Just a little procedure... he said

Chapter 3

“Yes a doctor of animals. I do not touch human beings,” the big man with the yellow eyes and wild hair concurred.

For a moment Leah was stunned, then she started to plead with hom: “Well doctor Sergio Martinez, veterinarian. Please treat my foot as if I am one of your cute little rhinos or elephants or a little wild dog puppy. I will not sue you. I will even sign an indemnity agreement if that will make you feel better.”

He was about to say no again. He also looked a little confused. Was she perhaps making fun of him? Certainly not in that state of pain.

His eyes softened.

“No you do not need to sign anything. Just don’t tell anyone that I operated on you. Rather call it a simple procedure to remove a very stubborn piece of wood or thorn from your foot. Maria, please boil me a kettle of water and bring me a stainless steal bowl to sterilize my instruments. Just one moment, I will have to fetch my bag from my truck.”

Perhaps it was from relieve. The idea that her life could become better again, that made Leah turn into her cushion and started to cry. She could feel her father’s hands on her back. He probably felt as helpless as he usually was when she was still a very small girl in his house. At such times he usually called her mom.

But in the meantime her mom also packed up and moved away. She is now living in Portugal. There was just no one her poor dad could call to come and help to pick up the pieces while his little girl was sobbing her eyes out. Yeah, even now at almost twenty nine Leah is still her daddy’s little baby. She loved him. Only now did she realize how much she missed him over the past seven years.

She stole seven years from both of them, because of her misplaced pride. She still feels guilty over the role that she played in her ex-husband’s betrayal of him and how it almost resulted in her dad losing his beloved family farm.

The thought of that made her sob even more.

Then she heard Sergio’s voice again. “Leah, I am so sorry, but this is going to hurt a little bit.”

“If you hurt me, I will kick you in the face…” she threatens him.

“Really? Then just make sure that you use your other foot. Not the one with the telephone pole in it.” He replied casually. He was probably so used to getting kicked in the face by most of his furry and four pawed patients that he did not even look worried when she turned to face him. He just said. “It is going to be much easier for me and you, if you try to keep that leg and foot still. And face that pillow again. Just don’t suffocate yourself in it.” 

She dug her face into the pillow when he sank the needle into her leg, just above the ancle. Moving down to the heel and then around the culprit in the soft front part of her foot. Then he masage the area lightly, until he was sure that the feeling in it was completely gone. 

He worked gently. Explaining to her everything he was about to do. And a few moments later he presented mister Stick, the naughty invader of the most beautiful paw he ever had the privilege to hold in his course hands. He said that with a rare smile on his face.

Can you believe it? Doctor Sergio Martinez had a sense of humour!

Course hands? That is not what they are. Leah had taken a very good look at that hands already and she thought. What beautiful and well kept hands for a man who was working with wild animals in the bush.

“You may turn around now so that I can see if you are still alive.” Sergio started to gather all his equipment.

Leah turned around. She most certainly was not dead yet, thank you. But she was half asleep by then. The long distance she drove through the National Park in South Africa. The struggle and wait at the border. The distance from there to the farm. Traveling on roads that is not exactly in the pristine state of a formula one thack.

And then that very traumatic experience with the lions.

“I wil give you something to help you sleep. But only after you have eaten something.”

“I will get some food from the kitchen. Maria cooked up a gourmet meal.” It was Leah’s poor dad who was still there in the room with them. His face as pale as the walls behind him.  He did not enjoy watching the vet’s 'procedure' on his daughter’s foot. That is very clear. Now he takes the opportunity to make himself scarce.

“I will eat after I took a shower,” Leah said and rolled to the side of the bed,

“Not recommended.” Doctor Sergio was folding arms over his chest again. Leah realised by now that that was his no no, sign.

“I have to,” she exclaimed.

“Okay wait.” He disappeared and reappeared, this time with glad wrap from the kitchen to wrapped it around her foot.

Then he stood back and wait.

“Now what?” she asked.

“I am going to stay in the room in case you faint. And you do not lock that bathroom door. You don’t even close it.” That was a threat.

She could ask. Or else what would you do. But you don’t say things like that to a guy as serious as doctor Sergio Martinez.

Instead she said. “I have to close the door. What if your eyes wander off in that direction just a little too much?” Not as if it would be too bad for her self esteem if an attractive man like that peeped just a little bit in her direction.

“I won’t look. I will page through your magazine. I promise.”

Really? A very girly, full of woman’s stuff magazine she bought in Johannesburg. It would be very interesting to see what a manly character like Sergio Martinez would do with all the information in that book.

So the question derived. Who was actually spying on who, while she took her shower?

Leah smiled dreamily when she finally got into bed, just before she drifted off into a very scary dream…

 She enjoyed watching the expressions on his attractive face when something in the magazine interested him. Then there was the nods, when he probably thought, yes typical women stuff. And finally he threw it aside. A final verdict was made. This magazine was not for him.

He looked aoround in the room and then he looked at the shower that stopped.

To catch her gaze on him.

She was drying herself with a towel and hastily covered all the bare essentials with it. But it was too late. He saw what he saw…

And he liked it. It was written all over his face.