by Risk, Mona
She smiled and chanted, “Hasta la vista, Marc. I wish you a safe trip.”
He sobered and let go of her. “I need your good wishes for both the trip and the arrival.” Delivering his brother and sister-in-law’s coffins to the family would be the hardest thing he’d ever done.
“I know it’s going to be tough.” Holly squeezed his hand.
“Once I get home it’ll be worse. Especially breaking the bad news to my grandmother.”
“Talk to her about the baby. It may help.”
Marc glanced at her gratefully. Holly always found a kind way to reassure people. Although he didn’t think she understood the situation. “The baby care will be another problem.”
Was Holly struggling with a smile? She arched an eyebrow. “Well, you’ll have plenty of time to think about it while in San Juan. Maybe your sisters will help with suggestions. It’ll keep their mind off the sadness.”
Except that Holly didn’t know his sisters or Abuelita. He loved them dearly, but they were a meddling bunch. “They’ll discuss him all right. And they’ll insist I bring him to be raised in San Juan with his brood of cousins.” He shrugged. “I don’t intend to give in, though I’ll have to deal with the discussions, the crying, and even some threats and curses. But I’m the older brother, the head of the family. It counts in Puerto Rico.”
“Maybe your grandmother will have some good ideas.”
Marc almost snorted. “Oh, yeah, Abuelita will have several ideas, as soon as she recovers and calms down. But I don’t think I’ll like them.”
Many ideas.
And many young women. All lovely bridal candidates.
When he was in Puerto Rico, Abuelita repeated at every dinnertime, right after the blessing, “Dios, please, give Marquito a good wife and beautiful niños before I die.”
Marc had gently insisted she stop broadcasting, My grandson, the handsome doctor is in town to find a bride.
He had a niño now. Except the child was Carlos’s son. Abuelita would tolerate no excuse this time. He’d have to prepare himself for a mammoth argument.
That was one subject he didn’t want to discuss with Holly before leaving on a long trip. Already he’d had a slip of the tongue about his grandmother’s view while talking with Halsdale, and he bitterly regretted it. He just prayed the hospital grapevine had not already functioned at full speed.
The baby whimpered. Holly picked him up and settled back in the rocking chair. Marc bent over to rub his nephew’s cheek. “This time I’m really leaving. I’ll call you as often as I can.” He brushed his lips against her mouth in a light caress. She gasped and her lips parted, incredulous and inviting.
So inviting, he forgot the place and the time. Desire coursed like liquid fire through his body. A kiss from Holly was the sustenance he craved, the support he’d need during his absence. He cupped her cheeks, slanted his lips on hers, and invaded her mouth. His hand slid behind her neck, cradling her head as he deepened his kiss.
His lips against Holly’s mouth, he murmured, “I’ll miss you, Holly.” He released her and straightened. Sucking in a deep breath, he gazed at Holly and the baby, and then turned, and walked toward the door.
Holly’s jaw sagged in disbelief as she watched his departing back. She hadn’t said a word or moved, the baby in her arms trapping her in the chair. Before she could come up with an answer, he was already out of the NICU.
“Dr. Collier, we have a new admission.” The nurse’s voice reached Holly from the scrub room as she wheeled in a warmer.
Perfect timing. If Stacey had come two minutes earlier... Holly’s face swamped with heat, but she licked her lips, savoring the taste of his mouth. His touch had devastated her, left her gasping with shock and pleasure. Damn it. She already yearned for a repeat.
What had he said? He’d miss her? Why would he tell her that? Did he mean it?
Why would he kiss her again? Now. When she wanted to crush those budding feelings, when she needed to get their relationship back on a professional footing before it was too late? Before she lost her heart a second time to the man who’d once stepped on it without noticing.
She held Paulito tighter to her chest, seeking strength from the tiny infant to ignore his breathtaking, mind-boggling uncle.
Don’t give him your heart again, you fool.
Marc was a great colleague and a reliable friend. She closed her eyes, remembering he’d been an amazing lover at one time. But he hadn’t been a man who understood forever words. He lived day by day, enjoying his life as it came. If only she could learn to do the same.
Her stomach tightened. His absence would have helped her distance herself. Why on earth did he have to unsettle her inner calm with his unexpected kisses?
It was time for her rounds. She breathed deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. Getting busy with the little patients would keep her thoughts from wandering toward Marc. She put Paulito down in his isolette and crossed her arms, watching him for a moment. She should do her best to help Lydia’s baby.
But remember, this baby doesn’t belong to you. Don’t get too fond of him.
****
“Three-quarters of our staff was at the funeral home last night,” a nurse said.
“He’s holding up well, considering,” replied another nurse.
“I heard that Dr. Suarez is adopting the baby,” Stacey chimed in.
Sitting at the computer in the nurses’ station to enter data, Holly only lent a distracted ear to the comments flying around. Until she heard Marc’s surname. Her fingers froze on the keyboard. She typed a whole line of Ss, shook her head and tried to remember the next sentence of her report.
“Someone said the new daddy was going to get married in Puerto Rico and give the baby a mother.”
Married? Marc married?
Fighting the lump that threatened to block her throat, Holly digested the information. She lowered her head and kept listening.
“Are you serious?”
A group of nurses flocked closer as the gossip stirred everyone’s interest.
“I may be wrong.”
“I can’t picture him married. Dr. Suarez, of all people.”
Knowing Marc as well as she knew him, Holly shared that wise opinion.
“Why not?” Jenna interjected. “This adorable baby needs a good mother. And not necessarily a Puerto Rican one.”
And Jenna wouldn’t hesitate to volunteer, of course.
Holly gritted her teeth. Damn it, he’d kissed her yesterday. Twice. Just before leaving and again to say good-bye.
“Here’s Dr. Guerlin. Maybe he knows something.” Stacey turned toward Chris. “Dr. Guerlin, have you heard anything about Dr. Suarez getting married?”
Holly glanced at the colorful basket of flowers adorning the countertop of the nurses’ station and took the deep breath she needed, inhaling the scent of roses, stargazer lilies, and peonies. She flexed her fingers on the keyboard, anxiously waiting for Chris’s answer.
“Yeah, Dr. Halsdale mentioned something. Apparently, things are done differently in Puerto Rico. Suarez’s grandmother may insist on a marriage to a local beauty. And who knows? She may have her way.” A lopsided grimace appeared on Chris’s mouth. “Marc, a husband and dad? It’s not the image he projects. But who can tell?”
“Did you hear that, Dr. Collier?”
“I heard.” Holly banged on the Backspace key several times. To no avail. This report was a string of gibberish. With a furious finger, she hit delete and surveyed the audience of vultures waiting with eager ears. “Dr. Suarez asked me to keep an eye on the baby until he comes back.” She’d contributed her share to juicy gossip. Tomorrow the grapevine would buzz with the startling news of Marc’s marriage.
Marc married? That would be the day. Holly couldn’t imagine Marc allowing anyone to manipulate him into marriage. Not the Marc she knew. As usual, he’d churned her emotions to the boiling point. Pursing her lips, she fought to control her jumbled thoughts.
“Dr. Co
llier, are you all right?” Stacey asked, her eyebrows arched in motherly concern. Holly blinked as they all turned to stare at her.
“Hey, Holly, why the grim expression?” Chris squatted beside her.
She forced a weak smile. “I’m just tired. It’s been difficult in the last twenty-four hours. The accident...”
Chris patted her hand. “I understand. But they aren’t your relatives. I’m sure that with you, Baby Suarez receives a dose and a half of loving care.”
Holly lowered her head as she mentally tallied her day. Things were going from bad to worse.
Two babies born without a mother to care for them.
Lydia dead and Terry deprived of her child.
Life sucked for the poor babies Holly struggled to save.
On top of that, it sounded as though Marc would be looking for a wife. Not that he’d mentioned a word about marriage to her.
Just after they’d kissed. After he said he’d miss her and left her with the responsibility of his adopted son.
“Dr. Collier, if you want to take a nap, I’ll keep an eye on the NICU and will call if there is an emergency.”
“Thank you, Stacey. I think I’ll take you up on your offer.” Time to get out of here, before she cracked.
“A good nap will put you back in shape.” Chris straightened up and pulled her out of her chair.
Her cell phone buzzed against her waist. She took the call. “I’m on my way.” She closed her cellular and explained. “Baby Suarez has a high fever.”
“Poor Holly. More angst.”
An hour later, Holly sat alone under the protective shade of a maple tree in the hospital courtyard. Her legs crossed in a yoga position, she ate a salad and cheeseburger out of a Styrofoam box. A gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves and cooled the July heat.
A hand squeezed her shoulder. She turned her head, startled.
Chris dropped to his knees beside her. “Finally relaxing? You must be exhausted to allow yourself an outdoor break.”
“I have the biggest headache you can imagine.”
“Lack of sleep and the tension from last night.”
She put her box on the ground and leaned back on her elbows. “I hope we have a ‘Q’ night for a change.” Quiet was a word never pronounced by hospital personal for fear of jinxing the blessing.
“We’d better. We had enough problems to last us some time.”
Holly looked at him, hesitating, but he was the only one she would dare to question about the voluptuous nurse. “Chris, how well do you know Jenna?”
“As well as anyone else here.”
She arched her eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Holly. Don’t you ever listen to the hospital grapevine?”
She wished she had and swallowed hard. “Another gossip?”
“I would say the ongoing gossip. It’s been said that Jenna joined Children’s with the specific goal of marrying a doctor.” Chris shrugged. “Heck, in the last few months she’s knocked on my door daily with one excuse after another. She must’ve heard Tricia and I have separated.”
Jenna had been attracted to Chris?
Holly studied her good buddy, really seeing him for the first time. Tall and slim. Regular features. She supposed women would find him good-looking, in spite of his messy brown hair that always needed a cut and the gold-rimmed glasses hiding pale blue eyes.
“You never told me you were dating Jenna.”
“Hey, I never dated Jenna. I stayed as far away from her as I could. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you jumping to the wrong conclusions. There was enough talk about my divorce.”
“And now?”
“Now?” Chris chuckled. “It seems that the gorgeous Jenna has found another fish for her hook.”
Anxiety fluttered in Holly’s belly. “Marc?”
“Obviously. We’ll see if she’s smart enough to get him now that he needs a mother for his adopted son.”
Holly rubbed her forehead, irritation flickering through her mind. “Well, I’ve had enough gossip for one day. I’m going back to my babies.”
“Holly, what’s going on?” He stopped her and gathered her into his arms.
She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed as he stroked her hair soothingly. How she longed to let go and confide in Chris.
Confide what? That she was still the same naïve girl she’d been seven years ago, in spite of her medical degree and her years of experience.
“I’ve known you for four years. Seen you cope with hard work, long hours, and stress. But I’ve never seen you this bent out of shape.”
Dear Chris, always ready to lend a supportive shoulder. He couldn’t guess that the mere mention of Marc’s name put her on edge at the moment. And Jenna was the last drop.
She forced a weak smile. “Gosh, I didn’t realize I looked that lousy.” She straightened and combed her hair with her fingers.
Chris chuckled. “You’re as pretty as ever. But where’s your smile? Why the grim expression? You seem to be carrying the whole world on your shoulders. Tell you what? Tomorrow, I’ll take you out for a game of tennis. It’ll help you unwind. And then we’ll join the hospital gang on Friday at Mango Bar. Like you used to do a couple of months ago.”
Yeah, like before Marc was hired at WCH.
She grimaced. Where had her peaceful life gone?
“Really?” She shrugged. “And where am I going to find time for this social life? You forget I have to study for a board exam?”
“Make time. You can’t continue to be locked in the hospital.”
She nodded, appreciating Chris’s concern. She needed to forget the storm called Suarez and the emotions stirred in its wake.
****
Holly tossed in her bed. After four days at the hospital and sporadic catnaps here and there, exhaustion should have knocked her out. But sleep eluded her as Marc’s smiling face kept popping up behind her closed eyelids.
He’d been gone for a week now and hadn’t called. The sweet words he’d whispered in her ear before leaving must have been only a friendly and casual farewell. Nothing special.
But what about his kisses?
The hospital gossip nudged her one more time and disappointment clawed at her stomach.
Working almost non-stop hadn’t prevented her thoughts from wandering toward him. In the afternoon, she’d joined Chris and other fellows for a tennis game. Hitting the ball for an hour had helped her unwind, and she’d promised herself to do it more often.
Anything to prevent her from dwelling in the emotional pothole created by Marc.
Holly sighed. Marc’s double mourning, his grandmother’s health, and his large family were enough to keep any man on edge. Not to mention the search for a local mother for his new son, if the gossip was true. She snorted. It was no wonder Marc had forgotten about her.
In a way, it was better that she hadn’t heard from him. Life would slowly go back to normal, she mused as she drifted off.
The strident ring of the telephone woke Holly from a dreamless sleep. Dazed, she fumbled for the phone, assuming she’d have to dress in a blink and rush to the hospital for an emergency. “Dr. Collier.”
“Hi Holly. How are you doing?”
The baritone voice jerked her to a sitting position. “Marc?” Her heart drummed in her chest. He’d called, after all.
“Did I wake you? Sorry, it’s only nine. I thought you wouldn’t be asleep yet.”
“No problem.” She was wide-awake now. She took a deep breath to slow her heartbeat.
“How’s the baby?”
“He’s doing great. The jaundice is over, although his skin still has a yellow tinge. He eats well, sleeps well, and is gaining weight.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of him.”
“You’re welcome. How was the flight? And how’s the family?”
“The trip was fine, but the arrival was a nightmare. Everyone I know in San Juan was at the airport, my sisters and the
ir husbands, my aunts and uncles, all the cousins and neighbors. The women, dressed and veiled in black, were crying nonstop.”
“Oh, my God. How about your grandmother?”
“Abuelita didn’t know yet. She’d been staying with the neighbors. The minute she saw me she knew something was wrong. She was so distraught I had to give her a sedative before telling her.”
“I’m sorry. Did she go to the funerals?”
“She did. It was sad. Now, she lays curled on a sofa, a rosary in her hand, and grieves all day. She keeps saying God made a mistake and should have taken her instead. She refuses to eat. I’m worried about her.”
So that’s why he hadn’t called earlier. “Does she ask about the baby?”
“Not really. I don’t think she realizes yet that Carlos’s son is alive and well. Holly, can you do me a favor? Take a picture of Paulito with a digital camera and e-mail it to me.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow,” Holly said, pleased to lend a helping hand across the miles.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I miss you. Talk to you later.”
This time she didn’t resent the endearment. On the contrary, it warmed her blood. She hugged her pillow with a happy feeling in her heart and a smile on her lips.
Then it hit her. He hadn’t mentioned he might be looking for a bride—or more precisely a mother for his son. What type of game was he playing? She banged on her pillow.
Marc Suarez, go to hell and stay there.
CHAPTER SEVEN
With Marc a thousand miles away, Holly should have forgotten all about the charming Dr. Suarez.
Except that Marc had the knack for not letting anyone forget about him.
After the first week, he’d called every day to ask about his nephew’s progress. He complained about his difficulties with his grandmother and his interviews with the bride candidates the old lady lined up for him. “I owe you big, but I know Paulito is in good hands. Can’t wait to get back.”
With a mother for the baby? Or happily unmarried?