Twin of Fire

Prologue

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 1892

"Surprise!" eleven people shouted as Blair Chandler entered the dining room of her Uncle Henry's house. She was a pretty young woman, with dark brown hair highlighted with red glints, wide-set blue-green eyes, a straight, aristocratic nose and a small, perfectly shaped mouth.

Blair paused for a moment, blinking back tears of happiness, as she looked at the people in front of her. There were her aunt and uncle, Alan beside them, watching her with love in his eyes, and surrounding him were her fellow medical students -- one woman and seven men. As they beamed at her with pleasure, standing behind the table heaped with gifts, she couldn't seem to remember the past few years of struggle to graduate and earn her medical degree.

Aunt Flo, with the grace of a young girl, hurried forward. "Don't just stand there, dear. Everyone is dying to see your gifts."

"This one first," Uncle Henry said, holding out a large package.

Blair thought she knew what was in the box, but she was afraid to hope. When she tore away the wrapping and saw the leather case with the clean, new medical instruments, she sat down heavily in the chair behind her, unable to speak. All she could do was run a finger over the brass plate on the bag. It read: Dr. B. Chandler, M.D.