by Patt Marr
“Do you think Dr. Beth would play with me sometime when Harlene’s not in the hospital?” Kendi asked wistfully.
“I’m sure she would.” The instinct to lighten his baby’s heart was stronger than common sense. Beth was a generous person who reached out and loved everyone in her path, but he’d grown up knowing about boundaries and when they couldn’t be crossed. Logic said his daughter wouldn’t have the opportunity to build a relationship with his boss.
In fact, if it weren’t for his promise to the senior Dr. Brennan, he’d be looking for another job. Beth only had to glance at him for his heart rate to pick up, his mouth to go dry and his concentration to falter. He’d even dreamed about her last night.
Ironically, he couldn’t think how Beth made any of that happen. It wasn’t that she flirted or played the age-old games women played. She never let on that she saw him as anything more than her office nurse and new friend.
That was all he was, and all he wanted to be. There was no reason he should mind that she hadn’t noticed him as a man, but he did…just a bit…
Okay, it bothered him a lot. But it shouldn’t. A sensible guy removed himself from a no-win situation. A new job—that’s what he needed.
A yellow-sneaker-wearing woman bounced into the cafeteria, like a burst of sunshine on a cold, rainy day.
“Beth!” his child cried, waving both arms wildly. “Over here!”
The sight of Beth was all it took to put the joy back in his little girl’s face. He knew the feeling. It was incredible how the sight of one pretty blonde could make such a difference.
Beth waved back and the corners of her mouth lifted in his favorite smile. “Is there anyone here who wants to see my condo?” she asked as if she didn’t know the answer.
“Me!” Kendi wiggled out of her chair, grabbed Beth’s hand and pulled her toward the door.
“Hold up a minute,” Beth said, laughing as she reined Kendi in and wrapped her in a hug, facing Noah. “We need to talk to your dad before we go.”
“Why?” his child said impatiently, ready to leave.
Noah couldn’t believe it. Kendra hadn’t spent a night away from him since he’d started working days. They never parted company without a hug and a kiss, yet she could leave without a backward glance?
“We’re going to ask your dad for last-minute instructions. He’s the boss, you know.”
A look of mutiny crossed his child’s face, not an attractive sight. Maybe he’d let her become too strong-willed, but he wanted her to grow up to be a strong woman capable of making good decisions. As wonderful as Merrilee had been, she couldn’t say no when she’d needed to, and she’d paid for that mistake with her life.
“Kendi has a suitcase,” he said, “and she’ll need—”
“I know what I need,” his self-assured child said.
They really were going to have to work on this.
“But my backpack is at Harlene’s, Daddy. I’ll need it for school.”
“We’ll take care of that in the morning when I take you to school,” he said, concerned at how grown-up his baby was acting. It had better be acting.
“I can take Kendra to school if it turns out you need to stay,” Beth offered.
“Yay!” Kendi jumped up and down with the bubbly enthusiasm he knew so well. Usually, he was the one to make her happy like that.
“Kendi, if I have to stay that means Harlene isn’t getting well,” he admonished.
“Oh,” she said, much more subdued.
Beth jotted her home address on a prescription pad, ripped it off and handed it to him. “This is where we’ll be.” She bent over and whispered something in Kendi’s ear.
Kendi looked into Beth’s eyes and nodded. Leaving Beth’s arms, she came over, climbed into his lap and threw her arms around him in a big hug.
That was more like it. He loved holding his baby.
She swished her long hair aside, put her hands on either side of his face and planted a kiss on his forehead, just like always. “You be a good boy, Dad. If you need me, I’ll be at Dr. Beth’s.”
It felt as if they’d just turned a corner, and there was no going back. He watched them leave, hand in hand, already having a good time…without him.
“You look like you just lost your best friend,” Glenda Shepherd said, setting her dinner tray on his table. She’d worked with him as an ER nurse, and she’d known Merrilee, too.
“I’m in shock,” he admitted. “My daughter just left to spend her first night away from me, and she was…happy about it.”
“C’mon, Noah! Don’t tell me you’re one of those parents who thinks your child’s life revolves around you.”
What was wrong with that?
“I noticed that your friend, Harlene, was admitted,” Glenda said, twirling spaghetti onto her fork.
He nodded and glanced at his watch. “I ought to get back.”
“Stay a couple of minutes. I haven’t seen you since Collin and I were engaged.” She held out her left hand, flashing a very big diamond. “What do you think of the rock?”
“Cool ring! Kendi has a diamond that big, but hers came with a necklace and stick-on earrings.”
“Maybe Collin will give me those for our anniversary.”
She could always make him smile. “Seriously, it’s a beautiful ring and very impressive, especially from a doc who’s not that long out of med school.”
“Yeah, but the Brennan kids don’t have medical school debt. They wouldn’t have to work a day in their lives to hang out with the rich and famous.”
“And you’re cool with that?”
She smiled ruefully. “Not all the time, but I love Collin. It’s not his fault he’s a Brennan. How are you getting along with the Brennan princess?”
“Don’t call her that,” he said, instantly annoyed.
“Then she’s not spoiled rotten, like people say?”
“No! She’s terrific!”
“That’s what Collin said, but I figured he was prejudiced. So, who was the cute blonde walking out with your daughter? I hope that means you’re seeing someone.”
“That was Beth Brennan.”
“You’re kidding! Can you believe she’s one of my bridesmaids, and I haven’t even met her?”
“You’ll like her a lot. She’s really sweet.”
“Are you going to use her as Kendra’s pediatrician?”
“Absolutely. Beth’s as good as any peds doc I’ve worked with—maybe better than Jordahl. She makes an office visit fun for a kid.”
“Is she going to make your life fun, Noah?”
“I think so! She lets us give the kids lollipops and stickers.”
“Then you ought to do something nice for her. Be her escort at our wedding? I know she’s not paired with anyone yet, and all of Collin’s groomsmen are married.”
“Believe me, Glenda. You don’t have to set Beth up.”
“But you two would be perfect together. You’re tall, dark and not too bad-looking; she’s blond and really cute.”
“I already have a date for your wedding. She’s blond and really cute, too.”
“But your cute blonde shares your DNA. Bring ’em both. From the way Kendra skipped out of here with her new friend, I’d say she would love to have Beth along.”
He hadn’t dated in years, but what woman wanted a guy to bring his daughter along?
“Collin says Zack Hemmingway’s already made his move, and I saw her talking to Luke Jordahl yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t both ask her. Beat ’em to it, Noah. You’ll be doing her a favor.”
That much was true. He didn’t want to see her with either one of those doctors.
“You’re hedging? Okay, what’s wrong, Noah? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything. It’s just…Beth is my boss. Even if she weren’t, she’d still be a doctor.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Glenda bristled. “You’re not saying that doctors and nurses shouldn’t get togeth
er, I hope.”
“No, of course not.”
She blew on her diamond and buffed it against her shirt. “That’s reassuring. I’d hate to give this gorgeous thing back. So, it’s all right for a female nurse to fall for a male doctor, but a male nurse can’t fall for a female doc? Noah! That’s so old school!”
“I know.” He wouldn’t argue the point, nor would he admit he liked everything about Beth, from her caramel-colored eyes to her sassy yellow sneakers. He loved the way her mind worked and the way she handled people.
But he came from nothing and struggled to pay his bills. She had everything and worked because she wanted to. His address might be only miles away from hers, but they were worlds apart.
Beth watched Kendra pack her little suitcase, thinking that this was the second time she’d been in Noah’s house without him being there. It was a strange feeling, trespassing on his privacy, even if it was for a good cause.
“All done!” Kendra said, zipping the case. “I have my princess nightie, clothes for school, one toy animal, my hairbrush, my toothbrush. Oh, I forgot. My toothpaste!”
“I have toothpaste you can use, Kendra.”
“That’s okay, mine is for children. It tastes like watermelon!”
In her work Beth had seen children with many personalities and many behaviors, but she’d never seen one more self-sufficient than this little girl. That spoke well of her parents. Confidence like Kendra’s didn’t develop overnight.
“Here it is,” Kendra sang as she skipped back into the room. “Oh, I should take my paper and markers. I’ll make another picture for you.”
“That would be great.”
Kendra pulled out a box from the bottom of her closet and knelt on the floor. “These are some of my pictures.”
Beth knelt beside her and admired her drawings. Kendra had repeatedly drawn one subject, then moved on to repeatedly draw another, creating a journal of her development.
There were many versions of a single flower with differently colored petals. There was a whole series of tulips, and another series of rainbows, all with the yellow stripe a bit wider than the other colors.
But one series brought tears to Beth’s eyes. In each picture, a woman wore a pink dress. She had long dark hair, blue eyes and eyelashes drawn like the legs of a spider. Her mouth was red in some pictures, pink or orange in others.
These would have been drawn soon after her mother died.
“Those are pictures of my mommy,” the child said unnecessarily.
“She is so pretty, Kendra.”
Kendra nodded. “Like me. And you!”
“Sweetie, I’m not pretty like your mommy.”
“Yes, you are! You have yellow hair like me.”
“But yours is long and beautiful.”
“You can let your hair grow, and we can be the same. Daddy likes long hair…and dresses. He really likes dresses.”
This little girl was mommy-shopping! Beth gathered the artwork and put it back in the box. There was a lump in her throat put there by tears held checked. She wished she could be what Kendra wanted. Every child needed a mom.
Could she fall for Noah? Those broad shoulders and intense brown eyes got her attention, but it was his kindness and the selfless way he took care of Kendra and Harlene that touched her heart.
But, bottom line, she wasn’t growing her hair long, she wasn’t switching to dresses and she would never be as tidy as he was. Since they worked together, it was just as well that she wasn’t his kind of woman because he was definitely her kind of man.
Chapter Nine
Beth sipped coffee in the kitchen and watched Kendra on the balcony. The little girl pretended to be the queen while giving her toy animal a lesson in manners. It was a two-in-one game that kept Kendra busy while Beth cleaned up their breakfast dishes without the child’s help.
If Kendra realized Beth was doing something she could participate in, the little girl would be right there to assist. She was not a child to watch from the sidelines, and she had the confidence to try anything.
Beth could easily imagine her tagging along with Noah as he kept their home tidy and clean. It was a lot of responsibility for one parent.
Queen Kendra wore a necklace of big, bright-colored beads—the only item deemed worthy from Beth’s meager collection of jewelry—and a crown Beth had made of aluminum foil. Her pink dress, scattered with flowers, had been a present from Daddy.
Beth smiled, imagining that tall, broad-shouldered shopper in the little girl’s department, pushing dress hangers on the clothes rack, looking for a dress in his daughter’s favorite colors—yellow, pink, purple and blue, in that exact order of preference.
The doorbell rang, and Kendra called, “Is that Daddy?”
“Probably.” Beth carried her coffee to the door and peered through the security peephole. A blast of attraction hit her powerfully. How could a sleepy-eyed man with an overnight growth of beard look so good?
She opened the door and said, “How’s Harlene?”
“Better. Well enough to kick me out,” he said with a sheepish grin.
Running from the balcony, Kendra sang out in a sweet little voice, “Good morn-ing to my dad-dee.”
Noah gave Beth an apprehensive glance, but sang back, “Good morn-ing to my pud-din.’”
His raspy baritone put goose bumps on Beth’s arms—the kind she usually got when a tenor hit a high note. “Wow!” She didn’t mean to say that. It slipped out.
“Kind of silly, huh?” he said softly.
“Kind of wonderful!” She would have loved it if her dad had been that “silly.”
“It’s the way we begin every day,” he said, almost apologetically, picking up Kendra and planting a kiss on her forehead. She held his cheeks and returned that kiss.
Beth just melted. She loved their little ritual, and it impressed her a lot that he’d sung his morning greeting as usual, risking embarrassment rather than his daughter’s disappointment. How great was that? “Coffee?” she asked, holding up her mug.
He waved away the offer. “I’ve had plenty.”
“How about breakfast?”
“I’ll grab something at home.”
Kendra took Beth’s hand and said, “We need another bowl. Daddy likes this kind of cereal.”
“That’s okay, Kendi,” Noah said, remaining near the door. “We need to go. I’ve got to get ready for work.”
“I don’t think you’ll be in trouble if you’re late today,” Beth said, trying to put him at his ease. She got out a bowl and spoon.
“Out here, Daddy.” Kendi beckoned him to the balcony.
“Go on. Join her,” Beth said. “Make yourself at home. I’ve already done that at your house. Twice!”
“And I appreciate that.” He looked around as he headed toward the balcony. “Nice place!”
“But not as tidy as yours,” she teased, bringing milk and fruit to the table.
Kendra filled Noah’s bowl with cereal, put it in front of him and scrambled onto her own chair.
“You can go ahead and eat, Daddy. Beth and I already prayed—” She stopped, looked at Noah with serious eyes and explained, “Dr. Beth told me to call her just Beth.”
He nodded parentally. “That’s fine, then.”
“She’s Beth ’cause we’re good friends.”
He glanced at Beth. “First names are more friendly.”
She shrugged happily, acknowledging her own words.
“Beth is my bestest friend, Daddy.”
“That’s good, sweetheart. Beth has been really nice to you and me.”
“I’m Daddy’s bestest friend, Beth.”
Noah closed his eyes for half a second. Beth knew that look from years of working with families. Parents needed a deep well of patience.
“You’re my best daughter, sweetheart,” he said.
Beth gave him a mental thumbs-up for the perfect response. He’d corrected Kendra’s concept of relationships and her grammar.
“Kendra fixed breakfast for me, too,” Beth said, jumping in to keep the conversation going.
“I fixed breakfast,” Kendra said proudly, “and you did the praying! Daddy, Beth and me take turns. I prayed for our hot dogs last night, and she prayed for breakfast!”
He looked at Beth “As you’ve probably figured out, Kendra’s the official pray-er at our house.”
He seemed uncomfortable about that. She thought it was great that he would give his child such a good upbringing. “When I was growing up, we didn’t have an official pray-er at our house. Nobody prayed…ever.”
“Didn’t you go to church?” Kendra asked Beth incredulously.
“Sometimes I went to church with my friend Meg and her family, but they didn’t go all the time.”
“I go all the time,” Kendra said proudly. “Me and Harlene. And Daddy is a good boy and takes us and picks us up when church is over.”
“Daddy is a good boy,” Beth agreed.
The good boy studied the bottom of his cereal bowl, but then, his child had just ratted him out.
“Do you go to church, Beth?” Kendra asked.
“Every Sunday. Wouldn’t miss it!”
“Me neither!”
“And what does Daddy do between his chauffeuring duties?” she teased, leaning toward Noah.
He turned his head slowly and looked her straight in the eye. “Daddy has time all by himself. He runs along a path where Kendi’s bike can’t go. He does whatever he wants for a full hour and a half.”
“It sounds as if Daddy really needs that hour and a half,” she said sympathetically.
“Daddy…”
They’d left Kendra out of the conversation for fifteen seconds. That was too long. No matter how much Noah adored her—and, clearly, he did—that would be wearing.
“What, pud-din’?”
“Do you like your cereal?”
He’d barely tasted it. Beth noticed.
“It’s good, huh?” he said, giving his daughter a smile.
Another great response. If she’d had affirmations like that as a child, would it have taken her thirty years to know what she wanted in life?