He’d contact Adrienne for the phone number of the woman she’d recommended and start vetting available houses. He would work this out, for his son’s sake.
* * *
THE START OF THE WEEK was especially busy for Zady because Marshall didn’t usually schedule surgeries then. While he was operating, she had time to follow up with patients, prepare for his afternoon appointments and assist the other urologists with whom he shared office space. On Mondays, however, she proceeded at a dead run.
During her training as a registered nurse, Zady had been encouraged by an enthusiastic teacher to consider focusing on urology. After earning her RN degree, she’d landed a position in a large clinic in Santa Barbara. The doctor she’d assisted had treated men, women and children diagnosed with everything from congenital abnormalities and incontinence to prostate disorders and cancer.
At Safe Harbor, although Dr. Davis also treated a range of patients, his client list reflected the center’s emphasis on fertility as well as his skill as a reconstructive microsurgeon. Many patients sought vasectomy reversals or help for erectile dysfunction.
While any medical disorder affected people’s emotions, Zady observed that men were particularly sensitive about issues they thought reflected on their masculinity. A cool, restrained physician like Marshall Davis suited this specialty well, as many men appreciated his businesslike approach.
In her opinion, women responded better to a show of caring, and she wondered how Nick interacted with his patients. It would be interesting to watch him deliver babies. Did having a son influence his practice?
Stop thinking about them. Neither the boy nor the father was her concern.
At midmorning, she received a text from her friend Alice Madison.
Can we talk?
As a nurse, Alice knew better than to call while Zady was on duty, although that didn’t explain why she hadn’t simply waited until the evening.
Will call in a few minutes. After assisting the last patient of the morning, Zady retreated to the snack room. Sometimes she preferred to eat there in relative privacy, like today, so she could return Alice’s call.
Her friend answered on the second buzz. “Oh, Zady!” She spoke breathlessly, as if she’d been jogging, which she probably had. Alice had always been a fitness advocate. “I have a huge favor to ask. Please don’t say no till you hear me out.”
“A favor?” There seemed to be a lot of such requests these days, Zady thought. Did she have a sticky note pasted to her forehead reading, “Universal volunteer”?
“You know Bill and I are having problems. Were having problems, hopefully in the past tense.” Alice’s voice had regained its usual confidence. “He swears he loves me more than anything, and begged me to bring Linda and help him to run the seminars. I told him it’s ridiculous to drag a toddler around while we’re working, and then it hit me. You’ve been wishing to spend more time with her, right?”
Uh-oh. Zady was reminded of a time when she’d promised to accompany her sister on a daredevil roller-coaster ride, and discovered, too late, that her stomach had stayed behind. “I do recall uttering those words, but...”
“She can spend the month with you!” Alice crowed. “It’ll be perfect. Linda adores you, and you can introduce her to your hometown. Plus, your sister is there to help, right?”
“Zora has twin babies,” Zady said.
“Oh.” Her friend paused only briefly before barreling ahead. “I checked the website and there’s day care at your hospital.”
That had been presumptuous—or simply practical. Zady wasn’t always sure how to interpret Alice’s actions. Tall and blonde, she’d initially struck Zady as too gorgeous to befriend a freckled kid who couldn’t walk straight in heels higher than three inches. Zady had always felt a little starstruck with Alice, and therefore vulnerable to her influence.
But she did long to stay close to Linda, and if she rejected her friend’s request, that might put a wedge between them. Also, Zady cared about the state of her friends’ marriage. If Alice and Bill could renew their relationship on this trip, the benefit to their little girl would be huge.
“It’ll be a tight squeeze in my unit,” she said. “I’m living in a residential motel.”
“It’s only for a month,” Alice repeated. “There’s no one else I trust. Bill’s folks live on the East Coast and his mom’s in poor health.” Alice’s parents had died years earlier, Zady recalled. “Please say yes!”
Despite reservations and an awareness that she hadn’t examined all the angles, Zady couldn’t refuse. “Okay. When do you leave?”
“Next Sunday,” her friend said. “Thank you thank you thank you! I’ll email you with more details. Keep track of whatever you spend on her food and stuff and we’ll reimburse you.”
“Fine. I’ll see you Sunday. And congratulations on talking things over with Bill.”
“You’re an angel!”
Zady clicked off in a daze. What had she just agreed to?
“Are you all right?” The masculine voice startled her. She hadn’t noticed Marshall entering the break room.
“Yes.” While she’d rather keep her private business out of the office, the situation might affect him, Zady reflected. “I promised to take care of my goddaughter for a month, starting next week. It’s a family emergency.”
At a vending machine, Marshall selected a sandwich. He often ate at his desk, catching up on medical news and reviewing plans for surgeries. “Won’t that be difficult?”
“Yes. I feel like I just volunteered to climb Mount Everest.” Zady braced for him to object. Not that he had the right to rule her personal decisions, but during their initial interview, he’d emphasized that he was a perfectionist who expected the best from his staff.
“How old is your goddaughter?” Marshall asked.
“Two and a half.” Which was, Zady conceded silently, a turbulent age. “It’s only for a month, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this doesn’t affect my work.” Surely he wouldn’t fire her when she’d done nothing wrong—yet.
“Your friend must place a great deal of trust in you.” Marshall seemed to be searching for words. “To ask you to be a godmother, then leave her child in your care. That’s quite a responsibility.”
“I love Linda,” Zady said. “I’m willing to take on the challenge.” An urge to babble welled up, about how she would possibly cope with a toddler and adapt her sparsely furnished apartment to the child’s needs. But Marshall never invited confidences, and Zady suspected she’d regret exposing any more of her concerns.
Never a man to chitchat, he said, “She’s a lucky little girl,” and departed.
Grabbing her salad from the refrigerator, Zady ate it while walking next door to the hospital, where she consulted the day care center’s staff. Yes, they had room for a toddler starting next week. That was a relief.
The rest of the day, Zady focused on her duties. She owed her full attention to her patients and her doctor. If anything, Marshall’s sympathetic response to her situation had reaffirmed her dedication to him.
Only when she arrived home in the early winter darkness did the doubts creep back in. The term seedy didn’t exactly apply to the Harbor Suites, but it was far from welcoming. How strange and disorienting this would be for Linda, removed from her parents’ care for a whole month, and dropped into an unfamiliar environment.
She supposed they could hang out at Zora’s house. At ages eleven and thirteen, the Adams girls would dote on Linda, and the place was always full of activity. But Zady didn’t dare. Too much contact was likely to raise questions she didn’t want to answer.
Linda bore a strong resemblance to Zady. Fortunately, no one here knew Alice, who was not only tall and blonde but also had markedly different bone structure. But there’d be frequent video chats, and sooner or later,
her sister or brother-in-law was bound to notice that the little girl didn’t look like her mother.
Zady and the Madisons had agreed to keep the egg donation secret until Linda was old enough to understand. Even then, it would remain confidential, to share only if Linda wished.
Best to limit exposure to Zora’s household. Too bad, Zady mused as she approached her doorstep.
She halted in surprise at the sight of a large bouquet of lilies and roses on her stoop. The scent lifted her spirits, and when she carried the vase inside, she discovered that their freshness transformed the room.
The card read, “Thanks for yesterday. Nick.”
What a sweet gesture. And how considerate not to have them delivered to her at the office, where they’d have piqued her coworkers’ curiosity.
After setting the flowers on a place mat atop the coffee table, Zady fixed a light meal. As she polished it off, she decided that, despite the beautiful bouquet, the longer she stared at the décor in her living room, the more depressing it seemed for a little girl.
The Gently Used and Useful thrift shop had evening hours and affordable prices. What a great place to pick up indoor play equipment and a cheap toy chest. After Linda left, Zady could donate her purchases to charity.
She threw on a light jacket. Outside, the night air had a crisp edge, while the darkness intensified sounds and smells: hamburgers grilling, a video game squawking, a child laughing.
Once Linda arrived, they’d be sharing strolls together. What a great opportunity to develop a closer bond and create memories with her goddaughter.
Approaching the parking lot in the patchy glare of the streetlamps, Zady had an idea. She and Linda could make a video log, or a digital photo scrapbook, so this sojourn would never fade from their memories. Then Alice and Bill could share it, too. And when Linda was older and learned the truth about their biological connection, she’d have no reason to feel neglected or abandoned.
She’s my child. Maybe the only one I’ll ever have.
At the thought, Zady missed her step on the sidewalk. Struggling to regain her balance, she staggered a second time, unable to reach out both hands because she’d instinctively clutched her purse. Footsteps rushed toward her, and someone caught her arm.
“Are you okay?” asked a man’s voice nearly identical to Marshall’s, the words almost the same as the ones her doctor had used earlier, too.
Great. She’d bumbled around like an idiot in front of Nick. “I’m fine. Just embarrassed at my clumsiness.” As Zady straightened, his warmth cocooned her against the cool breeze.
His cheek brushed across the top of her head. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured.
She nearly shot back that it had been only twenty-four hours, but the truth was, she’d missed his playfulness and spontaneity, too. How could Nick be so much like Marshall yet so utterly different? “So have I.” Hastily, she added, “Don’t take that personally.”
“How else could I take it?” His chuckle vibrated through her.
“What I meant was, thank you for the flowers.” His gift showed him to be considerate. “You were kind to think of it.”
“You went out of your way for me yesterday,” Nick responded. “I don’t know how I’d have coped at the Carrigans’ without you.”
The glare of headlights swinging into the parking lot reminded her of their surroundings. Easing out of Nick’s arms, Zady recalled that it was past six. “Aren’t you late for work?”
“I have Mondays off.” His dark jacket emphasized the ruggedness of his shoulders, stronger and broader than his cousin’s. “Matter of fact, I’m about to check out a house for rent. I’d appreciate a second opinion, if you aren’t busy.”
“The last time I agreed to help you, it turned into a major expedition,” she returned.
“How about if I throw in hot chocolate afterward?” He raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Plus, dessert at Waffle Heaven, if you’re in the mood.”
“If I eat that, you won’t have to rent a house because I’ll be as big as one.” However, she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed being with him. Not only that, but it occurred to her that it might entertain Linda to play with Caleb once in a while, and this house could provide the setting. She should check it out. “Okay, I’ll go. But that was hot chocolate and dessert, right?”
“Plus a second one to take home,” he promised.
“That would be a bad idea.” So was this trip. But Zady didn’t care.
She really had missed him.
Chapter Eight
Ordinarily, Nick had no trouble tracking multiple subjects simultaneously. In high school, a counselor had suggested he become an air traffic controller. He’d have considered that career had his cousin not chosen medicine and presented Nick with a different challenge.
Today, however, his usually well-ordered mental tracks threatened to smash into each other. In addition to reading about the development of three-year-olds, he’d checked out housing rentals, discovering issues he hadn’t considered, such as the cost of furniture, the required background check, the significant security deposit and the possibility of hazards to small children.
On top of that, his Friday-night shift posed a problem for Adrienne’s recommended care provider, who reserved weekends for her family. If he hired her, Nick would have to juggle a second sitter for Fridays. Adrienne had suggested a high school or college student, but the same person might not be available every week. That struck him as too disruptive for Caleb.
Nick assumed he’d figure it all out eventually. Meanwhile, his problems loomed like the immense cliffs along the river in one of his favorite movies, The Fellowship of the Ring.
Running into Zady this evening had calmed him. Her cute face and whiplash retorts yanked Nick out of his absorption with his problems.
Not only did he value her opinion on the house, he had an ulterior motive. In retrospect, he’d reevaluated his qualms about trusting her with the job. She’d babysat her ex’s kids for years. And as for revealing his secrets to Marshall, which secrets were those, anyway? She was still his—and Caleb’s—best option.
As he drove north through Safe Harbor toward the house, Nick wondered how low he dared stoop in trying to enlist her aid. No outright fabrications, but might she be susceptible to bribery? Assuming he could afford it, of course. Which he couldn’t. Scrap that idea.
“Quit calculating,” Zady commanded.
He halted at a red light on Safe Harbor Boulevard. “I beg your pardon?”
“You keep shooting glances at me like you’re measuring me for something. I half expect ropes to drop from the ceiling and bind me to my seat.” Beneath the streetlights, her frown took on a harsh quality. “A second opinion is all I’m offering.”
“That’s all I expect.”
“You lie.”
“Then why’d you come?” he demanded, despite the risk that she’d hop out while still within walking distance of home.
Zady heaved an exaggerated sigh. “For the distraction. Don’t ask from what. It’s none of your business.”
“My cousin isn’t hassling you about visiting Caleb with me, is he?” Although Nick didn’t believe he’d mentioned it to Marshall, Zady might have.
“Your cousin is a kind, decent human being,” Zady retorted. “You should give him more credit. And no, we didn’t discuss Caleb. Although Marshall is a good listener.”
That statement aroused Nick’s competitive instincts. He’d decided to accept a certain division of loyalties due to Zady and Marshall’s professional connection, but he didn’t expect to compete with his cousin in any other sense.
Swinging onto a side street bordered by apartment clusters and small houses, Nick tempered his response by saying, “You bring out the best in him. Marshall isn’t famous for his bonhomie.”
“His what?
”
“His easy friendliness.” A side effect of an excellent memory was the acquisition of an extensive vocabulary. Sometimes that proved useful; other times, people found it off-putting. Like now, judging by Zady’s dubious expression. “I’m a good listener, too. Try me.”
“Tell me about the house,” she countered.
“It was just posted today on a rental website,” Nick said. “It’s empty and available for immediate occupancy.”
“More,” she said.
“Such as?”
“Number of bedrooms.”
“Three.” More than he required—unless she was willing to live in. “The rent’s on the high side, but it includes furnishings. Mr. Tran, the owner, inherited it from his parents and takes pride in its upkeep. He supervised the painting and upgrades personally.”
“Speaking of bonhomie, it sounds like you had quite a conversation with him,” Zady observed.
“It turns out he works at Rose’s Posies, which supplies bouquets to the hospital gift shop,” Nick explained. “He advised me which flowers to send to you.”
“I like him already. And thank you for those again. They’re beautiful.”
“My pleasure.”
When he spotted the one-story, ranch-style house on their right, Nick scored a parking spot on the street right in front. Yard lights showed eggshell-blue paint on the stucco exterior, with dark gray trim around the windows. As if to defy the concept of winter, roses bloomed alongside the walkway.
A danger of thorns, Nick thought. But they weren’t likely to cause serious injury, and if Caleb hadn’t already learned caution around rosebushes, Nick would warn him.
“It’s pretty.” Zady spoke wistfully.
“No comparison to the Carrigans’ house.” Nick emerged from the car. “But I’d have loved a place like this when I was a kid.”
“Me, too.” She joined him on the sidewalk. “Mr. Tran must be inside.” She indicated the windows, where a glow filtered through the woven curtains.
The Doctor's Accidental Family Page 8