Her Greek Doctor's Proposal

by Robin Gianna

“How come I put things in there twice and didn’t see it?”

  “I’m good at excavating, remember?” She held out the box, and he dumped the blocks inside. She turned and bent over again to shove the thing back behind the lion, and Andros gave up trying to keep his distance.

  “You do realize you bending over in that sexy dress of yours is testing the limits of my gentlemanliness?”

  “Is it?” She turned to him and took a step toward him, the amusement in her eyes mingling with the same heat he was trying to bank down. “Funny. Just looking at you in your T-shirt and jeans with your hair a little messy makes me want to test it even further.”

  To his shock and delight, she closed the gap between them, tunneled her hands into his hair and kissed him.

  He wrapped his arms around her, lost in the taste of her, the intoxicating flavor he’d thought he’d never get to taste again. Her silky hair slid over his hands, his forearms, as he pressed her even closer, loving the feel of her every soft curve pressed against his body.

  Still clutching his head, she broke the kiss and stared into his eyes. “I kept hoping you’d come back to the hospital one more time. To say goodbye.”

  “So you came to say goodbye?” He’d thought she’d already gone. So why did the thought of a goodbye now feel so bad?

  “Not yet. Right now I’m saying hello.”

  “I like hellos better than goodbyes,” he murmured against her lips before he kissed her again. The way she melted against him, gasping softly into his mouth as their tongues leisurely danced, made him think maybe she’d missed him too. That maybe she’d thought of him as much as he had her the past few days.

  But she had a life in the States and a PhD to finish and papers to write. Grants to get and new digs to work on. Thinking of him or not, why had she come back?

  “How long are you in town? And why?”

  She drew back a few inches. “Well, I have some unfinished business. Don’t know how long it might take, but—”

  The shrill ring of his phone interrupted, and he nearly cursed it. He hated letting go of Laurel’s warm body, but it would seem pretty odd to dance her over to the side table to answer the damn thing. “Dr. Drakoulias.”

  “Andros! It’s Yanni. Dora’s having the baby. Thinks it’s coming soon.”

  “Do you think she’s able to get to the clinic?”

  “Yes. I think so.”

  “I’ll meet you there.” Damn. Timing being what it always was, Christina was in Athens for a few days. Not to mention that things just might have been leading somewhere very good with Laurel. “I’m sorry. Got to go deliver a baby that apparently is in a hurry to get here. Excuse me again.”

  He dialed the nurse midwife in Levadia who was on call for Christina. He huffed out an impatient breath when her husband said she’d gone to the grocery store. Didn’t on call mean on call? “I need to hear from her as soon as possible.”

  “What’s wrong?” Laurel asked. “You worried about the mother?”

  “No. She’s had a healthy pregnancy. But this is her fifth, and if she thinks it’s coming soon, I believe her. Christina’s not here, and the midwife on call isn’t home. And it’ll take her half an hour to get here anyway.”

  “Let me help. I mean, you just need an assistant, right? I don’t need to be a nurse or anything?”

  “Just need an assistant. Are you sure you’re up for that?”

  “Sounds like it would be an experience, and, hey, I’m always up for an adventure.”

  “Never thought of bringing a baby into the world as an adventure, but I guess it can be.” He’d already seen the woman didn’t back down from a challenge and had to smile. “It’ll be faster if Taryn brings Petros here. I’ll call her, then we can go.”

  * * *

  “Looks like they’re not here yet, which is good,” Andros said as he pulled the car up to the clinic. “You can help me get stuff set up.”

  Nervous but excited too, Laurel followed Andros back to the hospital wing. She couldn’t believe she was about to see a baby being born, maybe even be a part of bringing it into the world. Hadn’t thought she’d ever want to, but, now that it was about to happen, she knew it would probably be an amazing experience.

  Andros wheeled over a small cart from a corner with what looked like maybe a heating unit above it, and put a tiny little oxygen mask in the corner of the little crib, hooking it up to something. He pulled other strange things out from the supply cupboard, laid them on a thick metal table next to the hospital bed, then grabbed more items in his arms.

  “I don’t want to get in the way, but is there anything I can do?”

  “I’m good right now, thanks.” He tossed her a couple of plastic bags with what looked like blue paper inside. “Can you go see if Yanni and Dora are outside and bring them in here? Then put on that gown. Gloves too, after you come back, because I’ll need you to handle the baby.”

  Handle the baby? What if she dropped it on its head or something? Nerves jabbed into her belly at the thought, though she should have realized she might have to take care of the newborn while he took care of the mother.

  As soon as she got to the front door, a car zoomed up the street and swerved in front of the clinic, parking crooked. She rushed out of the door, hoping like heck the woman wasn’t already spitting out the baby right there in the car, but if she had to catch the newborn, then, darn it, she would. A man leaped out and practically flew around to the passenger door, looking a little wild-eyed.

  “Do you need help? Dr. Drakoulias is inside—do you want me to get him?”

  “Ochi. I can bring her.”

  He swung the woman into his arms, and she wrapped her hands around his neck before burying her face in his chest. Her distressed cry was muffled, but Laurel’s gut tightened, hearing her sound of pain. She ran to hold open the door and led the way to the clinic.

  “Follow me.”

  Andros had already changed into scrubs and was busy putting towels next to the bed. He looked up and smiled. “Always in a hurry, Dora. Ever since we were in grade school.”

  The woman looked up and gave him a wavering smile back. She spoke in Greek so Laurel didn’t know what she’d said in return, but apparently the woman still managed to have a sense of humor despite everything, as both men laughed.

  Then just that fast, she apparently had another contraction, crying out as her face contorted. All humor was replaced by worry on her husband’s face as he laid her on the bed, speaking to her soothingly. The sweetness and caring in his eyes tugged at Laurel’s heart, and she wished she’d talked to her parents about what it had been like the times their own brood had been born. Made her wonder, for the first time, why they’d even had four children when their careers had been such a huge priority. Had their family been more important to them than she’d realized?

  “I’m going to speak English, as Laurel doesn’t speak Greek,” Andros said, “so she understands what she needs to do to help. Okay?”

  Both nodded, and he turned to Laurel. “Help me get her clothes off and a gown on her, please.” Despite the strangeness of the situation, it felt oddly normal to work together with him, and they quickly had Dora ready. Laurel was surprised it didn’t also seem uncomfortable for the lower half of the woman to be completely naked, but maybe since it was obviously the last thing the woman was concerned about, it seemed like no big deal.

  “This is an external probe, to monitor the baby’s heartbeat.” Andros attached a belt to her swollen belly, with some electronic gadget attached to it. “It’s not as accurate as an internal probe we sometimes attach to a baby’s head, but since your little one wants to come soon, I think this is good, okay?”

  Both nodded again, obviously having complete faith in Andros, and Laurel looked at his face. Calm, but completely in command, and she knew she’d have the same exact confidence in him no matter what the situation.

  “Are you all right? Do you want pain relief, Dora?”

  “Ochi. No time. The baby…i
s coming.”

  He glanced at the monitor and his expression was neutral, but it seemed to Laurel it tensed a bit. “Baby’s heart rate is dropping a little, Dora. Called bradycardia. Could be just from contractions, but we need to keep an eye on it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If there’s sustained fetal bradycardia, we’ll need to get the baby out as fast as possible. Not to worry, though. And see? It’s already recovering a bit.”

  Dora gave a sudden, extended cry, so agonized, Laurel winced for her. Yanni gripped her hand, looking nearly as distressed as his wife did. Laurel was so focused on the poor woman’s pain she didn’t notice Andros was leaning over the woman.

  “You weren’t kidding about it coming soon, Dora! Baby’s on the way. The head is crowning. Time to push.”

  Laurel stared in amazement when she saw the top of the baby’s head begin to emerge. She’d wondered if it might be gross or icky to see, but it wasn’t at all. It was awe inspiring. Incredible.

  “Oh, my gosh, it’s right there!” She hadn’t meant to exclaim that out loud and looked guiltily at Andros. He kept his attention on the baby and mother, but that surprise dimple poked into his cheek and she knew he was smiling.

  “Yes. He or she will be here soon. Push again, Dora.”

  The woman grunted and groaned and pushed as her husband murmured encouragingly to her, but the baby didn’t seem to move.

  “Baby’s heart rate is dropping again, Dora. We need to get the baby out. Laurel, I need you to put fundal pressure on top of the uterus.”

  “Fundal pressure?” Laurel’s heart beat harder. She hoped she was up to whatever task this was he needed her to do.

  “Basically, I need you to put your hands on the top of her belly and push hard. Put your weight into it.”

  “Um, okay.” She positioned herself next to the woman and spread her hands on Dora’s belly, feeling a little weird and a lot nervous. She pushed down, worried she might hurt her. “Like this?”

  “Harder. As hard as you can.”

  Holy crap. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt her.”

  “You won’t. And we need to get the baby out.”

  Andros’s intense expression sent her heart pumping even harder, and she gritted her teeth and put everything she could into pushing on the surprisingly hard expanse of poor Dora’s belly. In the midst of the woman panting and pushing, and her husband speaking tensely in words that were probably supposed to be encouraging, Andros suddenly said, sharply, “Stop, Laurel. Stop pushing, Dora.”

  “What? Why?” Dora gasped.

  “Baby’s heartbeat is dropping again because the cord is around its neck. Give me a minute.”

  Almost as short of breath as the laboring mother, Laurel stared down at the baby’s head, now out of its mother’s body and being held gently in Andros’s hands. Then her breath stopped completely and she felt a little woozy when she saw the baby was beyond blue, and the umbilical cord was wrapped several times around its neck.

  She sucked in quick breaths to calm herself. Big help she’d be if she fainted in the middle of the birth. Andros slid his fingers carefully beneath the cord, gently loosening and unwrapping it, then finally slipping it completely off over the baby’s head. “Okay, ready now. Let’s have a last few good pushes, Dora. You’re doing great. Can you help her, Laurel?”

  Fear gave Laurel super energy, and she pushed hard on Dora’s belly as the woman worked to deliver her child. After a few monumental pushes, the baby slipped from its mother’s body into the waiting hands of Dr. Andros Drakoulias.

  “Another girl!” Andros said, glancing up with a smile so big that that dimple of his showed again. “And she’s as beautiful as her mother.”

  Dora sagged back, gasping and beaming, looking from the baby to her husband and back again. Yanni leaned forward to give her a lingering kiss, speaking soft words in her ear that Laurel couldn’t understand, but at the same time she knew exactly what he must be saying.

  Laurel felt about as wrung out as Dora, but wired too. She watched Andros rub the baby gently all over with a towel then put a bulb into her mouth to suction out fluids. The tiny thing seemed alarmingly blue, and the seconds seemed like minutes before the baby’s head finally began to pink up, then her torso, as she cried out in lusty breaths.

  The parents laughed and kissed, Andros grinned, and Laurel sagged, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

  What an amazing experience. Scary and exhilarating and wonderful and unforgettable.

  “You did a great job, Dora. Baby’s had a bit of a rough time, so we need to get her warmed up and breathing well before I hand her over to mama.” Andros’s gaze met Laurel’s. “Are you okay handling the baby, Laurel? She needs to be dried off with the towels to warm her up, wrapped with a dry one, then put under the heat lamp and given oxygen. I already have it turned on, so just position the mask over her mouth. I need to take care of Dora.”

  “Yes. Of course.” She hurried over, not knowing exactly what to do, but whatever it was, she knew Andros would guide her through it if she messed up somehow.

  He handed her the still slightly wet baby, and a moment of terror nearly stopped her heart. What if she dropped it?

  “Don’t worry. She’s not glass.” Andros gave her an encouraging smile. “Just dry her off like you would a little puppy after its bath, swaddle her up, then put her in the warmer.” Andros grinned as though he’d read her mind, and she wondered what expression was on her face for him to see.

  Heart thumping, she grabbed up a towel and carried the baby to the warmer. Softly, she began stroking the child with the towel, dumbstruck at the little brown eyes staring up at her as she did. As though the baby, just a few minutes old, was avidly studying her brand-new world.

  “Dora, I’m going to give you some oxytocin to help your uterus clamp down and stop the bleeding. Okay?”

  Laurel didn’t look behind her, but knew the new mother wore the same expression on her face she’d had all along. Complete confidence that Andros would take care of everything.

  She finished drying the baby, marveling at her mini fingers and feet, her tiny elbows and knees, then awkwardly swaddled her, sure any nurse would laugh at the pitiful job. The immeasurable good Andros accomplished every day struck her with awe. Yes, she loved her job. Following in her parents’ footsteps. Uncovering history, learning from the past, was valuable to humankind’s education. But this?

  This put it in perspective. A dig wasn’t life or death. It was about past lives and past deaths, but, when it came right down to it, helping others today and now was the most important thing anyone could do.

  Helping her sisters become the people they’d become had been more important than getting her PhD done. More important than any dig, no matter how meaningful. She was glad to be free of the responsibility now, but postponing those things to raise and guide her sisters had been the biggest accomplishment of her life so far. How had she never appreciated that before?

  The little baby staring at her from under the heat lamp raised her downy eyebrows, seeming to agree. Laurel smiled, stroking the infant’s soft cheek, feeling a strangely serene, inner calm she couldn’t remember feeling since before her parents died. For the first time, she realized that maybe having a baby of her own one day had its place on her list of life goals.

  She’d head back to the mountain, into the caves, tomorrow. Hopefully she’d bring to a close her number-one goal. She’d leave no stone unturned to make it happen. But if she didn’t?

  She’d remember this sweet little baby’s face, and be at peace with the outcome, knowing she’d given it everything she could.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “DID YOU REALLY help Daddy born a baby, Laurel?” Cassie asked as the three of them sat at the breakfast table, her usual excitement on her adorable face and sparkling in her brown eyes.

  “I did. It was amazing. Your daddy’s pretty amazing too.” She looked at him over her coffee cup, struck all over again by his astonishing physical
beauty, somehow magnified even more by the dark stubble on his chin and the faded T-shirt stretching across his thick chest and arms. And his inner beauty too, which she’d seen last night. Radiating competence and caring, reassuring the mother throughout even the scariest part of the birth.

  “I know,” Cassie said as she stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth. “How did I look when I was born, Daddy? Did I cry a lot?”

  Andros stilled in midmotion, his gaze meeting Laurel’s before he put his cup back down. “I wasn’t there when you were born, remember, sweetie?”

  Laurel’s chest squeezed at his somber expression. Obviously, this was a painful subject for him, and she wondered when she’d finally find out about his relationship with Cassie’s mother and how she’d died. A woman he’d said he wasn’t close to. The knowledge that Cassie didn’t have a mother made her heart ache for the child. But she was lucky to have a father who so obviously loved her, and an extended family too, in Taryn and Petros and her grandparents. Laurel knew from experience that could make even a terrible loss more bearable.

  “Oh. I forgot.” Cassie went back to eating, not seeming very bothered by the conversation, which eased the tightness in Laurel’s chest. “When are we going fishing, Daddy?”

  “As soon as you’re done eating. I want to see that apricot go down the hatch.” He picked it up and held it to her mouth and she lunged at it, nearly biting his fingers. “Ouch! Are you a wild dog this morning? I need all my fingers, you know.”

  Cassie giggled. “I’m a monster fairy. I have tiny teeth, but they’re very sharp and hurty.”

  “Monster fairy? Sounds like a compromise with Petros.”

  His amused eyes met Laurel’s, and they smiled together in an oddly intimate connection. How could sitting here at their breakfast table feel so normal, so right, when she didn’t really know either of them all that well? How could it remind her of her own family, of breakfasts with her parents and her sisters that were the best memories of her life?

  Moments she’d taken completely for granted until they were in the past. Until they could never happen again.