A White Knight in ER

by Jessica Matthews

  Suddenly Jonas realized that he couldn’t give up Penny. The retriever probably wasn’t what Megan had had in mind when she’d shared her piece of advice, but for him it was a start. And wherever he went, Penny would be his link to Stanton…and to Megan.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘but I’ve decided to keep her.’

  In that instant, he also realized something else, something critical, something that would change his entire life.

  He couldn’t walk away from Megan either.

  Instruction manual or not, he’d never be able to survive without her because his feelings went far deeper than he’d ever imagined. He loved her.

  No wonder he felt as if he’d ripped out his heart because, in essence, he had. He loved her, and that knowledge made the tightness in his chest ease. For the first time in thirty-six hours, he could breathe without pain.

  The man nodded. ‘I can see where she’d be a hard one to let go. If you should change your mind, I’m in the phone book.’

  ‘Thanks for stopping by,’ Jonas told him, knowing that, no matter what, he wouldn’t call Tom Billings.

  Eager to talk to Megan, he quickly changed into more comfortable clothes while Penny ate her dinner. The emptiness inside him had completely disappeared. He might not have initially embraced the idea of being a husband and father, but now he couldn’t imagine going back to his previous way of life.

  He’d made the right decision.

  As soon as Penny was ready for her evening walk, they set out and traveled the distance in record time. He half expected to meet Angie on her trike with her wings flying and wheels squeaking as Megan and Trevor followed, but he didn’t.

  Anticipation turned to bewilderment when he saw their house was quiet and dark. Even her mini-van was missing from its usual spot on the driveway.

  Disappointed that he’d have to wait to talk to her, he let Penny run off her excess energy. Their route took them through another residential zone, a playground and past the hospital. By chance, he noticed Megan’s vehicle in the parking lot and its presence worried him.

  Had something happened to her father? He couldn’t leave without knowing, so he tied Penny’s leash to the bench near the entrance and went inside. Because all admissions came through the emergency room after six, he knew the staff there could give him some answers.

  He stopped Rick, his evening shift counterpart. ‘I saw Megan Erickson’s car outside. I was wondering if her father had hurt himself.’

  Rick shook his head. At fifty-five, he preferred the slower pace of small-town hospitals. ‘It’s her little boy. They’re in Radiology.’

  His heart skipped a beat. ‘Trevor? What’s wrong with him?’

  If anything had happened…

  ‘Bloomfield ordered barium studies. That’s all I know.’

  Jonas didn’t hesitate. He made a beeline for Radiology, pausing only to say, ‘In case anyone asks, the dog tethered outside is mine.’

  He strode down the hall, peering into each X-ray suite until he saw Megan sitting on one of the uncomfortably hard plastic chairs for waiting patients. Apparently exhausted from his ordeal, Trevor lay against her, his head tucked in the crook of her neck, his eyes closed and with a stuffed white rabbit clutched in one small fist.

  The sight roused Jonas’s protective instincts and strengthened his resolve to put his relationship with Megan to rights. He wanted to claim her and her family as his.

  ‘I saw your car in the lot.’ He spoke softly so as not to disturb the sleeping toddler. ‘Rick told me you were here.’

  Megan stared down the hall. ‘You shouldn’t have come.’

  Her flat tone bothered him. ‘I had to know what was going on.’

  ‘I don’t want you here.’

  ‘I understand you’re still hurt and angry, but I have to tell you—’

  ‘I’m not in the mood to rehash our previous discussion. Please, leave before Trevor wakes. It confuses him if you pop in and out of his life at your whim, like a jack-in-the-box.’

  She was clearly at breaking point and it bothered him to know how he’d contributed to her state of mind. If only he’d come to his senses before he’d broken her spirit. He deserved every harsh word, and more.

  ‘I’ll go,’ he promised, vowing her reprieve would only be temporary, ‘as soon as you tell me what’s wrong with Trevor.’

  She recited his symptoms in a monotone. ‘He started having abdominal cramps this morning and by this afternoon his stools were bloody. I called Dr Bloomfield before his office closed and as soon as he’d examined Trevor he sent us here for tests. The X-ray showed an intestinal blockage and the follow-up ultrasound showed an intussusception.’

  The condition she’d mentioned was both rare and dangerous in young children. For reasons not quite understood, a portion of the intestine folded in on itself. If the problem wasn’t rapidly diagnosed, the tissues around the bowel that contained the blood vessels got trapped and strangulated. The resultant swelling only made the situation worse until finally the section of intestine died. The key to a successful outcome was early diagnosis.

  ‘So what’s next? Surgery?’

  She shook her head. ‘Dr Bloomfield said it didn’t appear that there was much swelling. He wanted to do a barium enema in the hope that the pressure of the fluid flowing through the intestine would force out the portion that had telescoped on itself.’

  Jonas knew that if the enema didn’t reduce or pop out the intussusception, surgery would be the next step. Before he could encourage her, Dr Bloomfield, Stanton’s fifty-eight-year-old white-haired pediatrician, rounded the corner.

  ‘Have they started taking pictures on our boy?’

  ‘We finished about ten minutes ago.’

  ‘Good, good,’ Bloomfield said in his deep voice. He looked at Jonas. ‘Has she told you the situation?’

  He nodded. ‘Then you think the barium will do the trick?’

  ‘I’m hopeful. We’ll find out after we look at the films.’ He patted Megan’s arm. ‘One way or another, he’ll be fixed up by morning.’

  Megan nodded, although Jonas could see the worry on her face. He wanted to hold her hand, but he doubted if she’d let him.

  ‘I’ll be back shortly.’ Bloomfield glanced at Jonas. ‘Have you seen many cases?’

  ‘A few,’ he admitted.

  ‘Good, then you know what we need to look for.’

  It was as close to an invitation for a consult as he had ever heard. Jonas debated leaving Megan, but the grim set to her mouth suggested that she wanted him out of sight and out of mind.

  ‘Is it OK with you?’ he asked warily.

  She sounded too tired to protest. ‘Suit yourself.’

  He gratefully went with Bloomfield who patiently waited as the radiology tech fixed the series of films to the view-box. ‘Statistics indicate the barium usually resolves the problem in children, but I can’t say I’ve observed that in my practice.’

  ‘Neither have I,’ Jonas admitted, although he didn’t expect his experiences to match Bloomfield’s. Jonas usually treated adults because large city hospitals often staffed their emergency rooms with a pediatrician. His pediatrics experience was usually limited to small facilities such as Stanton’s.

  ‘On the other hand, I usually don’t see the kids until their symptoms are more advanced.’ Bloomfield pointed to the narrowed spot that Jonas’s sharp eye had also noticed. ‘Well, now, lookee here.’

  ‘That’s it.’

  As soon as they came to the last picture in the series, Jonas grinned.

  Bloomfield sounded completely satisfied. ‘What did I tell you? The barium pushed it back out.’

  ‘I’ve never seen it happen before. My cases always required surgery.’

  ‘It’s all in early diagnosis. Thank goodness Megan was alert and didn’t wait for him to get better on his own. Shall we tell her the good news?’

  Jonas accompanied the pediatrician to where they’d left Megan and Trevor. Neither had moved and Megan
looked up at their approach. Lines of dread and worry etched her face as she clutched Trevor to her.

  Although Jonas intended the older physician to explain, he bestowed his widest smile on her. As she gazed at him, the fear on her face slowly turned to cautious optimism.

  ‘He’s a lucky boy,’ Bloomfield said. ‘The enema fixed the problem.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Trevor stirred in her tight embrace. His eyelids popped open and he raised his head off her shoulder. His lower lip quivered as his gaze landed on Dr Bloomfield, but before he could bury his face in Megan’s neck again, Jonas caught his attention.

  ‘Hi, big guy,’ he said.

  Trevor immediately brightened. He raised his head to say, ‘Dada.’ This time, the name didn’t bother Jonas in the slightest. He hoped to hear it often.

  ‘He’ll probably sleep well tonight,’ Bloomfield said. ‘A small percentage of cases have recurrences, so watch him closely for a while.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Then I’ll leave you folks to go home and put this fella to bed.’

  Jonas helped Megan gather up Trevor’s things, determined to stick close for as long as possible.

  ‘I can’t believe he’ll be fine,’ she said as she juggled Trevor and her purse. ‘I was so afraid he’d need surgery.’

  ‘He was lucky.’ He hoisted Trevor’s bag to his shoulder.

  ‘I can carry that,’ she said, reaching for it.

  He gripped it tightly. ‘I’ll take it to the car for you.’

  Now that he was feeling better and going home, Trevor chattered nonsense to anyone who would listen. Outside, as Jonas untied Penny’s leash and they started toward her mini-van, the youngster said, ‘Dog.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Megan replied. ‘Penny’s a dog.’

  ‘Wa’?’ he asked.

  Instinctively, Jonas knew what he wanted. ‘No, we’re not taking Penny for a walk. It’s bedtime.’

  ‘We’re going bye-bye,’ Megan said. ‘Tell Jonas bye-bye.’

  Trevor waved before she buckled him into his car seat.

  A moment later, she straightened and headed for the driver’s door. ‘Goodbye, Jonas.’

  He stalled for time. ‘Where’s Angie?’

  ‘At my mother’s. I’m on my way to pick her up.’

  ‘Why don’t I?’ he asked. ‘After I take Penny home, I have to run to the store near your parents’ complex. You can put Trevor to bed and relax.’

  She heaved a sigh. ‘Why are you being nice? It would be easier if you weren’t.’

  He grinned. ‘It’s my roguish personality.’ At her hesitation, he added, ‘Please? I really want to do this.’

  ‘Fine.’ She sounded exasperated. ‘I’ll call Mom and tell her you’re coming.’

  ‘I’ll be there in thirty minutes.’

  Determined not to waste any time, he hurried home. As soon as he’d settled Penny in the back yard, he made one phone call to put his plan in motion, then showered before driving to the store for the item he’d requested.

  The lady in the jewelry department delivered her goods as promised. He paid for his purchase, then went to collect Angie.

  She met him at the door, wearing her nightgown and fuzzy pink slippers. ‘Mommy called and said Trevor’s better.’

  ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘Do you have everything?’

  She nodded as her grandmother smiled down to her benevolently. ‘I’d ask you to stay and visit,’ Nancy said, ‘but it’s past Angie’s bedtime.’

  ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he promised. ‘With Megan.’

  She studied him carefully before her intent gaze softened as if she had read his unspoken message. ‘Dean and I will look forward to it.’

  During the drive home, Angie wanted to hear about Trevor, so Jonas patiently explained it in four-year-old terms. By the time he’d finished he was parking behind Megan’s mini-van and Angie was yawning.

  The porch light was on and the open door welcoming as he carried Angie up the steps. Earlier, he’d been afraid that Megan would refuse to let him inside, but he’d managed to circumvent that hurdle. Now he only hoped that the item in his pocket would convince her of his change of heart.

  Megan covered Trevor with his favorite blanket before she patted his back and kissed his temple. ‘Sweet dreams,’ she murmured.

  Satisfied that he was fully asleep, she tiptoed from the room. She wanted desperately to collapse into bed, but she still had one more trial to endure.

  Why Jonas had bothered to check on her at the hospital was a complete mystery. He’d broken the tenuous ties between them on Saturday and it made no sense for him to walk back into her life.

  She simply wouldn’t allow it. One goodbye was enough. She refused to suffer through another.

  She should have refused his offer to bring Angie home, but she hadn’t been able to summon the energy to fight him on such a trivial point. Sheer determination had been the only thing holding her together at the time, but now, with Trevor in bed and fresh resolve in her heart, she’d show him the door and try not to close it on his behind when he left.

  Standing in the living room, she heard a car door slam and knew he had arrived. Squaring her shoulders and telling herself to stand firm, she greeted him as he walked inside.

  ‘She’s asleep,’ he told her. ‘Is her bed ready?’

  Megan led the way to Angie’s room and turned down the sheets. It gave her an odd sensation to watch Jonas place her daughter on the mattress, remove her slippers and gently stroke her hair before he covered her with the comforter. His action was too touching for her to watch without tears filling her eyes, so she turned and left.

  He joined her a minute later in the living room, but she didn’t give him a chance to speak.

  ‘Thanks for bringing Angie home. Goodnight, Jonas.’

  ‘We need to talk.’

  ‘There’s nothing to be said.’

  ‘I think there is.’ He dug in his pocket and removed a small, flat box, about the size of a necklace. ‘I want to show you this.’

  Instant suspicion flared. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Go ahead. Open it.’

  Reluctantly, she did as he urged. Nestled inside on a bed of cotton lay a large dog tag in the shape of a bone.

  ‘Read the engraving.’

  Megan lifted it out and turned it so the light fell on the words. ‘My name is Penny and I belong to J. Taylor and family.’ She looked at him, bewildered. ‘The address is mine.’

  ‘I hope you don’t mind. I figure Penny and I will spend most of our time over here anyway.’

  ‘But, Jonas—’

  ‘This tag is only temporary until I can order one from the vet.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Don’t talk. Just listen.’

  She obeyed because she was too surprised to do anything else.

  ‘I’ve been miserable without you, but I didn’t understand why until tonight when a man came by who wanted Penny. I realized that I couldn’t let her go because I’ve grown attached to her.’

  Megan found her voice. ‘What about your argument of how difficult it is to move a dog around the country?’

  He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted. ‘At the same time, I realized that I couldn’t let you go either.’

  Tears burned her eyes, but she didn’t know if they were happy tears or just a sign that the day’s stresses had been too much.

  He stepped close to touch her cheek. ‘I love you, Megan. I don’t know what kind of husband or father I’ll make, but I want to try.’

  She could hardly believe that he was saying the words she’d longed to hear. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Never more so.’

  Clutching the dog tag like a talisman, she flung her arms around his neck and smiled through her tears. ‘Oh, Jonas.’

  He grinned. ‘I assume you’re happy?’

  ‘Deliriously.’ A thought occurred to her. ‘But what about your job?’

  ‘I don’t have th
at detail worked out yet,’ he admitted. ‘I’m slated to cover a hospital in Wyoming, which will make for a long commute for a while. While I’m there, I’ll hunt for a position that will keep me in one place, preferably one around here so you can stay near your parents.’

  Megan was overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. ‘They’ll appreciate it so much.’

  ‘I thought they might.’

  ‘Angie will be so excited when she hears the news. Poor Trevor walked through the house all weekend, calling for “Dada”.’

  ‘We could always wake them.’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ she protested, horrified at the thought. ‘Tomorrow will be soon enough. Tonight is ours.’

  A grin slowly spread across his face. ‘I do like the way you think.’

  EPILOGUE

  SERENA and Bonnie adjusted Megan’s wedding veil as she waited in the vestibule of Stanton’s Holy Family Church with Angie and her father as they waited for the signal to begin.

  ‘You’re such a beautiful bride,’ Bonnie sniffled. ‘Wouldn’t you know it? There isn’t a single place on this dress to hide a tissue.’

  Megan had chosen form-fitting forest-green dresses with halter necklines for Serena and Bonnie to wear as her attendants. Serena was blonde, like Bonnie, and the dark color looked good on both of them. Angie, as flower girl, wore the same color, but in a princess-style gown identical to Megan’s.

  ‘Bride, heck. Did you get a look at her groom?’ Serena teased. ‘Aw sweetie, you two are going to be a great couple.’

  ‘Thanks. I think so, too.’

  ‘I can’t believe Jonas chose Dwight as his best man,’ Serena said.

  ‘It seemed appropriate. He was responsible for bringing us together,’ Megan reminded her.

  ‘Yeah, well, I wonder if he wishes otherwise.’

  Megan smiled. On occasion, when Dwight had run into their small family, she’d seen the look of regret and longing on his face, but she knew his decision has been the best for all of them. Someday, Dwight would find the right woman.

  ‘Anyway,’ Serena said, ‘his loss is Jonas’s gain.’

  A familiar high-pitched voice shouted, ‘Dada’, and Megan knew that her future husband and the minister had entered the sanctuary.