“Oh. I wish I would’ve gotten to see him again,” Noah said. He was happy, though, that the boy was on the mend.
“I think he was disappointed, too,” Riley said. “He made sure to take the Puckman picture with him.”
Noah grinned. “Awesome. I’m glad he liked it so much.”
“I switch to the outpatient clinic rotation soon, and he’ll have follow-up appointments there, so your paths may cross again,” Riley told him.
“That’d be nice. He’s a good kid.”
Riley nodded. “Yeah, he is.” She took a sip of wine. “How’d you spend the afternoon? Golfing with glowing monsters?”
Noah laughed and shook his head. “No, not today. I was volunteering at the youth center.”
“The one you donated the car to?” Riley leaned forward. “I didn’t know you volunteered there. What do you do?”
“Different stuff.” Noah shrugged. “Talk to the kids, play games with them. Just spend time with them, really. Some of the other volunteers help him homework and tutor them,” he explained. “I’m not much of a scholar, so I leave that part to others.”
“Still, it’s neat that you do that.”
“It’s something I enjoy. I’m trying to persuade some of the other guys to volunteer there, too.” Their server brought their meals then, and Noah took the first taste of the quail he ordered. “Mmm. Delicious,” he said. “How’s yours?” Riley had chosen a seafood paella.
“Excellent, thank you. We don’t get a whole lot of fresh seafood in Indiana, and I’ve taken quite a liking to it since I’ve been in Texas,” she said.
Noah took another bite, then followed it up with a sip of wine. “What are your plans once you finish your residency?” he asked. “Do you think you want to stay in Texas?” He may have met her only a few weeks ago, but he hoped her answer would be yes.
Riley took a drink before answering.”I don’t know. It’s hard to think that far ahead. Right now, I’m mainly interested in surviving my residency. I’ll figure out the rest when the time comes,” she said. “I do like it here, though, and I could see myself living here, raising a family here.”
The words were music to Noah’s ears, but he was careful not to say that, knowing it was too much, too soon. “You want kids someday, then?” he asked. “I’m guessing you must like them, since you’re dedicating your life to helping them.”
“Yes to both. I like them, and I want my own, someday. I’m in no hurry, though,” she said. “How about you? Do you want kids?”
“Yes,” Noah said. “At least a dozen.”
He waited a beat for her reaction, and it didn’t disappoint, as Riley’s mouth opened, then closed, then she reached for her glass and took a gulp. “Oh,” she finally said, making him laugh.
“Gotcha there for a minute, didn’t I?”
Riley was quick to shake her head. “No. I knew you were kidding all along.”
“Okay, if you say so.” Noah topped off her glass, then his own. “I think more along the lines of one, maybe two,” he said. “I’m glad I didn’t send you running out of the restaurant.”
“No. I’m pretty hard to scare away.”
Noah smiled. “Good. That’s what I’m counting on.”
***
Riley ate too much, and probably drank too much as well, but she refused to feel guilty. It wasn’t as if she got to do this sort of thing very often. Romantic dinner, followed by a stroll along the river walk, with a cute and funny hockey star, was far from the norm in her life. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, it would be back to the residency grind.
She thought she’d done well to relax for the evening, and enjoy Noah’s company, but as the night grew later, reality began to set back in.
“Do you want to go on one of those boat rides on the river?” Noah asked. “It doesn’t look like they get very many people on them this time of night, so we might even have one to ourselves.”
It sounded very romantic and appealing, and Riley was tempted to say yes. “Perhaps another time? I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, but it’s getting late, and I should probably be getting home.”
“Ah, yes. Duty calls tomorrow, huh?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” she said. “Would you mind just taking me home?”
“Not at all. I’ve got an early morning, too.”
The team was headed out on the road again, this time up to St. Louis for one game, and then back. How weird was it at Riley knew the schedule so well now? A few weeks ago, she’d known nothing about the team.
Noah drove her home, then walked her to her front door. “Thanks, Riley. I had a great time.”
“So did I,” she said.
He shuffled his feet, but didn’t turn to leave. Hello, awkward pause.
Was he waiting for her to invite him in? No, certainly not. She’d already told him, maybe not in so many words, not to expect that. It was too much, too soon. A kiss, on the other hand, Riley could handle. In fact, she wanted one.
Was she supposed to make the first move, then? Ugh. This dating thing was way too hard. In addition to not having time for it, there were too many rules to follow, too. Rules Riley wasn’t familiar with, because she didn’t do this often enough.
Fortunately, the decision was made for her, as Noah moved in closer, placed a hand under her chin, and lifted her head as he lowered his, brushing his lips across hers.
It was over as fast as it happened, but even in that soft, sweet peck on the lips, the promise was there for more. So much more. When the time was right, and Noah seemed to realize, just as she did, that the time wasn’t now. Soon, perhaps. They would have that to look forward to.
“Good night, Riley.”
“Good night, Noah, and thanks for a wonderful evening. Good luck in St. Louis.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. “I’ll call you, okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter Ten
Riley slept soundly, having sweet dreams about Noah. She could no longer deny the obvious truth in front of her. She was falling for him. While she once thought he was laid back, and their personalities and lifestyles too different, Riley liked about Noah, and they seemed to fit together. Now if she could figure out what to do about that realization.
She arrived at the hospital for her Sunday morning shift rested and ready for the week ahead. It would be a typical one, long and tiring, but at least there were no more twenty hour shifts in Riley’s immediate future. It was her last week on the inpatient rotation, before returning to clinical rotation, where the hours would be more regular.
As soon as Riley stepped off the elevator on the fifth floor, she sensed something was wrong. Instead of Lauren’s cheerful, sunny face at the nurse’s station, Bethany was manning the station. Her face was drawn and tired, and her eyes were red. She didn’t smile when Riley approached, instead only nodding. “Morning, doctor.”
Morning, yes, but not a good one, and Riley knew why. Everyone who worked on the floor grew attached to their young patients, from the residents to the nurses to the aides. Perhaps they shouldn’t, given the severity of the conditions they treated, but it was difficult not to. “It’s Braylon, isn’t?” Her words came out choked, and barely above a whisper.
Bethany nodded. “Yes. We lost him overnight. About midnight.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know I need to pull myself together. I wasn’t working last night. I just got here and found out, and—”
Riley didn’t stay to hear the rest. She darted down the hall toward Braylon’s room. It was, empty of course. His lifeless body removed, and the bed cleaned and refreshed, ready for the next patient. It was a busy hospital, and the janitorial staff could turn rooms over quickly. Too quickly. Instead of a marvel of efficiency, it struck Riley as cold.
She stared at the empty bed for a minute, maybe longer. She didn’t know how much time passed. When she turned to leave, her eyes were moist, and Riley didn’t see Dr. Sanford until she ran smack into him.
“Are you oka
y?” The older doctor asked.
Was she okay? What kind of question was that? While Riley was enjoying a romantic dinner with Noah, drinking wine, walking along the river walk, and finally, kissing him on the steps in front of her house, her eight-year-old patient lost the fight of his life.
And no one even bothered to tell her.
“No, I’m not. Why didn’t someone call me?” she demanded. “I could have come in.”
“And do what?”
“I don’t know. Something.” Riley rocked back on her heels and met Dr. Sanford’s eyes. “I feel like I should’ve been told.”
“It was your day off,” he said. “You earned the break. Besides, there was nothing you could do, Riley.” Dr. Sanford raked a hand through his thinning salt and pepper hair and sighed. “There was nothing any of us could do for him anymore. I hate it, too, but his time had come.”
“His time?” Riley repeated. “He was only eight. How the hell was it his time?” She took a deep breath, knowing she had to get control of herself. Ranting and raving at her supervisor in the hall of the hospital wouldn’t bring Braylon back.
“God had a different plan for him. I don’t know why. That’s not for me to try to figure out.” He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. “I know this is the first patient you’ve lost, and that it’s difficult.”
Riley blinked fast, as if that might stop the tears. “Is this the part where you tell me it gets easier?”
“No.” Dr. Sanford’s voice was hollow. “It never gets easier.”
“So I become numb to it, then?” Riley wasn’t sure she wanted to.
He shook his head. “No, not that, either. At least I hope you don’t.” Her supervisor smiled, though it lacked any or cheerfulness. It was kindness, nothing else. “You’re very compassionate, Riley. You care a lot about your patients. That’s part of what makes you an excellent doctor. I don’t see you ever becoming numb.”
“Me neither.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “What, then?”
“You go home. Get some rest.”
“I already got rest yesterday, on my day off. Now I have to work. I’m on duty.”
“You were, but I’m taking you off duty,” he said. “For today, and tomorrow, too.”
“No,” Riley protested. “I can’t do that.”
“It’s not your call. It’s mine, and I’m telling you you’re off the schedule. It’s a big hospital. There are other doctors here, and I was in your place once, too. I know what it’s like to lose your first patient.” He looked her in the eyes, his expression kind, yet firm. “You’re excused, Dr. Marks. Deal with this however you need to, and I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
***
Noah tried to call Riley as they boarded the chartered flight for St. Louis, and again after they landed, and got no answer each time. He hoped it was a matter of her being busy, but Noah had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. She was always busy, and still managed to take his calls in the past. What changed? He thought they’d had a great time the night before.
Unfortunately, Noah couldn’t dwell on it. He had a game to get ready for, and it was against the team directly ahead of San Antonio in the standings. The Generals needed a win.
“What’s the matter?” Beck asked. “You’re wound tighter than a drum. Didn’t something go wrong with Riley last night?”
“No, we had a great time,” Noah said. Dinner was superb, and the walk afterward, in which they’d watched the moonlight reflect off the water was extremely romantic. Then there was the kiss they’d parted with, which left Noah breathless and wanting more. Much more. He hoped when he got home from this short road trip, they’d be able to progress things to the ‘more’ stage. That couldn’t happen if Riley didn’t take his calls.
“Then what’s the problem?” Beck asked.
“I don’t know. Hopefully nothing. She’s not answering her phone today. I’m hoping she’s just busy.”
“Probably,” Beck said. “I know her schedule can get pretty crazy. I’m glad you two seem to have hit it off.”
“Yeah, me too.” Noah slipped his number forty-seven white road jersey over his pads. “I like her a lot.” In fact, he was falling hard, and fast. Now if he could shake the unsettling feeling that things weren’t right. He had a game to play. Maybe Riley would even get the chance to watch a little bit of it.
“Everybody ready?” Colton asked. “Let’s do this!”
The team all gathered in a circle before they prepared to take the ice. “One, two, three team!” They shouted, in what had become their usual pre-game chat. Simple, but it worked for them. It was chosen to represent their identity as a group. There were no superstars; they were a team. When they won, it was a team effort, and if they lost, they lost as a team, as well. There was no finger-pointing in their locker room, no matter who might’ve had an off game.
Three hours later, Noah was selfishly glad about that, or he would have absorbed the brunt of the blame. He played like crap, plain and simple. In the first period, he missed a wide-open net that could’ve have given the team an early lead. He followed it up with a sloppy turnover in front of their own goal, which led directly to a Blue’s goal. About the only thing he hadn’t done wrong was score for the opposing team. He might as well have, though.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Blues had the victory, 4-1. Everyone knew Noah played a huge role in that, even if nobody wanted to outwardly blame him. It didn’t matter. He knew the truth, and he’d do plenty of blaming himself.
The locker room was somber. The season wasn’t over, but it was the most lopsided loss in weeks. There would be no going out to celebrate. Instead, they’d shower and head straight to the airport to fly back to San Antonio, not landing until about 1:30 in the morning. Noah hated trips like this, but getting home in the wee hours of the morning beat spending the night in the city where they’d just got their asses handed to them.
He tried to call Riley one more time as they prepared to leave the Scottrade Center for the airport. Once again, it went to voice mail. “Hey, SuperDoc. I miss you, and I hope you didn’t have the misfortune of watching any of that ugly massacre on ice. I’m assuming you’re busy since you haven’t answered my calls. Anyway, we’re flying back tonight. I’ll call you in the morning.”
Noah shoved his phone back in his pocket after leaving the message. There was nothing else he could do. He just wanted to get home.
***
Since she’d been dismissed from the hospital for the day, Riley watched Noah’s game in its entirety. Just her luck, the one time she got the chance to watch a game, and the team lost in spectacular fashion. She didn’t have to be a hockey aficionado to know the game was ugly, at least for Generals fans.
Noah had tried to call several times, and Riley ignored each of them. She didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t want to do anything. She felt numb. Not in the way that she’d discussed with Dr. Sanford. This wasn’t the kind of numb that would leave her unfeeling for the boy’s life that was lost too soon. No, this was a different kind of numb. It was feeling Riley couldn’t even describe, because she’d never felt it before.
She cried for her young patient, until there were no more tears left, then she ate an entire bag of potato chips. Finally, she settled in to watch hockey, because what else was she supposed to do?
Unfortunately, Noah’s play in the ice indicated that he was having a rough night, too, and Riley wondered if her not taking his calls had anything to do with that.
She dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it had come into her head. Yeah, right. As if she were that powerful or had any control over what happened?
No. It was just a coincidence.
When the phone rang again, about an hour after the game, Riley knew it was Noah even before she glanced at the display. She longed to hear his voice. If anyone could snap her out of this funk, it was Noah. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to answer. She sat on her bed, legs crossed underneath her, s
taring at the phone.
When the ringtone went silent and the display indicated a new voicemail, Riley tapped at the screen to listen to it. “I miss you, too,” she said, but didn’t return the call. She set the phone on her nightstand, then made her way to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face, but tried not to look at her bloodshot eyes. After brushing her teeth, Riley walked back to her bed. She said a prayer for Braylon and his family before turning out the light.
She willed sleep to come, and fast. She didn’t want to think anymore.
Chapter Eleven
A thunderstorm delayed the flight back to San Antonio, and Noah didn’t make it back to his house until after two in the morning. He was still up by eight. He had yet to hear anything from Riley, and worry was setting in that this was more than being busy or avoiding him. Something was wrong.
He made one last attempt to call, and when it went straight to voice mail yet again, Noah got in his car and drove to the hospital. Even if Riley wasn’t there, he might be able to find out where she was. Thankfully, when he got off the elevator on the fifth floor, Lauren was at the nurse’s station.
“Oh, hi, Noah,” she said, but didn’t smile.
“Hi.” He decided to get right to the point, “Is Riley working today? I’ve been trying to call her all weekend and she won’t answer.”
“When was the last time you talked to her?” Lauren asked.
“Friday night. We had dinner downtown,” Noah said. “I was in St. Louis for a game yesterday.”
Lauren’s usually cheerful face tightened into a frown. “Then you must not know—”
“Know what?” Noah didn’t like where this conversation was headed at all. “Is Riley okay? Did something happen to her?” His mind was already racing in different directions, and Noah didn’t like any of them.
Lauren held up a hand. “Sorry, I don’t mean to freak you out. Riley’s fine. Well, not hurt or sick or anything like that,” the nurse said, and Noah exhaled. “We lost one of our young patients here the other night, and Riley took it hard. Her supervisor gave her some personal time to deal with it.”
Breaking the Ice (Men of the Ice, #7) Page 7