Taking Chances

by Taylor, Janelle

  “John and Maria send hellos and hugs. They think I’m loco for letting you live out there alone amidst all those tempting men.”

  “Nobody is tempting except you, Christopher.”

  “You’ll never guess who I talked to this afternoon, Harry and Laura Stoker, my ex-wife and my ex-best friend. A friend of Harry’s told him I was checking into a research project on neuropathy and nerve replacements. It seems that Harry’s an adviser and surgeon on the, team involved, sort of like what you asked me to do on your project with Summeraul. Anyhow, he filled me in on the work. It sounds great, but it’ll be years before they’re ready to try anything with a human specimen. By then, I’ll be too old for it to matter.”

  “No, you won’t. There are plenty of doctors and surgeons in their fifties and older still practicing. You were one of the best, Christopher. I bet you’ve forgotten more than the med students are learning these days. Heavens, you could teach them so much.”

  “Maybe. Who knows, I might check into teaching one day.”

  Don’t push and mess it up. Let him work it out in his own time and manner. “What did Laura have to say?”

  “She apologized for taking my dog years ago; isn’t that funny?”

  “What made her think of that?”

  “Harry gave her a new boxer for her birthday last week. She asked if I wanted a puppy after he was bred.”

  “What did you tell her? You have plenty of room for one on the” ranch.”

  “Yeah, but … I don’t want to be tied down to a pet. I have traveling to do. You did promise to go camping with me.”

  Were you about to say something like, No dog in an apartment? “I’ll be settled enough by June to take off to places unknown.”

  “I can think of one special trip I’d like to take.”

  Anticipation shot through her like tiny electrical sparks. “Where?”

  “I’ll tell you about it later, tomorrow night when I see you.”

  “You sound in a good mood for someone who talked to two people who were enemies.”

  “We got things pretty well settled between us. I guess we were all to blame for what happened. It’s over and done with. I have to admit I think they’re perfect for each other, and they seem genuinely sorry about the way they got together. They’re happy, Kirstin, really happy. I want the same thing for us. I hope you don’t mind my telling them about you and my proposal.”

  “Of course not. I bet Frank’s excited about running the ranch for you while you’re gone, sort of like being boss and owner for a time.”

  “Yep. Nobody, not even me, does a better job. There’s John’s horn. He’s coming by to talk. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Bye,” she rushed out the word as he terminated their conversation and a noisy dial tone filled her ear. She stared at the phone as she murmured, “You’re acting mighty strange, my love.”

  Friday afternoon, Kirstin’s front tires bumped the curb as she pulled into the assigned space in front of her apartment. She stared over the steering wheel. Sitting on the step of her portico was Doctor Christopher Harrison with a bouquet of multi-colored roses in his hand. He stood as she stepped out of her Nissan, locked the door, and hurried to join him.

  He set down the flowers for a quick embrace and a brief kiss. “If we weren’t in public, Kirstin Lowrey, I’d give you a better greeting. I’ve been so eager to see you, I’m as strung out as tight barbwire. I thought you’d never get home.”

  She held his hands as she smiled. “I’m early, in case you forgot to change your watch to our time. Where’s your luggage?”

  “In the trunk of a rented car over there. We’ll sneak it in after dark.”

  “That isn’t necessary. I don’t care what my neighbors might think.”

  “They’ll have plenty to gossip about if we don’t get inside fast. You’re getting to me in a visible manner. I’m just burning for you.”

  “Let’s go cool both of us off,” she whispered. “We’ll fetch your luggage later.”

  Inside, he glanced around as she placed the flowers in a vase. “I chose these flowers very carefully. Red’s for love and passion, pink’s to show loneliness, and yellow is for happiness and friendship. The language of flowers says it all. I have all of those things with you, Kirstin, but I want more, much more.”

  “Then you’re in luck, Doc, because I’m in a generous mood today. You can have anything and everything you want from me.”

  “How about I start collecting with this?” he murmured and nibbled at her earlobe, then let his lips roam her throat.

  Kirstin leaned back her head to give him ample working room. It felt good to feel his touch and lips again, to hear his voice, to see his smile, to be with him.

  He embraced her with tender possessiveness as his mouth tantalized her parted lips. He lifted her into his arms. “Which way to your room?” he asked as he nuzzled her neck.

  “Our room,” she corrected with a glowing smile.

  “Our, what a beautiful word. As beautiful as you are, woman.”

  They were out of their clothes with haste and lying on the bed. Passion’s flames burned brighter and higher as they kissed and caressed each other eagerly, neither able to wait an extra minute for this special joining.

  Laughter filled the room as they lay on their backs side-by-side and gazed at the blue sky filtering through the skylight.

  “Whew, woman, that was magnificent. You drive me crazy and I can’t go slow enough with you sometimes, not after being apart for so long. I’ll do better next time.”

  “If it gets any better, I’ll melt into the bed like butter under the sun.”

  He rolled to his side and propped his head with a balled fist. He gazed down at her. “We are good together, aren’t we?”

  “Yes, my love, we are.” Kirstin’s fingers lifted to play with his hair, but he captured them and kissed the tip of each one.

  “Let’s get you fed, woman; you’re too far off schedule. I want you well nourished and strong to keep up with me this weekend.”

  “Now that I’m off my medication, my routine isn’t as strict.”

  “That’s no excuse to take advantage of it, and I know you won’t.”

  “Especially with my personal physician in residence.”

  They joined forces to clear the table after dinner.

  He said, “I’m hoping everything can work out for us soon. I hate being separated from you.”

  Ready to relent, Kirstin answered, “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

  He watched her refrigerate the last of the leftovers and step to the sink. “I’m not blind or deaf, Kirstin; I realize you wouldn’t be totally happy at the ranch. You have everything you want and need here.”

  She stopped loading the dishwasher to look at him. “I don’t have you with me all the time. I love you, Christopher Harrison. I need you. I want to be your partner. We’re so compatible, but it’s hard and painful to get closer with so much distance between us. We can’t lose this glorious second chance. We have to take any risk necessary to capture it and hold it, even if it means I must retire and return to the ranch.”

  He was afraid to trust his hearing. Was she saying she would—

  “I love you,” she said again. “I’ll move to the ranch as soon as I can finish the current project with Charles and work out a decent notice.”

  “You aren’t kidding, are you?”

  “No. I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you leaning over me and heard your voice. I can’t imagine not sharing a life with you. I’ll miss research, but living with you is more important to me. Who knows, maybe I’ll be just as happy being your assistant?”

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Well, I guess we have only two choices: either I move to San Diego, or we find a city that offers us both what we need. The ranch isn’t for either of us.”

  Her still wet hands stroked his cheek. “You would do that for me?”

  “For us, Kirstin. Now that I’ve found you,
I’ll move heaven and hell to keep you. I can’t ask you to move to the ranch and sacrifice your career.”

  “But what will happen to the ranch?” she asked as she toyed with his sable hair.

  “I’ll sell it to Frank and Helen; he’ll do great things with it. My uncle would approve, if he were still alive.”

  She felt as if she were laughing and crying at the same time. “You amaze me, Christopher Harrison. What other man would give up his home and life for a woman?”

  “If a woman can do it for her man, why can’t he do the same for her? As you’ve pointed out there’s no research there for you, but I can start a practice anywhere. It’s the logical and fair solution. That is, if you’ll marry me, Kirstin Lowrey.”

  “Are you sure about this, Christopher? It’s a big change for you.”

  “I’m sure, Kirstin. I didn’t realize how much I was missing and how miserable I was until you showed up. I thought if I couldn’t do surgery, I couldn’t be around it. That doesn’t matter anymore. Now that I have you, things will be fine. Fact is, if I hadn’t left surgery and moved there, I wouldn’t have met you. Fate has a way of putting us where we should be. I have no regrets, Kirstin. Being with you makes everything wonderful.”

  “If you don’t like San Diego, we’ll look for another place to work. A compromise, Doc; wherever we settle, we must both agree on it. How long will it take to pack and close your practice and make a deal with the Grahams?”

  “We can get married soon and live in your apartment. It’s big enough for both of us. I’ll look around next week for a new position. I have a few ideas to check on; if one of them works out, we’ll stay here. A new career will be fun and challenging, spark the old gray matter to life again,” he teased as he tapped his head. “I’ve been hiding for too long; it’s past time to get back where I belong, where I can do the most good for myself and others. Not that what I do in New Mexico isn’t important, but I can benefit more people in another line of medicine or in a general practice with more patients. I’ll even hire a nurse and secretary if I go that route. I have too much knowledge and too many skills not being used to their fullest. Frankly, you’ve gotten me excited about research. There’s so much happening in that field, so many discoveries waiting to be made. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and studying and collecting information on projects in progress. If Medico has any openings and are interested in me, I could settle there.”

  “Your intelligence and generosity are astounding, my love. I always knew you were smarter and braver than you let on,” she jested.

  “How about a nice reward for my opening my eyes to the truth?”

  She turned off the water in the sink and dried her hands; the rest of the dishes and chores could wait. Something more important was at hand: love and their future. “What do you have in mind as payment?”

  “After I do a better job of what I started earlier, to make you Kirstin Harrison ASAP,” he murmured. “Not a bad note in that new song.”

  “You’re right, Doctor and Mrs. Christopher Harrison. Um-m-m, nice, a very nice ring to it.”

  “Speaking of ring, John helped me select this one for you. That’s why I had to rush off the phone. Mr. Gibbs was keeping the store open late for me to come in.” He held up a diamond solitaire.

  “Oh, Christopher, it’s beautiful. Put it on quickly before you change your mind.” She held out her left hand and almost vibrated with excitement.

  “I’ll never change my mind about you, woman.”

  After he slipped it on her finger, she held up her hand and gazed at it. “This makes it official; we’re engaged. We’re going to be married. I love you, Christopher.” She kissed him with feelings to match her words.

  He chuckled and flipped off the kitchen light. He lifted her and headed for the bedroom with Kirstin snuggled in his arms, this time to make love slowly and blissfully.

  As they nestled together, both thought that changes and taking risks had their rewards after all; and this was only one of them.

  Tuesday evening, Kirstin phoned her son. She dreaded the news she was about to tell him, feared how he would take it and might try to spoil her happiness. She had made up her mind; either he accepted her love and marriage or she would proceed without his blessing. “Steve, you and I need to have a serious talk. I have some important things to tell you.”

  Nineteen

  “I’m glad you called, Mother. I was going to phone you tomorrow night. How are you feeling? Are you taking good care of yourself? Are the job and move working out for you?”

  He sounds in a sunny mood. “I’m doing fine, Steve.” She related news about her health, position at Medico, and apartment.

  “That’s wonderful; I’m happy for you and proud of you, Mother.”

  “You are?” What’s the catch? When does the mask come off?

  “Yes, you’ve accomplished quite a lot on your own. Not many women would have had the courage to do what you’ve done. You’re very special.”

  I despise being so suspicious, but he’s been treating me so cruelly for ages. “Thank you, Steve; that’s a much appreciated compliment.”

  “I guess you’re wondering what’s gotten into me?”

  You bet your britches, son. “You do sound different tonight.”

  “I am, Mother. I’ve been seeing a therapist and he’s helped me understand how much trouble I was having dealing with Dad’s death, and the past. You, Katie, Sandi, and Louise were right; I had a lot of bitterness and resentment bottled up inside and was taking some of it out on you. They’ve given me needed lectures and advice which I’ve taken to heart, and shouldn’t have waited so long to do it. I’m sorry for the terrible way I’ve been treating you since his death. I’ve been mean and selfish and demanding and manipulative, the very things I resented my father for being. I hope it won’t happen again. Forgive me, Mother, please. I love you and I never meant to intentionally hurt you.”

  Kirstin was almost too overcome by relief and emotion to respond. It took her a few moments to be able to speak; her son waited until she could. “I understand, Steve. It was hard for you. I’m sure David never meant to hurt any of us. He just didn’t know how to show his love and share himself. I’ve been worried about you, I hated the breach between us. We were always so close. It was hard to step back and be seemingly cruel.”

  “It was for my own good, Mother; I understand that now. I’ve made a lot of improvement and changes, but I’m not finished in therapy yet. By the time I am, I’ll be a better father, husband, son, and brother.”

  “I love you, Steve, and I’m happy you’re taking this step. If anyone knows how difficult change is, I do.”

  For a while, they talked about the past, David, and other things.

  When Kirstin thought the moment was right, she said, “Steve, there’s something else I need to tell you. I’ve met someone, someone very special. He’s asked me to marry him. I love him, Steve. I said yes. We want to get married on May thirtieth. Can you come for the wedding?”

  The young man paused before asking, “You’ve already met someone and it’s that serious? Isn’t this rather fast?”

  Kirstin related how, where, and when she met Christopher and the time they spent together getting acquainted and falling in love. She talked about the now-removed obstacle between them and she explained why she didn’t tell Steve sooner about the accident and new relationship.

  “You were right to keep them a secret, Mother; I would have been a bastard about them. I suppose a whirlwind romance doesn’t have to mean something bad. You’re both adults, so you know what you want. Congratulations. I hope you’ll be happy, really happy this time. Tell me more about him.”

  Kirstin gave mosts of the details and a description of Christopher. “He signed on at Medico yesterday. First thing in the morning, he met with the board and presented his ideas. He wrote up such good and valuable proposals, they accepted them immediately, before lunch. They would have been crazy not to grab him fast, and Medico’s smart; they
realized what an asset he would be to them. Before five, he had his own lab, research assistant, and a big budget. His projects are so important and timely, and he’s the perfect one to do them. I’m so proud of him, Steve, and he’s so excited about his ideas and new career. He’s like a kid in a candy store.”

  “That’s fantastic, Mother. Will you two be working together?”

  “We don’t work in the same lab, but we’ll be doing joint projects in the future. He’s agreed to become an adviser on our current heart research. Doctor Summeraul is thrilled to get him; he already knew Christopher by past reputation. We have so much in common, Steve, and we get along so well. He was a brilliant and famous surgeon and he’ll make history in research, too. I can hardly wait for you to meet him.”

  “Neither can I. So, what are the plans?”

  “We’re getting the license and blood tests tomorrow evening, then going to New Mexico for the weekend to handle the ranch sale and all the packing. Sandi is coming to visit on the twenty-ninth. I haven’t called her about the wedding; I will after we finish our talk. I’ll phone Katie, too. Does this news upset you, Steve? Do you think I’m being foolish and impulsive? Are you angry with me for keeping secrets? Will this cause another breach between us? I know it’s fast, but we do love each other. At our ages, we need to take advantage of every day we have left.”

  “It comes as a shock, Mother, but it’s fine with me. I truly want you to be happy. I’m eager to meet him, and of course I will come for the wedding. Louise won’t be able to travel; the doctor’s told her to be careful for a while and to rest. Nothing serious, just a precaution.”

  “Thank you, Steve; Christopher’s acceptance by my children means so much to me and to him. He’s a good man, Steve; honest and kind and generous, fun and thoughtful and compassionate. I’m sure you’ll like him and respect him.” She told him about Peggy, then added, “We’re making out our wills and doing a prenuptial agreement to protect our children’s rightful shares of their inheritances. He’s also taking out a large insurance policy for my support if anything should happen to him.”