Hannah's List (Blossom Street #7)(48)

Between her cat and her neighbor, Macy was in need of medical advice, although she'd have to be crafty if she was going to get any valuable information from Dr. Everett. Granted, she'd already suggested an exchange of favors during their previous meeting, but he hadn't seemed enthusiastic. She'd have to handle him with finesse.

When Macy walked into his office, Michael was sitting behind his desk. He glanced up when she entered.

"I was on time," she told him pointedly.

He stared back at her, apparently unaware of the significance of this feat.

"I was late the first day we met, remember?"

"Oh, yes. By quite a bit, as I recall."

"But--" she raised her index finger "--I had a good excuse."

"Well, congratulations for being on time this afternoon." A hint of a smile touched his eyes.

Oh, what Macy would give to see him really smile. The urge to walk over and turn up the edges of his mouth with her fingertips was almost overwhelming. She cocked her head to one side as she tried to imagine what he'd look like amused.

"Macy?" he said, frowning. "You have the drawings?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry. I was trying to get a picture of you in my mind."

"I'm standing right here. Why would you want to do that?"

"I was trying to picture you happy. You know-- smiling, maybe even laughing. You don't do that very often, do you?"

He turned away from her as though he found her exasperating.

"It's a shame," Macy felt obliged to tell him. "That I don't smile?"

"Well, yes. It must be hard to frown all the time. I once read that it takes twice as many muscles to frown as it does to smile."

"Perhaps my lack of amusement has something to do with my limited patience."

That was a clear-cut reminder that she was there for a specific purpose.

"You were going to show me the new sketch for the mural. That is the reason you're here, correct?"

"I have the new sketch with me." The man was all business, which didn't bode well because she needed his help and wanted to propose an exchange, the "favor" she'd mentioned last week. While considering how best to broach the subject, she carefully removed the sketch, which she'd rolled into a tight scroll, from her backpack.

Dr. Everett took off the rubber band and unrolled the new sketch across the table. He secured it, then stepped back to examine her proposal.

"These animals are behind bars," he said with a grimace. He looked up at her, his frown deepening.

"You said you wanted zoo animals. I did what you asked," she said, trying not to sound defensive. "See the gorilla?"

"Why is he caged?"

"Have you visited a zoo lately?" She wasn't in favor of imprisoning wild animals, and this whole zoo concept had bothered her.

"I said I wanted zoo animals," he said, speaking slowly as if she was hard of hearing. "I didn't ask you to draw a zoo scene. You took me far too literally."

"I can paint it without the bars." She'd be happy to do that, in fact, but she'd wanted to give him precisely what he'd asked for. Apparently, he'd taken offense; maybe he didn't approve of zoos, either.

"I asked for a jungle scene."

"In a zoo," she added. "But like I said, I'll take away the bars. Other than that, does this sketch suit you?" She wondered if he'd remember he'd used that very word in their previous meeting.

He went over each detail. "It does," he said slowly. "You're actually quite talented," he told her, and she wasn't sure whether to be pleased or insulted by the surprise in his voice.

"Thank you." A compliment--well, she'd settle for that.

"When would you like me to start?" she asked, eager now to get down to the negotiations. They'd already agreed on a price, although, as she'd told him, it was half of what she normally charged.

"You can begin this week if you like."

"Great. However..."

"How long do you think it'll take you to complete the project?" he asked.

Macy wasn't fooled. He wanted her in and out of his office as quickly as possible. Well, she wasn't keen on spending any more time than necessary with him, either.

"A couple of weeks, tops." She paused. "Um, if you'll recall, the figure I quoted you is half my usual fee." She gestured with one hand, but when she noticed how he glared at it, she immediately lowered it. "As you might also remember, that price is contingent on you doing me a favor."

Predictably, he frowned.

"I might be able to finish in ten days," she said, changing tactics.

"What's this favor?" he asked with unmistakable sarcasm.

"Just to see a patient."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Fine." He pulled open a desk drawer and took out his checkbook. "I'll give you fifty percent up front."

"Thanks." She'd hoped he'd pay her an advance.

He sat down at his desk and started to write the check. She watched for a moment before blurting out her question. "Do you make house calls?"

"House calls?"

"Yes. That's when a doctor visits a patient's home and diagnoses that patient in the comfort of his or her own environment."