"Becky, you simply cannot go through with this marriage!"

Hearing this from her doctor – who, far more importantly,was also her dear friend, trusted advisor, and quite often hermother in loco parentis – Rebecca Peabody Cunninghamjust sat there with mouth agape, as the good doctor statedunwaveringly this nonmedical conclusion. What had beenscheduled as just a physical examination had obviouslybecome something far more significant, important enoughto rain on her sunny summer day.

Becky had spent the last few years waiting for her knight inshining armor to come forward and sweep her off of her feet,but finally she was forced to acknowledge that her fantasy wasnot going to materialize. Thus she had, however reluctantly,accepted the fact that being the daughter of a prominentBoston Brahmin family came with its responsibilities, and soshe was finally, but sadly, preparing to assume the social roleshe had been born into.

Not inconsistent with this, she had accepted a proposalof marriage from a handsome man with both social andprofessional standing, and her upcoming marriage was to bethe social event of the season, if not the whole decade. Mostof her friends, with one notable exception, thought that themarriage would be perfect. And, truth be told, she did lovethe young man, even if he was not her dream come true.

But now she was hearing her beloved mentor express theopinion that she shouldn't allow social propriety to controlher whole life, causing her to – again – question what she hadaccepted for the past twenty-some years.

Becky had arrived earlier, and was sitting in the waitingroom reading antique magazines when Doctor Morganarrived.

Sarah McKinley Morgan had been the doctor in townfrom the time that Becky could only manage Docca Sawa.She had started out as assistant to her father, a first generationScotsman, practicing in a wing of their large house outside ofBoston. After her father died, Sarah had expanded the medicalpractice, hired several medical associates, and converted thehouse into a professional building.

After Becky's parents had divorced and moved away, andshipped her off to boarding school, Becky had become partof Sarah's world. Indeed, for almost twenty years, DoctorMorgan had become a substitute mother for Becky's usuallyabsent one.

When Sarah came out to the waiting room to greetRebecca with a warm hug and kisses on both cheeks, Beckywas about to share the news of her impending marriage withthe good doctor; but the doctor spoke first.

"Rebecca, my darling, I'm so happy to see you; come onin and take off all of your clothes so I can look at you. WhenI noticed that you were scheduled I had the receptionist clearthe rest of my morning; it's been way too long since our lastchat."

As Becky clutched her clothes and gave her best oh noI'm far too modest to undress look, Sarah chuckled andcontinued, "Just funning you, lass, but here, let me take yourjacket; we'll get the rest of your clothes later. Let's just chatfor a while, shall we? There isn't anything wrong, is there? Imean, you know I'm always glad to see you, but I understandthat this is a professional visit."

"No, nothing's wrong," Becky said, stifling a smile, "Ijust thought it was time for a check-up. I'm finally gonna getmarried this fall, and the honeymoon is in Tahiti, so I thoughtyou might update my shots and whatever."

"Married! Oh my God! To whom? Oh my God, when?Where? Why haven't you told me? Why hasn't your mothertold me? Why haven't I been invited? I thought I kneweverything about you! What have you been doing behind myback, you young wench? You either tell me everything rightnow, lassie, or I swear I'll use rusty instruments on you!"

"Aha! I thought that would get your attention, DoccaSawa," Becky laughed. "Yes, married. Let's see if I can getthis in the right order now – to Derek Cabot Sanderson – onSaturday, October twenty-sixth – at ten o'clock in themorning – in the church on the Common – because I justdropped off the save-the-date notes at the post office. I thinkthat responds fully to today's Scottish inquisition," she saidwith a satisfied smile, "so there's no need to use your garrotetoday.

"Actually, the main purpose of my visit today, other thanyour checking out the body, is to deliver your save-the-datenote personally, so here – and yes, I know I'm a little late withthese, but Mother was a real stickler with the wording of theprenuptial agreement!" she said, thrusting the note out.

"That sounds like Victoria," Sarah said, smiling. "How isyour mother? I haven't seen or even spoken with her in eons."

"Oh, she's fine, I guess – still unmarried, still maintainingher youthful look and girlish figure, still wandering aroundthe world with toy boys, still searching – I'm not sure forwhat," Becky said with a small grimace. "I love her dearly,Sarah, but she sure does frustrate me at times."

"Well, I hope she finds what she's looking for, and I hopethat you have too," Sarah said, with a penetrating look. AsBecky started to smile again, she continued.

"Oh Becky, I'm so happy for you!" as she took the noteand put it on her desk without opening it, then hugged Beckyagain. "I don't believe that I know this Dirk fellow, do I? Theonly Sandersons I'm aware of are the Sanderson Electronicsones, although I don't know any of them personally."

"One and the same, and it's Derek, not Dirk. Derek'sfather runs the company; Derek works there, too – as somesort of crown prince or heir-apparent. I've mentioned him toyou before, and you've seen us together a couple of times, butobviously it didn't imprint on your memory bank."

Wrinkling her brow Sarah said, "Oh, sorry, I suppose Ido sort of remember him, now that you mention it, althoughnot in the context of a potential husband; I guess I thought hewas just a friend and good-looking escort. Well, I surely hopehe knows that he's getting himself a fine bonnie lass – and, asmy Ben would have put it, the pick of the litter.

"Let's see now, October twenty-sixth, let me jot thatdown on my calendar. Oh no, I'm out of town at – oh, nevermind, I'll get rid of that. What time did you say? Where didyou say? Come on, lass, give me those details again!"

When she had finished writing, she looked up and smiled."Oh, Becky, I'm so thrilled and excited for you! We shoulddo something to celebrate, although this probably means I'lllose my favorite traveling companion; let's talk this eveningand check our calendars. All right, let's chat some more whilewe do the exam thing, shall we. Now, young lady, I will takethe rest of those clothes; come on back to the exam room andstrip down."

The half hour exam, coupled with their catching-up chat,took the better part of the morning, after which Sarah said,"You get dressed now, and come on back to my room."Sarah's reference to my room reflected the fact that it washer bedroom when she was living at home with her parents.Even though the house had long since been converted into aprofessional building, her own office still had the ambianceof a proper Scottish lady's comfortable sitting room.

Becky was back in just a few minutes, still buttoning thelast buttons on her blouse.

"Well, Docca Sawa, how'd I check out?" she asked,grinning at Sarah and receiving a warm smile in return.

"Everything looks just fine to me, lass. Of course theblood work will take a couple of days, but I don't think youhave...