The Doctor and the Single Mom

by Teresa Southwick

  This woman had a spine of steel, or stone. He had never seen her cry, which was the only reason he didn’t let his anger show. Actually, not the only reason. There was that whole wanting your family’s good opinion thing.

  “Grandmother, I don’t want to hurt you, but not only have I found the place where I do belong. I finally am home.”

  “And Ms. Beck?”

  “What about her?”

  “How does she factor into your decision to bring your career to a screeching halt?”

  “First of all, I haven’t done that. And second—Jill is none of your business.”

  He was mature enough now to put the need for family approval into perspective in a way he couldn’t when he was younger. That didn’t mean anyone could tell him what to do. He’d make his own personal choices—as soon as he knew what they were.

  Just because a woman made you feel as if you’d been struck by lightning every time she walked into the room, that didn’t mean you were the man who could make her happy. Even though he was at ease and more content than he’d ever been, he didn’t want to do anything to upset Jill’s world. And he especially didn’t want to hurt C.J. He loved that kid.

  It was so much simpler with children.

  Understanding women hadn’t been a class offered in med school, and even if it had been available, he doubted any man could have passed the course. He only knew that since meeting Jill, it was more important than ever to get things right and not screw up.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jill put out the store’s Closed sign, then walked back to where C.J. was helping Brewster tally receipts for the previous month. Actually, her son had paper, something to write with and a really big imagination that kept him occupied while the older man worked.

  “What’s your total, son?” Brew asked him.

  The little boy chewed on the pencil for a moment as he thought. “Four billion, five hundred thousand million,” he said with complete conviction.

  “Exactly what I got.” The older man smiled down, then looked at her and simply said, “When I get all the figures and you plug ’em into that fancy spreadsheet, I’m betting you’ll have black-and-white proof that profit is better than this same time last year.”

  “I’m glad to hear that and I hope you’re right.”

  Improvement in business was good, but the news didn’t lift her spirits as much as it once might have. Before Adam she’d have been doing cartwheels down the dock. Now? She was upset because of what his grandmother had said. It shouldn’t bother her so much that the Stone family spokesperson had told her she wasn’t good enough for Adam. The woman only said out loud what Jill already knew, but somehow hearing the words had been a blow to her soul.

  A person could only take so many blows to the soul before it imploded.

  “You okay, Jill?”

  She focused her gaze on Brewster. “Hmm?”

  “Looks like you’re a million miles away.”

  “Sorry. Just thinking about something else.”

  “The doc’s grandma?”

  She could ask how he knew but in a town the size of Blackwater Lake news of Adam’s grandmother arriving in a hired car was big and spread fast. Jill could deny that the unexpected visit had bothered her, but this man would just see right through the lie.

  “Yeah,” she finally admitted.

  “That old lady didn’t smile much,” C.J. commented without looking up from his drawing. “Her eyes were kinda mean.”

  Adam’s eyes, Jill remembered, but his weren’t filled with disapproval. Desire maybe. Warmth and humor certainly. But did either mean anything? Eugenia Stone had warned her not to count on marriage. Marry Adam? That was jumping the gun. First, she had to be in love with him. She seriously liked him but wasn’t sure what the two of them had could actually be more.

  “You’re awful quiet.” Brewster frowned at her. “What did the woman say?”

  “It was nothing.”

  “Meaning you don’t want to talk about it.” He glanced down at the redheaded child doodling on the paper.

  She met his gaze and nodded. “Pretty much. Adam’s family misses him” was all she said. “And I can understand that.”

  “Me, too. But a grown man makes his own way and everyone has to live with it.”

  Jill liked to think that if her son moved far away she would gracefully accept the decision and try to become part of his new life instead of alienating his friends. But... There was always a but. She wasn’t walking in Eugenia Stone’s shoes and didn’t know what her own reaction would be.

  “Well,” she said, “it’s none of my business.”

  “Maybe not.” He studied her and there was understanding in his gaze. “But that doesn’t stop you from thinking about it.”

  She would have to work this through and with all the practice she’d had that should be easy. Time to change the subject. “Thanks for staying overtime to get last month’s numbers. But I’ve kept you too long. Hildie must be expecting you for dinner.”

  “Yeah.”

  “How is she?”

  “Doin’ fine thanks to your Dr. Stone.”

  “He’s not mine,” she protested.

  “I’d feel a whole lot better if he was.” Brewster grinned. “I think my wife has a little doctor crush going on. She’s looking forward to her appointment tomorrow just a little too much.”

  “I’m going to tell her you said that,” Jill warned.

  “I’ll deny it.”

  “But she’ll believe me. Hildie only has eyes for you and it’s been that way since she was fifteen.”

  “I know. But like she always says, old doesn’t mean deaf, dumb and blind.”

  “Mommy, I’m hungry.” C.J. put down his pencil and gave her the pathetic starving look.

  “Then let’s get you something to eat.”

  “I’m outta here.” Brewster grabbed his backpack from under the counter.

  Jill shut off all but one light. Then they went outside and she locked the door. “Night, Brew.”

  He waved and headed to his truck while Jill and C.J. walked up the path to the house. The upstairs unit was dark compared to hers with the lamp lit in the front window. A cold wind was blowing out of the north and made her shiver. Earlier Brewster had warned that a storm was coming. More often than not he was right and she didn’t know how he knew. She couldn’t help thinking her personal life was its own storm and she’d get dumped on soon enough.

  “What are we havin’ for dinner?” C.J. asked.

  “I’m thinking chicken nuggets, green beans and rice.”

  “French fries,” he said.

  “We don’t have any.”

  “Then mashed potatoes.”

  “They take too long to make.”

  “What about the dry ones?” he asked.

  She knew he meant the instant kind that came in a box. “We’re out of those, too.”

  “How come?”

  “Because I haven’t had time to grocery shop.” Too busy hanging out doing chores with Adam on Saturday, then a visit from his grandmother today. The man had turned her routine upside down and somehow she had to find a way to make it stop.

  “Do we have ice cream?”

  “Yes.”

  “If I eat four chicken nuggets, rice and green beans, can I have dessert?”

  “Yes.”

  “Awesome.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief at the successful child/parent negotiation that hadn’t ended with her pulling rank. They walked into the house and she hung up their jackets on the coatrack just inside the door. She heard Adam’s car coming up the drive, and her heart jolted as if defibrillator paddles had sent electricity to it.

  After a couple of cleansing breaths, she walked into the ki
tchen and flipped on the light, then grabbed a cookie sheet from the drawer underneath the oven. Just as she reached to open the freezer she heard a knock on the door. More electric shocks and that slowed down her timing.

  “I’ll get it, Mommy.”

  “C.J., wait,” she called out, but heard the sound of him running.

  When Jill got there she saw Adam standing in the doorway, scooping up her son in one arm. That was because his other arm was holding a big bouquet of flowers. Her heart did another quivery little jump.

  C.J. settled his small arm comfortably on that broad shoulder. “Did you bring those for Mommy?”

  “Yes.” He handed the cellophane-wrapped daisies, yellow-colored mums and baby’s breath to her. “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady.”

  “Yuk.” C.J. wiggled until Adam put him down. “Can I watch TV?”

  “Until dinner’s ready.” Needing her distance, Jill turned and left the room.

  Adam followed her into the kitchen. “What are you having?”

  “Frozen chicken nuggets.”

  “Are you heating them up first?”

  She smiled in spite of her resolve not to. Ignoring the teasing she said, “Rice and green beans round out the menu.”

  “Can I stay?”

  “Why?” She set the flowers on the counter and finally met his gaze.

  “Because I want to.”

  Negotiating with a grown-up man was very different from the back-and-forth with her child. “What about your grandmother?”

  “I took her to dinner at the lodge restaurant and she went to her room because she’s got a car coming early tomorrow to take her to the airport.”

  “It’s very far away she pointed out.” Jill met his gaze. “If you already had dinner, there’s no reason for you to stay.”

  “Yes, there is.” He brushed his finger over her cheek and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

  Jill recognized desire in his eyes, and her whole body flooded with liquid heat. The vision of Adam Stone holding flowers in one arm and her child in the other had sent her straight over the edge of the cliff and into love. She hated being so damaged that her very first reaction was to pull back from something that should be joyous.

  “Why do you want frozen chicken nuggets?” she asked, her voice a little breathless.

  “Because,” he answered, “I really want to hang out with you and C.J.”

  “Okay.” She had to set the rules. “On one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “Promise not to bring me flowers again.”

  “Are you allergic?”

  Only emotionally, she thought. Even though she’d defended his small-town choice to his grandmother, she protected herself by not letting herself believe completely that he’d stay. “No. But it makes a statement and...”

  “You don’t trust me.” He put a hand on the counter and looked down for a moment. When he met her gaze his own was dark with irritation. “I’ve already promised everything I can. One of the most important things you have to learn in medical school is that healing takes time. I’m willing to wait until your doubts are gone.” He nodded emphatically. “Now I’m going to see C.J.”

  Jill wasn’t quite sure what to make of that. He wasn’t the only one irritated, but she was mad at herself. She’d let her guard down long enough to fall in love and that scared her so much. It wasn’t about the flowers; they were just the focus of her fear.

  Seeing her little boy run into Adam’s arms was a glimpse of what could be and what she’d lose if he let her down. It was always better not to look and hope and have your dream taken away.

  * * *

  The first ring of the phone woke Adam, a side effect of being a doctor. He automatically looked at the bedside digital clock, which read 2:30 a.m. That was never a good thing and he was on call.

  He grabbed the receiver and hit Talk. “Dr. Stone.”

  “Adam? It’s Becky.”

  His sister. This was really not a good sign. Adrenaline punched through him and instantly he was alert. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Dad. He had chest pain and Mom took him to the E.R. at Mercy Medical Center Dallas.”

  “How is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Did you call Spencer?” Chest pain was his brother’s specialty.

  “Yes. He’s catching the first flight out of Las Vegas. Probably in the morning.”

  “And Grandmother? You know she’s here in Blackwater Lake.” And had just told him his father refused to slow down. Damn it.

  “I didn’t know that.” Relief cut through the strain in Becky’s voice. “Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach her on her cell and the calls kept going to voice mail.”

  “Cell reception is spotty here in the mountains. I’ll call the lodge where she’s staying.”

  “Adam, I’m so glad you’re there with her. This will be a shock. She puts on a tough face, but she’s not getting any younger and is pretty fragile.”

  “I’ll bring her home,” he vowed.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He turned on the table lamp and blinked at the sudden light. “Who’s with Mom?”

  “I don’t think anyone is. I’m driving up from Houston and will be there in a little while.”

  He knew the drive took a few hours and wondered why she’d waited so long to notify him. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

  “Mom wanted to wait until there was news and I finally overruled her. I needed to hear your voice.”

  He stood and walked to the bedroom closet, then pulled out a carry-on suitcase. “Is there any information on Dad’s condition yet?”

  “They’re still doing tests and evaluating him. That’s all I know—” Her voice caught.

  Adam’s concern shifted to his sister. “Are you okay?”

  “Hanging in there.”

  “Is Dan with you?”

  “No. We couldn’t both leave the twins or yank them out of bed and drag them to Dallas. If—”

  “Becky?” Come on, he thought, keep it together while you’re driving. The line cut out and crackled with static. “Becky?”

  “I’m here. Sorry. The connection isn’t great. Dan will come with the kids when there’s more information. He wanted to be with me, but it was best that I go alone for now.”

  “You two doing okay?”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t ask what he meant. “Counseling is helping. We’re both working at the marriage and things are better. Good, in fact.”

  “You’ll be glad to know Grandmother tortured me relentlessly but I didn’t spill my guts or your secret. It’s driving her nuts.”

  She laughed as he’d hoped. “I owe you—”

  There was a crackle in his ear and he wasn’t sure if the call had dropped or not. But he said anyway, “Gotta go, Becks. See you soon.”

  He hung up and called the Blackwater Lake Lodge, then asked for Eugenia Stone’s room. The phone was picked up on the first ring.

  “Hello?” The single word was laced with hesitation, fear and dread, just like anyone who received a call at two-forty-five in the morning.

  “Grandmother, it’s Adam. Sorry to wake you.”

  “You didn’t. What’s wrong?”

  As a doctor he’d delivered bad news before but never to family. There was no easy way to say this, so he did it quick. “Dad’s in the E.R. with chest pain. They’re doing tests.”

  “Oh, Adam—” Emotion choked off her words.

  “Cancel your car. I’ll drive you and we’ll go to the airport together.”

  “Thank you.”

  “He’s going to be fine, Gram. Probably just high gas pain. But I’ll
get you to him.” He looked at the clock again. “Pick you up in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll be waiting in the lobby.” She hung up.

  Adam made a couple more phone calls, one to arrange for another doctor to take calls and one to the Mercy Medical Clinic manager to cancel his appointments that week. He started to dial Jill’s number because he badly needed to talk to her. Then he realized that he’d jar her out of a sound sleep and probably C.J., too. As much as he wanted to hear reassurance in that smoky voice of hers, he just couldn’t wake her. She needed her rest. He decided to call later when she’d be awake and let her know what was going on.

  Twenty minutes later Adam was showered and packed. He left his apartment and walked down the stairs. Jill’s porch was at the bottom and he stared at her dark windows and front door, unable to move past. It wasn’t only her voice he needed. The hunger to hold her cut through him like a knife, and the thought of not seeing her left an ache in his heart.

  Leaving her was like ripping out his soul and when he got back, the two of them needed to have a long talk.

  * * *

  Jill wasn’t sure when she first realized something was off but it began to sink in when she and C.J. walked outside to go to school. That was when she recognized that the pattern of sounds signaling Adam’s presence was off.

  “Dr. Adam’s car is gone.” Her son opened the rear passenger door and climbed into his booster seat before buckling himself in.

  “He must have had a patient emergency,” she said, sliding behind the steering wheel.

  It wasn’t unusual for him to meet someone early at the clinic, but usually it was close to regular operating hours and she heard his footsteps on the front porch when he was on his way. If he’d gotten a call and left in the middle of the night, that meant someone was really sick and she didn’t want to think about who it might be and what was wrong.

  A short time later she pulled up in front of Blackwater Lake Elementary and put the car in Park. “Do you have your lunch?”

  “Yup.” C.J. nodded emphatically as he unbuckled his seat belt and slid down from his perch. Then he opened the back door. “We need to remind Dr. Adam that my birthday party is the day after tomorrow.”