Page 25 of The Marriage Demand
It had only been the nightbefore last that she had seen him, but Elias wanted him to check on the wound, whichactually didn’t feel too bad at the moment. He’d been careful when he made loveto her.
“Good morning, Mrs.Moore,” he said.
She couldn’t help butsmile, as hearing her wedded title made her nervous.
“You don’t have to call methat. I prefer Winnie.”
“Winnie it is, then. Don’ttake this the wrong way, but I prefer Dr. Mansell. The only reason being Ispent a lot of time and money learning to be a good doctor.”
“That’s fine. I don’t mindit.”
“So, do you want to tellme what the problem is?”
“There is no problem.Elias was just worried.”
“Ah, and we do not wanthim worried at all, do we?”
“Well, it feels fine.”
Dr. Mansell came towardher, and they made their way into the dining room. She took a seat and shruggedoff her cardigan. Fall was in full swing now, and any remnants of the summersun were long gone.
“I think it is fine,”Winnie said.
“We will check it outanyway. Elias is paying for my involvement and I will make sure his mind is putto rest.”
“Have you known each otherlong?” she asked.
“Yes, a long time. He is agood man.”
“You know what he does?”she asked.
“Yes, I know what he does,but I have also seen what similar men do in his position. I know he is not agood guy, but his heart is in the right place. Like with you, he has opted tomakeyouhis wife. Trust me, the man I knew would notjust take any woman to be his wife. Elias must care for you.”
She looked at the doctorand hated how hopeful she felt.
“Do you think so?”
Dr. Mansell looked at herand then offered a smile. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Do you think that is abad thing?”
“No. Love is a good thing,but you see, love also makes us do many stupid things.”
“Elias doesn’t love me,”she said.
There was silence and shelooked up to find Dr. Mansell looking at her. He had a strange look on hisface.
“What is it? Is itinfected?”
“No. Your wound is healingnicely, just as I knew it would. What makes you think your husband doesn’t loveyou?” he asked.
“It was … he … uh, it’skind of complicated, and besides, Elias isn’t the kind of man to do the wholelove thing. You know?”
“Yeah, I do know.” Hesighed. “And I also know you don’t know what you’re talking about. Did you knowthat the man who shot you was working for a piece of shit I would like to seecompletely removed from this planet?”
She didn’t get a chance torespond as Dr. Mansell started to reel offeverythinghe hated about him.
“Bozo Robins is a small-timepimp. He worked the streets, took advantage of women, and for a long timeseemed like a small-time crook. Nothing to write home about. Pimps come and goall the time, and they tend to end up overdosing on the drugs they distribute.Only, Bozo was not just some addict. He was cruel. He knew the way to keep hisgirls in line was with force. Not only did he take women who were alreadyworking the street and force them to work for him, he took ninety-nine percentof the profits they made every single night, leaving them with next to nothing.He’d beat them. He would allow customers to beat them as well. The man wascruel, and I am not even going to paint the right picture.”
