by Dee Stewart
Too humiliated to reply, Lara squirmed away from him and ran inside the house.
Devon followed and found Lara sobbing in the empty game room. She laid a comforting arm across the distraught girl’s shoulders. “I heard what Reed said to you, Lara. The truth is, you’re better off without him.”
Lara lifted her head and gazed at Devon through disillusioned green eyes. “I thought…I thought if he knew someone loved him, he would…he would…” She sniffed.
“Change? Love you in return?” Devon suggested with a soft, understanding smile.
“I suppose you think I’m incredibly naïve. Well, go ahead and gloat. I deserve it after what I’ve done to you.”
“You’ve already made amends for that, and what you deserve, Lara, is a man who will love you as much as you love him. Reed Barrington is not that man. He is determined not to love anyone, and you can’t change him. Leave him to his pathetic loneliness and go on with your own life. You’ve wasted too many years on him as it is. I’ll bet if you look, you’ll find what you want when you least expect it.”
“No one is beating a path to my door,” Lara informed her in a forlorn tone.
“No? Well, do you know Tyson McCormick? He’s in the executive training program at Barrington Industries, and I noticed earlier he seemed unable to take his eyes off you. Would you like an introduction?”
Lara nodded and held out her hand. “I’m sorry, Devon, for misjudging you. I was acting like a spoiled brat who needed to be scolded.”
Devon only laughed, led Lara outside, and relinquished her to an eager Tyson McCormick.
After witnessing what Devon did for Lara, Blair joined her and asked with a grin, “What’s your secret? You’ve got Lara in the palm of your hand.”
“A good bedside manner?” she joked.
“That must be it.”
When the fireworks display ended and the last guest left the estate, Devon entered the extensive library for a book to read. She turned on a single lamp and perused the shelves. Unaware of another occupant in the room, she yelped in fright when Reed asked from behind her as he sat in one of the comfortable leather recliners, “Feeling better?”
“What does it matter to you? I won’t find any sympathy with you.”
“You’re wrong.”
Devon didn’t care for Reed’s half-hearted apology and turned her back as she flipped through the pages of the book she held in her hands. “No, you were right. I shouldn’t have broken down like that. Doctors lose patients every day. Why should I need sympathy because a ten-year-old little girl lost her battle with cancer? No need to shed tears over that, is there?”
“Devon, I…”
“Excuse me,” she interrupted him. “I’m going to my room. Good night, Reed.”
Chapter Eight
Two days later Lincoln drove Devon into Dallas where she met Shane for her long-awaited tour of Barrington Industries. She admitted the smooth and efficient daily operation of a conglomerate the size of BI impressed her.
Devon said as much as she and Shane enjoyed seafood salads in the executive dining room. “Shane, I hate to bring this up, but I’m not going to put my life on hold forever. Almost a month has passed, and you just admitted to me the other day that you don’t have a clue what Jasper is doing or thinking. Either you broach the subject with your father, or I’m returning to San Francisco, and you can explain why to the rest of your family. You’ve got one week.”
Shane panicked. “Devon, be reasonable. I can’t risk…”
“One week,” she interrupted as she rose to her feet. “Not a day longer.”
Late afternoon traffic forced Lincoln to drive slowly through one of the poorer areas of Dallas. As they passed a side street, Devon noticed a little girl struggling to walk with a brown paper bag clutched in her hands. To her dismay, she watched the girl drop the bundle and slump to the ground. Devon pressed the intercom button to signal Lincoln and cried, “Stop! Go back to Third Street!”
“But, Miss Brooks…”
“Do as I say! Now!”
Devon ordered him to park, and before Lincoln could guess her intention, she leaped from the limousine. Kneeling next to the unconscious child, Devon checked her vital signs. The little girl felt hot to the touch, and she also noted shallow, congested breathing and a thready pulse. Devon lifted the ill child into her arms, grabbed the bag of bread as an afterthought, and paused a moment before heading toward the nearest run-down apartment building. She hoped someone in the building would recognize the girl.
Inside, the dim interior vibrated with sounds of life. Babies cried, mothers yelled, and children’s footsteps pounded across floors. Devon addressed the first adult she came across and asked, “Do you know this child? She’s very sick. I found her on the street and want to take her to her mother.”
The Mexican woman shook her head and indicated she did not understand English. Devon repeated her question in Spanish as the woman looked at the child. The woman’s face split into a toothless grin, and she nodded her head. “Her name is Téa. She lives on the third floor, apartment 332.”
“Gracias.”
She raced upstairs with little exertion since Téa hardly weighed forty pounds. Devon judged her age somewhere between seven and nine. When she found the right door, she pounded and yelled in Spanish, “Please let me in! I’ve got Téa in my arms. She’s sick.”
A frightened woman, probably seven months pregnant Devon estimated, pulled open the door and began exclaiming and gesticulating in Spanish.
Devon laid Téa on a small, worn sofa and turned to the girl’s mother who still muttered in terror. “My name is Devon Brooks. I’m a doctor, and I want to help your daughter. Do you understand?”
The woman nodded her dark head as she gazed at Devon through glassy ebony eyes.
“What is your name?”
“Inez. Inez Rodriguez,” she answered with a moan. “Téa. Why isn’t she moving? What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m almost positive she has an upper respiratory infection. She needs fluids and antibiotics right away.”
“No hospital!” Inez cried. “We can’t afford it.”
“I will go to the hospital and get medicine for your daughter, Mrs. Rodriguez.” Devon glanced at Inez’s protruding stomach. “How far along are you?”
“Seven months, one week.” Her eyes filled with despair.
“After I take care of Téa, we’ll talk about your pregnancy, yes?”
“Yes, but please call me Inez, Dr. Brooks.”
Devon smiled. “While I’m gone, take a cool cloth and bathe Téa. Her fever must come down.”
“Yes, yes, I will do as you say.”
Devon turned and saw a horrified Lincoln standing in the open doorway. “Take me to Dallas General.”
“But, Miss Brooks,” he argued. “This neighborhood isn’t safe.”
“It’s Dr. Brooks!” she snapped. “These people need my help, and I don’t give a damn about my safety. Let’s go.”
Dallas General Hospital was located a mere fifteen minutes away, but to Devon those precious minutes measured an eternity. She dashed through the ER entrance and approached one of the nurses on duty.
“I’m Dr. Devon Brooks. And I need a medical bag.” She proceeded to list the supplies she needed as the nurse stared at her with mounting suspicion.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t come in here and make these demands. Don’t you know it’s illegal to impersonate a doctor?”
Devon dumped her purse on the counter, rummaged through a variety of objects, and flashed her medical ID badge at the dimwitted nurse. “Call San Francisco General Hospital. They’ll tell you who I am. The number is…”
“What’s going on here?” Linden Bailey inquired as he entered from a double set of doors.
“Linden! Thank God, you’re on duty,” Devon exclaimed in relief. She explained the situation and repeated what she needed.
Linden frowned at the offending nurse. “Do you know who this wom
an is? Yes, she’s Dr. Devon Brooks, but she is also Shane Barrington’s fiancée. The Barringtons are major contributors to this hospital. You will give her whatever she wants, is that clear? Keep an inventory of the supplies she needs, and I will take full responsibility.”
The nurse nodded and hurried to do Dr. Bailey’s bidding.
“Thank you, Linden. I appreciate your help.”
“Come back for whatever you want. And let me know how the little girl is.”
Devon clutched the medical bag and prayed all would be well when she returned to the tiny apartment. Lincoln followed her upstairs and remained quiet but observant.
By the look of gratitude in Inez’s black eyes, Devon guessed she thought the doctor wouldn’t bother to come back. She squeezed Inez’s hand and smiled. Inez rewarded her with an expression of faith and trust.
With her stethoscope, Devon listened to Téa’s chest. Her diagnosis had been quick but accurate. The child suffered from an upper respiratory infection. She checked Téa’s temperature with a digital thermometer and frowned with concern. It read 102 degrees. Reaching into the medical bag, she removed a bottle of liquid fever-reducer and forced a teaspoon through Téa’s parched lips. Then she administered a shot of penicillin and made the child as comfortable as possible. She brushed a stray lock of dark curly hair from Téa’s forehead before she turned to Inez.
“Téa has an upper respiratory infection, just like I thought,” Devon explained. “I’ve given her medication to reduce her fever and an antibiotic for the infection. She should feel better within a few hours. You’ll need to continue to give her the fever medicine, and here is a bottle of antibiotics. She’ll need these three times a day. Now go into the other room, and I’ll be with you in a moment to discuss your pregnancy.”
Devon gestured for Lincoln to join her as she began to open cupboards in the kitchen and check the refrigerator. What she discovered appalled her.
“There’s no food, Lincoln,” she whispered as tears scalded her eyes. “There’s nothing except that loaf of bread Téa was carrying. There’s nothing nutritious to drink, either.”
Straightening her shoulders, Devon looked at Lincoln and issued another order. “Go to the grocery store and buy enough food to last Téa and her mother for a week. They need meat, fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, and orange juice. Buy whatever you think is appropriate. Spare no expense. You can use one of my credit cards. I left my purse in the limousine. In fact, I want you to set up an account for them in my name. That way they can buy the things they need whenever they want.”
After he left, Devon adjusted a pair of latex gloves and gave Inez as thorough a pelvic examination as she could in the cramped quarters of the bedroom the mother and daughter shared. Devon couldn’t be sure about the baby’s health without an ultrasound, but she was pleased by the initial exam. The fetus was small for seven months, but it was well-positioned, and now the mother had the opportunity to improve her own health with proper nutrition. Devon also planned to provide Inez with prenatal vitamins.
Téa was awake when her mother and Devon emerged from the bedroom. Inez rushed to hug her little girl and couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
“Mami, who’s that?” Téa whispered in English.
“My name is Devon. I’m a doctor.” Devon smiled. “I helped you when I found you on the street.”
“Thank you,” the child replied in a serious, grown-up voice. Then her dark eyes grew round with fright, and she began to wheeze. “Oh, Mami! The bread! I lost the bread!”
“Shh,” Devon responded as she tried to calm the little girl. “I brought the bread to your mother.”
After a terrible coughing spasm, Téa grew quiet and still. Devon checked her temperature again. It had dropped to 100 degrees. She spoke softly to the child and had her giggling within a few minutes.
When Lincoln returned with the groceries, he astounded both Inez and Devon as he brought in bag after bag. There were sacks filled with hamburger, roasts, steaks of different cuts, pork chops, chicken, fish, and hot dogs. An abundance of apples, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, grapes, and plums spilled out of another bag. Soon the counter was filled with potatoes, celery, peppers, cucumbers, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli. Boxes of dry goods were added to the array of food being sorted and put away.
Inez began to sob when Lincoln surprised Téa with a special treat worth more than gold…a popsicle. As she gazed in wonder at the various bottles of juice and gallons of milk, Inez said, “I don’t know how to thank you, Dr. Brooks. I can never repay this kindness.”
“You can repay me by keeping yourself and your daughter healthy,” Devon replied as she wiped away her own tears. “In fact, you can go grocery shopping whenever you’d like. I set up an account for you.”
“You’re too kind, too kind,” Inez sobbed.
News of the miracle happening in apartment 332 spread through the building. Mothers carrying infants or holding toddlers by the hand begged Devon in either Spanish or English to examine their children. She couldn’t say no to any of them, and as a result, had to send Lincoln back to the hospital for more supplies as she treated several different types of infections and injuries. He also made two more trips to the grocery store.
When the flow of people finally ebbed, Devon rubbed her stiff neck and glanced at her watch. Her eyes grew wide with shock when she saw it was well past eight o’clock. She announced their departure, gave Inez a bottle of prenatal vitamins and promised she’d check on the small family the following day.
Lincoln invited Devon to sit in the front with him and smiled sheepishly at her as he drove toward the estate. “I have a confession to make, Dr. Brooks.”
“Oh?” she wondered and stifled a yawn. Lord, she felt alive. She hadn’t realized how useless she’d felt until tonight. In fact… She sat up a little straighter. An incredible idea took root.
“I didn’t use your credit card. Everything is being charged to Jasper Barrington.”
At first Devon gasped, then she laughed. “If you think that’s bad, Lincoln, wait until old JB hears what I’m going to ask him when we get home.”
As soon as the missing couple entered the house, a frantic Mrs. Peters hissed, “Where have both of you been all this time? You were expected home hours ago. Mr. Barrington is getting ready to call the National Guard. Come on,” she urged as she yanked Devon by the arm. “The whole family is waiting in the living room.” She opened one of the double doors and thrust Devon inside.
Reed’s gaze swung in Devon’s direction as she stumbled through the door. Gathering her composure, she faced the small group waiting for her. “I am so sorry for being late. Please forgive me if I have caused you any unnecessary worry.”
Unnecessary worry? Reed’s jaw clenched.
Jasper was speaking to the police department, but when he saw Devon, he said abruptly, “Never mind, Captain Angelo. Miss Brooks just arrived. Thank you for your time.”
Blair emitted a soft cry of relief and rushed to embrace Devon, but Shane’s face contorted with anger which replaced his initial concern. “Where the hell have you been? We’ve been worried sick for your safety. You can’t run around alone in Dallas. Especially now, since your picture has been plastered all across the nation.”
Reed remained silent while the knot of fear, which had grown and twisted around his gut as the hours passed with no word, now slowly dissipated. His pulse returned to normal, but his heart leaped with an overwhelming gladness when he saw her come through the door. Even so, he kept his face impassive when his eyes met hers, extinguishing the worry and the fear.
Addressing Shane, she retorted with a hint of defiance, “I wasn’t running around alone all over Dallas. In fact, darling, I was on my way home from your office when I saw a little girl collapse on a side street and I stopped to help.”
“Where?”
“Third Street.”
“Third Street? You could have been mugged or worse, Devon,” he chided.
“I saw a child in need of help. I didn’t consider what street she was on or the type of neighborhood. I’m glad I did, too, for she had an upper respiratory infection. She was out getting a loaf of bread for her pregnant mother. It…” She paused, swallowed, and glanced at Reed. “It was the only thing they were going to eat for the entire week.”
“Well, that explains where you’ve been for an hour. What about the rest of the time?”
Reed could sense Devon’s irritation with her fiancé, and she answered with false sweetness, “I’m about to explain that, honey. I had to go to Dallas General Hospital to get a medical bag in order to treat Téa Rodriguez. I stayed long enough to make sure she would be all right, and I also examined her mother, Inez. She’s due in two months, and I was worried about the lack of prenatal care. While I was there, I sent Lincoln to the grocery store to get plenty of food for them.”
“And?” Shane prompted. “What happened then?”
His brother’s impatience bothered Reed, and he wanted to slug him.
“Something I had no control over. Other needy families found out I was in the building and came to the apartment in a steady stream. I had no idea what time it was. Again, I apologize for any worry I may have caused.”
“You couldn’t have taken a minute to answer your damn cell phone? And what about Lincoln? He didn’t answer his, either.”
“No,” Devon snapped. “I left my phone in the limousine. And Lincoln was too busy helping me.”
“Take it easy, Shane,” Reed murmured. Devon shot him a look of gratitude.
“We are grateful you’re home safe and sound, although I intend to berate Lincoln for not responding to our calls,” Jasper informed her.
“Please don’t,” Devon pleaded. “I kept him busy running back and forth to the hospital and to the grocery store for other starving families. Sir,” she continued, her eyes lighting with eagerness, “helping those who needed me so desperately tonight made me realize I have had my fill of tea parties and sewing circles. I wasn’t born a socialite and have no desire to become one. I am a doctor. Practicing medicine is what I was born to do. It’s what I desire most in this world.” She let that sink in for a moment as she took a deep breath. “There is great need for proper medical care in that poverty-stricken community. I can provide care, sir, and I have the means to do it.”