Private Melody by Altonya Washington Page B

our lovely Kianti.” He dropped his elbows to the faux-wood-grained table. “She hates those pills with a passion and she’s not a woman who appreciates being told what she can’t do.”
    â€œTo hell with that,” Therin growled, though he fully understood Brody’s words. “You’re her doctor. One she trusts enough to have travel with her.” He waved a handacross the table before laying it down. “You tell her there’s no wiggle room on that—take it or leave it.”
    The rest of the guys exchanged glances before joining in on a round of soft laughter.
    Khan tugged up the sleeves of his sweatshirt and cleared his throat over the remnants of his laughter. “You’ve obviously never tried to tell her what she can’t do.”
    Therin wasn’t amused. “This is her life we’re talkin’ about.”
    â€œNow hold on, man.” Cube pointed a finger in Therin’s direction. “Don’t mistake us. We care about Key’s welfare more than we do our own, but when it comes to this medical stuff…” He shrugged. “We take our cues from Bro. If he’s cool with lettin’ her do this, we’ve got to believe he knows she’ll come through it okay.”
    â€œForgive me if I don’t share your certainty.” Therin massaged the bridge of his nose.
    â€œBy my calculation you’ve only known her a little over a week.” Winton toyed with the rolled cuff of his sleeve. “Already such concern…”
    Therin’s smile emerged slowly. His light stare was dangerously probing as he regarded Winton. “What does that tell you?”
    Winton waited as their breakfast orders arrived. He glanced toward his colleagues then. “That tells me you’ve been charmed as totally and as easily as every other man who meets her.”
    Therin smiled, looking down at his platter, but didn’t dig in. “You’re chalking my concern up to momentary fascination,” he told Winton.
    â€œNo man is momentarily fascinated with Key,” Khan said after washing down his food with a mouthful of juice.
    â€œShe hasn’t had a serious relationship in a few years…that’s why,” Winton said. “Every man who meets her realizes she’s no momentary fascination. Unfortunately, that condition of hers rears its ugly head sooner or later and she has to choose between being happy and being alive.”
    â€œBut dammit, that’s not a choice she has to make,” Therin snapped.
    â€œIt’s not just about taking a pill,” Khan said. “It’s what the pills represent for her. She thinks of them as a badge of shame. She’s been tied to them her entire life. She’s a strong-willed person and to be…dependent on them is probably harder on her than the illness itself.”
    â€œChrist.” Therin pushed away his untouched plate, nodding toward Cube when he requested permission to dive in.
    For the next five minutes, Therin watched them passing salt and sharing food. He studied them each closely and eventually realization dawned.
    â€œYou’re waiting her out, aren’t you?”
    â€œIf it seems like a cop out, it is.” Brody spoke up then. “I’m not happy about it one damn bit, but to argue with her over it would aggravate things more than they already have been.” He bowed his head and massaged the area where his Afro tapered at the neck. “It terrifies me to think about her off of her medication.”
    The clatter of silverware and glasses slowly diminished as the rest of the guys stilled. Before now, none of them had heard Brody voice that particular concern.
    â€œI told her we’d be watching her like a hawk…if something happened, I’d insist on her forgetting this foolishness and begin her regimen again. I’m confident she’ll take them if she needs them. I have to be.”
    Therin cursed and buried