Redemption Series Boxed Set, Books 1-4

by Sandi Lynn

  “It happened,” I voiced loudly. “We were heavily intoxicated and didn’t know what we were doing. We are getting it taken care of immediately. No one was supposed to ever know. Shit.”

  “Shit is right. Now the whole hospital is talking, so expect some backlash, Dr. Finn, from all the heartbroken nurses who wanted more from you.”

  “Are we done here?” I got up from my seat. “I have an aneurysm I need to clip.”

  “You may go, but Grace stays.”

  Grace

  “How did this happen?” Renata asked as she took a seat next to me.

  “I don’t know. Neither one of us remembers anything from that night.”

  “Why on earth would you drink like that? That isn’t like you. Did you do this on your birthday?”

  “Yes. Usually on my birthday, I make sure to take a double shift at the hospital. That way, I’m so busy I don’t have time to think about it. I figured if I just spent the day drinking, I wouldn’t have to. Then we met this couple there and spent a majority of the day with them. After dinner is when everything else is a total blank. Jamieson told me that it’s best we stay out of each other’s way. He doesn’t even want to be friends anymore.”

  “Typical Jamieson. Screw them and leave them. Or in this case, marry them and leave them. I’m not the least bit surprised. Are you okay?” She placed her hand on my arm.

  “Yeah.” I gave her a small smile. “I never should have come back here. I left New York to get away from my ex-boyfriend. We dated for over a year until I found out he was married. I didn’t know, Renata, just like I don’t know how Jamieson and I got married. How can I be so stupid?”

  “You’re not stupid, Grace. Both of those men are stupid. You’re a highly intelligent trauma surgeon. You’re human, just like everyone else. We all make mistakes in life. Some start making them a little later in life than others.”

  My phone dinged with a text message, and when I pulled it out of my pocket, I saw it was from Jamieson.

  “My lawyer just called. We need to be in court tomorrow at noon.”

  “Okay.”

  “That was Jamieson. We have a court date tomorrow at noon.”

  “That was fast. But I guess when you have the kind of money he does, you can get things done quickly. Too bad, though.” She smiled. “I would have liked to have seen him sweat it out for at least a couple of weeks.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “By the way, my Aunt Cora is in town and she said she will be dropping by to see you later.”

  “Really?” She grinned. “It’ll be good to see her.”

  I left her office and went down to the ER, where I saw Jackie sitting behind her computer. She quickly got up, grabbed my arm, and led me into the on-call room.

  “Is it true?” she asked. “For the love of God, please tell me it’s just a rumor.”

  “I wish I could, Jackie. Jamieson and I got hitched in Vegas.”

  “Grace, what the fuck?”

  “We were drunk. Really, really drunk. Neither one of us remembers exactly what happened.”

  “And you know for sure it’s legit?”

  “Oh, it’s legit all right. I have the proof of marriage certificate to prove it. We woke up the next morning with gold bands on our fingers.”

  She hugged me tight.

  “You poor thing. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I won’t be Mrs. Jamieson Finn for long. We have a court date to get the marriage annulled tomorrow at noon.”

  The ER was slammed, and I was grateful because it kept me busy all day long. Once I had a break, I went up to the rooftop to grab a cup of coffee. As I stepped off the elevator, I saw Jamieson sitting at one of the tables. He looked at me, and I at him. Then he went back to staring at his phone. I walked over to where the coffee was and poured myself a cup. When I turned around, he was standing behind me.

  “I told you my lawyer would handle this quickly,” he spoke. “By this time tomorrow, our marriage will be annulled, and it will be as if it never happened.”

  “I never doubted you for a second, and as far as I’m concerned, it never did.” I walked away.

  Jamieson

  I was lying in bed, going over some notes, when I decided to send a text message to Grace.

  “Hey, we can drive to the courthouse together tomorrow.”

  “I can drive myself.”

  “But we’re going to the same place. It doesn’t make sense to drive separate.”

  “It makes perfect sense, Dr. Finn. Good night.”

  I clenched my jaw and slowly shook my head before tossing my phone down next to me.

  Grace

  “That was Jamieson. He said we can drive to the courthouse together tomorrow,” I spoke to my Aunt Cora.

  “And?” Her brow arched as she stared at me.

  “I told him I can drive myself.”

  “Okay. But it does make sense for the two of you to drive together. There’s parking fees and a lot of traffic. Let him handle it.”

  “I’ll take the parking fees and traffic. It’s better than sitting in a car with him.”

  “And now you’re in the angry stage,” Aunt Cora spoke.

  “You bet I’m angry. He’s a jerk. A man with no emotions whatsoever. Maybe someone needs to cut into his brain to find out what’s going on in there. And to think I once called him a saint. He’s more like the damn devil.”

  My Aunt Cora let out a laugh.

  “When did you call him a saint?” she asked.

  “The night we met in New York. He got the woman who was sitting next to him a cab and sent her home because she was drunk. He did tell me right then and there that he was far from being a saint. I should have heeded his warning.”

  Chapter 29

  Grace

  “There you are. I was looking for you,” Jamieson spoke as I walked out of room six.

  “Why?” I asked while looking down at the patient’s chart.

  “The offer still stands. We can drive together to the courthouse.”

  “And my answer is still the same. I’m driving myself.” I handed the chart to Jackie.

  “Suit yourself, and you better not be late,” he spoke with irritation as he walked away.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “I’m great. I’ve already saved a life today and my drunken marriage is getting annulled. Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.” I smiled.

  “Is your Aunt Cora still in town?”

  “No. She flew back to New York this morning. She has patients she needs to see.”

  I climbed in my car, punched the address to the courthouse into my GPS, and pulled out of the hospital parking lot. I made sure to leave early enough to account for the L.A. traffic. I wasn’t taking any chances of being late. I was stopped at a light, waiting for it to turn green, when the crosswalk light turned for the pedestrian to walk. I looked down at my phone for a split second and I heard the screeching of tires and a loud thump. When I looked up, the boy who had been crossing at the crosswalk was now lying in the middle of the road.

  “Oh my God,” I yelled as I quickly grabbed my stethoscope from the passenger seat, got out of my car, and ran over to him. “I need you to stay very still. Someone call 911,” I yelled as I looked around at the people starting to gather around us. “I’m a doctor and I’m going to stay with you until the paramedics get here. Can you tell me your name?”

  “Justin.” He trembled.

  “How old are you, Justin?” I asked as I took off my suit coat and carefully placed it under his head.

  “Sixteen. I can’t feel my legs.”

  “You’re going to be okay.” I listened to his chest.

  I could hear the siren of the ambulance approaching as I lifted Justin’s shirt and examined his abdomen.

  “Dr. Harper?” Aiden, the paramedic spoke as he ran over to us.

  “Sixteen-year-old male hit by a vehicle. Muffled breath sounds on the left side, abdominal distention, broken leg,
and potential spinal injury. He can’t feel his legs. Stabilize his neck and back and start him on oxygen stat.”

  “I can’t breathe,” Justin mumbled.

  “Dr. Harper, his pressure is dropping.”

  I placed the stethoscope on his chest again.

  “Damn it, he has fluid rising in his chest. I need to insert a chest tube. Get me the kit.”

  Aiden ran to the ambulance and brought back the chest tube kit.

  “Justin, this is going to hurt, but I have no choice.”

  Screams emerged from him as I made the incision and inserted the chest tube.

  “I have to be in court like five minutes ago. Get him to the ER now. I’ll make the call and let them know you’re coming,” I spoke to Aiden. “Justin, the paramedics are going to take you to the hospital and I’ll make sure a team of doctors are waiting for you. When I get back there, I’ll check on you.” I grabbed his hand.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  I stood up and looked down at my white shirt that had blood splattered all over it.

  “Excuse me, Dr. Harper?” an officer spoke. “I need you to make a statement.”

  “I didn’t see anything. I was looking down at my phone. I will try to answer your questions at the hospital, but for now, I have to go. I was supposed to be in court and I’m late.”

  I climbed in my car and took off. My phone rang, and Jamieson was calling.

  “Hello.”

  “Where the hell are you?” he angrily spoke.

  “I had to save someone’s life. I’m ten minutes away.”

  He hung up without so much as saying a word.

  “Asshole.” I spoke as I looked at the phone.

  I dialed the ER and Marjorie, one of the nurses, answered.

  “This is Dr. Harper. An ambulance is on its way with a sixteen-year-old male who was struck by a vehicle. Page ortho, cardio, and neuro. I want a trauma panel, CT of the head, spine, and abdomen. Patient can’t feel his legs. He has multiple fractures and abdominal distention. I had to insert a chest tube. Make sure everyone is ready and that boy better be alive when I get back.”

  “Yes, Dr. Harper.”

  I pulled into the parking garage, threw the car in park, and climbed out.

  “Ma’am, what do you think you’re doing?”

  “Park this for me. I’m so late and already in trouble,” I spoke as I ran to the building.

  “Ma’am, you can’t—” he shouted.

  I found the courtroom and ran through the doors. Everyone turned around and looked at me.

  “Dr. Harper, I presume?” the judge spoke with irritation.

  “I’m sorry, your Honor. A kid was hit by a car crossing the crosswalk in front of me. He had severe injuries.”

  “Is that blood all over your clothing?” she asked.

  “I’m so sorry. It was an emergency and I didn’t have time to change.”

  “Is the boy going to be okay?” she asked.

  “I hope so.”

  Jamieson glanced over at me, but I wouldn’t look at him.

  “Dr. Grace Harper and Dr. Jamieson Finn, please approach,” the judge spoke. “This court has received your paperwork and request for the annulment of your recent marriage in Las Vegas. Correct?”

  “Yes, your Honor,” Jamieson and I spoke at the same time.

  “Let me ask you this. Why did the two of you get married in the first place?”

  “It was a mistake, your Honor. We had too much to drink and weren’t thinking clearly,” Jamieson spoke.

  “Do you agree, Dr. Harper?” She looked at me.

  “Yes.” I nodded my head.

  She stared at me for a moment and then at Jamieson.

  “I am scheduling you to come back to this courtroom one week from today at ten a.m. for my decision.”

  “Excuse me, your Honor?” Jamieson’s lawyer spoke up.

  “Is there a problem, Mr. Riggs?” Her brow arched.

  “It just seems unusual for my clients to have to come back here. This case is pretty much cut and dry. Both parties agree that a mistake was made, and they do not wish to be married.”

  “It’s my decision and the decision of this court. I will see both of you one week from today. Dr. Harper, try to be on time.”

  “Yes, your Honor.” I swallowed hard.

  “Court is adjourned.”

  She got up from her chair and went into her chambers.

  “Tony, what the fuck is going on?” Jamieson asked through gritted teeth.

  “I don’t know, Jamieson. This is highly unusual,” he spoke. “There’s nothing I can do. She made her decision. I’ll see you both back here next week.” He turned and walked away.

  Jamieson looked at me and shook his head.

  “This is your fault!” He pointed at me. “If you weren’t so damn late.”

  “What did you want me to do? That boy’s life was at stake.”

  “Yeah, well, you wouldn’t have been there if you would have just driven with me!” He walked away.

  I followed behind his dumb ass.

  “He can’t feel his legs. So you better hurry up and get to the hospital.”

  He shook his head all the way out the door. I went to the parking garage and looked at the attendant, who was standing there giving me dirty looks.

  “Can I have my car, please?” I cocked my head.

  “Yeah, and you can also have this parking ticket,” he spoke as he handed me my keys.

  “Thanks a lot.” I narrowed my eye at him.

  I rushed back to the hospital, changed into a pair of scrubs, and headed to the OR.

  “I’m here. What’s going on?”

  “Just about to remove his spleen,” Dr. Collins spoke.

  “I got it from here. Did you get the spinal x-rays yet?” I asked as I took over.

  “They’re up and we’ve already paged Dr. Finn.”

  “Goodie,” I spoke with sarcasm.

  The OR door opened, and Jamieson stepped in, holding a mask over his mouth and nose.

  “Is this your patient, Dr. Harper?” he asked.

  “Yep. His spinal x-rays are up. Can you take a look?”

  “His L6 is completely obliterated. There’s no way I can fix that. Your patient is paralyzed from the waist down. He’ll never walk again.”

  I turned my head and our eyes locked onto each other’s.

  “He’s sixteen,” I spoke.

  “I wish there was something I could do, but there isn’t.” He walked out of the OR.

  Chapter 30

  Jamieson

  I was standing at the nurses’ station finishing up a patient’s chart, when Grace came storming over to me.

  “Electrode implants,” she spoke.

  “What?”

  “There’s a trial in Switzerland.”

  “Has it been successful?” I asked as I cocked my head.

  “So far on rats and monkeys.” She bit her lower lip.

  I sighed, handed my chart to the nurse, and walked away.

  “He’s sixteen years old!” Grace shouted. “He has his whole life ahead of him.”

  “You’re telling me that this trial hasn’t even been done on humans and you want it done on your patient? Grace, come on.”

  “If there is even the slightest chance, even if it’s one percent, that this boy can walk again, you’re damn right I want it done.”

  “Where did you hear about this trial?” I asked out of curiosity.

  “I read about it. If you’re waiting for me to apologize for being late today to court, I won’t. My first and foremost priority is saving people’s lives. When we’re faced with a crisis and it comes to a patient’s life, everything else stops, including a court date.”

  “Send me the information on the trial and I’ll take a look at it.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  “I’m not making any promises, Grace. I’m not God.”

  “Really? You sure as hell act like you are.” Her brow arched, and s
he walked away.

  I rolled my eyes and went to my office. I couldn’t believe that this marriage wasn’t annulled today. Total bullshit. That’s what it was. And I know it had something to do with her being so late. It didn’t matter, though. I would have done the same thing. All was quiet for the time being, so I went to my research room and pulled up all my notes and scans on the monitors that were hung on the wall around the room. It was where I spent almost all of my time. It was research I’d been working on for years. It was something that was extremely important to me.

  One Week Later

  A week had passed, and I barely saw Grace at all. A consult here and a consult there. It was better that way. For both our sakes.

  “Dr. Finn, what are you doing here? I didn’t think you’d come in until after your court hearing,” Renata spoke.

  “I was paged a few hours ago. One of my patients coded and I had to open his head back up. At that point, why bother going home.”

  “Is your patient okay?”

  “He is now.” I smiled.

  It was almost time to leave, so I went down to the ER to get Grace. She didn’t know she was riding with me and I wasn’t giving her a choice.

  “Jackie, where’s Grace?” I asked.

  “You mean your wife?” She smirked.

  “Stop that.” I sighed. “Where is she?”

  “She took the morning off.”

  “Damn it.”

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed her number.

  “Yes, Dr. Finn,” she answered.

  “I’m coming to pick you up. You’re driving with me.”

  “Then you’ll have to pick me up at the coffee shop across the street from the courthouse because that’s where I am right now enjoying a hot cup of coffee.”

  “Oh. I’ll be at the courthouse soon. Try to make sure nobody gets hit by a car before you get there.”

  I arrived at the courthouse and saw Grace and Tony standing outside the courtroom.

  “Good morning, Jamieson.” He smiled.

  “Morning, Tony. Grace,” I spoke as I gave a slight nod of my head.

  We entered the courtroom, took our seats, and waited to be called. The judge entered the courtroom and took her seat.