food was so good. And the wine! Like velvet.

Finally, after an interminable amount of time had passed, Dr.Satan—Lorenzo—took a breath, paused, then exhaled. “It’s a delicate situation,” he said. “It involves my family.”

She waited for more. More did not come.

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