In the Vineyard Ch. 13

Mary extended her hand to Ana and Ana shook it. "Pleased to meet you," Ana said, though she was not really pleased, not at all.

"Call me Mary M, if you like. Wherever I go, there are too many Marys". Then she took a hard awakening look at Ana.

"I believe I know you...Ana Palmer...yes, you were a patient at the Von Millhon Clinic, weren't you? While I was working there as a student intern. It was, maybe, ten years ago, when your hair was bleached blond. I recognize you now. You had slipped and fallen on ice, and you crushed your ankle. Doctor Jud referred you to surgery. We talked a lot, you and I. Don't you remember?"

"Not really," Ana responded, although she did recognize the woman and remembered the incident. Ana wasn't going to let some doctor's daughter act so superior.

"Sure you do. It was you. You were living with... an actor, who was broke, or a man who wanted to be an actor, and you had no health insurance. Your little car had been repossessed, and you couldn't work. Ana, you would go on and on about your troubles, pouring your heart out to me. That must have been before you met Greg."

"You must be mistaken", Ana said.

"No I'm not. And if you take off your right boot, there's a nasty scar from the ankle surgery. I never forget a face, especially one of our patient's."

"Whoa," Greg interjected. "It's not important. I know that Ana fractured her ankle, long ago, I've seen the scar. Maybe the painkillers dulled her memory of your conversations."

But Greg didn't know that Ana had lived with another man before they had married. He would have liked to ask Ana about it, but Greg figured that it's all water under the bridge now. Even an unemployed actor was better than "Miles', even though that's exactly what Miles was - an actor.

Without another word, Ana turned and walked away. Greg watched her get into her car, and he watched her drive off from the winery, leaving him with his new love interest. He felt a tug on his heart. Greg had suffered when he realized that Ana was screwing Miles, and that she was doing it to hurt him. Ana succeeded, she did hurt him. Well, Greg thought, she won't hurt me anymore. For the first time in years, Greg felt free of Ana.

"What did you ever see in her?" Mary asked.

"Well...she's attractive, intelligent..."

"Attractive? What do you think your kids would look like? The woman has died hair, fake boobs, a nose job and straightened teeth."

"Really?"

"Greg, she's also openly deceitful, and a liar. I'll bet that she cheated on you throughout your marriage, and when you start comparing notes, you'll realize it. I wouldn't trust her with money for the newspaper. I mean, why would she lie to me? I could go to the clinic today and pull her entire file, she knows that. Painkillers, my ass. I met with that woman at least ten times. She was a patient for years, and there's more in her file than you ever want to know. But what's the point. If she thinks that she has something to hide from you, Greg, well forget all about it. You married her. You're divorced. What she is or isn't doesn't matter anymore. We have our own plans now, and they certainly don't include Ana Palmer."

"Hey, I'll drink to that, but I prefer Champaign. Any Champaign over there?"

"Sure is," Jimmy shouted back, and he brought over two flutes and a bottle of Moet Chandon. After pouring the flutes, he tapped the top with a spoon to get attention.

"A toast to you Mary, and a toast to trouble free tomorrows!"

"Great. Thank you. Thank you all very much. I feel at home here already."

Mary leaned over and whispered. "Greg, not to be crude, but that Ana woman needs a bath, needs one right away. She smells like she spent last night in a brothel."

ET FINI