Following the night Carol had arrived home with her friend Gerry, she and Garret's dad fought continually. The arguments ranged from responsibility to attention to empty promises to greedy inconsideration and back again, each of them alternately gaining and losing the upper hand. Jean stayed away from the house as much as possible, her sole interest her hopeful modeling career, creating another avenue for complaint, and Garret remained in his room or went out alone until bedtime.

After a few weeks of bitter scrapping, Carol appeared in the front hall with a suitcase and several boxes of things she argued were rightfully hers. Dad threw up his hands and gave in, yelling that he was happy she was finally leaving and good riddance. They threatened one another with lawyers and Carol left when a taxi arrived, piling her things carelessly inside the vehicle much to the driver's dismay.

The family held a brief meeting when they were all together and Frank Steadman announced that he was getting a divorce and that they would have to begin accepting a little adult responsibility around the house since his job kept him away for long, irregular periods. Garret agreed happily. Being rid of Carol was a huge relief. Jean just continued to moan about her needs but was outvoted and at a great disadvantage as the sole female.

For a while things weren't too bad but as time passed the family slowly drifted apart. Frank spent large amounts of his time at the hospital, Jean took every opportunity to be out with friends and Garret grew lonelier each day.

*****

The news came like a bolt from the blue. Ann couldn't believe what the hospital rumour mill was spewing about Frank Steadman. How had she not known? Why didn't he say anything? A surge of guilty elation passed through her thoughts and she scolded herself for feeling the way she did.

He was due just before noon for surgery and she noticed on his schedule that three days the following week were blanked out with no indication as to why. Ann presumed it was personal, possibly for legal proceedings. She stared at the files on her desk and saw only the image of the man she'd admired for so long; work was going to suffer today.

"Doctor Steadman. Doctor Harrisburgh would like to see you in his office before you head up to surgery." The desk Nurse called as Frank strode past the station.

"Did he say why?"

"No, Doctor. Sorry."

Frank made a right turn and headed down the hall to the offices, pausing to toss his coat over the chair inside the door of his own. Ann looked up expectantly, preparing her face in a welcome smile but he didn't stop and she sagged disappointedly.

"Morning, Victor, you wanted to see me?"

"Frank, yes. Take a chair, I'll just be a sec." Victor Harrisburgh tapped sporadically at the keyboard in front of him, muttering and cursing softly as he backspaced repeatedly. "There. God I hate these things."

He shoved his chair back and faced Frank. "You're in surgery this morning?"

"Yes. A splenectomy on Mrs. Walther. It's scheduled for eleven-fifteen."

"Right, right. Listen, Frank, there's a rumour going around about- uhm- about you and your- about you and Carol." Frank pulled a face and sat forward. "I know!" Victor held up a hand. "It's not our business but I need to be certain that emotionally you are competent to continue as an operating surgeon while this- your- your personal affairs are being sorted. out."

"I'm fine, Victor. In fact I feel better now than I have for a long time. since Nadine died really." He caught the older man's sympathetic look. "Carol was a big mistake on my part. It seemed very convenient at the time but it was not right. for either of us."

"So you feel.?"

"I'm fine. Honestly. I wouldn't jeopardize a patient over my ego, Victor."

"Okay then. Good luck, Frank."

Ann wasn't ready when he returned and her expression prompted his concerned question.

"You all right, Ann? What's the matter?"

"Nothing! Nothing's the matter." She busied her self with her files and avoided his eyes.

"I need all the charts for Mrs. Walther and I also need the legal forms from James for consent. Her son is coming in shortly and I want everything settled before I go in."

"He should have those already," she said with some surprise. "I mean the signed forms."

"I'm the one that wants them, Ann. I want to read them for myself. I've been too lax in a lot of things lately and that's going to change."

"Is this because of the divorce?" The words jumped out before she could help herself and she sat red-faced under his curious gaze.

"I see the grapevine is thriving and active." Ann couldn't speak she just stared nervously as he settled onto the couch behind the door. "What is everyone saying?"

"I don't- nothing. well not really nothing."

"Come on, Ann, we've been friends and co-workers for a long time now. Spit it out."

"Frank you know I feel terrible about this, I just thought that since we- since our work together... oh hell. The word is that you're getting a divorce and that you- you- that Carol left."

"Let's get it all straight then-for the sake of the grapevine-I threw her out."

Ann just stared, her face burning with embarrassment. "Next week, as you might have already noticed on my schedule, I'll be at the lawyers signing the papers."

"Frank, I'm so sorry. Are you- how are you and the kids making out?"

"As you might expect," he sighed, getting up and slipping into his white coat. "Jean is still Jean, self-centered and teetering on the brink of adulthood. Garret concerns me. He's very lonely and I haven't been able to give him a lot of time." His words trailed off as he gathered his equipment and leaned on the desk.

"Maybe I could." Her face flamed again as he tilted his head at her statement.

"Could what?"

"Nothing- I just thought that maybe I could- well Garret and I get along pretty well, he might like to take in a show or something- you know. to help out?"

His face softened and he allowed the hint of a smile to alter his features. "Annie." The sound of her name carried a thousand interpretations as he spoke it with an accompanied brief shake of his head. "I have to go. Get that stuff and bring it to the scrub room, would you. And thanks. Thanks for always being there." He smiled wider and left the office

Ann gaped at the doorway, her heart smashing noisily against her chest. Was that affection? Was he really pleased with the offer? She stood on shaky legs and, straightening her skirt, strode light-headed down to the legal department.

*****

"Why would she want to go with me, why wouldn't she go with you?"

Frank laughed and ruffled Garret's hair. "She likes you and wants to do us all a favour. Ann just wants to help."

"How does this help?"

"It helps me, Garret. I know I haven't been around much since. well we haven't had much time together and until this is all settled I can't promise things will change that much. Ann wants to help out, that's all."

"Then how about getting her to help you." Garret slumped down at the table and fiddled with the edge of the cloth.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Frank turned and leaned on the sink counter, watching his son.

"You know what I mean, dad. Ann has liked you for a long time-long before Carol. I always thought you liked her too."

"I do!" He suddenly felt awkward in front of his own son. "We work together."

"So? Can't people who work together be together?" Garret jumped up and ran from the room, ignoring his father's calls to return.

Ann arrived as planned and immediately saw that the idea hadn't exactly ignited a wealth of enthusiasm. Frank led her to the living room and they sat down, ill at ease.

"Uhmm- Garret's in a bit of a strange mood." Ann waited expectantly. "He uhh- he thinks that it should be you and I going to the show." Frank's hand flopped helplessly.

"I see." She pressed a hand over her skirt and smiled down at her lap. "Is that possible? I mean, could we all go... together?"

He started to protest and stopped. The sudden image of Ann sitting watching him took on a totally different dimension. He believed he could actually feel her question wringing out the confusion in his head. What the hell was the matter with him, he thought? Here was a woman who he'd taken for granted for so long he'd ignored the mountain of opportunities for everyone involved.

"Frank?"

"Huh? Oh- ahh- hey. why not? Let me see if I can -" he flapped a hand as he stood and headed for the stairs. She took a deep breath and noticed with surprise that she had crossed her fingers.

"He's gone!"

"What?" Ann stood abruptly, one hand flying to her mouth.

"He's not upstairs. I didn't hear him go out."

"Maybe he just went out in the yard or something." They both ran to the window overlooking the yard but it was empty. "Frank, I don't think he-"

"I'm going to look for him. He was in too a lousy mood to be out somewhere alone."

"I'll come with you." They looked at one another for a second and then both rushed out the door. "We can take my car since it's in last," Ann said, climbing quickly behind the wheel and waiting for Frank to suggest a route.

Tiny flakes of snow hit and melted immediately against the windshield as Ann steered the car down the street and dark clouds were spinning slowly in the heavy looking sky. Frank studied everyone they passed, looking in all the doorways and up the alleys between the buildings. Ann braked once when he thought he saw Garret near a drugstore but it was just a boy of similar age and height.

They turned onto the main street and crawled slowly toward the end of town. At a stoplight, Ann leaned forward and pointed. "Isn't that him getting into that car?"

"Where?"

"There, see!"

"Let's go!"

"I can't, Frank. The light's red."

"He's getting into somebody's car, Ann. Let's go!" Luckily, the light turned green and she sped off in pursuit.