“What, really? I thought I said Monday, not Thursday.”

“Janie and I both thought it was Thursday. She was really worried, by the way. You should call her.”

“I must’ve been so out of it that I said Thursday when I meant Monday. I’m sorry.”

“That’s all right, Beth. You did seem a bit disoriented when we spoke. Please let me know how you’re feeling Monday, so we know whether to expect you Tuesday. In the meantime, Judith is happy to fill in.”

I thanked him and hung up. When Graham nodded his approval of the conversation, I went ahead and called Janie.

“Oh my god, Beth, I’ve been so worried about you,” she said. “When you didn’t come in Thursday, I called your house. By the end of the day, I was tearing my hair out! I went to your place and knocked and knocked, but you didn’t answer. Friday, too. Where have you been?”

I gave her my story, explaining that I’d been home but must’ve been on pain meds and sleeping heavily when she called and dropped by. I apologized profusely and tried to sound embarrassed instead of guilty.

“Jeez, don’t worry about it. I can totally understand doing something like that. And,” she said, lowering her voice, “I think Mrs. Nielsen is sort of enjoying being back at the helm.”

“Yeah,” I said, “I bet.”

Judith Nielsen had been her husband’s receptionist from when he opened his practice in the early ’80s until four years ago. That’s when she’d decided she wanted more leisure time, and he’d hired me to replace her. She was sort of a dragon lady, so I suspected Dr. Nielsen had been a little relieved at her decision. He certainly got away with being a lot more crotchety with me than he had with her.

“Hey, is it really true that Justine up and left Ben without even telling him?” Janie asked. “I heard it from Suzanne yesterday. I’ve been dying to ask you.”

“Well, I don’t really know what happened between them. I guess she might’ve left him.”

“Wow.” She paused. “Are you psyched or what?”

I laughed. “No, not really — she sucks, yeah, but Ben loves her, and the kids must be so upset.”

“Yeah, yeah, you would take the high road,” Janie said. “Mama always said you were too nice for your own good.”

I laughed again, though the compliment wasn’t justified — I might be the reason Justine was gone, after all. She might even be dead because of me.

“Okay, I’ll see you next week. Feel better, okay? Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do, Janie, thanks.”

I hung up and looked at Graham.