Dr. Cohen's office in Manhasset was near the hospital in the kind of modern four-story medical building with an elevator that spoke for the blind. "You have pressed two. Elevator doors close," it told Mona when she got in and pushed the button.
"You have arrived on the second floor. On this floor are the suites of Drs. Cohen, Garfeld, Saperstein, and Gelfman. Have a good visit," it recited.
Mona's blood pressure was way up. She entered the doctor's office wheezing badly. "Marta, I have to see him right away," she cried.
Marta was the sort of invisible woman well past middle age that Mona and Cassie alike had a total horror of becoming. She was plump and had pale, crepey skin that she overblushed and overpowdered. Her boyish haircut was steely gray. She was all business; and no matter how nice Mona was to her, Mona knew this difficult, jealous old woman was going to refuse to like her.
"Mona, you should have called first. He's fully booked all day. I know you're upset about Mr. Sales, but-" she started in on her now.
"I'm not just upset, Marta, I'm ill. I had a very bad night. I have crushing chest pains, and my left arm is numb. I guess I'm having a heart attack."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, why didn't you call?"
"Some people believe consideration comes first, even with doctors. I didn't want to worry him. Or you." Mona checked the waiting room. Two half-blind old people (clearly the ones for whom the elevator had been given that wonderful upbeat voice) sat next to their walkers. Other than that, the place looked pretty empty to her. She coughed up a mouthful of phlegm. "And my asthma is kicking up, I need a shot of Adrenalin."
"Oh, for heaven's sake. Come in here right away." Marta took Mona into an examining room and left her there.
Mona weighed herself just for the hell of it. In spite of Paris, she'd lost a pound. Gratified, she quickly climbed up on the table and crossed her legs. In less than a minute Mark raced in with her chart under his arm, looking appropriately concerned.
"Mona. What's this about chest pains?"
Mona was wheezing terribly. "This is so terrible about Mitch." She took his hand for support.
"Take your time." He went to the sink and filled a tiny cup with water.
"I'm just so sorry to bother you, Mark. I know how busy you are and how much you have on your mind."
"This is what I'm here for, Mona. I called you last night, but you didn't pick up." He handed her the cup.
She took a moment to sip from it. "Well, I couldn't. Cassie followed me home! Mark, I was so terrified. She threatened my life. I had to leave and check into a hotel."
"What?"
Mona burst into tears. "What happened to Mitch?"
"He had a stroke." Mark gave her a handful of tissues and took her pulse. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he indicated that she take off her black jacket so he could listen to her heart.
"How could he have a stroke? He was fine Friday." She took off her jacket, hopeful that this would lead to a hug. He must have pushed his little button, because just at the moment he flicked his fingers at the eyelet blouse, the nurse came in. Off came the blouse. He didn't even look at the bra or cleavage as he used his stethoscope to listen to her chest and back.
"Have you been using your inhaler?"
"Of course."
"How often?"
"Four or five times a day. It isn't working."
"Have you been taking the Aminophyllin?"
"It makes me nauseated. Mark, how could he have a stroke? Everything was going so well."
"Sometimes the stress of a divorce can do it." He let the stethoscope drop on his chest. "Your asthma needs attention, Mona. That's probably why you're having chest pains. But we'll do an EKG and Crow enzymes. And of course you need new pulmonary tests. I want to do it while you're in crisis."
Mona grabbed his hand again. "Did he tell you we are getting married?" The nurse, Irene, looked on from the door, placid as a cow.
Mark went on unfazed. "And he was ignoring his high blood pressure."
"What high blood pressure?" Mona cried.
"He called me from Paris a week ago. He had headaches, felt dizzy. I warned him that he was playing with fire and told him to come right home. He waited until Friday. That's not good."
Mona gasped. Her fiancé was sick? This was news to her.
He turned to Irene and ticked off the procedures Mona was getting, including a shot of Adrenalin. As soon as she was gone, he turned to leave. Mona was crushed. After all the gifts she'd given his silly wife, the dinners they'd had together. The patients she'd referred him! Getting this kind of short shrift was unconscionable.
"Mark, wait! I'm very concerned about Mitch. I need to discuss this with you."
He stood with his hand on the doorknob, his face as neutral as a blancmange.
"What's his prognosis?" she asked softly, softening toward him immediately, her breathing now deep and even. She was falling apart. She needed a hug, any idiot could see that.
He shook his head. "Wait and see," he murmured.
"Mark, I'd like you to consider moving him."
His expression didn't change. "He's on life support, Mona. He can't be moved."
"But I'm afraid for his life." Mona was so upset at the cold reception she was getting, she almost forgot to cough.
"We're all afraid for his life," he said, cool as could be.
"Mitch and I were getting married, Mark. I may even be pregnant. I missed my period this week. Just think about it. Cassie doesn't exactly have his best interests at heart here. I'm worried that she wants him to kick off."
He shook his head, opening the door just a little to indicate his wish to leave.
"I'm dying here, Mark. Whose side are you on?" Mona cried.
"I'm not getting between you two on this, Mona. I'm his doctor. I'm doing the best I can for him."
"What if the best for him is not the best for her?"
"This is too much for me, Mona. I'm just a doctor. Please call me later for the results on your tests, I think you're going to be okay."
"Mark, could we have lunch and talk about it then?"
"I won't have results by lunchtime, Mona."
"And I bought a little something for-honey, we've always been so close…" What was his damn wife's name, Candy, Sandy?
"Mark, I'm all alone with this. There's only you."
Mark peered out the crack in the door, poised to bolt. Mona jumped off the table and went to him.
"Please don't get distant with me because of this Cassie thing. You know I love her with all my heart, and no one could be more sorry than I am about the way she's behaving. But we have to face this together. She's hurt him. She wants to kill him. And you know I don't want anything to happen to him because of me, Mark, and I don't want you dragged into a big legal thing."