Page 105 of Kiss an Angel

He didn’t say anything. She held herself tensely while she rearranged the wilting clover and lined up the salt and pepper shakers. She forced herself to remember that this was for his own good. They couldn’t make their marriage work as long as he insisted on keeping so many secrets from her.

She heard him move. “All right, Daisy. I’ll look at it.”

Her head shot up. She’d done it! She’d finally trapped him! Using all her cunning, she had gotten to the truth. Her husband was a doctor, and she’d just forced him to admit it.

She knew he’d be angry when he examined her and saw that she didn’t really have an ear infection, but she’d deal with that when it happened. Surely she could make him understand she’d only done it for his own good. It wasn’t healthy for him to be so secretive.

“Go sit on the bed,” he said. “Near the light where I can see.”

She did as he asked.

He took his time drying his hands at the sink before he set the towel aside and approached her.

“Don’t you need your doctor’s kit?”

“It’s in the locker in the back of the truck, and I’d rather not get wet right now if I don’t have to. Besides, there’s more than one way to diagnose an ear infection. Which ear is it?”

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then pointed to her right. He brushed her hair back and leaned down to examine it.

“The light’s bad. Lie back.”

She lay down on the pillow. The mattress sagged as he sat next to her and curved his hand around her throat. “Swallow.”

She did.

He pressed a bit harder with his fingertips. “Again.”

She swallowed a second time.

“Mmm. Now open your mouth and say ‘ah.’ “

“Ahhh.”

He tilted her head toward the light.

“What do you think?” she finally asked.

“You definitely have an infection, but I’m not sure it’s coming from your ear.”

She had an infection?

He slipped his hand just under her waistband and pressed her abdomen. “Does that hurt?”

“No.”

“Good.” He turned to reach for one of her ankles and moved it slightly apart from the other. “Lie still while I check an alternate pulse.”

She lay very still. Her forehead creased with worry. How could she have an infection? She felt fine. Then she remembered she’d had a slight headache the other morning, and sometimes she felt a little dizzy when she stood up too quickly. Maybe she was sick and didn’t even know it.

She regarded him with concern. “Is my pulse normal?”

“Shh.” He moved the other ankle so that her legs were separated and then gently clasped both her knees through her sweat suit. “Have you had any joint pain recently?”

Had she? “I don’t think so.”

“Usually, I’d expect joint pain.”

“You would?”

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