The M.D. Next Door

Lowering the book, Meagan frowned at her sister who had flopped over on the couch and was now watching her with a grin. “What?”

“You’ve read that same page about three times now, and I bet you still couldn’t tell me what it says. Obviously, your attention is wandering.”

Meagan closed the book and set it aside. “I guess it is. Just not in the mood to read today.”

“So? What are you in the mood for today?”

“What are you talking about, Maddie?”

Sitting up, Madison fluffed her work-and-nap-flattened blond hair, looking oddly refreshed from the very short nap. “I heard you had a date with Alice’s cute dad last night.”

Meagan frowned. She had not mentioned to anyone that she was going out with Seth last night. “How did you find out about that?”

“Julie Castor said she saw you at Joaquina’s last night dancing with an attractive man. She said you looked like you were having a very good time, if you know what I mean.”

Meagan had not caught even a glimpse of her sister’s friend last night, which only served to illustrate just how preoccupied she had been with Seth. Of course, the club had been crowded, she added quickly in her own defense. It was no surprise she hadn’t seen every other patron in the room.

“What made you think I was with Alice’s dad?” she asked rather lamely. “I do know other men, you know.”

“Uh-huh.” Madison looked at her.

Meagan sighed. “It was Seth.”

“And you’re still thinking of him today.”

“Maybe.”

“Getting serious, sis?”

“I’ve only known him a little more than three weeks.”

“Dad and Mom said it took them only as long as a Klingon saber dance to know they’d found the one.”

“Well, I need a little more time than that,” Meagan replied dryly. “I’m not actually looking for ‘the one.’”

“Everyone’s looking for ‘the one,’ Meg. We just hope we’ll know him when we see him—or her, in the guy’s case.”

“Or that we’ll have time to do anything about it when we find him?”

Madison smiled wearily. “There is that. Why did we go to medical school again?”

Before Meagan could answer, she heard her grandmother’s quivery voice coming from the back of the house. “LaDonna?”

Madison started to rise. “Want me to check on her?”

“No, just rest. I’ll go.”

It turned out her grandmother just wanted to know if it was time to take her meds. “You’ve got another hour, Meemaw,” Meagan assured her. “Mom will be home by then to give them to you.”

Her grandmother pulled her sheet to her frail chin. “Okay, then. Maybe I’ll sleep a little longer.”

“All right.” Meagan brushed a kiss against her grandmother’s cool, paper-thin skin. “Call me when you want to get up and I’ll come help you.”

Her grandmother’s eyes were already closed. “Thank you, honey.”

Meagan half expected to find her sister sleeping again in the living room, but Madison was in the kitchen, making a pot of coffee.

“Shouldn’t you go home and get some sleep?”