by Lisa Dyson
* * *
ASHLEIGH STEPPED OFF the elevator on the hospital’s fifth floor. Thanks to Cammie’s efficiency, Ashleigh already had temporary privileges at the hospital, enabling her to park in the staff parking lot.
She headed down the hall to the newborn nursery, her palms damp. According to Cammie, the patient she was here to see was male, born late yesterday afternoon, vaginal delivery with no complications. He was a few weeks premature, but his birth weight was five pounds, fifteen ounces, and his vitals were strong enough to keep him out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
As much as she had braced herself, the sight of several healthy newborns swaddled in plaid blankets in their bassinets was staggering. She’d hoped most of them would be off in their mothers’ rooms, but the infants were having their vitals checked in the nursery.
She stopped a moment and took a deep breath to stave off her light-headedness before approaching the R.N. at the desk.
Ashleigh held out her badge, attached to a lanyard around her neck. “I’m Dr. Wilson.” She cleared her throat when she realized her words were barely audible. “I’m here to do a physical on Baby Boy—” She checked the paper Cammie had written the name on. “Baby Boy Stanton.”
The nurse retrieved the baby’s chart and motioned for Ashleigh to follow her to the patient. Ashleigh had difficulty concentrating on the update the R.N. was giving her as every tiny squeak and wail around her caused the vise on her heart to squeeze tighter.
She’d long ago accepted that she’d never have a child in this or any other newborn nursery. It wasn’t meant to be.
That didn’t make being in this atmosphere any less painful.
She pushed the ache aside and concentrated on the physical examination. The boy was a pretty newborn and she couldn’t say that about all of them. His skin was pink and clear, his hair was dark and there was quite a bit of it. He closed his hand around Ashleigh’s index finger and her cheek itched when a tear escaped.
She swiped it away angrily and gingerly turned the boy over onto his tummy. It had been too long since she’d examined a newborn and she wasn’t as adept as she used to be.
“He’s strong and healthy,” she told the nurse when she finished making notes in his chart. “Let me know if anything changes or if he has trouble passing the car seat assessment, although I don’t expect a problem.” The test entailed spending time in his car seat in the nursery while his vitals were monitored. If there was any sign of distress, he would be reevaluated. “Otherwise, I’m writing the order for discharge. He can go home when his mother does, as long as the infant visits my office within forty-eight hours to check his bilirubin.”
Ashleigh stepped over to the tiny office to record the physical report, which would be transcribed by someone in the medical records department. Then she hurriedly left the area and found the nearest ladies’ room. Her hands were shaking and her skin was pale and clammy.
This embarrassing emotional reaction to being around infants and children was exactly why she’d given up pediatric medicine.
* * *
KYLE PARKED HIS TRUCK in the staff lot at the hospital and made his way to the second floor where he was meeting the hospital lawyer about his lawsuit.
“Hey, Tom.” Kyle and his longtime friend shook hands. “Please tell me you’ve made this lawsuit go away.”
Tom Patterson grimaced. “Afraid not.” He gestured for Kyle to take a seat at the conference table and sat down across from him.
“But I did everything according to standard procedures,” Kyle insisted. “There was no way for me to know the guy was a recovering drug addict.” Blood pounded at his temples. This whole thing was ridiculous—a waste of time and money. “He had a freaking compound fracture. His femur was sticking through his skin at a right angle. All the guy did was yell for pain meds.”
Tom made a face at the explicit details and raised a hand, while his other hand tapped his pen on the table next to an open folder. “He claims differently. He says he never would have asked for drugs when he’d been clean and sober for nearly three years.”
“How was I supposed to know that?”
“He swears he was wearing a medical-alert bracelet. And he has documentation that shows he’s had it since he left rehab.”
“Impossible!” Kyle couldn’t believe this. “We were at the scene of a horrific car accident. It’s one of the first things I checked when I pulled him out of the car. Could it have come off in the accident?”
Tom shrugged. “That’s possible, I guess, but it never showed up. He also says he carries a card in his wallet.”
“There was definitely no wallet on him and his car was on fire. I was lucky to get him and his passenger out before the car exploded.” Kyle ran his hands through his hair. He’d been the only other person on the road when he came across the one-car accident. “What’s the status of his passenger? Is she still in a medically induced coma?” The woman had been airlifted to Shock Trauma in Richmond, so Kyle hadn’t been able to monitor her condition.
“Last I heard,” Tom verified. “Which means we can’t count on her testifying whether or not he was even wearing the alert.”
“But it is possible he wasn’t wearing it, right?” That had to be it. The scenario made more sense than if it had fallen off during the accident.
Tom hesitated before answering. “It’s been known to happen.” He consulted his notes. “My investigator says this was a first date for the pair. They’d met through an online dating service.” He looked up at Kyle. “It’s possible the guy didn’t want questions about his addiction. A medical-alert bracelet or even a necklace would have brought up obvious questions.”
“But we can’t prove that.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m positive he had no medical-alert jewelry on his person.” Kyle ran his fingers through his hair.
“That’s exactly what you should say in the deposition next week. No more, no less.”
Kyle considered the advice. “Will this actually go to trial?” He’d never been involved in a malpractice suit before.
“That depends on whether or not we can get any information from the passenger. You know I’ll do whatever I can to make this go away.” He paused and stared at Kyle. “I owe you.”
“Not true.”
Back in high school, Tom and Kyle became friends through football. Kyle was the school’s starting quarterback and Tom was the best receiver Grand Oaks High had seen in two decades. He caught balls that most players didn’t even try for.
Which was how Tom’s football career ended. He’d been scouted by several top football colleges and finally decided to go to the University of Southern California. Unfortunately, he tore up his knee in the second game of his freshman season while stretching full out for a pass, ending his football career.
Kyle had been there for him, flying to California to see him and later suggesting he transfer to a Virginia school so they could all support him.
Tom never let Kyle forget how much that meant to him.
“I’ll let you know if there’s any change in the woman’s condition,” Tom said.
They spent a few more minutes discussing the deposition before they ended the meeting and went their separate ways.
Kyle had stepped into the elevator to go to the fourth floor to check on Stan when Ashleigh’s familiar voice called out, “Hold the elevator!”
Kyle was close enough to the doors to hold them open with his hand as Ashleigh came rushing down the hall.
“Thanks,” she said breathlessly.
Did the blood really need to drain from his brain to his crotch because he had a déjà vu moment at the sound of her voice? Okay, not just her voice—that had been her sexy bedroom whisper. The tone she took when she seduced him.
He inhaled deeply and took control of his body.
“How did it go with your patients?”
“Pretty routine.” She focused on her hands as she folded and unfolded them.
“What brings you to the hospital?” For some reason he couldn’t be silent on the short elevator ride. “Are you visiting Stan?”
She shook her head.
Fine, she didn’t want to talk to him.
The elevator doors opened on four and Kyle stepped into the hallway. He turned to say goodbye and realized how pale she was. “Are you okay, Ashleigh?” he asked.
She shrugged, still concentrating on her hands.
He was about to walk away but instead stepped back into the elevator.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
This time their gazes collided and he realized how upset she was.
“Trying to be considerate.” His words were clipped. “Although you definitely make it difficult.”
Her eyes widened. “How am I doing that?”
“By denying that practicing medicine again is one of the most difficult things you’ve done in a long time. That’s how.”
Her shoulders straightened and she shot back. “What business is it of yours anyway?” The elevator reached her floor and she stepped out before the doors were completely open.
He gritted his teeth. “You’re right, it’s none of my business. You made it none of my business when you took off for Richmond.” He punched the number for his floor again and the close doors button, but she was already gone.
* * *
“DR. WILSON!”
Ashleigh turned at the male voice calling to her from down the hallway and couldn’t help but smile. She’d just checked on her teenage patient, which had given her a chance to cool down after her run-in with Kyle. Now, seeing her old friend, her mood lightened considerably.
“Dr. Wilson?” she teased Tom. “Is that how childhood friends greet each other, Attorney Patterson?”
They hugged and he kissed her cheek. “Good to see you, Ashleigh,” he said. “It’s been too long.” He paused a moment and winked when he added, “And I prefer Thomas Patterson, Esquire.”
They shared a chuckle and Tom asked, “What brings you back to town? Not enough happening in Richmond?”
She smiled, surprisingly relaxed as she told him about Paula’s condition. “And now I’m also filling in for Stan Mitchell until he’s ready to come back to work after his heart surgery.”
“What?” Tom’s eyes widened. “I met with Kyle earlier and he never mentioned any of that.” He checked the time on his watch.
Ashleigh wasn’t surprised that Kyle hadn’t talked about her being in town. After all, he didn’t want her here in the first place.
“You had a meeting with him?” she asked. Tom was the hospital lawyer. Could their meeting have been about Kyle’s lawsuit?
Tom checked his watch again, as if he’d forgotten what time it was a few seconds ago. “I did.” He sounded rushed all of a sudden. “Ashleigh, I have a meeting in ten minutes that I’m probably going to be late for.” He cocked his head. “How about lunch tomorrow?”
Ashleigh didn’t hesitate. “Name the time and place.” Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant drop-in morning hours at her office, but then she was free. She’d discharged both of her hospital patients, so as of right now she had no hospital rounds to perform. “Maybe a late lunch since I have to work in the morning?” She recalled times when her waiting room was filled with sick children and she hadn’t finished seeing them until midafternoon. Hopefully tomorrow wouldn’t be one of those days.
“One o’clock at The Tavern?” he suggested.
“Perfect.” She smiled, then gave him a quick hug. “Thank you,” she whispered close to his ear.
Puzzlement clouded his eyes when he asked, “What for?”
She shrugged, a little embarrassed. “I haven’t gotten what you’d call a warm reception since I’ve been back, so I appreciate that you actually want to spend time with me.”
“Of course I do.” He rubbed her upper arms in a friendly gesture of support. “I could never take sides between you and Kyle. You know that.”
She did know that. She’d been friends with Tom since they were kids, neighbors on the same street.
“I can’t imagine not being friends with either of you,” Tom added. “In fact, I’d love to get your opinion on something at lunch tomorrow.”
Ashleigh’s throat tightened at his sincerity. “Of course. You know our friendship goes both ways.” She’d worried about him after Theresa broke their engagement. Hopefully, enough time had passed and he’d gone on with his life.
“I know.” He glanced at his watch a third time. “Gotta run.” He took a few hurried steps away from her and waved. “See you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it.” She spoke loudly enough for him to hear it down the hallway.
She slowly followed in his path as she made her way down to the first floor and her car. Getting to her sister’s for more bickering wasn’t appealing in the least, so why rush the inevitable?
“Paula’s napping,” Emma told Ashleigh when she got home. “The boys are in the basement playing video games. I thought it would be okay since there’s no school tomorrow,” she added quickly as she gathered her long brown hair into a ponytail.
“I’m sure that’s fine.” Ashleigh smiled. “I’ll take the blame if there’s a problem.”
“I’m also supposed to tell you that Dr. Jennings will be here for dinner.”
Ashleigh’s eyebrows rose. Had Paula invited him? Before or after they ran into each other at the hospital? He never mentioned it, not that they’d had an in-depth conversation.
After Emma left, Ashleigh inventoried the food and checked on the boys so they knew she was there.
“What should I heat up for dinner, guys?” She recited the list and one wanted spaghetti and the other wanted hot dogs, which she’d never even mentioned. “Tell you what. I’ll ask your mom and Uncle Kyle what they want and we’ll see which meal gets the most votes.”
They both cheered. What was it with boys always making things a competition?
She returned to the kitchen, preheated the oven and put together a salad before checking on Paula again.
“You’re awake.” Ashleigh felt ridiculous after voicing the obvious.
Paula looked up from the magazine she was thumbing through.
When Paula simply stared at her, Ashleigh continued. “I told the boys I’d take a vote on dinner, but I’ll make whatever sounds good to you.” Again she recited the growing list of food Paula’s neighbors and friends had been bringing by, and she realized how well-liked her sister was in the community. “I already made a salad to go with whatever you choose.”
“Spaghetti sounds good,” Paula said. “There should be a frozen loaf of garlic bread in the freezer that we can throw in the oven, too.”
Ashleigh turned to leave.
“Ashleigh?”
She faced Paula.
“I invited Kyle to come for dinner.” Paula’s complexion deepened.
“I know, Emma told me.” Ashleigh couldn’t stop from asking, “When did you invite him?”
“Right after lunch. He came to take my blood pressure. Why?”
“Because he didn’t say anything when I ran into him at the hospital.”
Paula scratched her head. “I wonder why.”
Ashleigh shrugged. “My theory is he’s trying not to cause problems between any of us.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it.” Paula essentially dismissed her by turning her attention back to her magazine and muttering, “But so far he hasn’t done a very good job of it.”
* * *
“WHY DON’T YOU invite your friend over, Uncle Kyle?” Ryan asked in the middle of dinner. “She was a lot of fun when she cam
e to my game.”
Kyle nearly choked on his mouthful of spaghetti. He must mean Theresa. Dinner had been civil so far, with the conversation centered on his nephews—he intended to keep it that way.
Kyle held up one finger, swallowing his food before speaking, which gave him a moment to think. How could he explain why the woman who used to be engaged to his best friend was now pretending to spend time with him?
He glanced at Ashleigh before answering. She appeared to be patiently awaiting his reply. “I don’t know. Maybe we can call Theresa and see if she wants to do something with us.”
What the hell! Why had he said that?
“Yay!” Ryan cheered, while Paula’s eyebrows rose in surprise and Ashleigh turned pale.
He caught Paula’s eye over the table and winced. She didn’t approve of what he was doing—heck, he didn’t even have a reasonable explanation to satisfy himself.
“Excuse me.” Ashleigh rose, her skin still pale.
“Ashleigh?” Kyle stood without thinking, ready to do whatever necessary to make her feel better, including confessing that there was nothing going on between Theresa and him. They’d innocently met several times about the charitable organization he was forming, but it instantly revved the rumor mill into a frenzy. Theresa then decided she might as well use the situation to make Tom jealous.
Personally, Kyle thought it was a dumb plan.
Ashleigh barely whispered, “I need some water.” She went directly to the cupboard for a glass and filled it with ice and water from the fridge dispenser. He lowered himself back into his seat. He’d explain to Ashleigh at the first opportunity.
Meanwhile, Ryan continued the conversation about Theresa. “Do you think she’d like to go roller-skating, Uncle Kyle?”
“What?” The question caught Kyle off guard. “Why don’t we talk about it later.”
He steered the conversation away from Theresa and the rest of the meal went reasonably well.
In fact, the remainder of the evening continued fairly comfortably until he was ready to leave. He hesitated. He needed to come clean to Ashleigh about Theresa.