Maybe Zack shouldn’t have let Jan and Kimmie move in so quickly. Or, more likely, he ought to quiet his brain and get some sleep.
Exhaustion finally won out.
After the shift ended at eight o’clock in the morning, he drove home under a cloud of apprehension. As father to both girls he loved them equally, but Berry seemed the more vulnerable of the pair.
From the garage, Zack used the connecting door to the kitchen. He half expected to find the kids eating breakfast but the room was empty.
Hearing the murmur of voices from the den he moved forward quietly. A flash of sunshine through the sliding glass door dimmed his sight, and he shifted to one side. When his vision cleared, he saw the girls and Jan sitting on the floor, half-hidden by the armchairs and couch. They were studying her laptop, open on the coffee table.
Kimmie wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt he recognized as belonging to Berry. She in turn had thrown on a flower-printed pink top he’d never seen before.
“That’s dorky.” Kimmie pointed to the screen. “Who ever heard of a pink kitty?”
“And cats don’t wear dresses with pictures of kittens on them,” Berry added derisively. “What a dumb costume.”
Were they arguing? Zack tensed, surprised they hadn’t noticed his presence but willing to eavesdrop until he got a better sense of what was going on.
“Just wanted to be sure you guys hadn’t changed your minds since last night.” Jan closed the computer. “Okay, so, Berry, you don’t mind if Kimmie wears your black leotard and tights?”
“They’re too small anyway,” came the response. “I get new ones, right? The same color as Smidge?”
“I can’t guarantee we’ll find that exact color, but we’ll try,” Jan answered.
They might not have noticed the new arrival, but someone had. Across the carpet stalked a furry gray cat, tail twitching. Gorilla stared up at Zack, who felt as if he was being assessed as a potential male rival.
Seriously? He had to face down a cat?
Apparently his stare did the trick. Gorilla sat at Zack’s feet, bobbed his head and distinctly said, “Meow.” Not “mrrr” or some random meowlike noise, but articulate syllables. “Me-ow.”
I obviously didn’t get enough sleep last night.
“He wants to be picked up,” Kimmie called.
“Daddy!” Despite her enthusiastic cry, Berry remained seated. “We’re going to be cats for Halloween.”
“And collect money for the shelter,” Kimmie added.
“We’re going to buy cat masks and paint them like Smidge and Gorilla.” Berry’s words tumbled out eagerly.
“And make tails!” Kimmie said.
“Hope you don’t mind,” Jan put in.
“Mind? This is amazing.” The girls weren’t merely coexisting, they were enthusiastically joining forces.
Words flew at him from his daughters. Took a walk...ran into Mrs. Ivy...save the animals...money not candy...
They glowed with high spirits. As for Jan, her cheeks were a lively shade of pink, and she looked radiant. A natural mom, Zack thought. This was the kind of maternal influence Berry needed and had been missing.
“You guys had quite an evening. Show me what you’re planning, and then we have to get ready for church.”
“Can we come, too?” Kimmie asked.
“If it’s okay with your mom.”
“That would be great,” Jan said.
“You’ll know some of the congregation from the hospital,” Zack noted, before turning his attention to his daughters. “You girls planning to wear each other’s clothes to the service?”
They scrambled to their feet. “We’ll go change!” He wasn’t sure which of them said that. Maybe both.
As they raced out, Jan got up and brushed off the jeans that clung to her rounded curves. “Before I get dressed...”
“Thank you.” Zack caught her hands in his. “Frankly, I was worried.”
“I meant to consult you about all these decisions...”
“You made good choices.” Just being near her filled him with the same glow he’d seen on his daughters’ faces.
“I just...” The purpose burning in her gaze warned Zack the day’s revelations weren’t over. “We’ve made a start. Now I think we should spend Thanksgiving together as a family. Here in this house.”
“My family has its traditions. Not that they can’t be changed,” he added. Events at his parents’ home tended to be more funereal than festive.
“We should keep the girls together. And if we celebrate here, we can include both sets of relatives.” Jan studied him hopefully. “The girls can help decorate and set up. It will mean a lot to them.”
Zack liked the idea. Still, his parents hadn’t even met Kimmie yet, an issue he intended to remedy soon. “You aren’t concerned about how my folks might act? My dad can be difficult.”
“He never liked me,” Jan conceded. “But he never really got to know me.” The couple had been working such long hours, they hadn’t even had an engagement party or begun making wedding plans before their breakup.
“They took a while to warm up to Rima, too.” Zack’s wife had expended a lot of effort to connect with them. Having lost her own parents, she’d considered them important for Berry. His mother had responded in her usual low-key manner, and eventually his father had unbent enough to greet Rima with a hug each time they met.
“Surely they’ll want to spend Thanksgiving with both their granddaughters,” Jan pointed out.
“What about your mom? She’d probably want us all at her place.” An invitation to dinner at the Garcias’ used to mean a table crowded with home-cooked dishes, surrounded by family photos and mementos on the walls and sideboard.
“Arthritis slows her down these days. I bet she’ll be grateful not to shoulder so much of the work. And I’ll enlist my brother’s support. Seriously, everyone needs to get acquainted.”
“Including Berry’s uncle?” Maintaining family ties with Edgar mattered to Zack. “My parents always invite him.”
“Of course!”
Her hands still rested between his. Standing this close tempted him to bend down and brush his mouth across hers.
The girls will be back any minute. “You won’t be living here next year. What kind of expectations...”
“Let next year take care of itself.” Her dark eyes glimmered with a trace of tears. “It’s only been two Thanksgivings since we lost my dad. You never know what’s going to happen. Let’s enjoy who and where we are right now.”
Despite his longing to carve out a tradition that would last until the girls grew up, Zack accepted the idea. “I’ll persuade my side if you’ll handle yours.”
“Done.” Her smile outshone the sunlight pouring into the room. Then she was gone, leaving a warmth in his hands that faded too quickly.
Turkey. Stuffing. Zack pictured a long table crowded with tasty dishes and lined with beloved faces. One thing was certain: he would take lots of pictures. As Jan said, you never knew what the future might bring.
* * *
BY THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING Jan felt as if she’d been running at full speed for a month. But such wonderful things had happened that she didn’t mind.
At the hospital, her friend Erica delivered a beautiful eight-pound-three-ounce baby boy named Jordan. Meanwhile, the Hope Challenge was nearing its conclusion with doctors Tartikoff and Rayburn in the lead, and Zack and Cole Rattigan vying for third. Amid the mounting
anticipation, gossip about Jan and Zack had fallen off the radar.
At home they cooperated smoothly. Buoyed by plans for the holiday, she and Zack took turns cooking and coordinated the girls’ activities. With his permission and credit card, Jan had taken Berry shopping for darling new clothes, while Kimmie tried harder to follow rules because she liked pleasing her father. Even the cats resolved their territorial disputes and often slept curled together.
After some initial reluctance, grandparents on both sides agreed to have dinner at Zack’s house, with everyone bringing their favorite dishes. And although Jan hadn’t had a chance to meet with the Sargents, Zack reported his parents had welcomed Kimmie with open arms.
If anything, they’d gone overboard. When he took her for a visit they showered their new granddaughter with gifts, including a doll and a teddy bear. It apparently didn’t occur to them to buy anything for Berry, who’d stayed home. On their return, Kimmie had given her the doll, so her feelings were spared.
“I hope they don’t spoil Thanksgiving by doting on their genetic granddaughter at Berry’s expense,” Jan fretted to her mother the next day while picking up Kimmie after school.
“I have an idea.” Maria made sure Kimmie was busy playing with her dog Wiener before explaining. “Let me bring them both home with me for a sleepover after Thanksgiving dinner. That way I won’t miss your dad and our traditions so much. And it’s only fair for Berry to gain another grandma.”
Jan hugged her. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, mija.” When they separated, her mother asked, “By the way, how are they getting along at home? They do fine here, but I keep them busy helping me.” She’d babysat both girls a few times.
“They squabble occasionally, just like any pair of sisters. Mostly they’re fine.” The initial antagonism had vanished, to Jan’s relief.
On Halloween, the pair had cavorted from house to house in their cat costumes. They collected thirty-seven dollars for the shelter, plus a twenty-dollar donation from Jan and Zack. Since then, they’d put their heads together with friends at school to dream up additional ways to raise money. Brady’s mother, Kate, and Fiona’s stepmom, Patty, seemed happy to take charge of that effort, so Jan left it to them.
She’d also been glad to resolve the financial issue with her former landlord. He was able to repair her apartment by cleaning rather than replacing the carpets, plus repainting the living room. He charged her half the six-hundred- dollar total, far less than she’d feared.
With that matter squared away, Jan continued to scan ads for a new home. December was rapidly approaching and she’d promised to get settled by Christmas. But her heart wasn’t in it.
I have to be tougher with myself, she reflected. Right after the holiday, she vowed to search in earnest.
As the weeks flew by the protocols for the egg-donor program also began taking shape. On the Monday before Thanksgiving Jan devoted most of the afternoon to working with Dr. Samantha Forrest on how to present the risks to potential donors.
“Statistically, we’re bound to have some young women run into problems,” the pediatrician warned. They sat in a fifth-floor conference room, where the broad table provided room to spread out brochures and forms they’d collected from other similar programs. “It’s important we not mislead anyone by soft-peddling this.”
“No question—we agree on that.” Jan leaned back, weary from two hours of discussing the common side effects of fertility drugs, which included abdominal swelling and mood swings, as well as rarer risks from both the medications and the process of egg retrieval, which involved sedation and minor surgery. “Don’t forget the list of possible complications from taking aspirin can scare the wits out of you.”
“All the same, people should be fully informed.” Dr. Sam stretched. She’d been a little testy but at least willing to compromise. Although initially she’d insisted on a large disclaimer at the top of the donor materials, broadcasting the worst of the potential complications, after discussion, she’d agreed to start with a general warning that treatment carried possible serious side effects. These would be detailed later, following a description of the entire donation process.
Jan closed the file in her laptop. “I’ll put together a draft. Then you and I, and other staff members, can give this a thorough review.” Having concluded that business, she moved to a lighter topic. “How’re your plans going for Thanksgiving?”
The blonde doctor fiddled with a pamphlet. “We’ll have a full house. My parents are coming from Mexico, where they run a clinic, and Mark’s sister plans to drive in from Arizona.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“With the triplets around, chaos is more like it. But I like being busy.” Sam tapped the tabletop.
“Something bothering you?”
The pediatrician nodded unhappily. “I just learned this morning that the volunteer director of the counseling center is stepping down. Eleanor’s a powerhouse. Without her direction and fund-raising, I don’t see how we can continue.”
“That’s a shame.” Although this development might give Zack’s grant proposal a stronger chance of being endorsed by whoever won the contest, Jan hated to see the center go under.
“Maybe I’m too much of an idealist.” Sam’s mouth twisted. “I worry about the people who fall between the cracks, especially women and teenagers. Peer counselors can do so much good.” She’d mentioned previously that many of the clients suffered from moderate depression or troubled relationships, or both.
“Why is your director leaving?” Jan asked.
“She’s discouraged. Eleanor knocked herself out trying to raise funds among her wealthy friends but there are too many competing causes, especially in a tough economy. Yet I can’t bear to let it go.”
Even during her short time in Safe Harbor, Jan had heard a lot about the counseling center. She’d hate to see the community lose such a valuable resource, especially in a time of high unemployment and increased stress.
“Have you drawn up a business plan?” That seemed basic to Jan, but from what she’d heard, the center operated by the seat of its pants.
“Why?”
“To put the clinic’s future into clearer focus. Also, you’ll need one to attract corporate sponsorship.”
Sam shook her head. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“You can find articles and templates on the internet,” Jan said. “I’m sure there are some for volunteer organizations.”
“The whole idea of the center is to keep things casual.”
“That doesn’t have to change,” she assured the other woman. “Do you have a mission statement?”
“I think so.” Sam looked uncertain. “We want to help people.”
“Which people, and how do you plan to help them? Plus you should draw up a market analysis. Where does the center fit in among other agencies that serve a similar clientele?” Ideas flowed through Jan.
Dr. Sam jotted notes. “There’s a lot to consider.”
Perhaps because of her own impulsive nature, Jan had been impressed by the idea of business plans when she took courses in administration. “How big an endowment do you need? What kind of operating expenses do you foresee? Do you have a board of directors?”
“Not formally,” Samantha conceded.
“Think about prominent people in the community who might serve on one,” Jan pressed, gaining enthusiasm as she continued. “If you put it all in writing, you’ll have a better pictur
e of where you stand.”
“Eleanor should like that.” Sam made notes in her electronic tablet. “I’ll talk to her. But I’m afraid she doesn’t know about this stuff, either.”
“If you have any questions, just call.”
“Seriously?”
How far am I willing to go with this? Jan didn’t mean to set herself up against Zack in the competition for the prize money. But that wasn’t the issue here—for the center to survive, it had to get on a more professional footing. “I’ll be glad to do what I can.”
“Thank you.” The pediatrician sprang to her feet. “I appreciate this.” Collecting her gear, Samantha shook hands and took off at her usual top speed.
As Jan gathered her materials she felt a twinge of concern about how this might appear to Zack. But it wasn’t a family matter. As long as she was doing the right thing, he had to respect her decisions.
Besides, with Thanksgiving only days away, Jan had more important, personal things to think about. Putting the incident out of her mind, she began stacking the materials to carry back to her office.
Chapter Fifteen
Several years ago Zack had bought a good-quality camera to capture special moments with Berry. He wanted his daughter to cherish her memories of holidays and school events in sharp detail. Sometimes he forgot to bring it, however. At other times, he snapped a few shots then tucked the device away. Taking pictures felt like a duty, important but secondary. What mattered more was to experience one’s life.
While that priority hadn’t changed, on Thanksgiving he was glad to spend time behind the lens. Taking pictures gave him an excuse to move about freely and to observe with a fresh eye. And it might help make up for the lack of pictures at key moments in the past.
He’d always relished savory cooking scents and delicious food. Today, not only was it fun preparing the dishes with the girls and Jan, but as he snapped pictures, Zack appreciated the contrasting green and red of the lettuce and tomato salad, the glistening brown skin of the roasted turkey, and the dark red richness of the cranberry sauce.
SH Medical 09 - The M.D.'s Secret Daughter Page 15